President Donald Trump is pledging not to sign any legislation until the Senate approves the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility Act, but the threat could be less menacing and not as government-halting as it sounds.
Trump vowed on Sunday not to sign any bills into law until Congress sends to his desk the SAVE Act, which would require national voter ID and proof of citizenship to register to vote.
“I, as President, will not sign other Bills until this is passed, AND NOT THE WATERED DOWN VERSION – GO FOR THE GOLD,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“It must be done immediately. It supersedes everything else. MUST GO TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE,” the president added. “[Voters] MUST SHOW VOTER I.D. & PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP: NO MAIL-IN BALLOTS EXCEPT FOR MILITARY – ILLNESS, DISABILITY, TRAVEL: NO MEN IN WOMEN’S SPORTS: NO TRANSGENDER MUTILIZATION FOR CHILDREN! DO NOT FAIL!!!”
But Trump’s threat regarding legislation might not bring the government to a screeching halt.
That is because, according to Article I, Section 7 of the Constitution, if Trump does not sign or veto formalized, or “enrolled,” bills that are transmitted from Congress to the White House within 10 days, they automatically become law unless Congress is adjourned.
The 10-day period starts at midnight on the day that particular legislation is presented to the president, excluding Sundays.
If Trump were to veto the bill, the measure would be returned to the congressional chamber that introduced it. That chamber — either the House or the Senate — can override the legislation with a two-thirds majority vote. If that vote is successful, the other chamber can then override the veto with a two-thirds majority vote.
Republicans currently hold narrow majorities in both the House and Senate.
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The White House did not respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment, but Trump did reiterate his demands for Congress to pass the SAVE Act, including its transgender provisions, on social media, even imploring the Senate to repeal its filibuster rules to do so.
The filibuster gives senators the opportunity to extend debate on a bill to delay or prevent its passage, with 60 votes needed to end debate on a “cloture” motion.
