Rick Scott Calls for Direct Negotiations with Senate Holdouts to Revive Stalled Voting Bill

Senator Rick Scott, R-Fla., stated on Tuesday that Senate Republicans should engage holdout senators individually to address their concerns and revive the stalled SAVE America Act.

Scott compared the approach to his corporate experience: “I think we just need to come to talk about it, find out where people have concerns, and then do everything we can to solve their concerns.” He noted that he built the nation’s largest for-profit hospital chain by sitting down with individuals to understand their needs: “I did it by sitting down with people, saying, what are your needs? If I can meet your needs, I’m going to do it.”

Scott co-founded Columbia Hospital Corp. in 1987, which merged with Hospital Corporation of America in 1994 to form the largest hospital chain in the country. The SAVE America Act—which would require proof of U.S. citizenship for federal election registration—passed the House 218-213 in February but has repeatedly stalled in the Senate. On June 4, the Senate voted 50-48 to reject an amendment proposed by Senator Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, that would have attached the measure to an immigration funding package.

The bill faces opposition from GOP Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who joined Democrats in opposing the amendment. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, has repeatedly emphasized that public polling does not show sufficient support for the bill to overcome a 60-vote filibuster threshold. Recent surveys indicate approximately 80% of Americans support requiring photo identification and similar measures for citizenship verification, according to Pew Research Center and Gallup.