If Republicans are wondering why their voters sometimes get cynical, they might want to look no further than the Senate Rules Committee.
The SAVE Act, which passed the House, is designed to require proof of citizenship in order to vote in federal elections. Not exactly a radical concept. The idea is simple, if you are voting in American elections, you should be an American citizen. The bill would require proper identification to prevent non citizens from illegally casting ballots. That seems like basic election integrity.
Enter Senator Mitch McConnell.
As chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, McConnell controls whether the bill gets a vote. So far, he has not scheduled one. That means the legislation is effectively stalled, despite backing from President Trump and strong support among Republican voters.
SENATE STALLING THE SAVE ACT?@RepBrandonGill calls out Mitch McConnell: the House passed the SAVE Act, 82% of Americans want proof of citizenship to vote—and the Senate’s been sitting on it for 300 days.@andrewkolvet pic.twitter.com/r6CLmY5WrN
— Real America's Voice (RAV) (@RealAmVoice) February 3, 2026
According to Yahoo News, McConnell’s refusal to move the bill forward has frustrated fellow Republicans. Representative Tim Burchett did not hold back. In a video posted on X, Burchett suggested McConnell’s actions may stem from personal animosity toward President Trump. He also raised concerns about whether McConnell himself is fully in charge.
“He’s blocking the SAVE Act, or is he? Is it him or a staff member, because as you know, he’s a lot like Joe Biden was in his last few days in office, or last years in office,” Burchett said. “His cognizant level is diminishing daily.”
That is not subtle.
Burchett went further, arguing that much of Congress is effectively run by staffers when aging lawmakers struggle with health or cognitive issues. He pointed to the case of Representative Kay Granger, who was absent for months in 2024 and later found to be living in an independent living facility.
McConnell, 83, has faced increasing scrutiny over his health in recent years. He was hospitalized earlier this month for what his office described as “flu-like symptoms.” His spokesman said he was discharged and would be working from home. In the past few years, McConnell has experienced multiple falls, a concussion, and several public moments where he appeared to freeze mid-sentence during press conferences.
NBC News reported that he announced last year he would not seek reelection, setting up a competitive primary in Kentucky. Yet for now, he remains in a powerful committee position with the ability to block legislation supported by much of his party’s base.
Representative Brandon Gill also criticized the move, reflecting broader frustration among conservatives who believe election security should not be a partisan fight.
The SAVE Act is not some obscure messaging bill. It goes directly to voter eligibility. For Republicans who campaigned on restoring trust in elections, watching one of their own bottleneck the process is infuriating.
The bigger question is whether this is strategy, personal grievance, or simply institutional inertia. Whatever the reason, grassroots voters are not likely to be patient. When a party promises reform and then stalls its own bill, people notice.
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