Senate Majority Leader John Thune is getting a masterclass in leadership from his own backyard, and it's not a good look for the supposedly "America First" Republican.
While Thune continues to hem and haw about fast-tracking President Trump's SAVE America Act through the Senate, the South Dakota House of Representatives just showed him how it's done by passing SB 175 on Wednesday – their own version of the critical election integrity legislation.
Talk about getting shown up by the home team.
SB 175 mirrors the federal SAVE America Act by requiring proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration, something that should be common sense but apparently needs to be spelled out for the swamp creatures in Washington. South Dakota's lawmakers understood the assignment while their own senator seems more concerned with Senate procedure than securing our elections.
Patriots Lead While Politicians Posture
This is exactly what we've come to expect from establishment Republicans like Thune. When push comes to shove, they find every excuse in the book to avoid doing the hard work that President Trump and the American people demand. Meanwhile, state legislators – closer to the people and farther from the D.C. swamp – are getting things done.
"South Dakota is leading where Washington won't," one state Republican lawmaker told reporters. "We're not going to wait around for the federal government to protect election integrity when we can do it ourselves."
The contrast couldn't be starker: while Thune plays parliamentary games, South Dakota delivers results.
President Trump has made election integrity a cornerstone of his second-term agenda, and patriots across the country are watching to see who stands with him and who stands in his way. So far, Thune is looking more like an obstacle than an ally.
Time for Action, Not Excuses
South Dakota's decisive action should be a wake-up call for every RINO senator who thinks they can slow-walk the America First agenda. The people didn't give Republicans control of Washington so they could play patty-cake with Democrats and make excuses about "process."
How embarrassing is it when your own state legislature has to show you how to get conservative priorities across the finish line? Maybe it's time for Thune to take notes from the folks back home – or step aside for someone who will actually fight for Trump's agenda.