Republicans in the U.S. Senate are under increasing pressure from President Donald Trump to pass the SAVE (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility) America Act, and while the legislation to ensure only U.S. citizens vote in federal elections is important – and wildly popular – any effort to do away with the filibuster should be a nonstarter.

The longstanding Senate rules that require a 60-vote threshold to move forward on most legislation are there for a reason. They force the chamber to debate and compromise – and they purposefully make it harder to get a bill over the finish line. 

Yet, as Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, has acknowledged, he’s got a math problem. With a 53-member majority, he simply doesn’t have the number of senators to reach the magic 60 number. A handful of Democrats would need to get on board.

For now, Thune’s plan is to have a robust debate on the bill and then bring it to a vote – even though it’s almost certain to fail. 

“I can guarantee the debate,” Thune said recently. “I can........

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