Thune holding Senate vote on voter ID, insider trading ban

Senate Majority Leader John Thune.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Tuesday he plans to hold a vote on the chamber floor on Wednesday that will contain at least one component of the SAVE America Act, which President Trump has for months been pushing the Senate to pass, along with a provision banning insider trading by members of Congress. 

"The first of which would be a photo ID law coupled with a ban on insider trading -- something that's broadly supported by the American people," Thune told reporters at the Capitol on Tuesday. "And something that had big support coming out of the House of Representatives."

The photo ID law is a component of the Save Act that would require voters to show a photo ID at the polls, proving who they say they are when going to vote -- an election integrity measure that polling has consistently shown is an 80-20 issue among the American populace. The Save Act contains additional election security provisions as well as provisions that would ban men and boys from women's and girls' sports, and restrict doctors from prescribing gender-transitioning drugs to minors. 

"We'll see if the Democrats are willing take yes for an answer," Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, said. He described the measures as a "no-brainer" for senators.

The Save Act was brought to a vote on the senate floor most recently in early June, when it failed to win enough votes for passage as four stubborn Republicans voted against the bill. The House of Representatives passed it earlier this year and Trump has said he would sign it immediately. 

Thune slammed senate Democrats for being obstructionist since the legislative body returned from summer recess a little more than two weeks ago.

"Unfortunately, it's been very shameful that the Democrats have decided to play politics rather than to work with us," Thune said, adding that senate Democrats have blocked the NDAA and the Farm Bill, "bills critical to national or economic security." Below, watch a clip of Thune speaking to reporters about photo ID, an insider trading ban and other measures.