McConnell Hits a Procedural Wall Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell is being blamed for keeping the SAVE Act from getting a floor vote. He led the Senate GOP for years and still controls what appears on the schedule. Supporters say his office has blocked the bill, while allies of the senator point to routine Senate procedure and competing priorities. The result is the same. A bill that its backers call a simple voter ID reform has not reached the full Senate for debate or a vote. What the SAVE Act Would Do The SAVE Act would require voters to show identification at the polls, according to sponsors. Backers frame it as a measure to boost confidence in elections, and they point to polling numbers showing broad public support. Opponents warn that voter ID rules can create barriers for some voters and that states already vary widely in how they run elections. Like most election bills, the law at issue would change rules with real effects on administration, costs, and who shows up on Election Day. https://twitter.com/C_3C_3/status/2024819851181584397?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/timburchett/status/2024875245966958916?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw Why the Block Matters Who gets to decide what the Senate votes on is not meaningless. The leader’s calendar is a gatekeeper. That…

What happened in Virginia Federal judges in the Eastern District of Virginia named a veteran litigator to serve as interim U.S. attorney after a court ruling cast doubt on the previous appointment. Within hours the Justice Department through Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche moved to remove that judge-appointed interim. The episode is the latest turn in a dispute over who fills vacant U.S. attorney posts when local and federal actors disagree. The legal tug of war There is a legal split here that is more paperwork than drama. The Justice Department cites the Constitution and presidential appointment power. Some judges rely on statutes that let courts appoint temporary prosecutors when offices are empty. Both sides point to law and precedent. The practical result is uncertainty about who has authority to handle important federal prosecutions while the politics get sorted. Blanche's move and public messages Deputy AG Blanche did not wait for a slow motion legal fight. He publicly announced the removal and repeated the message that U.S. attorneys come from the president. He has used the department platform and social media to make the point that judges should not be selecting permanent prosecutors. The exchange included a prior, similar removal…