Johnson pushes reconciliation 2.0 with no clear plan and Trump’s focus elsewhere
This is performative politics again.
DORAL, Florida — House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is pushing a second sweeping reconciliation bill, but the proposal remains more concept than legislation — with no detailed plan, doubts from senior lawmakers, and little sign that President Donald Trump has embraced the effort.
Johnson’s hopes for the megabill took a hit when Trump did not mention reconciliation once while speaking at the House GOP’s policy retreat this week. During an hourlong speech, Trump said passing the SAVE America Act should be the “No. 1 priority,” even if it takes Republicans the remainder of the 119th Congress. The legislation would mandate identification to cast a ballot and proof of citizenship to register to vote nationwide.
Yet, GOP leaders are bullish it can still be done, especially if reconciliation is a vehicle to advance other legislative priorities before the 2026 midterm elections. Johnson told reporters at a press conference Tuesday that reconciliation could be a catch-all for everything from tackling affordability to rooting out fraud in Minnesota.
“I have been a champion for reconciliation as one of the important tools in the toolbox, so to speak, or one of the plays in the playbook, using the metaphor,” Johnson said, referencing football. “And I think that we can come together and envision a Venn diagram as I do: What are those handbook issues that are in the center of those concentric circles that is something that every Republican can agree on, that is great things for the country.
President Donald Trump gestures as Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., and House Speaker Mike Johnson of La., applaud at the Republican Members Issues Conference, Monday, March 9, 2026, at Trump National Doral Miami in Doral, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
“I think the central theme of all this is, we continue to have our sleeves rolled up every day, working to lower the cost of living for everyone, because it’s a central issue, and also to stamp out waste, fraud, and abuse. … We can use, potentially, reconciliation as a vehicle to address some of that,” the speaker said.
The Republican Study Committee has put out its own “reconciliation 2.0” blueprint focused on affordability, healthcare, and energy. Republican Study Committee Chairman August Pfluger (R-TX) told the Washington Examiner in an interview that he thinks reconciliation may be the only way to enact meaningful reform given the partisanship in the House.
“Democrats are not going to help us on anything. … We can’t count on …
This is performative politics again.
DORAL, Florida — House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is pushing a second sweeping reconciliation bill, but the proposal remains more concept than legislation — with no detailed plan, doubts from senior lawmakers, and little sign that President Donald Trump has embraced the effort.
Johnson’s hopes for the megabill took a hit when Trump did not mention reconciliation once while speaking at the House GOP’s policy retreat this week. During an hourlong speech, Trump said passing the SAVE America Act should be the “No. 1 priority,” even if it takes Republicans the remainder of the 119th Congress. The legislation would mandate identification to cast a ballot and proof of citizenship to register to vote nationwide.
Yet, GOP leaders are bullish it can still be done, especially if reconciliation is a vehicle to advance other legislative priorities before the 2026 midterm elections. Johnson told reporters at a press conference Tuesday that reconciliation could be a catch-all for everything from tackling affordability to rooting out fraud in Minnesota.
“I have been a champion for reconciliation as one of the important tools in the toolbox, so to speak, or one of the plays in the playbook, using the metaphor,” Johnson said, referencing football. “And I think that we can come together and envision a Venn diagram as I do: What are those handbook issues that are in the center of those concentric circles that is something that every Republican can agree on, that is great things for the country.
President Donald Trump gestures as Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., and House Speaker Mike Johnson of La., applaud at the Republican Members Issues Conference, Monday, March 9, 2026, at Trump National Doral Miami in Doral, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
“I think the central theme of all this is, we continue to have our sleeves rolled up every day, working to lower the cost of living for everyone, because it’s a central issue, and also to stamp out waste, fraud, and abuse. … We can use, potentially, reconciliation as a vehicle to address some of that,” the speaker said.
The Republican Study Committee has put out its own “reconciliation 2.0” blueprint focused on affordability, healthcare, and energy. Republican Study Committee Chairman August Pfluger (R-TX) told the Washington Examiner in an interview that he thinks reconciliation may be the only way to enact meaningful reform given the partisanship in the House.
“Democrats are not going to help us on anything. … We can’t count on …
Johnson pushes reconciliation 2.0 with no clear plan and Trump’s focus elsewhere
This is performative politics again.
DORAL, Florida — House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is pushing a second sweeping reconciliation bill, but the proposal remains more concept than legislation — with no detailed plan, doubts from senior lawmakers, and little sign that President Donald Trump has embraced the effort.
Johnson’s hopes for the megabill took a hit when Trump did not mention reconciliation once while speaking at the House GOP’s policy retreat this week. During an hourlong speech, Trump said passing the SAVE America Act should be the “No. 1 priority,” even if it takes Republicans the remainder of the 119th Congress. The legislation would mandate identification to cast a ballot and proof of citizenship to register to vote nationwide.
Yet, GOP leaders are bullish it can still be done, especially if reconciliation is a vehicle to advance other legislative priorities before the 2026 midterm elections. Johnson told reporters at a press conference Tuesday that reconciliation could be a catch-all for everything from tackling affordability to rooting out fraud in Minnesota.
“I have been a champion for reconciliation as one of the important tools in the toolbox, so to speak, or one of the plays in the playbook, using the metaphor,” Johnson said, referencing football. “And I think that we can come together and envision a Venn diagram as I do: What are those handbook issues that are in the center of those concentric circles that is something that every Republican can agree on, that is great things for the country.
President Donald Trump gestures as Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., and House Speaker Mike Johnson of La., applaud at the Republican Members Issues Conference, Monday, March 9, 2026, at Trump National Doral Miami in Doral, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
“I think the central theme of all this is, we continue to have our sleeves rolled up every day, working to lower the cost of living for everyone, because it’s a central issue, and also to stamp out waste, fraud, and abuse. … We can use, potentially, reconciliation as a vehicle to address some of that,” the speaker said.
The Republican Study Committee has put out its own “reconciliation 2.0” blueprint focused on affordability, healthcare, and energy. Republican Study Committee Chairman August Pfluger (R-TX) told the Washington Examiner in an interview that he thinks reconciliation may be the only way to enact meaningful reform given the partisanship in the House.
“Democrats are not going to help us on anything. … We can’t count on …
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