Republicans eye second GOP-only megabill, but it faces uphill climb

DORAL, Fla. – House Republicans want to usher through a second massive spending package as the 2026 midterm elections ramp up, a tall order for a fractured GOP conference and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who commands a razor-thin majority.

Republicans have been looking to strengthen their economic messaging amid voter concerns over rising grocery prices, gas costs and inflation. And they are eyeing to do so using the same mechanism that allowed them to usher through President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act last year without requiring any Democratic votes.

But passing such a package would involve an ambitious timeline and plenty of compromise to get near-unanimous support for the provisions in the bill — a difficult task for GOP lawmakers as they devote more time to campaigning and navigating the political demands of reelection.

A second reconciliation package was a frequent topic of conversation at the House Republican retreat in Doral, Fla., this week. Johnson said during a press conference Tuesday that he’s been a “champion for reconciliation as one of the important tools in the toolbox.”

“I think we can come together and envision a Venn diagram as I do — what are those handful of 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,” Johnson said.

The Republican Study Committee, the largest caucus of conservatives in the House, unveiled a framework for a reconciliation bill earlier this year that includes a rollback of regulations governing energy production, policies to boost access to homeownership and health reforms that would redirect ObamaCare subsidies to individuals rather than insurance companies.

Johnson also floated the possibility of using a second reconciliation bill to target alleged fraud, waste and abuse in Democratic-led states. Fraud prevention is a priority that many other members have championed as well.

“Just common sense, cut the filth and the fat off of our body politic and deploy that resource to other things that we need. I just think that makes perfect sense and would fit very well into a reconciliation package,” said Rep. Mike Kennedy (R-Utah). 

House Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) said another component of reconciliation would focus on making bigger investments in defense, “whether that’s to shore up resources for the current conflict with Iran, or more capital investment to modernize and re-tool the military.”

But while most Republicans have been supportive of the effort to pass another bill, they acknowledge it will be an uphill climb.

“There’s an uphill climb in everything in Congress,” Rep. Mark Alford (R-Mo.), who sits on the House Appropriations Committee, said. “I’m learning that the three years I’ve been here, nothing is easy, but it’s not insurmountable. We have great leadership.”

Rep. Blake Moore (R-Utah) echoed those sentiments, arguing that “anything to be done, especially in these really tight majorities, they’re very difficult battles, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth trying.”

If “we can accomplish this with, you know, a small majority, then we’ll do it because it’s good policy, and then the policy produces good politics later. But we’re not like so worried about ‘this has to be done in order for us to win the midterms.’ I think we are in a good spot to win the midterms, regardless,” Moore added.

Johnson can only afford to lose one GOP vote, assuming all members are present and Democrats are unified in opposition. A second reconciliation package may not sit well with some of the fiscal hawk conservatives in his conference, who have advocated for more spending cuts. 

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who voted against the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last year, is already considered a likely no vote on any new reconciliation package. And Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), who also opposed the first megabill, previously told The Hill that he’s always “suspect” of reconciliation bills because he prefers “two-party solutions.”

Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas), the chair of the Republican Study Committee, said Tuesday that “our job is to figure out the pathways to get these things done. And I think we can.”

“What Democrats have shown is a complete willingness to block everything. They’re not going to vote on a single thing. They are doing that right now by shutting down DHS. So that’s why, to me, this tool is the most important tool, and the one that I think will garner the highest success,” he said.

Other members, however, are less hopeful of a second bill passing. 

“I’ve said since November of 2024, that we needed to pass one big beautiful bill, because I felt like that was the best way that we could leverage in order to deliver on the president’s campaign promises such as no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, tax relief for seniors. And if you look at history, it is extremely rare for two partisan reconciliation bills to ever pass in the same Congress,” Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.), chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, said during a press conference Tuesday. 

“Extremely rare, and so I would absolutely love a second reconciliation bill. I would love that, but I just don’t think it will ever happen,” he added. 

Johnson later said during a fireside chat with NBC News on Tuesday that he’s a “little more optimistic” than Smith.

“I mean, look, let’s be realistic, right? It will not be as big, but it can be just as beautiful,” he said.

Arrington said that “if we don’t get to the detail-oriented process of putting pen to paper and getting the representative group of members together, I don’t see us being able to move a reconciliation bill past this spring,” as members will be more “sensitive” closer to November.

But he said that as of right now, he “totally” sees a path forward, and noted that the bill won’t be “as comprehensive as the first one.”

“It will be more targeted, but it will be – they will be meaningful policy reforms that will have an impact on stewarding tax dollars to making health care more affordable,” he said. 

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

The return-to-the-office trend backfires

Live results: Georgia special election to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene

Swalwell says staffer flew to Colombia to return hearing aid to deported ...

Speaker Johnson floats using reconciliation to address alleged fraud in blue ...

Erika Kirk appointed to Air Force Academy board

Odds of a ‘Super El Nino’ growing, model shows. What that could mean

Rand Paul: Midterms will be ‘disastrous’ for Republicans

Democratic senator says US ‘seem to be’ on path toward deploying American ...

Thompson fends off challenger to win Mississippi primary

2 states approved permanent standard time. Others are hoping to do the same

Trump heads to Kentucky in an aggressive effort to topple a foe: GOP ...

Thune quashes Trump push to reform filibuster for SAVE Act

Fuller, Harris nab spots in Georgia House runoff for Greene’s seat

Thune rejects Trump on SAVE Act: ‘The votes aren’t there for a talking ...

Joe Rogan: Trump supporters ‘feel betrayed’ by ‘insane’ Iran war

Trump more popular than Harris, Newsom: Survey

Trump job approval sinks in new poll

Trump’s war in Iran fractures MAGA media

© The Hill