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It is said that in politics, the best idea is a stolen one.
Republicans are no dummies. They’re looking at what worked for Democrats last year as New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani upset the primary field and rode easily to Gracie Mansion. They saw victories by New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill and Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger.
They all ran on affordability. That issue carried them to victory.
HEALTHCARE, ECONOMY AND THE ‘ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL’: WELCOME TO THE MIDTERMS
Republican Study Committee Chairman Rep. August Pfluger speaks during a press conference with other members of the Republican Study Committee as well as members of House Republican leadership in Washington, Oct. 28, 2025. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)
House conservatives are hungry for a legislative victory in the 2026 midterms. So, they’re focusing on bringing down the costs of housing and healthcare.
The Republican Study Committee (RSC), the largest bloc of conservatives in the House, released its blueprint recently.
“Here is the framework for what we’re calling the Make the American Dream Affordable Again,” boasted RSC Chairman Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas. “The reconciliation 2.0 plan.”
There’s that word again: reconciliation.
It’s a parliamentary term. Specifically, “budget reconciliation.” It doesn’t mean a great deal in the House — although the House must adopt a budgetary package. But budget reconciliation shouts from the mountaintops in the Senate. The Senate is where most legislation needs 60 votes to break a filibuster. But if a bill is budget-neutral and deals with numbers – not policy — it qualifies for the budget reconciliation process.
That’s where the political magic comes in.
Budget reconciliation measures are not subject to a filibuster. You only need a simple majority. Republicans used the budget reconciliation gambit to approve the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last year. Otherwise, Senate Republicans were…
