The mysteries of megabill 2.0

Politico

3 days ago

IN TODAY'S EDITION:— A Senate buzzkill for megabill 2.0— California Dems prep new congressional map— Murphy looks to revive doctor pay revamp
Republicans are going through the motions on the road to megabill 2.0. But a growing number of GOP lawmakers are skeptical about what's to come.
Despite Speaker Mike Johnson's push for second and third budget reconciliation bills, it's becoming clear that Senate Republicans aren't so sure what the party can deliver after a grueling battle over the 'big, beautiful' tax and spending plan that became law last month.
Mia, Jordain Carney and Cassandra Dumay are out this morning with a look at the big reasons why GOP skepticism abounds.
No direction — A White House official tells Mia that President Donald Trump really does want Congress to craft another domestic policy bill using the party-line budget reconciliation process. But Republicans say they're still waiting for the administration to provide specific instructions about what they should consider.
Among those in the dark are committee leaders including Budget Chair Lindsey Graham and Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker. Commerce Chair Ted Cruz says he doesn't even know what the administration's broader legislative priorities are heading into the fall.
'You have to have a reason to do it,' Sen. Mike Rounds says. 'It's not easy to do, so you have to have a purpose for doing it in the first place.'
Some Senate Republicans are working to fill in the gaps. Sen. Ron Johnson, a deficit hawk, is looking to cut spending. Senate Finance Chair Mike Crapo says he'll sort through roughly 200 tax proposals that were left out of the first reconciliation bill.
No deadlines — Even if the White House floats some policy asks, it's not likely Republicans will feel as much pressure to advance a bill. With megabill 1.0, they had to avert a year-end expiration of Trump's 2017 tax cuts and head off a debt ceiling crisis.
'Without the pressure, I don't see how you get it done,' says one Republican senator granted anonymity. 'I don't think I see what the pressure is here.'
GOOD MONDAY MORNING. Mia's out for the week. Email us: [e-mail] and [e-mail].
THE LEADERSHIP SUITE
The latest on redistricting
Democratic state lawmakers in California are expected to unveil a new congressional map this week. One draft that's circulating would give Democrats five new seats, potentially offsetting a GOP redistricting effort underway in Texas. Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to put the redistricting effort on the ballot in November.
'We discovered that we indeed could, consistent with the Voting Rights Act, put five Republican seats in play,' Rep. Zoe Lofgren, chair of the California Democratic congressional delegation, told CNN Sunday. 'We're unanimous in wanting to move forward.'
As the White House ramps up pressure on red states to pursue redistricting, Vice President JD Vance said in a Fox News interview that he told Indiana state officials last week 'we want a unified Republican team.'
Vance also said a new census sought by Trump could add 10 GOP seats and lead to 9 fewer Democratic seats.
POLICY RUNDOWN
COURT AFFIRMS CONGRESS' POWER OF THE PURSE — The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals is giving the Trump administration until Friday to put back online a public database that tracks federal spending, Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein report.
The three-judge panel's unanimous decision over the weekend comes after the administration decided in March to shut the database down, claiming it threatened Trump's ability to manage federal spending. The judges declared that action was an affront to Congress' authority over government spending.
MURPHY PREPS DOC PAY REVAMP — Rep. Greg Murphy, a House Ways and Means member and co-chair of the GOP Doctors Caucus, is looking to revive legislation aimed at shielding doctors from recurring cuts to their Medicare payments. It's a potential menu item for a year-end health care deal that lawmakers are beginning to sketch out.
Doctors have seen declines in their Medicare payments for decades even as the cost of health care has steadily increased. The tax law that Trump enacted last month included a 2.5 percent bump for 2026, after Senate Republicans scrapped a House-backed provision that would have permanently tied the doctor fee scale to an index that tracks rising medical costs. Murphy wants a second shot.
'I cannot overemphasize how much damage these persistent cuts to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule have done,' Murphy tells Benjamin.
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Affairs, fraud and attack ads: The dirty fight for the Texas Senate, from Benedict Smith at The Telegraph
Bernie Sanders thinks Democrats have turned on their base. Now it's time to fight back, from Veronica Stracqualursi at CNN
THE CARRYOUT
Welcome back to your Inside Congress hosts' favorite recess activity: sharing lawmakers' Capitol Hill food recommendations.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said her go-to is a ham and swiss sandwich on rye from Capitol Hill Supermarket.
What's your regular order in the neighborhood? Email [e-mail].
CAMPAIGN STOP
CHIP ROY FOR AG? — Rep. Chip Roy is eyeing a bid for Texas attorney general as current AG Ken Paxton campaigns to oust Sen. John Cornyn, reports Mychael Schnell in The Hill.
IOWA WATCH — Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego attended the Iowa State Fair over the weekend. Asked by a reporter about a potential 2028 bid for president, the Arizona Democrat said he's 'focused on 2026' for now.
TUNNEL TALK
NEW EATERIES ON CAMPUS — The renovated Rayburn Cafeteria is scheduled to open this morning. It features the new CHA Street Food, which is available today, and Java House, which is expected to open Tuesday.
Also opening today is the Starbucks Kiosk and Longworth Convenience Store, as well as the Common Grounds coffee shop in the Cannon basement. The Longworth and Ford cafeterias are closed for renovations.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Former Rep. Dan Kildee … former Sen. Tim Hutchinson … Billy Long (7-0) … NYT's David Brooks and Lyndsey Layton … Charles Blow … POLITICO's Toby Eckert, Michael Roberts and Danielle Bello … Lauren Maddox of Holland & Knight … Jesse Barba of Cengage Group … Kedrin Simms Brachman … former USTR Charlene Barshefsky … Marissa Secreto … Colin Cunliff … Thad Huguley … Greg Michaelidis … Ilana Drimmer … Sam Myers Jr. … National Journal's Emily Akhtarzandi
TRIVIA
FRIDAY'S ANSWER: Jim Wholey correctly answered that Theodore Roosevelt was the first president to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
TODAY'S QUESTION, from Calen: Name the current senators who have cast more than 10,000 votes.
The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Inside Congress. Send your answers to [e-mail].