House Speaker Mike Johnson is privately pushing a major legislative push centered on Pentagon funding, cutting government fraud, and a new grant program to promote elections overhaul. This effort, dubbed Trump’s agenda 3.0, is an eleventh-hour attempt to unite the party’s warring factions after months of chaos.

Background

Republicans returned to Washington in an increasingly dour mood about the state of their party, with growing fears of a November wipeout and a feeling of loss after the sudden death of their longtime colleague Lindsey Graham. Johnson’s plan is seen as a way to rescue a flailing Hill GOP and offer lawmakers a fresh political win ahead of their August recess campaigning.

There’s plenty of skepticism in the GOP’s ranks, with many members recalling the difficulty of passing the first two agenda bills. Johnson’s counterpart, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, did not endorse the effort when asked about the speaker’s plans, warning that they need to consider the Senate’s own limitations.

Challenges Ahead

Time is running out, but Johnson and GOP leaders are eager to get their conference in line. Already, Johnson appeared to reach a critical truce with one of his most high-profile defectors, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida. However, the Senate has its own major problems, with a gang of Republicans who lost their primaries complicating the chamber’s work.

GOP leaders are hoping to align on basic governing issues, but Trump has provided little concerted support for their at-risk majorities. The president has yet to consistently return to the campaign trail, despite the urgings of allies and advisers who believe he’s the only one who can energize the MAGA electorate needed to fend off a potential blue wave.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.