Chairman Pfluger Joins WSJ Opinion's Podcast to Talk Reconciliation, SAVE Act, and the Fight Ahead

WASHINGTON, D.C — With just 21 legislative days left before the midterms, Republican Study Committee Chairman August Pfluger (TX-11) joined Kim Strassel on the Wall Street Journal’s (WSJ) Podcast ‘All Things’ to lay out where House Republicans stand on a third reconciliation package, the SAVE America Act, and the looming threat of a Democrat-manufactured government shutdown this fall.

Chairman Pfluger made clear that the RSC released its reconciliation framework back in January and has worked since to advance its provisions. Known as the Making the American Dream Affordable Again framework, the RSC's fully-paid-for plan tackles issues of affordability, healthcare, and fraud.

The Chairman also previewed a potential path forward for the SAVE America Act inside reconciliation, warned that Democrats are gearing up to shut down the government ahead of the election, and detailed how the RSC is already building a plan for a lame duck session where permitting reform, healthcare, and AI policy could finally move.

You can watch the full interview HERE on YouTube, and listen to the full interview HERE on the WSJ’s website. Highlights from the conversation are below.
 

Chairman Pfluger on the RSC's Role and the 21-Day Clock
“We are the largest group on Capitol Hill. We are full of people who are the governing conservatives, and our job has been and will be to push our conference to choose good conservative solutions, that includes on reconciliation.”

Chairman Pfluger on the RSC's January Framework
“Let's rewind the clock to January. The Republican Study Committee put out a framework for what we thought were the most important conservative viewpoints, and we provided a menu of real options with real payoffs. We're very proud of that, and we'll stand by it.”

Pfluger on Reconciliation 3.0
“We have to recapitalize our military, period. It's tragic that the Democrats will not vote to fund the military. Whatever the reconciliation bill ends up being, it has to include defense.”

Pfluger on the SAVE Act's Path Through Reconciliation
“When you come to a polling place and you show your ID, does it prove that you're a citizen? I think that's the budgetary nexus we're going to be looking at.”

Pfluger on Democrats and a Fall Shutdown
“Who are they shutting down? They're shutting down military families, TSA workers, our Coast Guard, and our Border Patrol, the people who are literally keeping us safe.”

Pfluger on the Latest Stalls on the House Floor
“We're in a cycle of fits and starts, and it's frustrating. The loser in this is permitting reform. The loser in this is an AI bill that helps every industry. The loser in this is our ability to work on healthcare.”

Pfluger on a ‘Lame Duck’ Plan
“We've had a plan for reconciliation for seven months now, and we do have a plan for the lame duck session. We've got lots of ideas, and there's a lot of appetite to get this done. I do think we're going to win the House and maintain control…We will present our plans in short order to be ready for those opportunities.”