John Kennedy Drops to His Knees, Begs Thune for Another Reconciliation Bill

Conservative News DailyJanuary 11, 2026

Republican Louisiana sen. John Kennedy knelt on the Senate floor to plead with Majority Leader John Thune to bring a second reconciliation bill aimed at fixing welfare and stopping alleged fraud, saying Republicans could pass it with party-line votes. Reconciliation would allow Republicans to bypass a Democratic filibuster, but Thune called that approach imperfect and said he prefers regular order. Speaker Mike Johnson said he is methodically exploring what of the GOP agenda could fit into a second reconciliation package, while House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith and former President Trump have expressed skepticism that another reconciliation bill will pass or is necessary. The push follows viral videos showing apparently nonoperational, taxpayer-funded daycare sites in Minnesota and a Justice Department official’s estimate that Medicaid fraud in Minnesota could exceed $9 billion. The story reflects divisions among republicans over strategy and whether to use reconciliation to address alleged welfare fraud.

Republican Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy knelt on the Senate floor on Thursday to urge Senate Majority Leader John Thune to bring up another reconciliation bill.

The Republican Party is weighing another reconciliation bill, with Thune saying a potential option could be related to alleged Minnesota fraud, Fox News reported on Thursday. Kennedy made the plea during a speech addressing the alleged fraud.

“We need to do another reconciliation bill to fix the welfare system and stop the stealing. Stop the stealing. And we can do it with all Republican votes,” Kennedy said. “So please, Senator Thune, pretty please. As I’ve said before. I’m shameless. I’ll beg. I’ll get down on my knees. John, please bring another reconciliation bill. We can do so much, but we can start with fixing welfare fraud. Please, John, please let us do the bill.”

Thune said the reconciliation process, which would enable Republicans to bypass a Democratic filibuster, was not ideal, according to Fox News.

🚨NEW: John Kennedy *GETS ON KNEES* and begs John Thune for second reconciliation bill🤣

“I’m shameless. I’ll beg. I’ll get down on my knees. John, PLEASE BRING ANOTHER RECONCILIATION BILL!” @DailyCaller pic.twitter.com/wfGnEgIAG5

— Jason Cohen 🇺🇸 (@JasonJournoDC) January 8, 2026

“I always think the best solution, if possible, is to try and do things through regular order,” he said.

However, Speaker Mike Johnson said during “The Scott Jennings Show” on Wednesday that he was “working right now very methodically, carefully to determine what of our priorities we can squeeze into a second reconciliation bill with the idea we’d move that early in the year.”

Republican Missouri Rep. Jason Smith, who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee, said in December that he did not “see a path of a second reconciliation ever passing.” President Donald Trump also said in December that Republicans “don’t need” another major reconciliation bill “because we got everything” in the significant tax cut and spending package enacted in July.

YouTuber Nick Shirley posted a viral video on Dec. 26 featuring visits to daycare centers in Minnesota participating in taxpayer-funded programs that appeared to be non-operational. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson asserted on Dec. 18 that fraud in Minnesota’s Medicaid program could exceed $9 billion.

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