Tag: Ukraine aid

Senate passage of aid to Israel, Ukraine expected this week – WTOP News
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Congress is now poised to approve $95 billion in foreign aid, which has been the focus of fierce debate for months and could still potentially jeopardize the job of House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Congress is now poised to approve $95 billion in foreign aid that has been the focus of fierce debate for months and which could still potentially jeopardize the job of House Speaker Mike Johnson.

The U.S. Senate this week will take up legislation that was finally passed by the House over the weekend, after Johnson decided he could no longer continue trying to appease a few dozen GOP hard-liners.

As expected, Johnson needed the help of Democrats to get bills passed to provide aid for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, as well as a bill that seeks to force TikTok to separate from its Chinese parent company.

“I’ve done here what I believe to be the right thing and that is to let the House work its will,” Johnson said after the vote.

The bills approved by the House will be combined into one piece of legislation, to make it less difficult for the Senate to approve.

The Senate is expected to take up a procedural vote on Tuesday that will ultimately be passed and head to President Joe Biden’s desk, for his signature.

The bills include:
- $61 billion for Ukraine, including nearly $14 billion for the purchase of weapons
- $26 billion for Israel and humanitarian relief in Gaza
- $8 billion for Taiwan and U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific region
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell had implored the House to approve the security package that was passed by the upper chamber in February.

Still, Johnson delayed taking up the legislation, knowing that introducing aid for Ukraine was like rolling a political grenade into a meeting of his GOP conference.

‘We’ll let the chips fall where they may’

But something changed for Johnson over the past week — at least publicly.

He decided it was time to take the reins of his leadership and address the issue of aid for Ukraine head on, with his own series of bills.

“History judges us for what we do,” he said last week, while speaking in the Capitol’s Statuary Hall. “This is a critical time right now.”

He then went on to speak about the need to provide Ukraine with military assistance in its fight against Russia.

“I’m doing here what I believe to be the right thing,” Johnson said. “I think that Vladimir Putin would continue to march through Europe if he were allowed.”

That’s in direct contradiction to members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, who have argued that sending billions of additional dollars to Ukraine would be a waste of money and better spent on matters in the U.S.

But Johnson made his comments personal, noting he has a son who will soon be entering the U.S. Naval Academy.

“To put it bluntly, I would rather send bullets to Ukraine, then American boys,” he said.

Johnson sounded much more like a throwback to another era of the Republican Party, even noting that he grew up admiring the policies of former President Ronald Reagan.

Still, he is at odds with many members in his party on the issue of Ukraine. A total of 112 Republicans voted against the aid package for Ukraine on Saturday.

What’s ahead for Speaker Johnson?

Johnson’s critics charge he’s now more like former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi than Ronald Reagan.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., has repeatedly criticized Johnson, arguing he’s “betrayed” the Republican conference on a wide range of issues, beyond Ukraine.

She continues to hold out her threat of a motion to vacate, which could bring up a vote that could oust Johnson.

Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Paul Gosar, R-Az., have signed on to co-sponsor her motion.

A single lawmaker can bring up the motion, which is what happened when former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted last year.

While Greene has said more Republicans want to get rid of Johnson, many other GOP lawmakers have indicated they are tired of the chaos.

With the departure of Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wi., over the weekend, Johnson only has a 217-213 majority.

That means he can only afford to lose a single Republican vote on any issue he wants to pass on his own.

Some Democrats have indicated they will vote to keep Johnson as speaker, if a motion to vacate is triggered.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other top Democrats have kept their powder dry on the issue.

But Jeffries on Friday did throw some shade at the GOP lawmakers who want to get rid of Johnson.

“‘Moscow’ Marjorie Taylor Greene, Massie and Gosar are quite a group,” he said. “And I’m sure that will play some role in our conversations.”

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Mitchell Miller

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April 22, 2024
House Passes Ukraine, Israel Aid: How It Happened

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He pushed through Ukraine aid despite losing the support of the majority of the House Republican Conference on Saturday afternoon, but the threat to his tenure in office still remains. The question now is what happens once everyone gets back to Capitol Hill in May.

Marjorie Taylor Greene, who introduced a motion to vacate in March, still isn’t yet ready to trigger it. However, with two Republicans already signing on and plenty of other hard-right members flirting with the idea of ousting him, Johnson will likely face a vote for his job sooner rather than later.

With members of Congress out on recess, the other question now is how much pressure they’ll face to can Johnson. Traditional right wing media is still backing him — MTG railed at a Fox News reporter over an op-ed the outlet ran calling her an idiot — but MAGA media feels differently. Steve Bannon has endorsed giving Johnson the axe, and Breitbart ran an op-ed on Saturday calling for the same. The pressure campaign against the speaker will be waged in Facebook comments and Twitter and Truth Social posts in the coming days as Republicans see just how angry the conservative grassroots is over Ukraine.

Even with a massive rebellion, Johnson is still likely to keep his office. Many Democrats have made clear that they don’t want the GOP to oust him for his support for Ukraine aid. But the more conservatives revolt against Johnson, the more he will need those Democrats to save him.

I wrote about how Johnson decided to go this route here.

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Intelligencer Staff

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April 20, 2024
House Speaker Mike Johnson says he will push for aid to Israel and Ukraine this week

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House Speaker Mike Johnson said Sunday he will try to advance wartime aid for Israel this week as he attempts the difficult task of winning House approval for a national security package that also includes funding for Ukraine and allies in Asia.Johnson, R-La., is already under immense political pressure from his fellow GOP lawmakers as he tries to stretch between the Republican Party’s divided support for helping Kyiv defend itself from Moscow’s invasion. The Republican speaker has sat for two months on a $95 billion supplemental package that would send support to the U.S. allies, as well as provide humanitarian aid for civilians in Ukraine and Gaza and funding to replenish U.S. weapons provided to Taiwan. The unprecedented attack by Iran on Israel early Sunday further ratcheted up the pressure on Johnson, but also gave him an opportunity to underscore the urgency of approving the funding.Related video above: The top Democrat in the House suggested some Dems could vote to save Speaker Johnson if Republicans try to oust him over Ukraine bill.Johnson told Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures” that he and Republicans “understand the necessity of standing with Israel” and he would try this week to advance the aid.”The details of that package are being put together right now,” he said. “We’re looking at the options and all these supplemental issues.”GOP Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that Johnson “has made it clear” that he sees a path for funding for Israel, Ukraine and allies in Asia to come to the House floor this week.The speaker has expressed support for legislation that would structure some of the funding for Kyiv as loans, pave the way for the U.S. to tap frozen Russian central bank assets and include other policy changes. Johnson has pushed for the Biden administration to lift a pause on approvals for Liquefied Natural Gas exports and at times has also demanded policy changes at the U.S. border with Mexico.But currently, the only package with wide bipartisan support in Congress is the Senate-passed bill that includes roughly $60 billion for Ukraine and $14 billion for Israel.Video below: Sen. Chris Coons calls on House to pass supplemental foreign aid package following Iran attack; urges Israel to “pause for a moment” before respondingWhite House national security spokesman John Kirby called on the speaker to put that package “on the floor as soon as possible.””We didn’t need any reminders in terms of what’s going on in Ukraine,” Kirby said on NBC. “But last night certainly underscores significantly the threat that Israel faces in a very, very tough neighborhood.” As Johnson searches for a way to advance the funding for Ukraine, he has been in conversations with both the White House and former president Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.With his job under threat, Johnson traveled to Florida on Friday for an event with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago club. Trump expressed support for Johnson and said he had a “very good relationship” with him.”He and I are 100% united on these big agenda items,” Johnson said. “When you talk about aid to Ukraine, he’s introduced the loan-lease concept which is a really important one and I think has a lot of consensus.”But Trump, with his “America First” agenda, has inspired many Republicans to push for a more isolationist stance. Support for Ukraine has steadily eroded in the roughly two years since the war began, and a cause that once enjoyed wide support has become one of Johnson’s toughest problems.When he returns to Washington on Monday, Johnson also will be facing a contingent of conservatives already angry with how he has led the House in maintaining much of the status quo both on government spending and more recently, a U.S. government surveillance tool.Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a right-wing Republican from Georgia, has called for Johnson’s ouster. She departed the Capitol on Friday telling reporters that support for her effort was growing.While no other Republicans have openly joined Greene, a growing number of hardline conservatives are openly disparaging Johnson and defying his leadership.Meanwhile, senior GOP lawmakers who support aid to Ukraine are growing frustrated with the months-long wait to bring it to the House floor. Kyiv’s troops have been running low on ammunition and Russia is becoming emboldened as it looks to gain ground in a spring and summer offensive. A massive missile and drone attack destroyed one of Ukraine’s largest power plants and damaged others last week.”Russia is beginning to gain ground. Ukraine is beginning to lose the ability to defend itself,” Turner said. “The United States must step up and provide Ukraine the weapons that they need.”The divided dynamic has forced Johnson to try to stitch together a package that has some policy wins for Republicans while also keeping Democrats on board. Democrats, however, have repeatedly called on the speaker to put the $95 billion package passed by the Senate in February on the floor. Although progressive Democrats have resisted supporting the aid to Israel over concerns it would support its campaign into Gaza that has killed thousands of civilians, most House Democrats have gotten behind supporting the Senate package.”The reason why the Senate bill is the only bill is because of the urgency,” Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said last week. “We pass the Senate bill, it goes straight to the president’s desk and you start getting the aid to Ukraine immediately. That’s the only option.”Many Democrats also have signaled they would likely be willing to help Johnson defeat an effort to remove him from the speaker’s office if he puts the Senate bill on the floor.”I’m one of those who would save him if we can do Israel, Taiwan, Ukraine and some reasonable border security,” said Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Texas Democrat.___Associated Press writer Kevin Freking contributed.

WASHINGTON —

House Speaker Mike Johnson said Sunday he will try to advance wartime aid for Israel this week as he attempts the difficult task of winning House approval for a national security package that also includes funding for Ukraine and allies in Asia.

Johnson, R-La., is already under immense political pressure from his fellow GOP lawmakers as he tries to stretch between the Republican Party’s divided support for helping Kyiv defend itself from Moscow’s invasion. The Republican speaker has sat for two months on a $95 billion supplemental package that would send support to the U.S. allies, as well as provide humanitarian aid for civilians in Ukraine and Gaza and funding to replenish U.S. weapons provided to Taiwan.

The unprecedented attack by Iran on Israel early Sunday further ratcheted up the pressure on Johnson, but also gave him an opportunity to underscore the urgency of approving the funding.

Related video above: The top Democrat in the House suggested some Dems could vote to save Speaker Johnson if Republicans try to oust him over Ukraine bill.

Johnson told Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures” that he and Republicans “understand the necessity of standing with Israel” and he would try this week to advance the aid.

“The details of that package are being put together right now,” he said. “We’re looking at the options and all these supplemental issues.”

GOP Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that Johnson “has made it clear” that he sees a path for funding for Israel, Ukraine and allies in Asia to come to the House floor this week.

The speaker has expressed support for legislation that would structure some of the funding for Kyiv as loans, pave the way for the U.S. to tap frozen Russian central bank assets and include other policy changes. Johnson has pushed for the Biden administration to lift a pause on approvals for Liquefied Natural Gas exports and at times has also demanded policy changes at the U.S. border with Mexico.

But currently, the only package with wide bipartisan support in Congress is the Senate-passed bill that includes roughly $60 billion for Ukraine and $14 billion for Israel.

Video below: Sen. Chris Coons calls on House to pass supplemental foreign aid package following Iran attack; urges Israel to “pause for a moment” before responding

White House national security spokesman John Kirby called on the speaker to put that package “on the floor as soon as possible.”

“We didn’t need any reminders in terms of what’s going on in Ukraine,” Kirby said on NBC. “But last night certainly underscores significantly the threat that Israel faces in a very, very tough neighborhood.”

As Johnson searches for a way to advance the funding for Ukraine, he has been in conversations with both the White House and former president Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

With his job under threat, Johnson traveled to Florida on Friday for an event with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago club. Trump expressed support for Johnson and said he had a “very good relationship” with him.

“He and I are 100% united on these big agenda items,” Johnson said. “When you talk about aid to Ukraine, he’s introduced the loan-lease concept which is a really important one and I think has a lot of consensus.”

But Trump, with his “America First” agenda, has inspired many Republicans to push for a more isolationist stance. Support for Ukraine has steadily eroded in the roughly two years since the war began, and a cause that once enjoyed wide support has become one of Johnson’s toughest problems.

When he returns to Washington on Monday, Johnson also will be facing a contingent of conservatives already angry with how he has led the House in maintaining much of the status quo both on government spending and more recently, a U.S. government surveillance tool.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a right-wing Republican from Georgia, has called for Johnson’s ouster. She departed the Capitol on Friday telling reporters that support for her effort was growing.

While no other Republicans have openly joined Greene, a growing number of hardline conservatives are openly disparaging Johnson and defying his leadership.

Meanwhile, senior GOP lawmakers who support aid to Ukraine are growing frustrated with the months-long wait to bring it to the House floor. Kyiv’s troops have been running low on ammunition and Russia is becoming emboldened as it looks to gain ground in a spring and summer offensive. A massive missile and drone attack destroyed one of Ukraine’s largest power plants and damaged others last week.

“Russia is beginning to gain ground. Ukraine is beginning to lose the ability to defend itself,” Turner said. “The United States must step up and provide Ukraine the weapons that they need.”

The divided dynamic has forced Johnson to try to stitch together a package that has some policy wins for Republicans while also keeping Democrats on board. Democrats, however, have repeatedly called on the speaker to put the $95 billion package passed by the Senate in February on the floor.

Although progressive Democrats have resisted supporting the aid to Israel over concerns it would support its campaign into Gaza that has killed thousands of civilians, most House Democrats have gotten behind supporting the Senate package.

“The reason why the Senate bill is the only bill is because of the urgency,” Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said last week. “We pass the Senate bill, it goes straight to the president’s desk and you start getting the aid to Ukraine immediately. That’s the only option.”

Many Democrats also have signaled they would likely be willing to help Johnson defeat an effort to remove him from the speaker’s office if he puts the Senate bill on the floor.

“I’m one of those who would save him if we can do Israel, Taiwan, Ukraine and some reasonable border security,” said Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Texas Democrat.

___

Associated Press writer Kevin Freking contributed.

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April 14, 2024
Kevin McCarthy Finally Defies the Right

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The speaker made a last-minute reversal to avert a government shutdown. It could cost him his job.

Anna Moneymaker / Getty

September 30, 2023, 5:52 PM ET

Updated at 9:02 p.m. ET on September 30, 2023

For weeks, Speaker Kevin McCarthy seemed to face an impossible choice as he haggled over spending bills with his party’s most hard-line members: He could keep the government open, or he could keep his job. At every turn, McCarthy’s behavior suggested that he favored the latter option. He continued accepting the demands of far-right Republicans to deepen spending cuts and dig in against the Democrats, making a shutdown at tonight’s midnight deadline all but a certainty.

Read: Why Republicans can’t keep the government open

With just hours to go, however, the speaker abruptly changed course, defying his conservative tormentors and partnering with Democrats to avert a shutdown. The House this afternoon overwhelmingly approved a temporary extension of federal funding. The Senate passed the bill in the evening, putting off a shutdown for at least 45 days and buying both parties more time to negotiate spending for the next fiscal year.

The question now is whether McCarthy’s pivot will end his nine-month tenure as speaker. By folding—for now—on the shutdown fight, he is effectively daring Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida and other hard-line Republicans to make good on their threats to depose him. “If somebody wants to remove [me] because I want to be the adult in the room, go ahead and try,” McCarthy told reporters before the vote. “But I think this country is too important.”

The stopgap bill includes disaster-relief money sought by both parties, but McCarthy refused to add $6 billion in Ukraine aid that the Biden administration and a bipartisan majority of senators wanted. The Senate had been on the verge of passing its own extension that included the Ukraine money, but after the House vote it was expected to accept McCarthy’s proposal instead. Whether House Republicans agree to include Ukraine assistance in the next major spending bill is unclear, but Democrats and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell are likely to make an aggressive push for it.

McCarthy’s surprising about-face set off a wild few hours in the Capitol. Democrats were caught off guard and stalled for time to read the new bill, unsure if Republicans were trying to sneak conservative policy priorities into the legislation without anyone noticing. (In the end, only a single Democrat voted against it.) Representative Jamaal Bowman of New York, a second-term Democrat, caused the evacuation of an entire House office building when he pulled a fire alarm just before the vote, in what Republicans said was a deliberate—and possibly criminal—effort to delay the proceedings. (Bowman’s chief of staff said that the representative “did not realize he would trigger a building alarm as he was rushing to make an urgent vote. The Congressman regrets any confusion.”)

Annie Lowrey: How to end government shutdowns, forever

On the right, the criticism of McCarthy was predictable and immediate. “Should he remain Speaker of the House?” one of his Republican opponents, Representative Andy Biggs of Arizona, tweeted after the vote, seemingly rhetorically. Yet to more moderate Republicans, the speaker’s decision was a long time coming. McCarthy’s months-long kowtowing to the right had frustrated more pragmatic and politically vulnerable House Republicans, a few of whom threatened to join Democratic efforts to avert, or end, a shutdown. But many Republicans are even more furious at Gaetz and his allies. “Why live in fear of these guys? If they want to have the fight, have the fight,” former Representative Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania, a moderate who served in the House with McCarthy for 12 years, told me. “I don’t understand why you would appease people who are doing nothing but trying to hurt and humiliate you.”

This morning, the speaker finally came to the same conclusion. His move to relent on a shutdown only kicks the stalemate over federal spending to another day. Now it’s up to House Republicans to decide if McCarthy gets to stick around to resolve it.

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Russell Berman

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September 30, 2023