“Leveraging Israel aid as it fights for survival is wrong,” Johnson said. And he’s right. Too many in the House do not understand the grave risk to the Jewish state; nor do they understand that Israel stands on the front lines of the battle against jihad, and that America and the West are next.
“Aid package for Israel fails in the House, dealing another setback to GOP leaders,” by Kevin Freking, Associated Press, February 6, 2024:
WASHINGTON — A bill to provide Israel with more military aid went down to defeat Tuesday in the House, spoiling Speaker Mike Johnson’s attempt to separate Israel from other national security priorities, including helping Ukraine defend itself from Russia’s military invasion and deterring crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border.
The vote gave individual lawmakers another chance to show voters their support for Israel and could be used on the campaign trail to criticize those who voted against it. But it did little to generate momentum toward passage of a final emergency spending package.
It was also the second setback of the day for House Republican leaders. Just minutes before the vote their drive to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas fell short due to opposition from three House Republicans.
The House had already gone on the record in support of an Israel aid package. Johnson brought that package up in November on one of his first days as the new House speaker. The vote was in response to Hamas and other militants killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking captive some 240 men, women and children in an Oct. 7 attack.
Last year’s measure also included budget cuts to the Internal Revenue Service. This time, there were no attempts to offset the new spending, which ended up alienating some of the Republican members concerned about federal deficits. Meanwhile, Democrats largely remained opposed, concerned passage of the bill would leave no way to get Ukraine more aid. The bill did manage to gain more Democratic support than during November’s vote but not nearly enough to pass….
Fourteen Republicans ended up voting against the bill, concerned about the lack of spending cuts to offset the $17.6 billion price tag. That compares to 204 Republicans who voted for it. On the Democratic side, 46 voted for it and 166 against…..
WPM says
60 billion for a never ending war in the Ukraine no over sight on where the funds go ,10 billion for terrorist running what is presently Gaza, no over sight , 4 billion for the South Pacific what??,and only 20 billion to the present crisis at the American Southern Border that the Biden administration can do something today with out congress or the Senate approving anything (start by replacing that bald headed smirking idiot that runs homeland security as a travel agency for illegal aliens at the southern border) . Yes Israel could receive and should receive funds in a stand along bill .What does the South Pacific ,Ukraine ,Americas border, and Gaza re-building when terrorist run it like gangsters have to do with Israel defending its self??
Tatanka says
Totally upside down world today, money for every thug and terrorist org but not for the cause that needs it.
A stain on humanity.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
How did the package end up going down? 166+14 is 180, whereas 204+46 is 250. Looks like there was a strong vote in favor of the Israeli package
I won’t totally fault the 14 who voted against: money & the border is a good reason to do it. On the Dem side, though, since money is no object, the 166 who voted against were just being good jihadist-Leftists