Speaker of the US House of Representatives Mike Johnson advocates for aid to Ukraine to be considered separately from the aid package to Israel. And Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell is confident that the initiatives need to be combined.
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Significant differences in positions among influential GOP lawmakers in Congress mark what US media have called “what is likely the last congressional battle over aid to Ukraine before the presidential election.”
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is taking an unusually hard line on aid to Ukraine and insisting on voting on aid to Ukraine and Israel in a single package, Politico writes.
Johnson said on Sunday that a separate bill to help Israel would be introduced in the House of Representatives as soon as this week.
The Hill points out that although institutionally the Republican leaders in the US House of Representatives and Senate are doomed to cooperate, the difference in views between McConnell and Johnson is so great that it is easier for McConnell to cooperate with the leader of their political opponents, the Democrats in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, than with Johnson.
Let us remind you that a number of Republican legislators oppose the combination of American aid for Israel and Ukraine in the request of President Joe Biden’s administration for additional funding of $106 billion.
According to the Wall Street Journal, there is broad support among Republican senators for aid to Israel, but less support for Ukraine.
Other legislators also have their reservations or proposals. In particular, Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell advocated increasing attention to strengthening security on the southern border of the United States.
Meanwhile, Senate Democrats are calling for approval of the White House’s request for additional funding.
Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, speaking at the meeting, said that bipartisan support for the allocation of these funds is important, because we are talking about protecting the interests of the United States, American allies and democratic values around the world.
Both Democrats and Republicans know that if Putin, Hamas or other adversaries succeed, it will endanger Americans around the world, Schumer said.
To pass the bill, the votes of at least 60 of the 100 senators are needed, which means that Democrats, with 51 seats, need at least 9 Republican votes. Any legislation also needs approval in the House of Representatives, where Republicans have a slim majority.
Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.