Democrats Save Mike Johnson's Foreign Aid Package ...

7 days ago

Forbes

Topline

The House cleared a crucial procedural hurdle to pass a package of hotly debated foreign aid bills Friday with bipartisan support—with more Democrats than Republicans voting in favor of the legislation championed by House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., a rarity that underscores the difficulties Johnson faces in wrangling his fractious GOP conference.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) walks towards the House Chamber on Capitol Hill on April 19, 2024 ... [+] in Washington, DC. Johnson is pushing aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan through the House over objections from some members of his own party. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Getty Images Key Facts

The House approved the rules governing debate surrounding three bills that would deliver $95 billion in aid to Ukraine, Israel and the U.S.’s Indo-Pacific partners, teeing the package up for a formal vote on the floor as soon as Saturday.

More Democrats (165) than Republicans (151) voted in favor of the rules, for a final roll call of 316-94.

Biden supports the legislative package and said he will sign it into law if it passes the Senate, which returns from recess April 29.

Friday’s vote follows a similar circumstance late Thursday in the House Rules Committee, when three far-right Republicans, Reps. Tom Massie, R-Ky., Ralph Norman, R-S.C., and Chip Roy, R-Texas, voted against advancing the legislative package, but the committee’s four Democrats voted alongside the five remaining Republicans to move it out of committee.

Thursday’s vote marked a rare, if not unprecedented, occurrence in the committee, which is controlled by Republicans and typically approves virtually all legislation backed by the speaker along party lines.

Key Background

The $95 billion package introduced earlier this week would deliver approximately $26 billion in aid to Israel, $61 billion for Ukraine and $8 billion for the U.S.’s Indo-Pacific partners, including Taiwan. The funding levels mirror the foreign aid package that passed the Senate in February, with some modifications, including structuring a portion of Ukraine aid as a loan, in line with former President Donald Trump’s suggestion. Johnson faced mounting pressure to unveil the package after Iran attacked Israel over the weekend. But he has been met with resistance from far-right lawmakers who have repeatedly blocked legislation from moving through the House by leveraging the GOP’s slim 218-213 majority to push through their own policy priorities. The legislative package could also include separate bills that would install new border controls and a second that that would implement various GOP-backed measures, including a potential TikTok ban and new sanctions on Russia, China and Iran.

What To Watch For

Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and Tom Massie, R-Ky., have threatened to call up a motion to vacate Johnson from the speakership over the foreign aid packages. Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., also endorsed the effort on Friday. Greene initially introduced the measure last month after the House approved its fiscal year 2024 budget, though she did not do so as a “privileged” resolution, meaning there’s no time frame for voting on the motion. Multiple Democrats have indicated they would vote to save Johnson from an ouster if the motion is brought to the floor.

Crucial Quote

"I do not spend time walking around thinking about the motion to vacate. I have a job to do here. I'm going to do the job. Regardless of personal consequences, that's what we're supposed to do," Johnson told reporters Wednesday. "If Marjorie brings the motion, she brings the motion and we'll let the chips fall where they may. I have to do what I have to do and then the members will vote their conscience as well."