House GOP's $143 billion Israel aid sparks tensions with Senate
House GOP's $143B aid bill for Israel sparks Senate clash as it reallocates funds from the IRS Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized that the bill includes equal spending cuts, rescinding $143B allocated to the IRS under the Inflation Reduction Act
The House has published the text of its proposed bill to provide funding for Israel, allocating $14.3 billion to support the country. This will serve as a crucial test of leadership for newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson. As mentioned by the Louisiana Republican last week, the bill, which is led by the GOP, includes equal spending cuts amounting to $14.3 billion. These cuts will revoke the funds that were previously designated for the IRS under the Inflation Reduction Act.
The bills offsets, according to Democrats, may impede its approval in the House. Presently, two House Republicans, namely Thomas Massie from Kentucky and Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia, have declared their opposition to the bill.
Regarding the Senate, both leaders are advocating for the merger of funds directed towards Israel, Ukraine, and border security. Johnson has advocated for the separation of aid to Israel from aid to Ukraine.
Johnson informed Fox News on Monday that he intends to contact Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to discuss his efforts to incorporate spending reductions in order to offset the expenses of the Israel package. The package is set to be debated in the House later this week, but Senate Democrats have indicated their opposition to this proposal.
During a recorded interview with Fox News, Johnson acknowledged that his strategy might lead to a loss of support from Senate and House Democrats. Nevertheless, he expressed his intention to have an open and considerate discussion with Schumer regarding this matter. He acknowledged that their primary focus is to strengthen the IRS.
Schumer stressed the inclusion of funding for Ukraine and humanitarian aid for Gaza in any supplemental package. He emphasized the importance of collaborating with fellow House members to ensure that all forms of aid reach the President's desk. According to Schumer, giving in to the false allure of isolationism, as the hard right currently promotes, would only make America less secure.
Senator Patty Murray, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee and is a trusted ally of Schumer, criticized the bill for its focus on IRS enforcement and its exclusion of aid to Ukraine. She went as far as calling it "dead-on-arrival" in the Senate, signaling that there is no way for the legislation to pass in that chamber.
In a statement, the Washington Democrat stated that demanding significant funding cuts to address urgent emergency needs is a reckless political tactic. She emphasized that the proposed cuts by House Republicans would only exacerbate the deficit by limiting the IRS's ability to pursue wealthy individuals evading taxes.
At an event in Louisville, Kentucky, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell joined forces with Ukrainian Ambassador to the US Oksana Markarova and stressed the importance of including aid for Ukraine in the national security supplemental. McConnell emphasized the need for immediate action to prevent further loss of life and to hold the tyrants accountable for their actions in Ukraine and Israel. He urged the Senate to provide substantial assistance that would effectively address these challenges and ensure the restoration of security, as failure to do so would be closely observed by foreign adversaries.
Several Senate Republicans are currently at odds regarding McConnell's efforts to tie Ukraine aid to an Israel package. A group of conservative colleagues feel it would be more prudent to prioritize the Israel package, following the lead set by the House. "I believe putting Israel first is the correct course of action," expressed Sen. Rick Scott, a Republican from Florida. "Given our majority in the House, it would be wise to align with their approach."
Missouri Senator, Josh Hawley, who has expressed doubts about providing aid to Ukraine, criticized McConnell's approach as a "mistake" and warned that it could delay aid to Israel.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham from South Carolina, who strongly supports aid for Ukraine, indicated his willingness to pass funding for Israel separately. However, he emphasized the importance of ensuring that other priorities, such as aid for Ukraine, also receive approval from Congress.
He stated that all of those tasks must be completed for him, with no exceptions. He added, "You can send Israel over separately, that would be acceptable." This report includes contributions from CNN's Manu Raju, Sam Fossum, and Morgan Rimmer.
