House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) announced on Saturday that the House would vote on a Pentagon funding bill that includes aid for Ukraine. Initially, the Congressman said the $300 million in aid for Kyiv would be voted on separately from the annual Department of Defense spending bill.
Congress is seeking to pass spending bills before funding for the government runs out at the end of the month. Politicians are warning that if legislation is not passed by then Washington will enter a “government shutdown.” Despite the connotation, most of the American government will continue to function even if Congress does not provide funding. Last week, the White House announced that military aid to Ukraine will persist whether there is a “shutdown” or not.
Both houses of Congress recently passed significantly different versions of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). As that bill is likely to face significant debate, it is unlikely to pass prior to the end of the month when current funding runs out.
To advert some departments of the government from being shut down, Speaker McCarthy plans to pass appropriations bills for the Departments of Defense, State, Homeland Security, and USDA. The appropriations legislation would differ from an NDAA as it would only impact funding levels and not change policy.
On Friday, McCarthy said that due to significant concern about providing funding to Ukraine, he would strip a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act that provided $300 million in assistance for Kyiv. A day later, the Speaker reversed course saying his plan did not have the votes to pass. “It became too difficult to do that, so we’re leaving it in,” he said.
It is unclear if the move will garner enough votes to pass the Pentagon funding legislation. McCarthy’s strategy calls on picking up votes from across the aisle at the expense of Republican support. Last week, 28 members of the House signed a letter saying they would not support any additional aid for Ukraine.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is seeking a third option. He would like to pass a continuing resolution (CR) to continue to fund the entire government at current spending levels. Schumer additionally wants to attach a $24 billion aid package to Ukraine within the CR. The $24 billion package is separate from the $300 million in funding attached to McCarthy’s defense appropriations bill.
The Speaker plans to allow a vote that would strip any aid to Ukraine out of the funding bills for the Department of Defense and State. However, the motion is likely to fail as an overwhelming majority in Congress still firmly supports sending more tax dollars to Kyiv.
Kyle Anzalone is the opinion editor of Antiwar.com, news editor of the Libertarian Institute, and co-host of Conflicts of Interest.
The Federal Gov. has failed and must be replaced or the USA split in 3 or 4 separate countries. Time has now run out.
In civics class they use lecture, Congress has the power of purse. Well it looks like someone has stolen that purse and is throwing wild Armageddon parties.
McCarthy’s explanation seems unlikely. I can’t imagine 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 refusing to vote for a defense spending bill unless it includes money for Ukraine. There must be something else happening that he doesn’t want to talk about.
Hmmm, I wasn’t aware that sanctions could be imposed on a Speaker of the House.
Angry red drips from the sky and thru the pukish haze emerges, the hideous, grotesque shape of man, standing naked, the nature of our beginning…
Wow, Donna…that rocks! ❤️
This is from a poem I wrote, called:
Apocalypse Dawn.
Thank you very much.
You’re so talented Donna 🥰
omg
All hail the Superman! eh?
$300 million, not for the homeless, not for the medically uninsured, not for the food insecure.
$300 million more for another Amerikkkan quagmire.
The only difference between this quagmire and the previous ones is that Amerikkkan soldiers are not putting their lives on the line…YET. And of course every civilian in the world could be facing nuclear annihilation.
GO, USA, GO!
Wild guess here, the supposed momentary lapse in “reasoning, a ploy of props, the gambit why the freezing of gamble as to induce a perception of hesitation itself, yours (sic) oui,,, (‘) look no “further
Again and again, we love to buy that fake image of a “Reluctant Warrior.” Harry Truman:Look what you made me do. (Sarcasm)
McCarthy says he will include $300 million in aid to Ukraine
i bet that there are some school children in the US that could use some books
Demo rats and Repugninants always have money for war. This time is different. This time our so called “enemy” can fight back with 6000 nuclear heads on our heads. (sarcasm)
McCarthy is a RINO from California. The fact that he a member of the political class of a state the Democrats have destroyed means that he is either incompetant or a failure.
“House Speaker Reverses Course, Will Add Ukraine Funding to Defense Billn- Rep.
Kevin McCarthy says he will include $300 million in aid to Ukraine in
the annual defense spending bill, in an effort to pick up votes”
Kevin McCarthy is a disgusting weasel from the Uniparty in America.
I have voted in every election in America since I was 18, but I refuse to vote ever again and participate in the sham.
Both Democrats and Republicans are part of the same scheme to enrich themselves at the expense of average American citizens. These odious politicians will allow the destruction of mankind if they can make a buck.