U.S. House GOP seeks to fund Israel military aid separately from Ukraine
U.S. House Republicans are moving ahead with legislation that would send billions of dollars in aid to Israel but ignores the White House’s request to include billions more for Ukraine and other national security concerns.
Notably, the bill unveiled Monday would offset the US$14.3 billion in additional military and humanitarian funding by stripping the same amount from the Internal Revenue Service. That condition sets up a fight with the White House and Senate Democrats, who argue it would set a dangerous precedent allowing lawmakers to hold international aid hostage for domestic political priorities.
Why cut IRS funding?
Biden to send Congress $100B urgent funding request for Ukraine, Israel and Tawain
Hard-line Republicans, however, appeared to celebrate the political conundrum the bill creates.
Story continues below advertisement
“(Johnson) is going to make (lawmakers) choose between the IRS or supporting our greatest ally against an unprovoked terror attack on their soil. I think it’s an easy choice, quite honestly,” Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, who leads the conservative House Freedom Caucus, told Fox News.
Some Democrats on Monday were already making clear they plan to vote in favour of the bill despite the proposed offsets.
“I am not going to take the bait,” Rep. Jared Moskowitz of Florida said on social media site X. “There are American hostages. This is not a game.”
