The Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, has raised expectations that a vote on funding Ukraine could be imminent in the House, even at the risk of the Republican losing his leadership position, reports The Guardian.
Johnson spoke of “significant innovations” to a possible Ukraine package during an interview on Fox News’ Sunday Night in America and suggested a vote on a stand-alone bill could take place immediately after Congress returns from Easter recess on April 9.
But the Louisiana Republican has acknowledged that forces in his own party have sought to impeach him over his efforts to find a bipartisan solution to stalled US funding for Ukraine’s efforts to repel Russia’s military invasion. Far-right Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene filed a motion to impeach Johnson in March, but failed to get it to a floor vote.
Meanwhile, the White House has warned that the delays are costing Ukraine lives and territory as Russian President Vladimir Putin “wins every day” that Congress fails to pass a funding measure.
“What we have to do in an era of divided government, historically, as we are, is build consensus. If we want to move a partisan measure, we need the support of every member (of Congress – ed.), literally. And some things have to be bipartisan,” Johnson said, acknowledging that the Republican majority in the House of Representatives is shrinking.
“I talked to all the members, especially now, during the period of working in the districts. When we return after this period of work, we will put a product in motion, but which will have, I think, some important innovations”.
Among those innovations are efforts to appease hard-line Republicans, who are reluctant to continue financial support for Ukraine as the country’s war is now in its third year.
Trump also called on Republicans to reject any Ukraine funding measure tied to money for US border security, denying Joe Biden’s White House a “victory” on immigration ahead of the November election, hence the interest Johnson to find a solution on his own.
This friction has led to the emergence of Right wing politicians, such as Greene, who threaten Johnson’s position. However, other fellow Republicans jumped to the leader’s defense. New York Congressman Mike Lawler criticized Greene’s impeachment motion on CNN on Sunday, calling it “idiotic.” “It’s actually not going to help advance the cause that she believes in, and it’s actually undermining the Republican majority in the House of Representatives,” he said.
Some Democrats indicated they would support Johnson if a vote were called to impeach him, and other Republicans acknowledged his precarious position.
“I’m not going to deny that. It’s a very small majority, and (without) one or two people can turn us into a minority,” Nebraska Congressman Don Bacon told NBC on Sunday.
Without identifying Greene by name, he added: “We have one or two people who are not team players. They prefer to enjoy the limelight, social networks”.
Bacon is one of several Republicans who have worked in parallel to craft an aid proposal for Ukraine. “We put together a bill that focuses on military aid, a $66 billion bill that provides military aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. There is enough support in the House to do that,” he said.
On Johnson’s plans to bring the bill to a House vote next week, Bacon added, “It’s doing the right thing.”
Publisher: AC
Tags: Republican leader House Representatives hints vote military aid Ukraine follow
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