Johnson refuses to promise Senate GOP he’ll combine Ukraine and Israel aid
House Speaker Mike Johnson Raises Concerns About Passing Bipartisan Supplemental Legislation
During a meeting with Senate Republicans, House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed doubts about the passage of their bipartisan supplemental legislation. The legislation includes aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, as well as a border security measure. Johnson’s comments indicated that it would be challenging to pass the Senate’s national security legislation through the House of Representatives.
Difficulties in Combining Aid and Border Security
While Johnson did not explicitly state his plans to separate Israel aid and combine Ukraine assistance with a border bill, his remarks suggested that combining all the elements would face significant obstacles in the House. Senator Mike Braun interpreted Johnson’s comments as indicating that it would be difficult to secure enough votes to pass the legislation.
Republicans in both chambers have agreed that Ukraine aid should be conditioned on substantial border policy changes. However, reaching a consensus on these changes has proven challenging, particularly regarding federal asylum policy and the Biden administration’s use of humanitarian parole authority.
Support from Schumer and McConnell
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell have shown support for combining Israel and Ukraine aid, along with border security measures. However, they differ on specific policy change details. The inclusion of Taiwan assistance aims to broaden support for the bill.
Obstacles in the House
The bipartisan package is expected to pass the Senate with broad support. However, it may face difficulties in the House without significant border policy changes. House GOP lawmakers who oppose Ukraine aid could pose considerable opposition to the legislation.
If Senate Democrats were to separate the bills, passing individual legislation on their own in the Senate could be challenging. Democrats would need full party support and the backing of nine Republicans to pass legislation altering border policy.
Fractured GOP Conference in the House
While Republicans control the House, their conference has experienced divisions in recent months. This has made it challenging for them to unite around any particular issue since some members helped remove former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy from his leadership post.
Keeping Options Open
Senate Republicans and their aides remain undeterred by Johnson’s comments. They believe he is trying to keep his options open rather than ruling out the possibility of passing the Senate’s package. Senator John Kennedy emphasized that the onus is on Schumer to make decisions about the bill’s content and move it forward.
Potential Challenges in the Senate
If the House rejects the Senate’s supplemental package, the Senate would need to consider each bill separately. However, this could prove tricky to accomplish. The Ukraine funding might lack GOP votes, while the border funding could face Democratic defections.
While packaging the measures together could secure enough votes in both chambers, the timing would not be ideal. The Senate is already occupied with the supplemental deal, appropriations process, and confirmation of military nominations throughout December.
Hope for Bipartisan Passage
Senator Chris Murphy, the lead Democrat negotiator on the border deal, acknowledged the difficulties of separating the bills. He expressed hope that the Senate could pass something with a significant bipartisan vote, signaling to the House that bipartisan passage is achievable.
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What obstacles may the bipartisan package face in the House of Representatives without significant border policy changes, and how can bipartisan cooperation and compromise address these challenges
Johnson’s concerns about passing the bipartisan supplemental legislation are realized, it could have implications for national security and foreign aid. The aid provided to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan is crucial for maintaining stability in these regions and supporting American allies. The inclusion of a border security measure is also important for addressing immigration issues and protecting national interests.
The difficulties in combining aid and border security lie in reaching a consensus on policy changes. Republicans in both chambers believe that Ukraine aid should be conditioned on substantial border policy changes. However, the specifics of these changes, such as federal asylum policy and the use of humanitarian parole authority, have proven to be points of contention.
Despite these challenges, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell support the combination of Israel and Ukraine aid with border security measures. Their differing views on specific policy changes highlight the need for further discussion and negotiation. The inclusion of Taiwan assistance aims to garner broader support for the bill.
In the House of Representatives, the bipartisan package may face obstacles without significant border policy changes. House GOP lawmakers who oppose Ukraine aid could pose considerable opposition to the legislation. This highlights the need for bipartisan cooperation and compromise in order to pass the bill and ensure the provision of essential aid.
The passing of the bipartisan supplemental legislation is critical for upholding national security and supporting key allies. It is important for lawmakers to address the concerns and challenges raised by House Speaker Mike Johnson in order to achieve a successful outcome. By finding common ground on border policy changes and garnering support from both sides of the aisle, it is possible to pass the legislation and provide much-needed assistance to Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and address border security concerns.
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