As Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) continues to face immense pressure from his own party to avoid supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russia, the GOP leader appears to be moving closer to defying his far-right colleagues.
US Rep. Marjorie Greene (R-GA) and — as of Tuesday, April 16 — US Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) plan to oust the speaker if he negotiates with Democrats to approve the $90 billion foreign aid package that includes $60 billion in aid to Ukraine as the country quickly runs out of ammunition.
CBS News reports that on Wednesday, House GOP leaders released "legislative text for three bills that are part of a complicated plan" Johnson expects to use to get Ukraine the aid it needs, while also appealing to Republican hardliners.
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According to the news outlet, "The three bills would provide $26.4 billion to support Israel, $60.8 billion to bolster Ukraine and $8.1 billion to counter China in the Indo-Pacific, including billions for Taiwan. The Israel bill also includes more than $9.1 billion to address humanitarian needs, which Democrats said was necessary for their support."
During the latest episode of CNN's The Lead with Jake Tapper, Johnson that he plans to defy Greene and Massie's request to abandon Ukraine.
"So I understand what you're doing, breaking up these foreign aid packages — Ukraine, Taiwan, Israel, — letting the House work its will," Tapper said, "and then sending over to the Senate into one bill — whatever passes. Why didn't you do this months ago? I mean, ukraine is desperate for aid."
Johnson replied, "Yeah, they are. Well, it takes a long time to socialize and build consensus when you have the smallest majority in US history. So that's part of it, and it's very practical politics here. But also ,we've had other big lifts in this Congress, as you know, we've had to get the government appropriations bills done, and then we had to do the renewal of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and some pretty heavy measures."
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He continued, "And it was a lot to handle at one time. Look, we know what the timetable is, we know the urgency in Ukraine and in Israel. And we are going to stand by Israel, our close ally and dear friend, and we're going to stand for freedom and make sure that [Russian President] Vladimir Putin doesn't march through Europe. These are important responsibilities."
"A strong America is good for the entire world," the speaker emphasized. "Since World War II, really, really, the responsibility for the free world has been shifted onto our shoulders, and we accept that role — we're an exceptional nation. We're the greatest nation on the planet, and we have to act like it, and we have to project to Putin and Xi and Iran and North Korea and anybody else, that we will defend freedom.
He notes, "It doesn't mean boots on the ground. We're not the world's policeman, but we're going to do the right thing, and I think that Congress is going to take an important stand here."
Watch the video below or at this link.
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Mike Johnson: Congress will 'make sure that Vladimir Putin doesn’t march through Europe' youtu.be
