The House of Representatives approves a $60 billion bill to provide aid to Ukraine, while Republican rebels pose a threat to remove Johnson from office

The House of Representatives has given its approval for the allocation of $60 billion to Ukraine in order to enhance its defense against Russia's invasion. This matter has caused significant turmoil within Speaker Mike Johnson's already fragile majority.

The aid package was approved by a vote of 311 to 112, with a greater number of Democrats supporting it compared to Republicans. Only 101 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while 112 voted against it.

 The aid package was approved with a vote of 311 to 112, showing more Democrats in favor than Republicans. Only 101 Republicans supported the bill, while 112 voted against it. During the voting process, Democrats started passing around Ukrainian flags, causing an uproar on the left side of the aisle. Rep. Marc Molinaro, who was overseeing the vote, criticized this action as a breach of House protocol and deemed it "inappropriate." Despite his warning, Democrats continued to wave the flags, prompting further disapproval from Molinaro.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a Republican from Florida, addressed the public by stating, "Please remove those flags," which resulted in further criticism from Democrats before the session resumed for the next vote. 

House legislators are currently convening on an uncommon Saturday to deliberate and approve Johnson's $95 billion foreign assistance proposal. This comprehensive plan encompasses aid provisions for Israel and the Indo-Pacific, alongside a bill encompassing additional national security measures. In a resounding triumph for the Louisiana Republican, all four bills were successfully passed with an impressive display of bipartisan support.

The narrow margins within the GOP alone demonstrate the extent to which Ukraine funding has become a polarizing issue for the right.

1. An increasing amount of fiscal conservatives have expressed doubts regarding the United States' ongoing financial ties with Ukraine, as some have also brought up concerns about corruption within the government of Kyiv.

1. The attempt made by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to remove all funding associated with Ukraine from the Ukraine funding bill was unsurprisingly unsuccessful, as it was defeated in a 71 to 351 vote on Saturday.

Traditional Republicans and national security hawks emphasize the importance of Ukraine's triumph in order to avert a broader confrontation between NATO and Russia. They caution that President Vladimir Putin is swiftly forging a second "axis of evil" alongside Iran and China.

Johnson, along with his conservative counterparts, initially had doubts about providing aid to Ukraine before assuming the role of speaker. Earlier this week, he issued a serious caution. "I have full confidence in the intelligence reports and briefings we have received, which suggest that [Chinese President Xi Jinping], Vladimir Putin, and Iran are indeed an axis of evil. It appears that they are working together on this matter. I believe that if given the chance, Vladimir Putin would not hesitate to advance through Europe. He may even target the Balkans next, or engage in a confrontation with Poland or one of our NATO allies," he informed the press. "In simple terms, I would prefer to send ammunition to Ukraine rather than risk the lives of American soldiers," he concluded.

However, his endorsement of international assistance, specifically towards Ukraine, is also jeopardizing his position as the Speaker of the House. Last month, Greene submitted a resolution for a comprehensive House vote to remove Johnson, referred to as a motion to vacate, as a means of protesting his collaboration with Democrats on matters of government expenditure and foreign aid.

This week, two additional House Republicans, namely Representatives Thomas Massie from Kentucky and Paul Gosar from Arizona, officially supported her resolution.

Gosar stated in a release on Friday that the United States House of Representatives, led by the Speaker, is close to approving an additional $61 billion for involvement in Ukraine, despite previous assurances that no extra funds would be allocated without securing the southern border and addressing the issue of 11 million undocumented immigrants. "I have endorsed the motion to remove the Speaker. Our border must not be neglected," Gosar added.

Greene informed journalists on Saturday following the vote that this marks the third instance of betrayal towards Mike Johnson, referring to his previous government funding deal and the extension of a crucial government surveillance mechanism.

She proceeded to say, "Furthermore, he introduced this nonsensical foreign war package on the House floor, which offers no benefit to America. It's truly astonishing. I am grateful that America is able to witness his true character."

In the meantime, Representative Don Bacon, a Republican from Nebraska, acknowledged the possibility that Johnson might face consequences for advocating his foreign aid proposal, but commended the speaker for making a principled decision despite the potential risks involved.

Bacon stated that we possessed information indicating that if we did not accomplish this task promptly, Ukraine would find itself in a precarious predicament.

 

House leaders are not obligated to bring Greene's resolution to a vote unless she designates it as "privileged," in which case lawmakers must address it within two legislative days. Greene has not specified a timeline for when she may do so.

Despite this, a number of Democrats have expressed their willingness to assist in preserving Johnson's position, provided that he brings the Ukraine aid bill to the House floor. On Saturday, the bill, which allocated approximately $8 billion for the Indo-Pacific region, received an overwhelming majority vote of 385 to 34.