House Republicans faced a critical hurdle in advancing the foreign aid bill for Ukraine and Israel as they had to rely on Democratic votes to move the plan out of the Rules Committee and onto the floor. The 9-to-3 vote in the Rules Committee reflected anger from far-right Republicans over Speaker Mike Johnson’s plan, highlighting the divisions within the party.
Speaker Johnson will heavily rely on Democrats to push the $95 billion aid package across the finish line, signaling a possible shift in bipartisan cooperation. Three far-right Republicans on the panel initially refused to back the rule needed to bring up the bill, putting it at risk of dying in committee. In a surprising turn of events, Democrats on the panel stepped in to save the bill in an extraordinary breach of custom.
All Democrats voted to advance the plan out of committee, breaking from the traditional straight party-line vote. The Rules Committee, typically an organ of the speaker, saw a rare display of bipartisanship in moving the legislation forward. The move highlights the importance of foreign aid for Ukraine and Israel and the need for cooperation across party lines to address critical international issues.
With the aid package now set to move to the floor for a full vote, all eyes will be on the Speaker and how he navigates the support from both Republicans and Democrats to ensure the bill’s passage. The future of foreign aid for Ukraine and Israel hangs in the balance as lawmakers work towards a bipartisan solution.
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