House Speaker Mike Johnson revealed on Monday night his proposal to pass separate measures this week to send aid to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, risking his speakership if he advanced any funding legislation for Ukraine.
However, Mr. Johnson, Louisiana Republican, brushed off concerns about rank-and-file threats to his speakership over Ukraine funding.
“I don’t spend my time worrying about motions to vacate. We’re having to govern here and we’re going to do our job,” Mr. Johnson told reporters. “I’m not sure how that shakes out.”
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Georgia Republican, has been the most vocal about ejecting Mr. Johnson over allowing any vote on Ukraine aid.
She called his plan a “scam,” but did not say whether she would file a privileged motion to vacate the chair over this plan.
Mr. Johnson’s plan intends to satisfy his right flank and national security hawks by separating the bills and providing billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.
His proposal for these measures comes in the wake of lobbed missiles and drones from Iran into Israel as retaliation for a deadly airstrike on its consulate in Syria.
However, there is no guarantee these funding bills will be separated by the time they reach the Senate, as House lawmakers are still discussing whether they would be merged in one package that is sent to the Senate or sent individually.
Rep. Marcus Molinaro, New York Republican, said that Mr. Johnson laid out a “very democratic process” for lawmakers to go about “thoughtfully expressing their opinions.”
“Everybody can vote their conscience vote their constituency and then defend that position,” he said.
GOP Lawmakers are discussing various ways to pay for Ukraine aid funding, including a loan structure program or passing a bill authored by Rep. French Hill of Arkansas, which would go after Russian money that’s held in foreign accounts.
Additionally, while there will be an amendment process on the floor, according to Speaker Johnson, votes related to sanctions on Iran are expected.
“I think the final product will be something that everybody can take competence in because they got to pick up the vote their district and vote their conscience,” Mr. Johnson said.
• Kerry Picket can be reached at kpicket@washingtontimes.com.
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