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The Republican infighting that has both stalled and overshadowed efforts to pass funding packages for Israel and Ukraine is still raging today, as speaker Mike Johnson clings to his job in the face of a growing rightwing rebellion.
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So far, there’s no sign of a formal plan for the urgently needed aid as Johnson mulls his best approach. Kentucky extremist Thomas Massie on Tuesday gave his support to a threat by Georgia’s Marjorie Taylor Greene to invoke a “motion to vacate” if Johnson follows through with a plan to tie tens of millions of dollars in funding for Ukraine to money for Israel and Taiwan.
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Massie, Kentucky congressman.","caption":"Thomas Massie.","credit":"Photograph: Allison Bailey/NurPhoto/Shutterstock"}},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"
But standalone bills, which Johnson is said to be considering, won’t cut it in the Democratic-controlled Senate, or with Joe Biden, who has indicated he won’t sign anything other than an all-in-one package.
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And a number of Republican congress members insist they cannot support anything that would help Ukraine unless legislation includes money for strengthening the border.
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It’s a delicate dance, with no predictable outcome. Johnson, who can only afford to lose two Republican votes in any push to remove him, says he won’t resign, calling moves to oust him “absurd”.
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Meanwhile, some Democrats are ready to step in to try to save him. Florida congressman Jared Moskowitz is among those who says he’s ready to keep Johnson in place in any House vote in order to secure the advancement of US aid for overseas allies.
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My position hasn’t changed. Massie wants the world to burn, I won’t stand by and watch. I have a bucket of water. https://t.co/bn61J6N2y3
— Jared Moskowitz (@JaredEMoskowitz) April 16, 2024
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According to Politico Playbook, Johnson is “second guessing” his approach, resulting in a delay to publication of his plan, and growing unease among Republican leadership at the increasing dysfunction and chaos.
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We’ll keep an eye on developments and bring you news of any proposals as they’re published.
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Read more:
","elementId":"8c4aaff8-be49-417a-94cb-56aa6a6838fb"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement","prefix":"Related: ","text":"Second House Republican joins far-right effort to oust Mike Johnson","elementId":"3e570848-d142-48cf-9d71-06eddbca1453","role":"thumbnail","url":"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/16/house-republican-effort-oust-speaker-mike-johnson"}],"attributes":{"pinned":false,"keyEvent":true,"summary":false},"blockCreatedOn":1713360206000,"blockCreatedOnDisplay":"14.23 BST","blockLastUpdated":1713360531000,"blockLastUpdatedDisplay":"14.28 BST","blockFirstPublished":1713360531000,"blockFirstPublishedDisplay":"14.28 BST","blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone":"14.28","title":"Republican dysfunction overshadows Ukraine funding effort","contributors":[],"primaryDateLine":"Wed 17 Apr 2024 14.28 BST","secondaryDateLine":"First published on Wed 17 Apr 2024 13.58 BST"},{"id":"661fbfb28f08e58bc5786d8a","elements":[{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"
Good morning and happy hump day to US politics readers. Wednesday could finally see the publication of speaker Mike Johnson’s long-awaited plan to save his job, quell Republican infighting and advance urgent foreign aid for Israel and Ukraine.
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There’s been plenty of talk, and little action so far, on how the Republican leader plans to present solutions for the funding impasse that has further highlighted fractures in his divided caucus.
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Any misstep could trigger a “motion to vacate” by rebel-rousers Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie, and potentially see Johnson’s departure from the speaker’s chair, unless Democrats step in to save him.
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We’ll bring you news of any firm proposals as we get them.
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Elsewhere today, the Senate’s Democratic majority is plotting to sink the impeachment of homeland security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, following Tuesday’s presentation of two articles by the Republican House majority.
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Majority leader Chuck Schumer has a plan to bring votes to dismiss the charges, after senators are sworn in as jurors on Wednesday, but before arguments can begin, according to the Associated Press.
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And Joe Biden is on the campaign trail with steelworkers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this afternoon. The president is pitching a plan to increase taxes on high earners, and is expected to continue bashing Donald Trump, whose hush-money trial in New York has an off-day today.
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Here’s what else we’re following:
","elementId":"badd6c67-eca8-4071-a8d3-4189f29b5151"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"
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Democrats in Arizona are preparing to try to repeal the controversial 1864 abortion bill that has prompted huge blowback and poses a threat to Republican candidates in November’s elections.
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Attorney general Merrick Garland and energy secretary Jennifer Granholm are testifying before the Senate’s appropriations subcommittee this morning.
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Long-serving Florida governor and US senator Bob Graham, a Democratic political heavyweight who also ran for president in 2004, has died aged 87.
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Key events
Republican dysfunction overshadows Ukraine funding effort
The Republican infighting that has both stalled and overshadowed efforts to pass funding packages for Israel and Ukraine is still raging today, as speaker Mike Johnson clings to his job in the face of a growing rightwing rebellion.
So far, there’s no sign of a formal plan for the urgently needed aid as Johnson mulls his best approach. Kentucky extremist Thomas Massie on Tuesday gave his support to a threat by Georgia’s Marjorie Taylor Greene to invoke a “motion to vacate” if Johnson follows through with a plan to tie tens of millions of dollars in funding for Ukraine to money for Israel and Taiwan.
But standalone bills, which Johnson is said to be considering, won’t cut it in the Democratic-controlled Senate, or with Joe Biden, who has indicated he won’t sign anything other than an all-in-one package.
And a number of Republican congress members insist they cannot support anything that would help Ukraine unless legislation includes money for strengthening the border.
It’s a delicate dance, with no predictable outcome. Johnson, who can only afford to lose two Republican votes in any push to remove him, says he won’t resign, calling moves to oust him “absurd”.
Meanwhile, some Democrats are ready to step in to try to save him. Florida congressman Jared Moskowitz is among those who says he’s ready to keep Johnson in place in any House vote in order to secure the advancement of US aid for overseas allies.
My position hasn’t changed. Massie wants the world to burn, I won’t stand by and watch. I have a bucket of water. https://t.co/bn61J6N2y3
— Jared Moskowitz (@JaredEMoskowitz) April 16, 2024
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My position hasn’t changed. Massie wants the world to burn, I won’t stand by and watch. I have a bucket of water. https://t.co/bn61J6N2y3
— Jared Moskowitz (@JaredEMoskowitz) April 16, 2024
According to Politico Playbook, Johnson is “second guessing” his approach, resulting in a delay to publication of his plan, and growing unease among Republican leadership at the increasing dysfunction and chaos.
We’ll keep an eye on developments and bring you news of any proposals as they’re published.
Read more:
House Republicans spar over foreign aid bill as Senate Democrats plot to crush Mayorkas impeachment
Good morning and happy hump day to US politics readers. Wednesday could finally see the publication of speaker Mike Johnson’s long-awaited plan to save his job, quell Republican infighting and advance urgent foreign aid for Israel and Ukraine.
There’s been plenty of talk, and little action so far, on how the Republican leader plans to present solutions for the funding impasse that has further highlighted fractures in his divided caucus.
Any misstep could trigger a “motion to vacate” by rebel-rousers Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie, and potentially see Johnson’s departure from the speaker’s chair, unless Democrats step in to save him.
We’ll bring you news of any firm proposals as we get them.
Elsewhere today, the Senate’s Democratic majority is plotting to sink the impeachment of homeland security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, following Tuesday’s presentation of two articles by the Republican House majority.
Majority leader Chuck Schumer has a plan to bring votes to dismiss the charges, after senators are sworn in as jurors on Wednesday, but before arguments can begin, according to the Associated Press.
And Joe Biden is on the campaign trail with steelworkers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this afternoon. The president is pitching a plan to increase taxes on high earners, and is expected to continue bashing Donald Trump, whose hush-money trial in New York has an off-day today.
Here’s what else we’re following:
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Democrats in Arizona are preparing to try to repeal the controversial 1864 abortion bill that has prompted huge blowback and poses a threat to Republican candidates in November’s elections.
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Attorney general Merrick Garland and energy secretary Jennifer Granholm are testifying before the Senate’s appropriations subcommittee this morning.
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Long-serving Florida governor and US senator Bob Graham, a Democratic political heavyweight who also ran for president in 2004, has died aged 87.