House Republican Readies Discharge Petition To Thwart Speaker Johnson

[turbinetree]

Pennsylvania Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick told reporters on Thursday he was preparing an effort to circumvent House Speaker Mike Johnson and force a vote on aid to Ukraine.

By Ed Scarce — March 3, 2024
Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. In this case, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, has to get around the impediment known as Mike Johnson in order to secure much-needed military aid for Ukraine. Johnson has chosen not to schedule a vote because Trump told him not to (and Putin told Trump, probably).

The House version would provide $66 billion in military aid to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, of which $47.7 billion would go to Ukraine. A portion of that would include much-needed improved air defense systems, the kind that saves civilian lives, such as this woman and her three-month-old baby in Odesa.

Source: NY1

Pennsylvania Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a House Republican lawmaker in favor of Ukraine aid, told reporters on Thursday he was preparing an effort to circumvent House Speaker Mike Johnson and force a vote on aid to Ukraine.

https://crooksandliars.com/2024/03/house-republican-readies-discharge

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Slime tags to the middle when facing a risky election

State Senator in special election went to a Democrat by 67% to 33%. Yes, 2 to 1. In suburban Philly.

[Ocelot II]

2. There's a guy who needs and deserves some serious thwarting.

[ShazzieB]

14. Johnson? Yes, he's a disaster. 😠

[underpants]

3. and 90% of the Ukraine money so far has stayed in the US

Marc Theissen writing at AEI no less

Here is the best-kept secret about U.S. military aid to Ukraine: Most of the money is being spent here in the United States. That’s right: Funds that lawmakers approve to arm Ukraine are not going directly to Ukraine but being used stateside to build new weapons or to replace weapons sent to Kyiv from U.S. stockpiles. Of the $68 billion in military and related assistance Congress has approved since Russia invaded Ukraine, almost 90 percent is going to Americans, one analysis found.
https://www.aei.org/op-eds/ukraine-aids-best-kept-secret-most-of-the-money-stays-in-the-u-s-a/

[Hermit-The-Prog]

6. Should be all over broadcast tv, but instead we have Sunday Republican talk shows.

[cayugafalls]

10. And how many $$$ in Armaments did we send?

I’m curious because when we approve spending for aid, the big secret is we do not airdrop physical dollars into Kyiv, but we do send Existing equipment and supplies that equal the ‘replacement cost’.

Am I wrong?

Otherwise what’s the point? Last thing a fighter on the front lines needs is the dollar for a Coke.

[ShazzieB]

16. My understanding is the same as yours.

And I don't see anything wrong with it.

[cayugafalls]

28. Exactly. We don't give dollar bills, we give from our supply and then we simply restock...

or spend on new enhanced arms. Either way, we are simply replenishing that which we gave.

[modrepub]

17. Most of This Equipment

Was slated for disposal. It’s obsolete. Giving it to Ukraine allows us to save on disposal costs.

So it costs us more not to give it to Ukraine. Typical of Republicans. Penny wise, pound foolish.

[liberalla]

19. Thank you for this link. I'd heard that said, but hadn't read anything on it.

Vital information to have!

[underpants]

20. Two maps

[RandomNumbers]

22. And Pennsylvania is dark blue, how bout that

Could be part of the explanation for Fitzpatrick supporting Ukraine aid. (that and he knows its important to the people of his district)

[underpants]

24. Yeah I saw these a while ago and read into the resistance on the right

to Trump’s call to shut it down. As I’ve always understood it, a Representatives primary focus is to assist the constituents* and get government funding into your district. There are different ways to do that but there’s also a lot of money and if you don’t get it someone else will.

* Spanberger apparently has a, maybe THE, top notch constituent assistance program in Congress. I heard a Republican mayor in her district on local RW talk radio no less praise her operation on this. She does personal outreach and tells people CALL MY OFFICE. Watch her. She’s running for Governor and I’d be surprised if she doesn’t have a good shot at being President one day.

[FalloutShelter]

26. This!

He is my Rep and locally, citizens have been putting pressure on him , he has also witnessed the utter flame out of the Local Moms for Liberty fiasco.

The self preservation is strong with him, but even a stopped watch…

[liberalla]

23. Wow! It looks like my state, AZ, has gotten more than any other state!

I knew the military defense industry around here is active and large but I didn't know it was number one...
Again I thank you for this info and link.

[underpants]

25. The first one is a bit fuzzy but you get the idea

There is a discrepancy between the two. Cities in North Carolina are in the first one but the second one is grey.

But still

[WarGamer]

31. That 90% number is only correct because they add the qualifier "military aid"

35% of the US aid to Ukraine has been financial... money to keep the Ukrainian economy from imploding.

https://www.cfr.org/article/how-much-aid-has-us-sent-ukraine-here-are-six-charts

[rubbersole]

4. Just hurry the fuck up.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

5. This bill will highlight who is a Russiapublican and who is not.

[Attilatheblond]

8. This! One hopes the media talkers with make that point early and often

until the weight of NOT supporting Ukraine becomes so much it will sink a lot of GOP idiots in the House

[republianmushroom]

7. Good

[jayschool2013]

9. Well. We're waiting!

[flying_wahini]

11. BUT WHEN???? People are dying. Right Now.

Shameful that it is taking so long. Republicans are such a cowardly group.

[Think. Again.]

27. I think they are more intentionally malicious than cowardly.

[samsingh]

12. any idea when this gets to the floor?

[mountain grammy]

13. Readies?

Get it done! Stop this fanatic loon who is Speaker of the House.

[Warpy]

15. This is why that asshol Johnson adjourned the House for 2 weeks

He is refusing to do his job and wanted to delay the inevitable for 2 weeks. You know, like his blubbery Jebus.

I will be glad to see him go down in (rhetorical) flames. When a politician is too crooked for Louisiana, it's really bad.

[BaronChocula]

18. Does Fitz's proposal still link border funding?

It did as of three days ago and Democratic leadership wasn't having it. But there were Democrats ready to get on board.

[getagrip_already]

30. not likely if its a discharge petition

He'd have to let a new bill stew for 30 legislative days before he could try to get signatures.

If he's bring it to the floor, it's probably jeffries bill.

[BaronChocula]

32. Just going by what a series of articles said three days ago

regarding Fitzpatrick's proposal including this one.

But many Democrats have hammered Fitzpatrick’s proposal both for provisions it includes, like a “remain in Mexico” policy governing would-be migrants, and for those it leaves out, like humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza.

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4497826-democratic-leader-shoots-down-discharge-petition-on-ukraine-border-bill/

This doesn't look like Jeffries' bill.

[Emile]

21. Better hurry, house will probably go on vacation

any minute.

[getagrip_already]

29. this is Jeffries work - he is just letting a republican move it....

For obvious reasons. He has worked hard om getting this ready. The bill itself is a rewrite of a bill that has been on the house for months, so was pre-aged to get around the rules for discharge. The senate merely used it as a vehicle and sent it back.

The delay was in getting dem support, not republican. The hamas wing of the party was refusing to sign on because there is money in the bill for anti-missile and anti-air defense for Israel (but not ground armor or ammo) as well as humanitarian aid for Palestinians (they don't want anyone getting credit for doing something useful).

So letting a republican move it may get around some of that resistance. Dunno. But this is Jeffries doing I'd bet.