Mike Johnson commented on Israel and Ukraine funding, keeping government running, a nationwide abortion ban and changing the rule that resulted in Kevin McCarthy’s ouster.
For the first time in weeks, the House has a permanent speaker, and can finally move forward with time-sensitive legislation. Exactly what new will bring to the floor — and what he plans to either delay or bypass — is coming into focus, as Washington gets to know a relatively low-profile member whose prior experience in leadership in Congress was his role as deputy whip.
Congress faces a variety of pressing concerns in the near term: government funding runs out in mid-November, and there is bipartisan support for providing financial support to Israel against Hamas. Johnson suggested that there may be conditions attached to legislation he’ll put on the floor in the coming weeks. Israel funding
The first action the House took after Johnson was sworn in as speaker was to pass a resolution affirming support for Israel, a symbolic gesture. But Johnson says the House will bring to the floor a standalone bill providing about $14.5 billion in supplemental aid to Israel, the same figure that was requested by the White House. However, Johnson told Fox News’ Sean Hannity Thursday that he wanted that spending to be offset, which may prompt some opposition.
“We’re going to find pay-fors in the budget,” he told Hannity. “We’re not just printing money to send it overseas. We’re going to find the cuts elsewhere to do that.”
That bill is expected to come to the House floor soon.Ukraine funding
Johnson, like many other House Republicans, seems less likely to move as quickly on , despite the to lawmakers that Ukraine funding is running low.
He told Hannity that aid to Israel and Ukraine must be separate items, after President Biden requested a supplemental package that would provide aid to both at the same time.
