In an Unusual Vote, Democrats Rescue Measure to Allow Vote on Ukraine Bill [View all]
In an Unusual Vote, Democrats Rescue Measure to Allow Vote on Ukraine Bill
A resolution to pave the way for the foreign aid package was on track to die in committee amid Republican opposition when Democrats stepped in to save it.
By Catie Edmondson
Reporting from Washington
April 18, 2024
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/18/us/politics/democrats-vote-ukraine-bill.html
"SNIP............
House Republicans took a critical step late Thursday night toward bringing up the long-stalled foreign aid bill for Ukraine and Israel, after being forced to rely on Democratic votes to move a plan to consider it out of a key committee and onto the floor.
The 9-to-3 vote in the critical Rules Committee was an early step in the convoluted process the House is expected to go through over the next couple of days to approve the $95 billion aid package. It reflected the extent of far-right anger over Speaker Mike Johnsons plan to push through the legislation over the opposition of ultraconservative Republicans, and underscored how heavily the speaker will have to rely on Democrats to push it across the finish line.
In a spasm of anger, three far-right Republicans on the panel, which controls what legislation comes to the House floor, refused to back the rule needed to bring up the foreign aid bill, putting it on track to die in committee. But Democrats on the panel stepped in to save it in an extraordinary breach of custom.
All Democrats voted to advance the plan out of committee.
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