POLITICS
House Passes Israel Aid Package With Cuts To IRS, Rejected By Senate And White House
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The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday approved a $14.5 billion military aid package for Israel, but offset that expenditure by cutting funding for the IRS.
New Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) split President Joe Biden’s $106 billion request for aid to Israel and Ukraine, humanitarian assistance for Palestinians, funding for the southern U.S. border and other priorities, taking up the Israel aid first. While the amount is essentially the same as the president requested, the unusual move to offset the spending will cut IRS funding Democrats approved to go after wealthy tax cheats.
Our supplemental package, which is fully offset, provides Israel with advanced weapons systems, supports the Iron Dome missile defense system, and replenishes American domestic defense stockpiles, Johnson said. This is necessary and critical assistance as Israel fights for its right to exist.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, the House bill would actually cost $26 billion, when taking into account lost revenue from tax collections as a result of the cuts to the IRS.
The bill passed 226–196, with 12 Democrats joining most Republicans. Biden has said he would veto the bill, which Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) called stunningly unserious.
The Senate will not take up the House GOP’s deeply flawed proposal, Schumer posted on X, formerly Twitter. Instead we will work on our own bipartisan emergency aid package that includes funding for aid to Israel, Ukraine, humanitarian aid including for Gaza, and competition with the Chinese Government.
Senate Republicans are more open than those in the House to passing the complete aid package Biden requested, with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) reiterating the importance of aiding Ukraine and deterring China.
The idea that supporting the fight against Russian aggression detracts from other security priorities is false, McConnell said. Heres the truth – Our investments are expanding defense production capacity here at home and equipping America and our allies to deter Iran-backed terror and compete with China.
TMX contributed to this article.
