Speaker Mike Johnson faces critical decision on Ukraine aid as international pressure grows to act

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CNN
 — 

Speaker Mike Johnson is going through worldwide criticism over his lack of swift motion on Ukraine aid, which is ratcheting up strain to make a essential choice that won’t solely have large implications for his rookie speakership but additionally for Ukraine’s ongoing conflict effort in opposition to Russia.

Thus far, Johnson has resisted calls to convey a Senate-passed assist bundle up for a fast vote – a transfer that might require Democratic assist and virtually actually spark a revolt from his proper flank, one thing Johnson is raring to keep away from. The speaker has mentioned the laws, which incorporates over $60 billion in help for Ukraine, wouldn’t go in its present type, and privately instructed Republicans throughout a closed-door assembly final week there’s “no rush” to deal with the difficulty, with Congress since having left city for a virtually two-week recess.

The stakes of the high-profile debate – and Johnson’s pivotal function in a legislative response – got here into even better focus over the weekend. International leaders gathered on the annual Munich Safety Convention simply as information broke that Russian opposition determine Alexei Navalny had died in jail, whereas Ukraine suffered a big setback to Russian forces on the battlefield – twin developments which have injected a brand new sense of urgency for Congress to behave because the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine approaches this weekend and as the Ukrainian navy warns it’s working out of assets to withstand.

Whereas there’s a contingent of Home Republicans who assist further Ukraine assist and it has majority assist from the chamber as an entire, Johnson has to handle a rambunctious right-flank that’s deeply immune to further assist – together with some who’ve threatened his job would undergo the same destiny as ousted former Speaker Kevin McCarthy if he places a standalone invoice on the ground. And additional complicating issues, the Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump has also injected himself into the debate, urging Republicans to oppose Ukraine funding and persevering with to rail in opposition to NATO.

Some GOP lawmakers like Sen. J.D. Vance echoed Trump’s rhetoric arguing no extra assist ought to be given, whereas others are providing bipartisan options within the absence of a transparent path ahead. However it’s unclear the place Johnson — who’s caught in the course of the competing wings of his get together — stands, even amid recent warnings over the weekend in regards to the direness of the scenario.

“I feel many people perceive the plans which might be on the market,” one GOP lawmaker, granted the situation of anonymity to talk freely, instructed CNN.  “If there’s a Mike Johnson plan, there aren’t any Home Republicans which might be conscious of its existence.”

The strain cooker Johnson is going through has uncovered some frustration over how he has approached his speakership. At a time when Home Republicans need to their chief to make a decisive selection, the speaker has as a substitute elevated members to convey ahead their very own concepts with out articulating his personal preferences.

“When the chips are down within the fourth quarter, each staff wants any individual who calls the play within the huddle,” the GOP lawmaker added. “Not all people will get to convey a play and have it equally debated within the closing moments of a detailed sport. You want a captain. Mike Johnson is our captain and it’s time for him to name the play.”

GOP Rep. Warren Davidson of Ohio, a member of the hardline Home Freedom Caucus, warned Johnson can be risking his job if he places the Senate’s overseas assist invoice on the Home flooring – an indication of the conundrum the speaker is in.

“He would wish Democrats to carry on to the gavel at that time,” Davidson instructed CNN. “A number of of my colleagues have already promised that. I imagine that it’s not an empty risk.”

As Ukraine funding languishes within the Home, Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, mentioned there have been “plenty of conversations” in Munich in regards to the significance of the USA’ dedication to Ukraine, whereas Sen. Ben Cardin, chairman of the Senate Overseas Relation Committee, mentioned the sense of urgency was solely underscored by Navalny’s dying.

“I hope it strikes the needle. We shouldn’t want something to maneuver the needle. We acquired to get it performed,” Cardin mentioned. “Ukraine is in determined want of the US assist, handed by an awesome bipartisan vote on the ground of the USA Senate. The Home must take up this situation instantly. Why? As a result of Ukraine actually wants the ammunition with a purpose to maintain Russia again.”

“So, it’s pressing and I feel what’s occurred right here in Munich solely underscores that,” he added.

It’s not simply Democrats who’ve been essential. Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, who represents a swing district in Pennsylvania, criticized Home GOP leaders for dismissing the Senate’s overseas assist bundle and its bipartisan border deal with out having a backup plan.

“I feel it’s high quality to criticize any individual else’s work product so long as you have got a greater various,” he instructed CNN. “It’s not alright to criticize somebody’s work and provide no various, particularly on existential, time delicate issues like we’re coping with proper now.”

After the Senate handed a $95 billion assist bundle with the assist of Senate GOP Chief Mitch McConnell, the destiny of Ukraine assist now rests virtually solely within the fingers of Johnson, who has solely been on the job for 4 months and lacks expertise on the worldwide stage.

As a rank-and-file member, Johnson voted in opposition to Ukraine funding and by no means visited the nation as a part of a congressional delegation, in keeping with sources aware of the matter. However as speaker, Johnson has struck a barely totally different tone, saying he understands the gravity of the scenario and sending alerts to members privately that he needs to discover a approach to handle the difficulty, in keeping with GOP sources who’ve been in conferences with him.

In a press release over the weekend in response to Navalnvy’s dying, Johnson referred to as Russian President Vladimir Putin a “vicious dictator” who should be “met with opposition,” although he didn’t define any plans for doing so.

“As Congress debates the perfect path ahead to assist Ukraine, the USA, and our companions, should be utilizing each means out there to chop off Putin’s potential to fund his unprovoked conflict in Ukraine and aggression in opposition to the Baltic states,” Johnson mentioned.

Home Majority Chief Steve Scalise mentioned there are ongoing inner discussions about how you can handle Ukraine, together with probably structuring the funding as a mortgage – one thing Trump has referred to as for – or discovering methods to offset the price of the invoice, however nothing has been determined but.

“There’s a lot of artistic concepts which have been talked about, together with the mortgage construction, a paid-for invoice,” Scalise instructed CNN in a latest unique interview. “We’re a lot of choices on our management staff.”

In the meantime, President Joe Biden has repeatedly hammered Johnson over his inaction. The Home and Senate are scheduled to be out of session till subsequent week, whereas sources mentioned prime Home Republican leaders have been huddling in Florida over the weekend and early this week for varied annual management retreats.

“They’re making an enormous mistake,” Biden instructed reporters on Monday. “The way in which they’re strolling away from the state of Russia, the way in which they’re strolling away from NATO… I’ve by no means seen something prefer it.”

Johnson instructed lawmakers final week that he has requested for a gathering with Biden on Ukraine and the southern border earlier than he strikes forward, however the request has not been granted but. Requested about whether or not he would meet with the speaker, Biden mentioned Monday: “I’d be completely satisfied to satisfy with him if he has one thing to say.”

Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer can also be retaining the warmth on Johnson, demanding in a brand new assertion on Sunday that Home Republicans go a overseas assist invoice, saying Putin “is watching.”

“Final week, the Senate overwhelmingly handed the nationwide safety supplemental, and I urged the Home and Speaker Johnson to behave — however now — with the dying of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s political foe, Alexei Navalny, an pressing alarm bell now rings,” Schumer, a New York Democrat, mentioned in a press release.

As Johnson weighs how you can proceed, some lawmakers are taking issues into their very own fingers. A bipartisan group of Home lawmakers launched their very own overseas bundle that features simply navy help for Ukraine and a few border safety provisions, nevertheless it’s nonetheless prone to face resistance.

There’s additionally some speak amongst Democrats about utilizing a so-called discharge petition to pressure a flooring vote on an assist bundle. However the procedural instrument is hard and time-consuming, and would require buy-in from Republicans, so it’s not seen as a really viable choice at this level.

Rep. Mike Turner, the chairman of the Home Intelligence Committee who was additionally in Munich this weekend, insisted there was sufficient bipartisan assist to go Ukraine assist regardless of the deep skepticism from some within the GOP.

“I do assume that there’s a possibility after we get again to Washington to maneuver this vital assist bundle ahead as a result of it’s so essential,” the Ohio Republican mentioned on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “This does must get performed. That is completely essential for US assist for Ukraine.”

CNN’s Alex Marquardt contributed reporting.

CORRECTION: This story has been up to date to accurately attribute a quote on the urgency of passing the funding invoice to Sen. Ben Cardin.

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