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Motion to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson gets co-sponsor over Ukraine aid

Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News on

Published in News & Features

Massie, Greene and some other far-right-wing lawmakers were already fuming over Johnson’s cooperation with Democrats to pass a spending deal that averted a government shutdown and a separate move to authorize a warrantless surveillance practice that is considered crucial to national security.

They have vowed not to allow him to move forward with more aid to Ukraine, which desperately needs U.S. assistance to battle a Russian invasion.

Johnson announced Monday that he would permit separate votes on aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan in an effort to break a monthslong logjam.

A wide majority of the entire House supports aid for Ukraine, but majority Republicans are split down the middle, with many supporters of former President Donald Trump backing his call to cut off aid to Kyiv.

The Senate passed a bill that combines the aid in a single package. But Johnson has refused to permit a vote on that measure. He instead hopes to push each bill separately.

Greene launched a one-woman effort to oust Johnson last month, but it was effectively stalled while other far-right-wing lawmakers mulled their options.

 

The push to help Ukraine apparently was the final straw for Massie.

A wild card in the dispute could be Democrats. They could save Johnson by taking the rare step of supporting the Republican speaker’s effort to bring the aid bills to the floor.

They could also sit out a vote to oust Johnson, effectively permitting him to remain as leader of the House.

A handful of Democrats say they wouldn’t rule out bailing out Johnson, but House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-Broooklyn, would almost certainly insist that Johnson make painful concessions before permitting such a move.

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©2024 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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