Newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson recently sat down with ‘Outnumbered’ co-host Kayleigh McEnany to address the liberal media’s attacks on his faith. In the interview, Johnson criticized the Democrat-controlled Senate for their criticism of the House GOP’s standalone bill aimed at aiding Israel. The emergency aid legislation, released by Republican leaders, includes over $14 billion to support Israel in its fight against the terror group Hamas. This funding would be derived from reallocating funds from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, specifically the dollars allocated toward the IRS.
Johnson, in the interview, emphasized the importance of addressing both national security and financial stability. He stated, “If you ask people at the Pentagon, under oath or in a moment of truth, they will tell you the greatest threat to our national security is our own debt.” While supporting Israel is in the national interest, Johnson stressed the need to maintain focus on the country’s financial stability.
The bill proposed by Johnson separates the aid for Israel from Biden’s original request for $106 billion in supplemental aid, which also includes funds for Ukraine and the southern border. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized Johnson’s bill on the Senate floor, calling it “woefully inadequate” and denouncing its offset provisions as “poison pills” that increase the deficit and benefit wealthy tax evaders.
Johnson countered Schumer’s criticism by referring to a Treasury report that indicated the need to borrow $1.6 trillion over the next six months to keep the government running. He argued that it was not unreasonable to include a pay-for in the overseas aid package and believed that the American people largely agreed with this perspective.
The House is expected to vote on the Israel aid bill later this week, although its fate in the Senate and White House remains uncertain. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Johnson following a meeting defending Biden’s supplemental request. During their discussion, Johnson conveyed the importance of addressing each issue separately, emphasizing the need for a financially responsible approach to fulfill obligations.
In conclusion, House Speaker Mike Johnson is defending the GOP’s standalone Israel aid bill against Democratic criticism. Johnson highlights the significance of balancing national security and financial stability while supporting Israel. The bill separates aid for Israel from Biden’s broader supplemental request, which Schumer deemed inadequate. Johnson argues that including a pay-for in the overseas aid package is a reasonable approach, considering the country’s borrowing requirements. The fate of the bill in the Senate and White House remains uncertain.
