by A. Altieri D’Angelo
Photo: Mike Johnson with his wife, Kelly Lary
Governments typically face one or two significant issues at one time. However, the U.S. may set a world record by dealing with four major problems simultaneously. And to make matters worse, all the issues will put one person in the hot seat: Mike Johnson, Republican and Speaker of the House of Representatives (the House).
The U.S. Congress (which consists of the U.S Senate and House) and President Biden must agree:
a) to a new U.S. border policy;
b) to provide aid to Israel;
c) to send additional military supplies, equipment, and economic aid to Ukraine;
d) to fund the U.S. Government. The decisions on these issues must occur in the next several weeks; failure is not an option.
What started as a simple request by President Biden to send $110 Billion in aid to Israel and Ukraine, as well as funding for U.S. border security, turned into a legislative power play by Republicans. They demanded that the Biden administration make changes to the U.S. border policy.
The Senate voted 51-49 against Biden’s request. Biden was furious and stated, “Republicans who are insisting on border policy changes as a condition for voting for the aid “are playing chicken with our national security. “Republicans in Congress are willing to give Putin the greatest gift he could hope for,” Biden pointed out, “American credibility was at risk of being lost.”
The President, however, expressed openness to policy changes. Biden indicated, “I am willing to make significant compromises on the border…We need to fix the broken border system. It is broken.”
Unfortunately, Senate Republicans have been steadfast in their opposition to Biden’s request. Senator Mitch McConnell, who has strongly supported Ukraine, told his Republican Senate members not to vote for the legislative package. He has stated, “Legislation that doesn’t include policy changes to secure our borders will not pass the Senate.” (At first glance, the Republican position represents a 180-degree turn in their point of view on world issues. It was the Republican Party that always sought to project U.S. power and oppose Russia and China. The traditional Republican Party would never allow Putin to win in Ukraine and for Israel to lose to Hamas.)
The good news, however, is that Republican and Democratic Senators have initiated intensive negotiations to reset border policy. They have made enough progress that many expect a bill to be announced this week. No one is certain that the Senate will approve the package, but many people are optimistic. (The Senate are the grown-ups in the room. They know that compromise is the only way to legislate!).
The strategic problem is the fractured and unruly Republicans in the House. The Republican far-right members (the Far Right) have already stated the Senate bill, which has not been published, is dead on arrival. They insist that their version of a border policy be enacted.
The House bill is unacceptable to the Democrats in the Senate or the President. It contains provisions that are considered too harsh. However, several provisions in the House bill appear to be included in the Senate bill. Also, the Far Right has a different agenda than its counterparts in the Senate. They have publicly stated they have no reason to pass border legislation this election year. They do not want to give President Biden any opportunity to solve a problem that represents his most significant political liability- the U.S. border crisis.
Senator McConnell and other senior Republican Senators are trying to convince their House colleagues that the proposed deal is the best they will ever get. McConnell does not believe Republicans will have enough votes, under Senate Filibuster rules, to achieve a better result even if they control the Presidency and the House. But like spoiled children, House Republicans are throwing temper tantrums.
To make matters worse, Mike Johnson cannot get Republicans to vote as a united team. He has needed House Democrats to pass three bills since he was appointed. His failure to rally Republicans puts his position at significant risk. (Johnson can call for a vote on all four issues. No one knows what he will do).
Ultimately, the fate of the U.S. and that of the free world will be determined by what actions the House Republicans take. The consequences of failure include but are not limited to losing Ukraine, shattering American credibility, leaving Israel to deal with Iran and its proxies, leaving the U.S. border crisis unresolved, and causing a government shutdown.
It is up to the Republicans in the House to act in America’s best interest. No one is confident the Speaker or Far-Right Republicans will act for the U.S. We can only hope that moderate House Republicans will have enough courage to join Democrats in passing the package of bills.
Fingers crossed!
