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House Republicans Defend Bill to Provide Israel Aid by Cutting IRS Funding Amid Opposition and Veto Threats from Democrats, Biden

Republicans plan to fund $14 billion in aid to Israel by slashing IRS funding, a measure passed in the GOP-led House but expected to be blocked in the Senate and vetoed by President Biden. Critics see the bill, which links foreign aid with domestic IRS cuts, as an unconventional approach that could potentially add nearly $27 billion to the national deficit.

Overview

  • The GOP-led House bill aims to fund $14 billion in aid to Israel by cutting IRS funding, a move that's drawn opposition from Democrats and a veto threat from President Biden. It passed with mostly Republican support, with few Democrats voting for it and two Republicans opposing it.
  • The legislative measure, championed by House Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, is seen as an unconventional approach linking foreign aid with domestic IRS cuts, adding an estimated $27 billion to the national deficit according to a Congressional Budget Office report.
  • Despite criticism suggesting his priorities are skewed towards 'deficit-busting tax giveaways for the wealthy over helping Israel,' Johnson defended the bill, explaining Republicans are 'trying to be good stewards of taxpayers’ resources' but opposing Democrats aren't framing it that way.
  • Democrats, including Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, prefer a broader aid package of $106 billion supporting Israel and Ukraine, humanitarian aid for Gaza, and US border operations. They reject the House GOP plan and term it 'a deeply flawed proposal'.
  • In addition to the aid package issue, House Speaker Mike Johnson also wants to couple Ukraine aid with funding for the U.S.-Mexico border, arguing that it's important for the U.S. to 'take care of our own border first'. This approach is criticized by Democrats as an attempt to advance an 'extreme, cruel immigration agenda'.