Washington — House Democrats are trying to force a vote on a bipartisan Senate bill that would provide aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, as House Republican leaders resist pressure to take up the legislation.
Democrats use a A successful legislative maneuver called an impeachment petition is rare To try to bypass Republican leaders. They would need 218 signatures to force a vote on the Senate bill.
the Discharge solicitation It was broadcast live on Tuesday morning, and it was Dozens of signatures Within hours of the announcement.
Democrats, who hold 213 seats in the House, will need Republicans to sign the petition because they are likely to lose support from progressives on including Israeli aid. Progressives have sharply criticized Israel over the war in Gaza.
“What we are asking of our colleagues – Democrats and Republicans – is to sign the impeachment petition that will be presented to the Senate by a bipartisan national security attaché. This is the quickest and easiest way to resolve this issue,” House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete said. California's Aguilar said Tuesday during his weekly news conference.
But Democrats' recall petition faces a competing effort from Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Pennsylvania Republican who co-chairs the moderate and bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus.
Fitzpatrick has introduced a smaller, bipartisan foreign aid bill that includes border security measures. He asked for his dismissal Open for signatures Two hours after the Democratic version. He said last week that he is not trying to circumvent GOP leadership, but that his use of the impeachment petition is about “putting a clock on a time-sensitive matter.”
Rep. Don Bacon, a Republican from Nebraska who co-sponsored Fitzpatrick's bill, said Tuesday that Democrats' version was dead on arrival, and he expected about 150 Republicans and 100 Democrats to support Fitzpatrick's bill. He said they were able to obtain 218 signatures through the amendment process.
Aguilar noted that Fitzpatrick's version, which would need Democratic support, lacks humanitarian aid and would then have to go to the Senate for approval, “which could take weeks or months to deliver the necessary critical aid.”
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called on House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, to allow a vote on the Senate foreign aid bill in the House.
“I want to encourage the Speaker of the House once again to allow the vote,” the Kentucky Republican said Tuesday. “Let the House talk about the supplement we sent them several weeks ago.”
Ellis Kim contributed reporting.
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