Moderate Dem says he would protect Speaker Johnson over Ukraine aid, government funding

Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) has given House Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-Louisiana) gavel as long as he supports the bill for additional aid to Ukraine and ensures the government continues to operate. He said he would protect it.

Mr Golden has vowed to block Johnson’s motion to resign if he attempts to bring the revised $66.32 billion foreign aid package, which includes border provisions, to the floor of the House of Commons for a vote.

“We can bring this bill or a bill like it that deals with the border, Ukraine, Israel, and get it through the Senate and become law, because this is so important,” Golden said on a Zoom call Friday. “We can keep the government open and keep it funded.” It was organized by No Labels and attended by hundreds of supporters.

“I’m going to vote to protect Speaker Mike Johnson,” he added.

The bill, called the Border Defense and Defense Act, was introduced last week after the bipartisan Senate border bill failed and Johnson refused to vote on a separate Ukraine aid bill.

The House bill includes $47 billion for Ukraine, $10 billion for Israel, $5 billion for the Indo-Pacific, and $2 billion to support U.S. Central Command operations. In addition, former President Trump’s “remain in Mexico” immigration policy will be applied to the resin nation for one year, but humanitarian aid to Gaza will not be included.

The bill was negotiated by Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pennsylvania), who also spoke on Friday’s conference call.

In a “Dear Colleague” letter sent Sunday, Mr. Golden and Mr. Fitzpatrick urged their colleagues to support the revised package.

In response to the call, Mr. Golden’s office confirmed his pledge to protect Mr. Johnson if he moves the bill closer to passage and maintains government funding.

“If Speaker Johnson takes action in the House to secure the border, and passes a spending bill to provide urgently needed aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, and avoid a government shutdown, it will send the U.S. Senate to “It will be implemented in a way that allows it to pass,” and then Congressman Golden will oppose the motion to resign,” Mario Moretto, communications director for Congressman Golden’s office, said in a statement.

His swearing-in came after Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D.J.) circulated a resolution on Tuesday that would make it harder for House Republicans to oust Mr. Johnson from his leadership position. But the resolution depends on whether foreign aid receives a vote in the House.

Rep. Adam Smith (D., Washington State), the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, predicted in early February that members of his own party would step in to protect the chairman if a motion to resign was made over aid to Ukraine. did. .

Fears about a possible motion come just over four months after former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was ousted in a historic vote. His removal from leadership came after the House of Representatives, with support from Democrats, averted a 2023 shutdown by putting a stopgap measure on the floor, a move that infuriated hard-line conservatives. Ta.