The US House of Representatives rejected a standalone bill providing $17.6 billion in military aid for Israel after the White House criticized it as a "political ploy" and threatened a veto from President Biden. The bill failed in a 250-180 vote, with bipartisan opposition. House Democratic leaders and the White House opposed the bill, while the House Freedom Caucus criticized it for lacking offsetting spending cuts. A broader bipartisan Senate bill linking aid for Israel with assistance for Ukraine and border security also faces uncertainty.
House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized President Biden for threatening to veto a $17.6 billion Israel aid bill, calling it an "act of betrayal" as Israel fights against Hamas. The White House labeled the bill a "cynical political maneuver" in response to bipartisan negotiations on security funding and border policy. Johnson aims to fast-track the bill, bypassing a procedural hurdle, but faces opposition from Senate Democrats.
President Biden has threatened to veto a House Republican bill that would provide $17.6 billion in aid to Israel, calling it a "cynical political maneuver" to hinder broader legislation that includes funding for Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, and the U.S. border. The Biden administration stated that the president would veto the bill if it reached his desk, emphasizing that it does not address border security, aid Ukraine, or support the security of American synagogues and mosques. House Republicans oppose the larger bill, proposing the Israel-only funding bill instead. If neither bill passes, Biden will need to find a new approach to support Israel's conflict with Hamas.
The European Union leaders have agreed on a new 50-billion-euro ($54 billion) aid package for Ukraine's economy, despite Hungary's previous threats to veto the move. The agreement also includes making Ukraine a candidate for EU membership. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban had objected to the financial aid package but lifted the veto, allowing the unanimous approval required for the package. The aid aims to provide long-term funding for Ukraine's economic stability, which is crucial in the aftermath of Russia's invasion.
Just a day after endorsing Donald Trump, Florida governor Ron DeSantis shut down a move by Florida lawmakers to have taxpayers cover the former president's legal expenses. DeSantis made his stance clear on social media, prompting the collapse of the effort after he threatened to veto the legislation. This development comes amidst speculation about DeSantis' assertiveness and timing, with some viewing it as his boldest move against Trump yet.
The House of Representatives passed a GOP border security bill that includes restarting construction of a border wall, increasing funding for border agents and upgraded border technology, reinstating the “remain in Mexico” policy, placing new restrictions on asylum seekers, and enhancing requirements for E-verify. The bill faces a veto threat from the Biden administration and is unlikely to pass in the Democratic-controlled Senate. Republican leaders worked to make last-minute changes to the bill to address concerns from some members, including an amendment to change language regarding Mexican cartels as a “foreign terrorist organization.”
The White House has threatened to veto a House Republican bill called the Secure the Border Act, aimed at cracking down on the flow of migrants at the US-Mexico border, arguing it would worsen elements of the immigration system. The GOP bill calls for building barriers along hundreds of miles of the southern border, cutting a program that allows certain migrants to stay in the US for up to two years, and increasing requirements for verifying the immigration status of certain workers. The bill stands little chance of gaining traction in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
The White House has issued a veto threat for a House Republican-sponsored measure to address immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border, stating that it would make "elements of our immigration system worse." The Secure the Border Act of 2023 would mandate that Customs and Border Protection hire and train 22,000 Border Patrol agents and develop a plan to upgrade existing technology to make sure agents are well-equipped and safe. The White House said that the bill would cut off nearly all access to humanitarian protections "in ways that are inconsistent with our Nation’s values and international obligations" and would make processing less efficient.
President Biden has threatened to veto a House Republican bill that would condition support for raising the debt ceiling on deep spending cuts. The GOP proposal would slash federal spending dramatically and unwind some of Biden’s priorities, including student debt cancellation and efforts to address climate change. In exchange, Republicans would agree to increase the debt ceiling. The White House has called it “a reckless attempt to extract extreme concessions as a condition for the United States simply paying the bills it has already incurred.” The bill has “no chance” of making it through the Senate, according to Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer.
The White House has threatened to veto a GOP proposal in the House to pair a debt limit increase with government spending cuts, calling it a "reckless attempt to extract extreme concessions." The legislation, dubbed the Limit, Save, Grow Act, would cap government funding at fiscal 2022 levels and limit spending growth to 1% annually over the next decade. President Biden and White House officials have been adamant that Congress should vote to raise the debt limit without conditions, pointing to decades of precedent. The bill is unlikely to gain traction in the Senate, where Democrats hold a 51-49 majority.
The Biden administration has issued a veto threat against a GOP-led energy bill, dubbed "The Lower Energy Costs Act," which aims to change the energy permitting process and boost domestic energy production. The White House argues that the bill will "raise costs" for consumers and "would take us backward." The energy package is a top priority for House Republicans, but it is unclear if the bill has a path toward passage in the Democratic-controlled Senate. If it passes both chambers, it would then require a two-thirds majority vote in the House and Senate to override Biden's veto.
The White House has threatened to veto a House Republicans' energy package, known as H.R. 1, if it makes it to President Biden's desk. The package seeks to bolster fossil fuels, speed up infrastructure projects, and repeal pieces of Biden's Inflation Reduction Act. The White House argues that the legislation would benefit oil and gas companies at the expense of the public and weaken emissions requirements and worker protection for refineries using toxic chemicals. The bill's proponents have said that it contains necessary reforms for bolstering the country's energy projects and improving its infrastructure.
