Kentucky Republicans split their votes on giant government spending bill
Kentucky’s Republican representatives split the difference on a massive federal government spending bill, choosing to support a boost in defense as Russia continues its onslaught in Ukraine while bucking Democrats’ domestic priorities.
GOP Reps. Andy Barr and James Comer both voted in favor of the portion of the $1.5 trillion package which boosts funds for the Pentagon and Department of Homeland Security, as well as foreign allies like Israel. But they each opposed the second half of the measure, which was full of non-defense priorities as well as humanitarian aid to Ukraine and funds government operations through September.
Rep. Thomas Massie voted no on both pieces.
Taken together, the bills include $13.6 billion for Ukraine, which is now entering its third week of war with Russia. The allocation is split between military and humanitarian support as well as money to help fleeing Ukrainians resettle in neighboring countries.
“It makes record investments in our infrastructure, in every level of education from pre-K through college, and expands access to homeownership, job-training, and other opportunities for communities that have been underserved or ignored for far too long,” said Democratic Rep. John Yarmuth, who supported both parts of the sprawling omnibus. “This legislation will also honor our commitments to the people of Ukraine, who continue to bravely fight Russia’s vile invasion of their sovereign country.”
A planned $8 billion in coronavirus aid was altogether removed from the package by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to appease Republicans and some progressives, who complained that the money was being offset with state and local funding included in a previous allocation.
Rep. Hal Rogers was the lone Kentucky Republican to vote in favor of both parts, heralding $35 million in projects for his district. They include $10 million for community projects in southern and eastern Kentucky as well as $25 million to revitalize abandoned mine lands.
“It’s a fair compromise that includes many priorities here at home and abroad,” Rogers said on the House floor late Wednesday. “The bill also prioritizes funding to address the flow of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids into the United States from Mexico and China.”
What’s known in Washington parlance as the omnibus, totaling nearly 2,700 pages, now moves to the Senate, which must act before midnight Friday in order to avoid a government shutdown.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has already signaled his support for the bipartisan funding agreement, based on its national security investments. He took credit for pushing the Biden administration into agreeing to lift military modernization funding, which is suddenly taking on a greater priority in Washington and Europe.
“Republicans fought hard, over the objections of many Washington Democrats, to give our armed forces the resources they need. And we won. This agreement provides significantly more money than the Biden Administration requested for defense and significantly less money than the Administration requested for non-defense. At my insistence, it also provides much more money for Ukraine than Democrats had proposed, particularly for authorities and funding to deliver crucial military equipment to Ukraine quickly,” McConnell said.
