Covering the political dynamics surrounding the Biden administration’s whopping new $37.7 billion Ukraine aid ask, the New York Times reports:
Aid to Ukraine has retained overwhelming bipartisan support in both chambers. But Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, who on Tuesday resoundingly won the Republican nomination for speaker should his party take control of the House, has suggested funding requests for Ukraine would face more scrutiny by a new majority. Some Republicans have balked at the $37.7 billion request, given that Congress has approved $54 billion.
But Republicans in both chambers have resisted setting aside more money for the pandemic, arguing that the administration can reallocate existing funds. Talks over whether to provide additional aid stalled earlier this year without enough support.
“Some Republicans have balked at the $37.7 billion request, given that Congress has approved $54 billion.” Well, yeah. That price tag is certainly balk-worthy. And it’s not likely to be the last Ukraine aid package, either: “Separately, the request asks that Congress grant President Biden the authority to authorize sending up to $7 billion worth of weaponry to Ukraine,” the Times reported. Even if Ukraine perseveres against Russia tomorrow, it will require enormous financial resources to rebuild the country. And when that day comes, what country are the Ukrainians going to look to for that help? Germany?
“As the administration warms up another $37 billion request for Ukraine,” Representative Chip Roy (R., Texas) wrote on Twitter today, “perhaps we should have a full debate about our interest, how money has been / is being spent . . . etc.” Perhaps we should. America can’t afford to keep footing what is quickly approaching a $100 billion bill all by her lonesome.
Editor’s note: This post originally misstated that aid to Ukraine was approaching $1 trillion, when the correct amount combining aid that has already passed and the aid that is being debated is $92 billion.