These 12 Democrats bucked their party to support GOP’s Israel aid bill
Twelve Democrats joined a majority of House Republicans to vote in favor of a $14.3 billion aid package to Israel amid its conflict with the Palestinian militant group Hamas Thursday.
The package, which includes $14.3 billion in cuts to IRS funding, has faced fierce opposition from Democrats across Washington.
Democratic leadership urged members to vote against the package. In a whip notice sent on Thursday, the office of Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) called the legislation a “cynical political ploy” that “presents a false choice between funds meant to ensure that wealthy tax cheats and corporations pay their fair share and funds to help our ally Israel defend itself.”
Clark’s office also noted that the bill excludes humanitarian aid for Gaza and funding for Ukraine.
Additionally, the Biden administration issued a veto threat for the legislation, instead advocating for the White House’s roughly $100 billion supplemental request that includes funding for Israel, Ukraine, border security and allies in the Indo-Pacific. And Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said the bill would not be considered in the chamber.
Despite that widespread resistance, 12 House Democrats voted for the Israel aid packing, bucking caucus leadership.
Here are the Democrats who voted for the package passed by the House Thursday:
Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.)
Rep. Don Davis (D-N.C.)
In a statement posted to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Davis said despite condemning “House leaders for unprecedentedly tying conditional funds to security assistance, we must continue to stand with our ally, Israel, and simultaneously call for the humane conduct of war consistent with international law.”
Rep. Lois Frankel (D-Fla.)
“The United States has a moral duty and national security urgency to aid Israel in defending herself,” Frankel said in an apparent statement on her vote on X. “Make no mistake, Hamas terrorists are out to destroy Israel and kill all Jews. We must send an unequivocal message to the world that we stand with Israel.”
Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine.)
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.)
Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio)
Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.)
In an interview with The Hill after the vote, Moskowitz said the bill was designed to put Democrats in a sticky situation.
“[D]on’t listen to me, the [National Republican Congressional Committee] put out a tweet… within moments of the bill being dropped, that said ‘Democrats are gonna have to choose between the IRS and Israel,’” Moskowitz said. “That’s the mailer they wanna [send] out. That’s the trap that the NRCC is doing.”
Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.)
Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.)
Rep. Juan Vargas (D-Calif.)
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.)
Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.)
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