What to Know in Washington: Israel, Ukraine Aid Get Split Votes

Speaker Mike Johnson plans separate House votes this week on new aid to Israel and Ukraine — an attempt to assemble fragile coalitions and speed weaponry to both besieged allies.

The maneuver taps urgency among many lawmakers to show solidarity with Israel in the wake of the attack while testing the determination of ultraconservatives to block Ukraine aid.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who threatened to force a vote on deposing Johnson (R-La.) if the House considers any Ukraine aid, said last night she hasn’t decided whether to proceed with an overthrow attempt.

Splitting the aid into separate packages could ease passage. Ultra-conservatives balked at Ukraine spending, which is widely supported by Democrats. Progressives, meanwhile, oppose funding to Israel without restrictions but pushed to get Ukraine needed aid quickly.

The House would vote separately on an aid package for Taiwan under Johnson’s plan. Taiwan funding generally has support in both parties. A fourth bill would contain a variety of national security measures including seizing Russian assets and may also expedite natural gas exports.

Johnson said the Ukraine aid will include new accountability measures, a demand of ultraconservatives. The speaker said he anticipates the House will vote on the aid measures Friday evening. Read More from Billy House and Erik Wasson.

BIDEN’S AGENDA

• President Joe Biden travels to Scranton, Pa. to participate in campaign events around 2 p.m. and again shortly after 5:30 p.m. Read More about the trip.

CONGRESS’ SCHEDULE

• The House is back at noon to vote on a bill addressing waivers for sanctions on Iran.
• Senators return at 10 a.m. and will receive articles of impeachment against DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
• For a detailed agenda read BGOV’s Congress Tracker.

Happening on the Hill

Photographer: Julia Nikhinson/Bloomberg

The US Capitol in Washington, DC on April 10.

The HOUSE overwhelmingly passed legislation aimed at countering China’s purchase of Iranian crude oil as part of a package of bills being brought to the floor in response to Iran’s attack on Israel. Read More

The WHITE HOUSE informed Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) that Biden will not accept his hearing invitation, CNN’s Annie Grayer said in a post on X, citing a letter. Read More

People, Power, and Politics

Photographer: Bonnie Cash/UPI/Bloomberg

Biden in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC on Monday.

BIDEN and first lady Jill Biden paid $146,629 in federal income taxes on a combined $619,976 in adjusted gross income in 2023 — meaning the first family paid an effective federal income tax of 23.7% — according to tax filings released by the White House. Read More

A nonprofit funded by billionaire GEORGE SOROS donated $60 million in January to Democracy PAC, a super political action committee he uses to support Democrats, according to a filing with the Federal Election Commission. Read More

DONALD TRUMP relied on a small cadre of wealthy donors to contribute $23.6 million, about one-third of amount he and the Republican Party raised in March, the latest disclosures to the FEC show. Read More

TRUMP’s first criminal trial got off to a plodding start, with the proceedings stalling over disagreements about evidence and other last-minute arguments, leaving even the former president looking bored and resting his eyes at times. Read More

NEW MEXICO’s southernmost congressional district — which has earned the nickname the “swingiest” of swing districts by changing hands each election cycle since 2018 — shares a 180-mile border with Mexico and will help determine which party wins control of the House in November. Read More

With Congress stonewalling a long-overdue IMMIGRATION OVERHAUL, Biden last week said his administration may further restrict migrants’ ability to claim asylum, echoing some of the Trump-era policies that he had previously rejected. Read More

What Else We’re Watching

Photographer: Valerie Plesch/Bloomberg

The Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on March 26.

The SUPREME COURT let Idaho enforce a ban on providing gender-transition care for minors, as the justices stepped into a brewing culture-war battle over transgender rights. Read More

BOEING is at risk of losing its unmatched clout in Washington. The planemaker has severed its connection with one of K Street’s most powerful firms, and some veteran lobbying staffers have left to join competitors. A key lawmaker has said she won’t accept campaign donations from Boeing executives. Read More

The JUSTICE DEPARTMENT may file an ANTITRUST complaint as soon as next month aimed at forcing Live Nation Entertainment to spin off its Ticketmaster ticketing business, according to three people familiar with the matter. Read More

• The DOJ’s antitrust enforcers need more funding to crack down on illegal mergers and conduct, unions, small business and advocacy groups told members of Congress today ahead of Attorney General Merrick Garland’s expected testimony. Read More

US ambassador to the UN LINDA THOMAS-GREENFIELD headed to the demilitarized zone dividing the two Koreas, ramping up pressure on North Korea as sanctions enforcement was dealt a heavy blow. Read More

To contact the reporter on this story: Giuseppe Macri in Washington at gmacri@bgov.com

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Kayla Sharpe at ksharpe@bloombergindustry.com