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‘Straight-up treason’: McConnell among 22 Republicans torched for helping Dems pass $95B foreign aid

February 13, 2024 | | Print Article

Nearly two dozen Senate Republicans thumbed their noses at colleagues and constituents by joining with Democrats to pass a massive $95 billion foreign aid bill.

Adding insult to injury, a final vote of 70-29 with 22 Republicans in favor pushed through the bill that pours American taxpayer money into aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan while doing nothing to secure the U.S. border.

With more than half of Senate Republicans voting against it during the overnight session, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell was clear he placed no value on their arguments. He led the minority of 22 GOP lawmakers to hold hands with Democrats and get the bill passed. even delivering a drama-filled speech in defense of the measure from the floor.

“I know it’s become quite fashionable in some circles to disregard the global interests we have as a global power, to bemoan the responsibilities of global leadership,” McConnell said. “To lament the commitment that has underpinned the longest drought of great power conflict in human history — this is idle work for idle minds, and it has no place in the United States Senate.”

Not surprisingly, McConnell and the group of 22 were trending on social media where they were roasted for ignoring the wishes of a majority of Americans and for caring more about other nations than their own.

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The GOP lawmakers who joined Democrats are:

Sens. John Boozman (R-AR), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME), John Cornyn (R-TX), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), John Hoeven (R-ND), John Kennedy (R-LA), McConnell (R-KY), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), James Risch (R-ID), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), John Thune (R-SD), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Todd Young (R-IN)

 

Democratic Sens. Peter Welch of Vermont, Jeff Merkley of Oregon, and Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont were among the Republicans who voted against the bill.

“Most Senate Republicans vote no. McConnell of course votes with the Democrats,” Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) said. “He is Biden’s chief foreign policy supporter these days. That position is an island — and the gulf between it & the rest of America is only getting wider.”

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“Americans are going to hold people accountable that chose to move on from border security and fund foreign nations before we took care of our own homes,” said Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) during the debate.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) slammed the measure for putting America last.

“This morning the America last caucus got a $61 billion aid package out of the Senate. But they paid dearly for this small win. The House won’t pass the current bill. We must fix our country before devoting more resources to Ukraine. That’s our message, and the fight goes on,” Sen. J.D. Vance wrote on X.

“The mandate of national security supplemental legislation was to secure America’s own border before sending additional foreign aid around the world,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson who has not only been critical of the measure but has indicated he will not bring it to the House floor in its current form.

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McConnell and the group of Republicans were deservedly ripped on social media.

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Frieda Powers
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