‘Hell no’: Rep. Thomas Massie plans another vote against his party on Israel
Rep. Thomas Massie is poised to vote “hell no” on a GOP-sponsored bill designed to punish the Biden administration for pausing approved weapon deliveries to Israel.
The legislation, which is likely to receive support from the rest of Kentucky U.S. House Republicans and divide congressional Democrats, could see a vote as early as Thursday.
The Israel Security Assistance Support Act formally condemns the Biden administration for withholding certain arms transfers to Israel as it continues its seven-month siege in Gaza. It also refuses to transfer congressional funds for Defense and State Department salaries until the decision is reversed.
President Joe Biden has already threatened a veto if the bill reaches his desk, saying it infringes on his executive powers.
Massie, who has consistently voted against foreign aid, including to the Jewish state, said the legislation is a way for Speaker Mike Johnson to save face after pushing through a massive foreign aid package that has been ensnared in Biden’s evolving posture towards the war in Gaza.
“I think it’s Mike Johnson trying to cover up for some legislative malpractice. They got one over on him and he’s trying to show them who’s boss,” Massie told The Herald-Leader in an interview. “It’s just a messaging exercise at this point. He can’t do anything.”
Last week, the president announced he would halt the delivery of aerial bombs as Israel presses forward with its operation inside Rafah in southern Gaza in its campaign to eradicate Hamas, the perpetrator of the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks.
Yet the administration has since signaled it would green-light a separate $1 billion package that includes tank ammunition, vehicles and mortars, a move seen as a way to placate critics.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky chastised Biden’s weapon pause last week, arguing that “if the Biden administration continues to hector and impede our ally’s progress… a share of the blame for Hamas’ success may well come to rest here in Washington.”
But it’s unclear if Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer will even bring up the ISASA for a vote in the Senate, following the expected approval in the House. Many progressive lawmakers have lost patience with the lethality of Israel’s campaign.
More than 31,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war, with the Gaza health ministry estimating that 70% of casualties are women and children. Israel has claimed to have killed thousands of Hamas fighters, but the death toll on both sides have been disputed.
“Approximately 1% of Gaza’s CIVILIAN population has been wiped out by Israel in 7 months,” Massie posted on social media Tuesday. “We should not fund this war.”
Johnson appears unmoved by aggressive White House appeals to call off a vote, which many Democrats say is more about scoring a political point than changing policy.
On Wednesday, Johnson said Biden “has turned his back on Israel and is now carrying water for Hamas and Iran.”
But Massie, who attempted to vacate Johnson’s speakership, told The Herald-Leader that the stand-off is a measure of the Louisianan’s ineptitude.
“He’s just not a very effective speaker. This is like another one of his failures,” Massie said.
This story was originally published May 15, 2024 at 10:17 AM with the headline "‘Hell no’: Rep. Thomas Massie plans another vote against his party on Israel."
