Discharge Petitions To Force Action On Ukraine Aid Gather Momentum

Two separate discharge petitions which would bypass the authority of House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and force a vote on foreign aid to Ukraine/Israel/Taiwan have gained momentum today. Note: For a discharge petition to succeed it will need 218 signatures from House Representatives.

• The discharge petition introduced by Democrat Rep Jim McGovern (D-MA) to force a vote on the Senate-passed USD$95 billion foreign aid package currently has 177 votes - all Democrats.
• A second petition introduced by Republican Rep Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) currently has 14 signatures, but notably has the signatures of seven Republicans Reps - sufficient to successfully discharge the bill with Democrat buy-in - a major warning to Speaker Johnson.
• Currently, Democrat leadership strategy is to whip for the McGovern petition but it is unlikely that enough Republicans will support a petition to bring the Senate bill to the House floor as it lacks any major wins for Republicans. There is also a major problem for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) on his left flank. A sizable group of progressive Democrats are opposed to the bill for its unconditional military aid Israel.
• The Fitzpatrick bill, however appears to provide a credible pathway to maintaining military aid to Ukraine, Israel, and allies in the Indo-Pacific with moderate concessions on border policy - 'Remain in Mexico' and expanded powers to expel migrants.
• If the McGovern bill fails to attract enough signatures, it is possible that Democrat leadership will consider the slimmed-down Fitzpatrick bill an acceptable compromise.