Democrats stepped up Friday to help House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) approve a procedural foreign aid rule that could ultimately end in the passage Saturday of a package of Ukraine and Israel aid, despite opposition from far-right members of Johnson's party.
The House approved the rule in a 316-94 vote after Johnson refused to add border security regulations demanded by a faction of his colleagues.
The rule now opens up debate on $95 billion in four bills in military aide toUkraine, Israel and Taiwan, along with humanitarian assistance to Gaza and other international war zones, which could be all be passed in a vote on Saturday.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) told Senate colleagues on Friday they should be prepared to stay in session throughout the weekend to finish work on the delayed package, The Hill reported.
Johnson's move has further infuriatied members of the House's right-wing Freedom Caucus, which has sharply ciriticized Johnson's position backing Urkraine aid against an invasion by Russia orchestrated by President Vladimir Putin. Donald Trump, who frequently praises Putin, has been conferring with his supporters in the House on which legislation to support or deny.
The Freedom Caucus also demanded stiffer border security be added to the foreign aid.
Despite Trump's stance on Ukraine, he suddenly threw his support behind Johnson during a joint appearance at Mar-a-Lago last week.
That undermined Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green (R-Ga.), who has filed a resolution to bounce Johnson from his role as speaker. She has not yet said when she plans to trigger a vote on it.
Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) said Friday that he will co-sponsor Greene's resolution to remove Johnson as speaker. He made the announcement shortly after passage of the foreign aid rule.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) also endorsed Greene's resolution earlier in the week.
