House GOP unveils $14.3 billion Israel aid package

[mystery-ak]

House GOP unveils $14.3 billion Israel aid package
by Mychael Schnell - 10/30/23 5:12 PM ET

House Republicans unveiled a $14.3 billion aid package for Israel on Monday, a show of support for the embattled U.S. ally amid its war against Hamas.

To pay for the foreign aid, however, the legislation includes $14.3 billion in cuts to funding for the Internal Revenue Service, a key detail that will likely be a nonstarter for Democrats.

The cuts would affect funds included in the Democrats’ sweeping tax, health and climate bill — dubbed the Inflation Reduction Act — signed into law last year.

The package also deviates from the White House’s strategy of linking aid for Ukraine and Israel in the same piece of legislation, a fact that could make it even more difficult to get the bill over the finish line.

The legislation includes $4 billion for Israel’s Iron Dome and David’s Sling defense systems and another $1.2 billion for development of the Iron Beam defense system.

The package is one of the first pieces of legislation introduced under Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who assumed the top job last week after a brutal battle over who should succeed former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) following his ouster.

The House Rules Committee will take up the legislation on Wednesday.

more
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/4284123-house-gop-israel-aid-package/

[mystery-ak]

House GOP's $14B Israel aid bill offset with cuts to IRS cash in Biden's Inflation Reduction Act
Bill to aid Israel expected to get a vote on Thursday
By Elizabeth Elkind Fox News
Published October 30, 2023 4:55pm EDT

House Republicans have rolled out a bill giving $14.3 billion in aid to Israel, while cutting into cash President Biden allocated toward the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) last year.

The 13-page bill released on Monday would completely offset the foreign aid by rescinding those funds from the Inflation Reduction Act passed last year. Specifically, it targets some of the $80 billion the package gave to the IRS.

It comes as Israel continues to fight a bloody war against terror group Hamas. Hamas militants attacked Israeli towns and villages earlier this month, killing most of the 1,400 casualties Israel has seen in the conflict so far. Thousands of Palestinians have also been killed.

Israel is shaping up to be the first big test for newly elected Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., whose first act on the House floor as leader was to pass a bipartisan resolution condemning Hamas.

more
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-gops-14b-israel-aid-bill-offset-cuts-irs-cash-bidens-inflation-reduction-act

[massadvj]

I have no problem with Israel doing what it is doing, but it comes as news to me that a country as wealthy as Israel cannot afford its own defense. I guess they are just like the Europeans, who apparently cannot afford their own defense, either.