Mike Johnson Has Already Made His First Mistake

House Speaker Mike Johnson has made a "huge and consequential blunder" by tying additional U.S. aid for Israel to a cut in Internal Revenue Service (IRS) funding, according to a senior Democratic-leaning political strategist.

On Monday, House Republicans introduced a bill that would provide an additional $14.3 billion in aid to Israel which is currently fighting Hamas, in exchange for an IRS funding cut of the same value. Spending on the IRS was beefed up in 2022 as part of President Biden's flagship Inflation Reduction Act, which also substantially increased investment in green energy.

President Biden has requested $106 billion from Congress, $61.4 billion of which would go to Ukraine, $14.3 billion to Israel, 13.6 billion to secure the U.S.-Mexico border, with the remainder for Taiwan and other humanitarian work including in Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine. However, Republicans in the House—some of whom oppose any additional aid to Ukraine—instead introduced the standalone bill offering financing for Israel in return for IRS cuts.

This decision sparked an angry backlash from Democrats and online commentators. Simon Rosenberg, founder of the Democrat supporting New Democrat Network think tank, tweeted: "Huge and consequential blunder by the new Speaker right out of the box."

He was responding to a post on X, formerly Twitter, by The Atlantic staff writer Yair Rosenberg. Responding to the House Republican plan for a standalone bill, Yair Rosenberg said: "This is not what you do if you care about the safety of Jews. This is what you do when you care about other things and are willing to hold the safety of Jews hostage until you get them."

Newsweek has contacted Speaker Johnson's Washington D.C. office for comment by telephone and voicemail message.

Johnson defended his plan to tie aid to Israel to IRS spending cuts during an appearance on Fox News. He said: "I understand [the Democrats'] priority is to bulk up the IRS, but I think if you put this to the American people and they weigh the two needs, I think they're going to say standing with Israel and protecting the innocent over there is in our national interest and is a more immediate need than IRS agents."

In a statement, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre condemned Johnson's proposal, which would be highly unlikely to win approval from the Democratic-controlled Senate even if it passes in the House.

She said: "Politicizing our national security interests is a nonstarter.

"Demanding offsets for meeting core national security needs of the United States, like supporting Israel and defending Ukraine from atrocities and Russian imperialism, would be a break with the normal, bipartisan process and could have devastating implications for our safety and alliances in the years ahead."

A number of House Democrats have also criticized the Republican's proposal including Seth Magaziner from Rhode Island, who tweeted: "This is outrageous and insulting.

"Three weeks after Hamas murdered innocent children, House Republicans are trying to use support for Israel as a bargaining chip to defund the IRS and make it easier for billionaires to cheat on their taxes. Not a good start Speaker Johnson."

Debbie Wasserman, a Democratic Representative from Florida, commented: "Speaker Johnson's political games are offensive to all pro-Israel Americans, and I hope he reverses course immediately."

Two House Republicans, representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie, have already indicated they will vote against any additional aid for Israel.

Johnson's position also sets up a potential clash with Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has indicated he supports additional aid for both Israel and Ukraine.

Speaking in Louisville, Kentucky, on Monday he said: "This is a moment for swift and decisive action to prevent further loss of life and to impose real consequences on the tyrants who have terrorized the people of Ukraine and of Israel. And right now, the Senate has a chance to produce supplemental assistance that will help us do exactly that."