A Republican is now leading the charge to stop Donald Trump's fuel deal with Vladimir Putin — and he's not asking leadership for permission.
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, says he'll introduce the Ronald Reagan Peace Through Strength Act to bar U.S. purchases of Russian oil. To get around Speaker Mike Johnson, he's turning to a discharge petition — the maneuver that forces a floor vote the moment 218 members sign on, no matter what GOP leaders want. "It will be forced to the Floor via discharge and it will pass overwhelmingly," he wrote. Fellow Republican Rep. Don Bacon has already agreed to sign.
Here's the deal they're trying to stop. Trump announced Friday that Russia would immediately ship more than 300,000 tons of diesel to the U.S. and global markets, pitching it as a way to bring fuel prices down. Energy analysts doubt it will move prices much — but it could funnel fresh cash straight into Putin's war machine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the arrangement neither fair nor honest and said it amounts to a gift to Putin. Trump's answer was to suggest Ukraine should replace Zelensky altogether.
This isn't the first time Fitzpatrick and Bacon have broken ranks — earlier this year they forced a House vote on Ukraine aid and Russia sanctions, and it passed. They now join a growing group of Republicans, including former VP Mike Pence, openly rejecting a deal that rewards the man still bombing Ukrainian cities.
The question now is simple: will 218 members put country over party?
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DeleteI miss Alan.
via Daily Democracy:
ReplyDeleteA Republican is now leading the charge to stop Donald Trump's fuel deal with Vladimir Putin — and he's not asking leadership for permission.
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, says he'll introduce the Ronald Reagan Peace Through Strength Act to bar U.S. purchases of Russian oil. To get around Speaker Mike Johnson, he's turning to a discharge petition — the maneuver that forces a floor vote the moment 218 members sign on, no matter what GOP leaders want. "It will be forced to the Floor via discharge and it will pass overwhelmingly," he wrote. Fellow Republican Rep. Don Bacon has already agreed to sign.
Here's the deal they're trying to stop. Trump announced Friday that Russia would immediately ship more than 300,000 tons of diesel to the U.S. and global markets, pitching it as a way to bring fuel prices down. Energy analysts doubt it will move prices much — but it could funnel fresh cash straight into Putin's war machine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the arrangement neither fair nor honest and said it amounts to a gift to Putin. Trump's answer was to suggest Ukraine should replace Zelensky altogether.
This isn't the first time Fitzpatrick and Bacon have broken ranks — earlier this year they forced a House vote on Ukraine aid and Russia sanctions, and it passed. They now join a growing group of Republicans, including former VP Mike Pence, openly rejecting a deal that rewards the man still bombing Ukrainian cities.
The question now is simple: will 218 members put country over party?