Taking time out of Washington following a historic vote to expel one of their own, Congress returns this week maybe still hungover on turkey and pie but facing a full plate of unfinished business in a growingly complex legislative agenda. The spotlight on international events gives way for both sides to bring domestic issues to the negotiating table.
For the third time since late September that Congress has failed to act on Ukraine funding, even as the situation there is clearly getting more urgent by the day. Biden administration officials and congressional leaders keep stating that the United States won’t leave Ukraine in the lurch, but no one has shown a realistic path to passing more aid, especially with the growing House GOP opposition.
Senate Minority Leader McConnell has been especially vocal on the need to support Ukraine. The Kentucky Republican has been meeting privately with a group of GOP senators to walk through strategies for passing an aid package, according to multiple sources. But McConnell knows he can’t do anything unless the border crisis is addressed as well.
Democrats’ decision to step back from the talks on Friday could all be a negotiating tactic. Democrats have acknowledged Republicans’ concerns about the border but don’t believe Turkey, Family Time Didn’t Ease Hill TensionsDespite politically dicey immigration policies should be part of an overwhelmingly bipartisan foreign aid package. Of course, Congress has long failed to pass meaningful legislation on immigration and border security.
Although senators left town on Thursday afternoon, negotiating sessions were still scheduled to be held throughout the weekend. But the talks broke down on Friday evening and haven’t resumed since, according to sources directly involved in the discussions.
Democratic negotiators determined that Republicans were unable or unwilling to accept their compromises on border security, we’re told. So the talks ended then and aren’t scheduled to restart.
The White House is putting new pressure on Congress to take action on the president’s supplemental funding.
White House budget director Shalanda Young sent a letter to Congress this morning stating that without congressional action before year’s end, the Pentagon “will run out of resources to procure more weapons and equipment for Ukraine and to provide equipment from U.S. military stocks.”
Young’s letter essentially says Russia is poised for significant gains in Ukraine without new U.S. aid: “There is no magical pot of funding available to meet this moment. We are out of money — and nearly out of time.
“Cutting off the flow of U.S. weapons and equipment will kneecap Ukraine on the battlefield, not only putting at risk the gains Ukraine has made, but increasing the likelihood of Russian military victories.”
Senators will receive a classified briefing Tuesday afternoon on Ukraine and Israel. Let’s see if that changes the thinking on these important negotiations.