(PatriotWise.com) – After President Biden’s joint press conference with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky last Wednesday, conservative lawmakers and activists called for the US to stop sending taxpayer money to Ukraine.
During the joint press conference, Biden reaffirmed his commitment to providing aid to Ukraine, telling reporters that the US would back the war-torn country “for as long as it takes.”
However, some conservatives argued that America’s limited funds would be better spent at home.
Arizona Congressman Andy Biggs said on Twitter that the US should send “no more blank checks to Ukraine.” Biggs blasted Zelensky for saying that the additional $44.9 billion for Ukraine in the $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill was not enough, demanding to know “what is enough?”
Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie, who has voted against every Ukraine aid package, asked on Twitter why Ukraine funding was “buried” in a spending bill to avert a government shutdown and why the funding was tied to Florida hurricane relief.
Massie questioned whether it was appropriate for Zelensky to address a joint session of Congress when “Americans are growing very weary of funding this war.”
Wednesday night, Zelensky addressed a joint session of Congress at the invitation of outgoing Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
After the speech, Republican leader Kevin McCarthy called Zelensky’s address “a very good speech,” saying the Ukrainian leader “laid out a number of reasons why the free world wants to continue the fight.
However, McCarthy added that he wanted there to be more measured support for Ukraine, adding that he does not support the current “blank check” approach to funding.
The $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill passed the Senate Thursday in a 68 to 29 vote.
The House quickly passed the bill on Friday 225 to 201, largely on party lines. Nine Republicans defected to join the Democrats in passing the bill, including outgoing Reps Liz Cheney, John Katko, Chris Jacobs, Adam Kinzinger, Rodney Davis, Jamie Herrara Beutler, and Fred Upton.
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