House Democrat Rips Speaker Johnson’s ‘Lack of Understanding’ On Basic Functions of Congress

Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) accused House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) of having a “lack of understanding” of the way Congress worked when he pushed for a $14 billion aid package to Israel to be paid for by cutting money meant to strengthen the Internal Revenue Service.

“The bipartisan Congressional Budget Office says that would actually increase the deficit by losing billions of dollars in unpaid tax revenue that would otherwise have been collected,” MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell said. “Instead, Democrats are backing the president’s $106 billion request that includes, among other things, aid to Israel and Ukraine, as well as the border.”

Mitchell continued, “Today’s standalone bill was dead on arrival in the Senate. So, is this — this is delaying getting the aid to anybody. Do you think that it’ll then come back from the Senate with Ukraine put back in, and the House will be forced to vote on a compromise package?” Mitchell asked Sherrill.

“You know, I think we’re watching all this closely. But this is certainly showing the speaker’s inexperience and, I think, lack of understanding of many of the ways in which Congress really works. So, to have a, quote, ‘pay for’ — something that he wants to help pay for the bill with — that actually adds $12 billion to the deficit, is pretty bewildering.” Sherrill continued:

And what’s more, to not understand that Israel’s enemies are Ukraine’s enemies. That Hamas has met with Putin. That Iran has drones in Ukraine right now that they’ve given to Russia. All of this is a part of a global fight for democracy and democratic priorities.

It also displays a lack of understanding and how, when you are fighting, a counterinsurgency, you’ve really got to make sure you are taking care of the civilians. Our generals during Iraq and Afghanistan, spent an inordinate amount of time worrying about how to get power to populations. How to get food and water to populations. And so, the humanitarian relief part of this package is critical, as well.

President Joe Biden has vowed to veto an aid package to Israel that removed funding for the IRS.

Watch the clip above via MSNBC.