In a surprising move, Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) broke ranks with his party by voting against legislation to fund the government, citing the absence of aid for Ukraine as the reason for his dissent. Quigley’s decision made him the sole Democrat to oppose the measure, which ultimately passed by a wide margin. He criticized Republicans for their failure to support Ukraine and accused the party of becoming appeasers and pro-Putin. Quigley emphasized the need to rectify the situation within the next 45 days, as he believed that Russian President Vladimir Putin would view the lack of aid as a victory.
As the deadline to fund the government approached, House Republicans presented a new bill after their previous plan, which included spending cuts and border security measures, faltered. The revised bill, touted by Republicans as a “clean” version meeting Democratic demands, maintained current funding levels while allocating billions for disaster relief according to the Biden administration’s request. However, Republicans who voted against the bill expressed dissatisfaction with previous spending levels agreed upon when Democrats controlled both chambers. Some saw their opposition as an opportunity to shift attention back to the Democrats, who have advocated for a “clean” bill containing aid for Ukraine and disaster relief.
The decision to vote against legislation to fund the government highlights the growing divide within Congress over matters like Ukraine aid and spending levels. By opposing the bill, Quigley drew attention to the discord between Republicans and Democrats on these issues, labeling the Republican Party as appeasers and pro-Putin. Meanwhile, Republicans who voted against the bill sought to redirect accountability towards Democrats, adding further to the ongoing tensions. With the government funding deadline looming, the resolution signals potential difficulties in finding common ground on vital issues, and the need for bipartisan efforts to avert a government shutdown in the future.
