A group of progressive House Democrats have told the party’s leadership that they intend to vote against a continuing resolution to fund the government if it includes funding for Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system.
Punchbowl News founder Jake Sherman tweeted on Tuesday, “House Democratic leadership has some issues on the government funding bill. Some progressives are angry that there is $1 billion for the Iron Dome anti middle defense system in Israel. This has forced democrats to recess the Rules Committee to find a way forward.”
Politico reporter Andrew Desiderio added that the group includes Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., as well as Mark Pocan, D-Wis., but Desiderio later said that Pocan will vote for the bill.
Desiderio tweeted “several House progressives are threatening to vote against the CR due to the Iron Dome funding. Group includes Rep. Pocan & other progressives who signed onto a resolution earlier this summer to cancel an arms sale to Israel amid fighting w/ Hamas.”
He later added, “I’m now told Pocan will vote FOR the CR. His name was listed among those who had objections to the Iron Dome provision in a Tuesday morning email reviewed by [Politico]. Progressives leading this charge include AOC, Omar, Tlaib.”
His Politico colleague Nicholas Wu later noted that “During today’s Congressional Progressive Caucus call, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, [D-Wash.,] told the group she has a meeting today with Speaker Pelosi, per a person on the call.”
Wu added that the House “Rules Committee says they’re coming back at 2:30 on govt funding – revised legislation posted w/o the Iron Dome provisions.”
