From Politico:
“Bombenomics: Biden admin
circulates map showing states that benefit from Ukraine aid”
Battleground states Pennsylvania
and Arizona are reaping billions of dollars from Washington’s efforts to arm
Ukraine, according to a graphic the Biden administration has circulated on
Capitol Hill. The circulation of the graphic is part of the administration’s
push to sell the American public — and their congressional representatives — on
President Joe Biden’s proposal to spend billions of additional taxpayer dollars
on the wars in Ukraine and Israel. During an Oval Office address last month,
Biden highlighted the benefit to U.S. manufacturing centers when making the
case that Republicans should support the $60 billion for Ukraine contained in
the $106 billion emergency supplemental. A faction of GOP members has fought
further funding, arguing that the U.S. is spending money to help Ukraine rather
than focusing on problems at home. “Let me be clear about something,” Biden
said. “We send Ukraine equipment sitting in our stockpiles. And when we use the
money allocated by Congress, we use it to replenish our own stores, our own
stockpiles with new equipment.” “Equipment that defends America and is made in
America. Patriot missiles for air defense batteries, made in Arizona. Artillery
shells manufactured in 12 states across the country, in Pennsylvania, Ohio,
Texas. And so much more,” he said. “You know, just as in World War II, today
patriotic American workers are building the arsenal of democracy and serving
the cause of freedom.”
POLITICO reported last month that
the White House was switching up its messaging after running into continued
resistance on Capitol Hill, after determining that selling the war funding
effort based on national security wasn’t changing minds. According to the map,
obtained by POLITICO, Pennsylvania has received $2.364 billion in investments
to build munitions and tactical vehicles for Ukraine, the most of any state.
Meanwhile, Arizona is a close second with $2.259 billion. Texas and Arkansas received
$1.449 billion and $1.478 billion, respectively, while Florida got $1.011
billion.
In total, the states have enjoyed
more than $27 billion in investments from arming Ukraine, according to the
graphic, the existence of which was first reported by Reuters. A Defense
Department spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on
the map. The administration last month sent lawmakers the supplemental request,
which includes money for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and border security. While
congressional bickering has delayed the bill’s passage, Senate Majority Leader
Chuck Schumer has promised to vote on it as soon as the week of Dec. 4.
Resistance to further Ukraine aid
has grown among House Republicans, with some lawmakers turning against new
funding over concerns about the proposal’s price tag and the endgame of the
conflict. Rep. Mike Garcia (R-Calif.), an appropriator at the center of the GOP
supplemental debate, is circulating a memo to make the case for a slimmed-down
funding package focused solely on providing munitions and other weapons Ukraine
needs to turn the tide. He estimates the cost of those weapons at $15-20
billion for fiscal 2024, well below Biden’s request. Garcia said he agrees with
the arguments for ramping up the industrial base. But his memo recommends
splitting funding for replenishing Pentagon inventories and building up the
defense industry from Ukraine spending, arguing they are two distinct efforts
and would be more politically palatable to skeptical Republicans individually. "The
reality is that if we're paying aerospace and defense companies to tool up for
enhanced capacity, that is a fight against China,” Garcia said. “That's a fight
that supplies our DOD and not Ukraine.” Asked about the map, Garcia hailed its
emphasis on the industrial base as “something they should be doing,” but
accused the administration of not having a strategy or keeping it ambiguous.
Without that, he said, Republican skeptics of Ukraine aid won’t change their
minds. “If you don't have the answers … just selling this as a, you know,
funding more jobs in your district thing is not going to work,” he said.
^ Here is how American Aid to
Ukraine is ALSO helping the American People.
The Federal Government gives
American Dollars to Ukraine on the condition that Ukraine uses that money to
buy American Weapons from American Companies across the US.
The Federal Government gives
older American Military Equipment to Ukraine and then replenishes the US
Military by buying new, more modern Equipment from American Companies across
the US.
It is a Win-Win for both the
Americans and the Ukrainians. ^
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