To the Editor:

“Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.”

These words were not written about Republicans elected to national office, but they certainly apply.

As Congressional authorization for funding for Ukraine expired in the fall of 2023, Republicans insisted that no additional funds could be authorized to assist Ukraine in fending off Putin’s invasion until the problems facing our own border were addressed.  In the Senate, a bipartisan committee led by conservative Senator James Lankford (R-OK) crafted an agreement that met many of the Republican demands for reform of our border policy. Biden indicated he would sign the bill if passed.  

This bill was on a path to clear the Senate. That is when it became clear that House Republicans never wanted what they demanded. They were unwilling to take “yes” for an answer. 

Keeping border policy as a wedge issue for the elections this fall was more important than addressing the issue that they have called a crisis. They have travelled to the border for photo opportunities, but when provided with an opportunity to act, their actions revealed their callous indifference to the problems at the border, and to our allies bravely fighting off Putin’s invasion. 

The Ukrainian people have earned the respect of the world in defending their nation from Putin’s invasion. Helping finance their defense has done significant damage to one of the United States’ main geopolitical rivals. No one benefits more if the U.S. ceases support for Ukraine’s defense than Vladamir Putin. 

Republican leadership in the House have indeed woven a tangled web of deception. The demands for border legislation were insincere.  Now, stand-alone legislation designed to provide funding for Ukraine, Israel, Gaza and Taiwan has passed in the Senate to honor commitments made by the United States.  The speaker of the House, Mike Johnson (R-LA), is refusing to bring this legislation to the floor until border security is addressed. Why should anyone take this renewed demand for border security seriously when Republicans have already killed a measure that would accomplish exactly that?  

If there was a vote in the House, there is enough support to pass this bill. The most radical members of Congress are preventing action. It is if they prefer chaos to legislation. It is if they prefer Putin and his invasion to funding that would support our allies and boost the U.S defense industry. They are proving themselves unfit to govern. 

Dan Sullivan-Catlin
Potsdam