Florida Democrat backs GOP's Israel-only aid bill with matching IRS cuts

Florida Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz on Monday signaled he would support the Republican-proposed Israeli aid package that includes matching cuts to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), suggesting that the provision offered Republicans a rhetorical device to use against opponents.

House Speaker Mike Johnson on Monday introduced the $14.3 billion aid package, pairing it with cuts to the IRS to offset the costs amid mounting Republican worries about the impact of foreign military aid to the nation's financial woes. Johnson's plan would claw back funds allocated to the agency to hire 87,000 IRS agents, a provision in the Inflation Reduction Act that has long attracted the GOP's ire.

Moskowitz, who is Jewish, indicated his concerns that opposing the legislation would present Republicans with a reason to claim that detractors valued taxing Americans more than aiding an allied nation.

"Foreign Policy and National Security being conducted as a future political mailer. “'You chose the IRS over Israel'. I am not going to take the bait. There are American Hostages. This is not a game," he posted on X. Moskowitz was responding to a post from Punchbowl News's Jake Sherman highlighting likely Democratic opposition to the offsetting cuts to the agency. Sherman subsequently asked Moskowitz to clarify whether he would "vote yes" on the bill.

"Damn straight. A political mailer as policy put forward by unserious people. Was this in the speakers Bible?" he asked. "To choose between Israel and the IRS. This is dead in the Senate. It violates Republicans single subject spending rule. It adds to the deficit. I will support Israel" Johnson, a professing Christian, has cited his faith as part of his motivation for supporting Israel. Hence, Moskowitz's reference to the Bible.

The Republican legislation is likely to meet with pushback in the Democratic Senate, where both Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell hope to pair aid to Israel with financial support for Ukraine amid the ongoing Russian invasion. Johnson's Israel legislation includes no funding for Kyiv and he has expressed opposition to bundling aid for both nations.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.