Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) joined Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) and all but one Democrat in voting to pass yet another Ukraine aid package, despite her repeated complaints about Iran War spending.
“Given the incalculable stakes and immense cost—an estimated $1 billion a day—of such an endeavor, I cannot and will not support this war,” said Rep. Pingree about the Iran War in March.
The House voted 226-195 on Thursday to pass the Ukraine Support Act, put forward by Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.). Just one Democrat, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), opposed the bill while 18 Republicans supported it.
The bill would impose additional sanctions on Russia, establish a “reconstruction trust fund” for Ukraine, extend authorization to provide Ukraine with security assistance, increase tariffs on Russian imports to a minimum of 500 percent, and require the U.S. to bolster the militaries of Baltic nations.
The bill would authorize $1.3 billion in additional security assistance to Ukraine, authorize $8 billion in arms sales, and provide $250 million to pay for Radio Free Europe, a Cold War-era project originally meant to broadcast uncensored information past the Iron Curtain.
Pingree has consistently objected to the Iran War on multiple grounds, including both the direct fiscal cost and the costs imposed on consumers through the higher gas prices it has caused.
While she has staunchly opposed the Iran War, she has been one of the staunchest supporters of Ukraine War funding in Congress and has voted in favor of every standalone Ukraine support bill presented to her since the war began.
According to the U.S. government’s own number, taxpayers have spent $187.7 billion on the Ukraine War since its outset.
She previously had the Ukrainian flag in her name on X but has since removed it as Ukraine has faded off the front pages of the news cycle.
Though the latest funding bill passed the House, it reportedly did so against the wishes of President Donald Trump and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.). Politico reported that Rep. Johnson urged Republicans to vote against the bill.
Even if it passes through the Senate, President Trump will have an opportunity to veto it.
I think I like Pingree even LESS than I do Platner .
With THOSE 2 there is no “ lesser “ of two evils .