House GOP leader endorses Womack
SPRINGDALE — Getting a Ukraine military aid package through the U.S. House of Representatives requires more than overcoming the resistance of those who simply oppose any such assistance, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., said in an interview Friday.
Scalise came to Northwest Arkansas to campaign for his friend U.S. Rep. Steve Womack of Rogers, a fellow Republican. Scalise made a surprise appearance to speak at the Springdale Chamber of Commerce annual banquet. He endorsed Womack in front of the luncheon crowd of about 700. The audience included Womack’s opponent in the March 5 primary, state Sen. Clint Penzo, R-Springdale, who sat at a table near the center of the front row. The event took place in the Northwest Arkansas Convention Center at the Springdale Holiday Inn.
Even strong supporters of Ukraine assistance in the House are unhappy with the aid sent so far, Scalise said in an earlier interview in Rogers at Womack’s local office.
As each assistance bill for Ukraine passed, “along the way you’ve seen an erosion of votes because members are less aware of what the president’s real long-term objectives are,” Scalise said. “In many cases you seen the people of Ukraine and the military leaders asking for certain weapon systems and President Biden being too late in giving them those things.”
The administration has been reluctant to provide the most modern weapons to Ukraine while Russia either supplies its own or obtains them from allies such as Iran, which has capable drone technology, Scalise said. The effect has been to give Ukraine enough weapons to survive but not to turn back the Russian invasion.
Other members of the House oppose more money for Ukraine aid because of the cost.
“We’re trying to thread the needle on a few things right now” between House members with different priorities, Scalise said. Options include lethal aid without economic aid or making assistance in the form of a loan, he said. “We’d like to get it done soon but you’ve got to put the vote coalition together,” he said.
Grant Tennille, chairman of the state’s Democratic Party, said the Republicans should work with the president if they want different weapons going to Ukraine.
“I think there’s widespread support for Ukraine in our state,” Tennille said. “Arkansans recognize naked aggression when they see it. Support for Ukraine is exactly the kind of issue where they would like to see bipartisan cooperation.”
Womack also spoke at the luncheon, saying it has been “the honor of a lifetime to serve you.”
Penzo replied in a statement to Scalise and Womack: “I believe actions speak louder than words. Since Womack has been in Congress, he has consistently voted for deficit spending, the national debt has doubled and the border is worse than ever. Womack and friends can boast all they want while campaigning but you can’t hide his voting record.”
The winner of the Womack-Penzo race will face Democrat Caitlin Draper of Fayetteville in November’s general election.
“I’m focused on running a race to make sure Arkansans feel heard in the halls of Congress,” Draper said in a statement. “All across the district I hear from folks, why are we doing nothing to address the cost of living, increase access to health care, and fix our broken immigration system? For too long Steve Womack and Congressional leadership have done nothing to solve these issues.”