By Stephen Witt, Los Angeles County Politics
Los Angeles County’s congressional delegation was divided evenly on yesterday’s most consequential Israel vote of the year, as the House rejected a Republican amendment that would have blocked $3.3 billion in U.S. military assistance to Israel.
Seven county Democrats voted for the amendment, seven voted against it, and one — Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-Whittier) — voted “present,” which is akin to abstaining. Sánchez was one of only ten House Democrats nationally to do so.
The amendment, authored by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), would have carved out the $3.3 billion from a larger $47.2 billion National Security and State Department appropriations bill, which the House ultimately passed.
The amendment failed 104-314, with Democrats splitting 103 in favor, 98 against and 10 present. Massie was the only Republican to vote for it.
LA congressional members voting for the amendment were Reps. Nanette Barragán (D-San Pedro), Judy Chu (D-Pasadena), Laura Friedman (D-Glendale), Robert Garcia (D-Long Beach), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Los Angeles), Derek Tran (D-Cerritos) and Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles).
LA congressional members voting against the amendment were Reps. Gil Cisneros (D-Covina), Jimmy Gomez (D-Los Angeles), Ted Lieu (D-Torrance), Luz Rivas (D-North Hollywood), Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks), Norma Torres (D-Pomona) and George Whitesides (D-Santa Clarita).
Kamlager-Dove, a co-sponsor of the Block the Bombs Act, a Democratic bill that would prohibit the sale or transfer of certain U.S. offensive weapons to Israel while leaving defensive systems like Iron Dome untouched, said her yes vote turned on assurances that defensive systems would be spared.
“When I signed onto the Block the Bombs Act, I committed to opposing offensive military aid to the Netanyahu government while still supporting funding for defensive programs. That’s why, after receiving assurances that funding for the Iron Dome would be unaffected, I voted to block taxpayer funding to Israel in the 2027 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act,” Kamlager-Dove said.
“Over the years, Prime Minister Netanyahu has repeatedly used U.S. military assistance to commit gross violations of human rights, prolong conflict, and retain his hold on power. I cannot in good conscience support using U.S. taxpayer dollars to help finance Netanyahu’s war apparatus,” she added.
But Rivas, who voted no, called the measure a poorly drafted vehicle that endangered the delivery of humanitarian aid.
“These changes cannot come from a disgruntled Republican Member’s amendment that aims to divide Democrats and only allows for ten minutes of debate on the House Floor. For these reasons, I voted ‘no’ on this amendment, and will continue working with my colleagues to address the needs of both the Israeli and Palestinian people,” Rivas said.
The vote also divided the delegation’s two Jewish members, with Friedman voting for the amendment and Sherman voting against it. Both represent districts with large Jewish constituencies.
Friedman was among more than a dozen Democrats endorsed by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) who voted for the amendment, according to Jewish Insider, while Sherman co-chairs the House Israel Allied Caucus and is the most senior Democrat on the House-Knesset Parliamentary Friendship Group.
Sherman, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, accused Republican leaders of forcing the floor vote to drive a wedge through the Democratic caucus in an election year, according to Roll Call, a media outlet that covers Congress.
LACP has requested comment from both Sherman and Friedman on their votes, and this story will be updated when they are received.
