MARCH 26, 2014

Ukraine aid should not be conditioned on $63 billion IMF bailout

FAIRFAX, Va. – Americans for Limited Government President Nathan Mehrens issued the following statement demanding the U.S. Senate take up a clean U.S. House legislation to offer a $1 billion loan guarantee to Ukraine, and to strike its additional $63 billion in new quota money for the International Monetary Fund (IMF):

"There is absolutely no reason to hold up Ukraine aid, needed to support the nascent government there, so that Obama can give another $63 billion to the IMF to bail out bankrupt governments like Greece and the banks that foolishly lent them money. Russia has annexed Crimea, and is threatening Ukraine, a U.S. ally. That is more than enough cause for Congress to consider the clean House aid bill to Ukraine on its merits. Even the Washington Post editorial page has rightly stated the 'White House and Senate Democrats are more to blame for picking this fight'.

"It is time for Harry Reid to stop playing Washington, D.C. politics in the face of geopolitical threats. It is irresponsible to hold Ukraine aid hostage while that country's fate very much hangs in the balance, and it is embarrassing."

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