BRAD FINSTAD VOTED AGAINST AID FOR UKRAINE.  LET HIM KNOW HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT.

Saturday was a cold day in Winona, but it was a jubilant day in the United States House of Representatives.  After months of inaction, the House approved an aid package that will send $60 billion in aid to Ukraine. The legislation will also send aid to Taiwan and Israel. The Senate is expected to pass the legislation as early as Tuesday. 

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy immediately thanked the legislators, saying, “The vital U.S. aid bill . . . will keep the war from expanding, save thousands and thousands of lives, and help both of our nations to become stronger.”  Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, the chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said in support of the aid package, “We cannot be afraid at this moment.  We have to do what’s right.  Evil is on the march.  History is calling, and now is the time to act.” 

One person who didn’t hear that call was Brad Finstad, who represents our congressional district  in the House.  He voted no on the Ukraine aid bill—even though he voted to send aid to Israel and Taiwan.  In a time when the Ukrainian military is losing ground to Russia’s invading forces, not because of a lack of courage but because of a lack of ammunition, Finstad was unwilling to send them assistance. 

We have previously reported on the importance of aiding the Ukrainians in their fight.  We quoted local WSU student Viktoriia Kuchma, who is a Ukrainian national: “Ukraine is like a shield of Europe…if we weren’t standing up, the war would spread.” (see the article “WSU Student from Ukraine says, “Don’t Forget About Us!” on our DFL website). Brad Finstad was willing to risk wider war, an expansion of Russia’s power, even a possible commitment of U.S. troops, in the service of his right-wing ideology.  If you don’t think that represents how you feel about the issue, give his office a call today.