MTG trolled for opposing foreign aid package. But Florida Republicans also mostly voted no.

Pundits, including conservative media, trolled "Moscow Marjorie" Taylor Greene for the GOP Georgia congresswoman's opposition to aid for Ukraine, but Florida's Republican congressional delegation also solidly voted against the foreign aid package that contained billions for Israel and Taiwan as well.

On Tuesday night, GOP U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott voted no on the $95 billion aid bill of which roughly two-thirds of the dollars are earmarked for the beleaguered country trying to beat back a Russian invasion launched more than two years ago. On April 20, 14 of Florida's 20 Republican House members voted to reject the measure and its $61 billion for Ukraine.

The legislation passed Congress despite former President Donald Trump's complaint that America's allies in Europe should be shouldering more of the conflict's financial burden. "Why can’t Europe equalize or match the money put in by the United States of America in order to help a Country in desperate need?" Trump asked rhetorically on social media as the House prepared to vote over the weekend.

Most Florida Republican lawmakers get F grades, a handful earn As for helping Ukraine

The advocacy group Republicans for Ukraine castigated Pensacola Congressman Matt Gaetz, who has demanded the end of assistance to Ukraine to force a peace deal, saying he is "parroting Russian propaganda" and Rubio for being "hypocritical" in claiming that stemming the flow of immigrants into the United States is a more serious priority given the senator voted against the border security package two months ago.

"It really is a representation of how the Republican Party has transformed with a new wave of isolationism," said John Conway, Republicans for Ukraine strategy director. "The Republican Party has fundamentally changed under the leadership of Donald Trump. It is unimaginable to think about a Republican Party not supporting our democratic allies abroad against a Russian invasion by a dictator. This is where the party is. It is now split."

The group, started by conservative commentator Bill Kristol and others, did give five Florida House Republicans A grades for their votes. Conway said their support helped push the aid package "across the finish line" demonstrated "it's more important to be supporting our democratic allies in Ukraine than fighting this battle at home between" Taylor Greene and Gaetz on one side "and pro-democracy Republicans at the other."

President Joe Biden signed the measure on Wednesday afternoon, and fired a salvo at the Trump-led Make America Great Again faction within the GOP.

"For months, while MAGA Republicans were blocking aid, Ukraine has been running out of artillery shells and ammunition," Biden said. "Meanwhile, [Russian leader Vladimir] Putin’s friends keep giving him — are keeping him well supplied. Iran sent him drones. North Korea has sent him ballistic missiles and artillery shells. China is providing components and know-how to boost Russia's defense production."

Florida GOP lawmakers cited border, Hamas, U.S. debt among reasons for no votes

Rubio, in remarks on the U.S. Senate floor, said he supported the assistance to Ukraine, as well as Israel and Taiwan, but called the measure "blackmail" to purportedly clear the way for legislation on the U.S. southern border. Rubio, said to be on Trump's running mate list, voted no on a border bill in February that was negotiated by conservative Republican U.S. Sen. James Lankford.

Scott said he is a "steadfast" supporter of Israel but argued the legislation lacked "safeguards, like my Stop Taxpayer Funding of Hamas Act" he insisted is necessary to prevent the Biden administration from appeasing "radical pro-Hamas extremists."

In the House, Florida's lawmakers joined scores of House Republicans in voting no, with Gainesville area U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack complaining that some members waved Ukrainian flags in the chamber after the vote.

But it was Greene who was most outspoken, even threatening to seek House Speaker Mike Johnson's ouster. That sparked the derision, with the New York Post headlining a cover “Nyet, Moscow Marjorie” and other media reporting that Russian state television lauded Greene as "a beauty" and "demonstrably heterosexual."

The six Florida Republicans who voted for the foreign assistance included U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami.

"The strategic alliance between our most dangerous adversaries, such as communist China, Russia and the terrorist State of Iran, poses a direct threat to our national security," Diaz-Balart said in a statement last week. "There is nothing our adversaries would love more than for the United States to fail to stand with our friends in their time of greatest need. We have no time to spare. Passage of this aid package is critical."

The lone Florida House Democrat to oppose the measure was U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost of Orlando.

Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at afins@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: 'Moscow Florida'? GOP lawmakers also opposed foreign assistance measure