Republican Senator Rand Paul put up a roadblock to voting because he first wanted debate on his amendment to kill the measure’s increased federal spending.
WASHINGTON, Feb 8 (Reuters) – Hopes for a quick vote on legislation to keep the U. S. government operating beyond midnight hit a snag on Thursday when Republican Senator Rand Paul put up a roadblock to voting because he first wanted debate on his amendment to kill the measure’s increased federal spending.
Paul wants the Senate to vote on an amendment to reimpose caps on defense and non-defense discretionary spending, a spokesman said on Thursday, a move that could create a hurdle to keeping the government open.
“All Senator Rand Paul is asking for is a 15-minute vote on his amendment to restore the budget caps. He is ready to proceed at any time,” Paul spokesman Sergio Gor told Reuters in an email.
It was unclear whether the Senate and House of Representatives would be able to pass a funding bill by midnight on Thursday, when existing federal funds expire. Without new funds, federal agencies would have to be ordered to partially shut down.
(Reporting by Richard Cowan and David Morgan; Editing by Leslie Adler and Susan Heavey)
