The libertarian-leaning senator is using his procedural powers to block swift passage of the legislation.
Rand Paul is at it again. The Kentucky Republican is objecting to swift passage of the annual defense policy bill, effectively forcing senators to remain in Washington for an extra day as he filibusters the $740 billion legislation. Paul, no stranger to filibusters, said in an interview Thursday that he opposes a provision in the bill that would hamstring the president’s ability to draw down American troops from Afghanistan. “That amendment alone is enough to make me object to it, as well as the amount of spending,” he said. Paul said he would drop his objection if GOP leaders allowed a final vote on the National Defense Authorization Act on Monday, which would require the Senate to go through the procedural motions. But Republicans are eager to finish work on it this week, in addition to a one-week government funding bill to avoid a shutdown. “It’s really just a function at this point of letting the clock run and seeing if we can get cooperation.
