Rand Paul Demands Vote on Blocking Welfare for Refugees

A push by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) for a vote on refugee benefits has thwarted the Senate’s plan to pass a housing and transportation bill this week.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) came to the Senate floor on Thursday and withdrew cloture motions on the spending bill for the Department of Transportation and Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The motions would have allowed the legislation to come up for a procedural vote.

The move came after Paul, who is running for president, demanded a vote on an amendment that would ban new refugees from 34 countries or territories from getting assistance from welfare programs funded under the spending bill.

With Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.), who are spearheading the legislation, opposed to Paul’s amendment, Paul pledged that he would block leadership from trying to speed up procedural votes, as well as block any other amendment from getting queued up for floor time.

“The biggest issue of the day is how we protect ourselves from terrorism. My amendment goes to the heart of the matter. Are we sufficiently vetting those who might come here and attack us from the Middle East?” Paul said, adding that “until we address the issues of the day on a germane amendment, I object.” (Read more from “Rand Paul Demands Vote on Blocking Welfare for Refugees” HERE)

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