Exclusive: Rand Paul on Ukrainian spending, government shutdown
The Kentucky Republican is opposed to any spending bill including funding for Ukraine.
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Despite Tuesday night’s advancement by U.S. House Republicans of four spending bills to bring them to the floor, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) remains opposed to any spending bill that includes funding for Ukraine in its way against Russian aggression into its territory.
“We’re $33 trillion in debt right now,” Paul said in an exclusive interview with Atlanta News First Chief Investigator Brendan Keefe. “We’re getting to the point where our debt is more of a threat to our security than what’s going on over there.
“My primary reason for opposing more money [for Ukrainian defense spending] is that we don’t have it.”
On Wednesday, according to the Associated Press, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy urged his Republican majority to work together, setting up a test vote for Friday, one day before Saturday’s shutdown deadline, on spending bill that would cut federal spending by 8% from many agencies and toughen border security. The measure has all but been rejected by Democrats and far-right Republicans.
In the Senate, both Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) agreed to support a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government.
The Senate is expected to spend the rest of this week working to pass its bill over the objections of Paul and others on the right flank.
The federal government would begin to shut down if funding is not secured by Sunday, Oct. 1, the start of the new fiscal year.
Atlanta News First and Atlanta News First+ provide you with the latest news, headlines and insights as Georgia continues its role at the forefront of the nation’s political scene. Download our Atlanta News First app for the latest political news and information.
Copyright 2023 WANF. All rights reserved.
