The Senate on Monday rejected an effort by Sen. Rand PaulRandal (Rand) Howard PaulSenate rejects Paul effort to cut spending This week: House to vote on Turkey sanctions bill On The Money: Lawmakers hammer Zuckerberg over Facebook controversies | GOP chair expects another funding stopgap | Senate rejects Dem measure on SALT deduction cap workarounds MORE (R-Ky.) to place an across-the-board spending cut in a domestic funding package being debated by lawmakers.
Senators voted 24-67 on the amendment from Paul, which would reduce spending by 2 percent compared to fiscal 2019 levels.
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The amendment, had Paul been successful, would have been added to a spending package that includes commerce, science and justice; transportation and housing and urban development; agriculture; and interior.
Sen. Patrick LeahyPatrick Joseph LeahySenate rejects Paul effort to cut spending Democrats must question possible political surveillance Overnight Energy: Interior sees rise in revenue from drilling on public lands | Officials propose easing pesticide rule for farms | Trump prepares to formally leave Paris climate deal MORE (D-Vt.), the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, urged senators to oppose Paul’s amendment.
“His amendment will slash spending below the bipartisan budget act that we all negotiated,” Leahy said from the Senate floor ahead of the vote.
It’s the latest attempt by Paul, a libertarian-leaning GOP senator, to slash spending, only to be rebuffed by a majority of his Senate colleagues. The Senate previously rejected a balanced budget proposal from Paul in June.
The Club for Growth, a conservative outside group, tried to build support for Paul’s amendment ahead of Monday’s vote, warning it would factor how senators voted into its legislative scorecard.
Click Here: nrl league jerseys“KEY VOTE ALERT: @club4growth urges all Senators to vote YES on Senator @RandPaul’s Amendment to begin balancing the budget and reign in out-of-control spending #StandWithRand,” Club for Growth tweeted on Monday.
The domestic spending package marks the first fiscal 2020 spending bill to be taken up by the Senate.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellMurkowski, Collins say they won’t co-sponsor Graham’s impeachment resolution Senate rejects Paul effort to cut spending Overnight Defense: Latest on al-Baghdadi’s death | Trump weighs releasing raid video | Pentagon reveals 2 suspects captured in raid | House to vote on impeachment procedures | Border wall fight stalls defense bill MORE (R-Ky.) moved to wrap up the bill on Monday evening, paving the way for the chamber to pass it by the end of the week. McConnell is then expected to try to bring up a mammoth defense funding bill.
“Our commanders need funding. Our men and women in military need support. Congress needs to do its job. So later this week, the Senate is going to vote again to advance defense funding,” McConnell said on Monday.
But Democrats have pledged to block the bill without a larger deal on top-line spending figures, known as 302(b)s.
They previously blocked McConnell from bringing up a defense spending bill earlier this year.
“There are certain bills … that we can’t move forward on until we have some bipartisan agreement,” Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerCharles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerSenate Democrats to vote this week to overturn Trump ObamaCare moves Man explains refusing to shake McConnell’s hand at Cummings memorial: ‘I couldn’t do it’ The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Better Medicare Alliance – ISIS leader dead; Congresswoman resigns MORE (D-N.Y.) said last week.