Rand Paul: ‘Unacceptable’ that Senate Shot Down Trump’s Spending Cut Package

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) slammed the Senate on Wednesday for shooting down President Donald Trump’s rescission package, which would cut $15 billion in spending.

The Senate failed to pass the spending cuts, 48-50. Sens. Richard Burr (R-NC) and Susan Collins (R-ME) voted against the bill, while Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) were absent for the vote.

Sen. Paul said in a statement on Wednesday:

It is unacceptable – but no surprise – that the Swamp’s bipartisan addiction to spending other people’s money is so severe that the Senate refused to simply consider cutting funding that is no longer needed or authorized. I am disappointed by this Congress’ failure to even pretend it takes fiscal responsibility seriously. Our $21 trillion debt poses the greatest danger to our national security and is only getting worse by the minute. Most frustratingly of all, it is largely a self-created threat.

Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), who led the movement on Wednesday to vote on the spending cut package, slammed fellow Republicans for joining with Democrats to vote against President Trump.

Lee said:

I thought we all campaigned on cutting wasteful spending. I thought our party was about lowering federal deficits by lowering federal spending. It saddens me to see people who campaigned on lower spending break their promise and vote with Democrats against Donald Trump.

I thought we all campaigned on cutting wasteful spending. I thought our party was about lowering federal deficits by lowering federal spending. It saddens me to see people who campaigned on lower spending break their promise and vote with Democrats against @realDonaldTrump

— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) June 20, 2018

The House passed Trump’s spending cut package in June by a narrow vote 210-206.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that the spending cuts would reduce spending by $1 billion over the next ten years, while the Office of Management and Budget would reduce spending by $3 billion over the same period.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said that the cuts would give “the bloated budget a much-needed spring cleaning.”

“It is time for Congress to grow up and acknowledge that government won’t be able to do anyone any good or fund any politician’s priority when it goes broke,” Sen. Paul added