Rand Paul leaves security meeting over Democrats' conduct
by Misty Severi, Breaking News Reporter
March 16, 2023 05:00 AM
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), the ranking member on the Senate Homeland Security panel, stormed out of a committee markup on the Fire Grants and Safety Act on Wednesday after clashing with Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) on amendments.
Peters, the committee's chairman, attempted to use procedural tactics that would block Democrats on the committee from voting on Republican amendments to the bill. Peters also offered second-degree amendments to the Republican proposals, which essentially erased the conservative suggestions.
"If this is the way you’re going to run the committee, I would suggest that Republicans leave," Paul said, according to the Hill. "I don’t see why we should stick around if you’re going to make up the rules."
Despite Paul's urging for his fellow Republicans on the committee to leave the room with him, the other members, Sens. Josh Hawley (R-MO), and James Lankford (R-OK), stayed behind to vote against the Democratic modifications to the bills.
One of the amendments Paul offered would make any fire department that fired its employees for refusing the COVID-19 vaccination ineligible for federal grants unless they reinstated those officers back with back pay. But Peters substituted the amendment by requiring the United States comptroller general to audit and report on barriers that prevented fire departments from accessing grants. Peters's suggestion was approved along party lines.
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https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/senate/rand-paul-leaves-homeland-security-meeting-following-clash
