Senator opposes including Ukraine aid in short-term funding extension

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
29 Sep 2023 18:47

Senator Rand Paul supports an expedited vote on a clean Continuing Resolution (CR) without Ukraine aid to prevent a government shutdown.

Sen. Rand Paul walking into the Senate, on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023 (AP)

US Senator Rand Paul said that he would support a vote on a Continuing Resolution (CR) only if it excludes assistance for Ukraine.

"To avoid a government shutdown, I will consent to an expedited vote on a clean CR without Ukraine aid on it," Paul said in a post on X.

To avoid a government shutdown, I will consent to an expedited vote on a clean CR without Ukraine aid on it. If leadership insists on funding another country’s government at the expense of our own government, all blame rests with their intransigence.
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) September 28, 2023

Paul had repeatedly expressed his opposition to funding non-military initiatives in Ukraine.

The US government will reportedly go into shutdown by Sunday as members of Congress struggle to find common ground on funding extensions before the end of the month.

Leaders from both sides of the aisle in Congress are racing against time to pass a short-term funding extension, aiming to prevent a government shutdown and maintain essential services. However, the success of this plan remains uncertain due to deep-seated divisions over spending priorities and policy disagreements, particularly concerning aid to Ukraine.

Congress seniors from both parties hope to pass a short-term funding extension, commonly known as a "continuing resolution" (CR), to avert a shutdown and provide additional time for broader funding negotiations.

Government funding is set to expire at the stroke of midnight on Saturday, September 30, marking the beginning of the new fiscal year on October 1. If Congress fails to enact legislation to renew funding by this deadline, the federal government will cease non-essential operations and services at midnight. The full impact of the shutdown is expected to become evident at the start of the work week on Monday.

However, divisions persist, particularly in the House, where conservatives oppose the short-term funding solution and demand major policy concessions that face Senate rejection.

The issue of aid to Ukraine further complicates the path to a short-term funding bill, such that many aim to attach aid to Ukraine to the bill.

Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has taken a firm stance against the inclusion of Ukrainian aid worth billions of dollars in a short-term funding bill.

McCarthy asserted that it is "wrong" to prioritize Ukrainian assistance over addressing domestic concerns. "They're picking Ukraine over Americans," McCarthy criticized during a press conference, highlighting his reservations about the Senate's bipartisan government funding proposal.

"If they want to put focus on Ukraine and not focus on the southern border, I think their priorities are backward," McCarthy said, voicing concerns about the Senate's priorities.

The Senate's proposal, known as the Continuing Appropriations Act, aims to fund the federal government until November 17, providing more time for lawmakers to pass comprehensive spending bills.