Sens. Paul and Graham are throwing serious shade at each other

Senators Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., are throwing some serious shade at each other.

The conflict is a disagreement over the budget resolution taken up by the Senate this week. Senator Paul is accusing moderate Republicans of excessive spending. He says he cannot support the budget resolution if spending caps are taken out of the bill.

Senators McCain and Graham are torpedoing the budget by insisting on busting the budget caps for more spending.

— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) October 17, 2017

I have told the White House and GOP leaders that if they simply stick to their own caps, the rest of the Budget is fine and I’ll vote yes.

— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) October 17, 2017

It is a simple, but important, change they could easily make. The ball is in their court.

— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) October 17, 2017

Senator Graham doesn’t like that at all. The budget resolution contains the language to pass tax reform through budget reconciliation. If the budget doesn’t pass with the slim GOP majority, then tax reform won’t pass. Graham accused Paul of being on track to “screw up” tax reform after he “saved” Obamacare.

Getting more bad info @RandPaul.

Don’t screw up #TaxReform now.

You already saved #Obamacare by trashing #GrahamCassidy-Heller-Johnson. https://t.co/QEJWuvUn2z

— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) October 17, 2017

Sen. Paul didn’t “save” Obamacare; he refused to support the Graham-Cassidy partial-repeal bill on grounds that it broke the GOP promise to fully repeal Obamacare root and branch.

Paul reportedly fired back at Graham, declaring that the establishment loyalist Graham is no conservative.

Paul: "Graham wouldn't know a conservative if he met one. I don't consider him to be a conservative or a bona fide Republican critic."

— Phil Mattingly (@Phil_Mattingly) October 17, 2017

If this was 1804, Paul and Graham would be at 10 paces with matching flintlock pistols by now. Can a GOP conference that is this ideologically divided accomplish any part of President Trump’s agenda?

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