Vote Alert: Cut spending by just two cents on the dollar

This was a vote on an amendment offered by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., to a minibus spending bill appropriating money for the Commerce, Justice, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, and Interior Departments. Paul’s amendment would cut spending in this bill by two percent in fiscal year 2020 from the amount appropriated for FY 2019.

The United States national debt recently surpassed $23 trillion for the first time. The Congressional Budget Office projects current levels of government spending to grow the debt by another $11.6 trillion over the next ten years. The federal budget deficit for this current fiscal year alone is projected to be $1.10 trillion. Comparatively, the spending cuts Paul proposes are modest, cutting just two cents from every dollar spent. Were his plan applied broadly to every part of the government, the federal budget would balance in just five years.

Congress’ current levels of spending are manifestly unsustainable. Conservatives ought to support attempts to rein in spending and move toward a balanced budget to stave off future debt.

The Senate voted to reject Paul’s amendment on October 28, 2019, at 6:08 p.m. ET in a roll call vote of 24 – 67.

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CR position: YES

U.S. Senate

YEAs — 24

NAYs — 67

Not Voting — 9