Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said he will not support the four-week spending resolution that the House is trying to pass Thursday because Congress already spends too much money, and needs to start paring it back.
"I think we spend too much money," he said on Fox News. "I promised voters I wouldn't add to the debt. We have a $20 trillion debt. I don't think we should keep spending money this fast."
Paul noted that the bill exceeds the spending caps Congress has agreed to, and said as a result, he would raise a point of order in the Senate to argue that the bill should not be considered.
"I think it's inexcusable," he said. "So I'll be a 'no' vote to continue to put the country into debt."
We have a $20 trillion debt. We shouldn't keep spending money this fast. The spending bill will exceed the spending caps, so I will introduce budget point that says we are breaking our own rules here. pic.twitter.com/XIvRaLCtQc— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) January 18, 2018
The current bill would fund the government through Feb. 16 and include a six-year reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which Democrats are saying is inadequate. Many Democrats are likely to withhold their votes on the spending deal without a legislative fix for Dreamers, but Republicans in the Senate are hoping some Democrats agree to the bill to keep the government open.
Paul is one of at least four Republicans who will vote against the continuing resolution, along with Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Mike Rounds of South Dakota, and Mike Lee of Utah. If those are the only four Republicans against the bill in the Senate, the GOP will need to find 13 Democrats to advance and pass it.