Rand Paul (R.Ky.) stormed Wednesday’s Homeland Security Committee hearing and demanded all Republicans leave. Sen. Gary Peters (D.Mich.), had blocked any Republican amendment to the Fire Grants and Safety Act.
Peters suggested an amendment to the legislation. Paul countered by stating that he had already provided second-degree amendments and therefore, another amendment could be made. Peters replied that Paul does not have the authority to put up an amendment for a vote.
“If your plan is to run the committee this way, I suggest that the Republicans quit,” Paul stated that you would offer up a third-degree amendment.
After Paul suggested a walkout following a heated debate, Sen. Kyrsten Silene, I-Ariz. intervened and advised everyone to “take some space, lower the temperature and just figure it out.”
“We don’t have to make this hearing partisan or ugly like other committees,” Sinema stated.
Paul continued to discuss Peters’ second amendment attempt. He said, “I for one will not stay here and would recommend that no Republican remain here if third-degree Amendments are about to be granted to the majority of Americans.”
Paul felt frustrated after adding several amendments. Peters used secondary amendments to defeat these amendments. Peters used secondary amendments to defeat these amendments.
Paul was frustrated that “typically in those committees we just have voted.” “When it is not possible to work out behind the scenes, we have a vote but not replace the vote of another.”
Peters intervened to amend Paul to prohibit funding from the National Institutes of Health to research “gain of Function,” coronaviruses in other laboratories in Wuhan, China. Instead, the language would have stated that funds from Fire Grants and Safety Act cannot be given to a Chinese fire station.
Paul stated, “That doesn’t make any sense,” following Paul’s second-degree amendment. ”
Peters said that he hopes to find common ground after the debate with Senator from Kentucky.
“I look forward to working with Senator Paul and I hope we can find common ground to move forward,” Peters claimed that “not all of the amendments he made were relevant to the bill’s content.”
