Ken McIntyre of the Daily Signal reports on the political implications of a recent U.S. Senate budget vote.
The first budget resolution to clear the Senate in four years exposed a divide between four lawmakers who look to be rivals for the Republican nomination for president.
Although largely symbolic and perhaps short-lived, the split had Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Marco Rubio of Florida voting in favor of the Republican budget plan around 3 a.m. Friday while Ted Cruz of Texas and Rand Paul of Kentucky voted no.
“We need meaningful entitlement reforms, without budget gimmicks, and I cannot support a budget that claims to balance in the year 2025 by utilizing revenue increases generated by Obamacare taxes,” Cruz, the first major Republican or Democrat to announce for president, said in a statement explaining his vote.
Although crediting fellow Republicans for their efforts to mitigate what he called “unrealistic spending increases and continually expanding deficits” under President Obama, Cruz sought to appeal to conservatives by saying it wasn’t enough “given the gravity of the debt facing our children and grandchildren.”
Paul didn’t explain why he voted against the Republican plan, and his office did not respond to inquiries from The Daily Signal.
On the Senate floor earlier, however, Paul argued that he supported increases in military spending but they should be offset by cuts in other programs.
“America does not project power from bankruptcy court,” he said. “We need a strong national defense, but we should be honest with the American people and pay for it.”
Those interested in hearing Cruz’s policy priorities can sign up for the John Locke Foundation’s April 13 Headliner luncheon with the Texas senator.
