Report: Rand Paul to Block Budget Deal Vote

Update:

Sen. Paul has blocked the 6pm vote on the budget deal and a government shutdown is now likely. 

BREAKING: Sen. Rand Paul holds up votes on the budget deal, says Republicans and Democrats are 'spending us into oblivion.'

— The Associated Press (@AP) February 8, 2018

**Original Post**

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is reportedly holding up a vote on the budget deal to demand a vote on his amendment to keep budget caps in place. 

Sen Cornyn confirms @RandPaul is holding up the Senate CR/budget deal vote. He wants a vote on his amendment, and leadership is recommending he do it as a budget point of order.

— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) February 8, 2018

"All Sen. Rand Paul is asking for is a 15-minute vote on his amendment to restore the budget caps. He is ready to proceed at any time," Paul spokesman Sergio Gor said in a statement.

Conservatives like Paul are not happy the bipartisan deal struck by Sens. Mitch McConnell (D-KY) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) lifts the debt limit and increases spending by about $300 billion for both defense and non-defense items.

As for Democratic lawmakers, they are not thrilled that the spending deal does not include Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals protections. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi criticized the Senate compromise in her record breaking, 8-hour speech Wednesday demanding solutions for "Dreamers."

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The White House supports the deal, Deputy Press Secretary Raj Shah told reporters Thursday.

The government shutdown deadline is just hours away.

In an interview with Fox News's Neil Cavuto, Paul explained his plans to try and delay the vote.

"We're going to bring back Obama era deficits," the senator said, adding later, "This is a rotten deal."

Paul suggested the long term uncertainty is leading to the recent jitters in the stock market.

The senator wants just 15 minutes to debate, but nobody wants to have it pointed out what an "eyesore" this deal is to conservatives, he mused.

"What happened," he asked, to fiscal conservatism? 

This post has been updated.