A few familiar senators are sparring this week over tax reform. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is not ready to support the GOP's budget proposal until it is stripped of the $43 billion it plans on using for overseas war funding. He's a "yes" if Congress does not exceed budget caps, he said.
Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and John McCain (R-AZ), meanwhile, want to raise the spending caps, noting they need sufficient funds for the military because "young men and women in the military are dying today because of a lack of readiness, training, equipment and funding."
Paul didn't exactly agree with that notion and tweeted his opinion of his colleagues's efforts.
Senators McCain and Graham are torpedoing the budget by insisting on busting the budget caps for more spending.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) October 17, 2017
Graham shot back, telling NBC's Frank Thorp that Paul is engaging in "subterfuge." He appeared to be exhausted by the senator's all too predictable behavior.
“Senator Paul can’t vote yes on anything because it’s never good enough,” Graham said.
Getting more bad info @RandPaul.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) October 17, 2017
Don’t screw up #TaxReform now.
You already saved #Obamacare by trashing #GrahamCassidy-Heller-Johnson. https://t.co/QEJWuvUn2z
McCain treated Paul's opinion with about the same eagerness.
McCAIN on @RandPaul's objections to military spending in budget: "I don't pay any attention to Senator Paul. Nor does hardly anybody else."
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) October 17, 2017
Paul, however, isn't letting the issue go.
"Cut taxes, grow the economy," the senator told Fox News. "If you don't like the debt, vote to cut the spending."