Rand Paul is standing with Ted Cruz.
The Kentucky GOP senator will oppose a vote to end debate later this week on a House-passed spending bill, which includes a provision defunding Obamacare, a spokeswoman said. Cruz (R-Texas) is urging Republican senators to halt the bill procedurally later this week to prevent Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) from removing the Obamacare provision and pushing a clean spending bill back to the House this weekend.
Paul also joined Cruz on the Senate floor Tuesday as Cruz mounted an hours-long speech in opposition to the Affordable Care Act. Paul knows a little something about such an effort: He filibustered CIA nominee John Brennan for nearly 13 hours earlier this year over a disagreement over the administrations drone policy.
Personally its not a good a idea to shut down the government. Its also though, not a good idea to fund Obamacare, Paul said aside Cruz.
But in backing Cruz, Paul will vote opposite Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, his states senior senator. Both McConnell and Republican Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) will support a procedural vote later this week on the bill, arguing that it makes no sense to vote against progress on a bill that defunds Obamacare.
I just dont happen to think filibustering a bill that defunds Obamacare is the best route to defunding Obamacare, McConnell said on Tuesday.