Senate remains at a standstill on Iron Dome after Menendez, Paul face off
A bill providing $1 billion in supplemental funding for Israel s Iron Dome failed to progress in the Senate on Monday afternoon, after an extended exchange between Sens. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Rand Paul (R-KY) over a proposed amendment that would fund the replenishment with aid that had been originally designated for Afghanistan.
On the Senate floor on Monday, Menendez requested unanimous consent on the bill a procedure that would have fast-tracked the legislation, which passed the House on Sept. 23 by a vote of 420-9. Paul blocked the effort, which requires the unanimous support of the full Senate, insisting on an amendment to the bill that would see the funding come out of the $6 billion originally intended for Afghanistan.
There is no conceivable reason why anyone in this chamber, on either side of the aisle, should stand in the way of U.S. support for this life-saving defense to be fully ready for the next attack, Menendez said, introducing the measure. The only reason it s being held up in this body is because of this amendment. Paul is the only senator who objected to quick passage of the House bill.
I join [Menendez] in being supportive of Iron Dome, but I think it should be paid for, Paul said. I think the American taxpayer dollars that pay for it should come from money that could go to the Taliban& Only an economically strong United States can be a militarily strong ally of Israel.