Rand Paul backs down from threat to filibuster budget bill

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) indicated Wednesday that it is unlikely he will filibuster the budget agreement reached by Congress late last week, which prevented the government from shutting down.

In an interview with CBSNews' "Washington Unplugged," Paul said while he got "direct orders" from voters on spending, the message was less clear on filibustering.

"Last Friday night at midnight, could I have refused to have a vote and say we're going to stop the government? I could, but then it would be less about me being for social security reform and balancing the budget," Paul said.

"Instead, it'd be about that petulant guy from Kentucky who shut the government down just because he was mad," Paul told CBS News political analyst John Dickerson just after President Obama's budget speech Wednesday. On Tuesday, Paul said in an interview that he was considering mounting a filibuster against the bill.

The freshman senator and Tea Party favorite acknowledged if there were enough Senate colleagues willing to vote for his budget plan, a filibuster would be worthwhile. By requiring 60 votes for the budget bill's passage, a filibuster would make it difficult for the Senate to meet another midnight deadline this Friday.

"If you're going to lose the battle and all you did was shut the government down for three days, then that, maybe, is empty partisanship," he said.

Earlier Wednesday, Paul, with Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), introduced a proposal to reform social security by reducing benefits for wealthier Americans and increasing the retirement age.

"We could fix it [Social Security] tomorrow, I promise," Paul said, expressing frustration the president wasn't more specific on that issue in his speech. "But the longer you wait, the harder it is."

Social Security isn't the only issue Paul is willing to work with Mr. Obama on. He told CBSNews.com he would be "more than happy to be the lead" in his party for the president on military cuts.

"I'm waiting for his phone call," Paul said. "There are a lot of things the leaders of the Republicans say- we will cut military spending without damaging our national defense- and I will help him with that."

"But he's gotta do more than just give speeches."

It's on: Obama takes iron fist to GOP
Obama deficit reduction plan leaves deficits
Is Social Security on the table?

[cyberus-2009]

IMHO the fact that they are reporting on the possibility of 1 person blocking a bill shows how broken things are .... its as bad a committee chairmen "tabling" a bill.

[msimamaji]

Since Rand Paul openly brags about his religious beliefs, I'd like to dedicate the following Bible verse to him"

"Doom to you who legislate evil, who make laws that make victims -- laws that make misery for the poor, that rob my destitute people of dignity, exploiting defenseless widows, taking advantage of homeless children. What will you have to say on Judgment Day, when Doomsday arrives out of the blue? Who will you get to help you? What good will your money do you?" (Isaiah 10:1-3)

Never was the truth more told.

[thrashertm2]

I must have missed the part where he backed down from the filibuster threat. Wishful thinking from CBS?

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[esq777]

"empty partisanship" Yeah, Rand, that's a really good description of yourself. This guy looks and sounds like a deer in headlights -- there is nothing going on upstairs.

[MissMeYetAbdullah]

ALBraintrust

Just so you'll know, you redneck morons in your hillbilly hellholes are sucking up welfare from hard-working liberal states:

Alabama, for instance, gets back $1.67 from Uncle Sam for every dollar it pays in taxes.

California gets back $.78.

So California's budget problems would be OVER if Alabama learned to live on its own labors, instead of soaking up welfare paid by blue states.

[andrewjsacks]

Just another Republican moron and naysayer.

[AOCGUY]

"Jesus was the first socialist."

I am regularly amazed by comments such as above that truly demonstrate the author's lack of understanding of what they are saying. To put it simply it is highly unlikely that Jesus would have been a socialist or for that matter would have even understood the concept. Before he was a preacher he was a small business owner. By definition, socialism is the public ownership of the means of production. It has nothing to do with charity.

[tmn]

I DARE him to filibuster!

[mnbrant]

Hmm I am not too sure about raising the retirement age since it is 65 already. Lots of people 65 and older are going to be out of work in the new economy. Probably draconian cuts for the wealthy to collect would work. either that or flatten out the benefits. The thing is already skewed to the wealthy since they are likely to be able to control what they make in their last 10 years. Flatten out the benefits to make it the same for everybody. I like Paul Rand actually.

[bajajohn1]

This are the best of times and the worst of times..Dickents.
And this class of Republicans is the worst of all time.

[MissMeYetAbdullah]

Because EIGHTY PERCENT of the National Debt belongs to REPUBLICAN Presidents, including two trillion George Bush ran up and didn't pay for.

Idiots.