McConnell warns of Friday work over defense bill
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell warned senators that they’ll pass an annual defense policy bill this week — even if it requires a rare Friday session.
“I would encourage my colleagues to put aside partisan politics and work together to bring this [National Defense Authorization Act] across the finish line this week. We may pass the bill on Friday. We may pass it sooner, but we’ll pass it this week,” the Kentucky Republican said Monday evening.
{mosads}His comments come as senators formally kicked off debate on the annual wide-ranging policy bill Monday, including approving an amendment from Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) on war time medical readiness by a 91-0 vote.
GOP leadership had initially hoped to pass the NDAA before the weeklong Memorial Day recess. Instead they were forced to delay their work as Democrats ran out the procedural clock, arguing they needed more time to read the bill.
Sen. John Cornyn (Texas), the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, warned Democrats against trying to slow walk the bill on Monday.
“Despite this being a clear bipartisan priority, we’ve been stuck and mired down frankly because of objections from the other side of the aisle for no real reason,” Cornyn said Monday.
He added that “political posturing is just not appropriate. In fact, it’s dangerous.”
If McConnell sticks to his pledge to finish the bill this week, lawmakers will have only days to determine which of the more than 300 amendments fiiled to the legislation so far will get a vote.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who spearheaded the legislation, has filed an amendment to increase defense spending — which is expected to get a vote — even though Democrats have promised to stick with a two-year budget deal.
“I do not know whether or not this amendment will succeed. But the Senate must have this debate. And senators must choose a side,” McCain, the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said from the floor.
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