Paul opposes combining Syria, spending votes

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said it was “inexcusable” that the Senate would vote on whether to get involved in a Middle Eastern conflict as part of a spending bill.

“I think it’s inexcusable that the debate of whether we get involved in another country’s civil war, that we would vote on this in a spending bill,” Paul said on the Senate floor Thursday. “Instead of having a debate over war we will have a debate over spending.

{mosads}“It is a sad day in the Senate.”

Later Thursday, the Senate will vote on a $1 trillion spending bill to keep the government funded through Dec. 11. The House added an amendment to the measure to authorize the arming and training of moderate Syrian rebels to help fight the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

“Do you want your money and arms being sent to groups being supported by al Qaeda,” Paul said. “Think about the insanity of this.”

Paul said he worried that the weapons would end up falling into the hands of ISIS fighters.

“No one really knows where all these arms are going,” Paul said. “We will be sending arms into chaos.”