Rand Paul’s Filibuster Runs Short

U.S. Republican presidential candidate and Senator Rand Paul speaks during the Heritage Action for America presidential candidate forum in Greenville, South Carolina on September 18, 2015. REUTERS/Chris Keane

WASHINGTON — Kentucky Republican Sen. RandPaul promised filibuster on the debt ceiling legislation lastedonly 19 minutes on Thursday night. However, without the colleagueshe called on to help him filibuster the legislation,Paul’s maneuver was short-lived.

Paul announced his filibuster plans at the GOPpresidential debate Wednesday night.

“I will stand firm. I will spend every ounceof energy to stop [the deal],” Sen. Paul said. “I willbegin tomorrow to filibuster it. And I ask everyone in America tocall Congress tomorrow and say enough is enough; no moredebt.”

Paul took to the Senate floor Thursday afternoon and planned tospeak until the 1 am scheduled vote. But after almost 20 minutesinto his remarks he stopped speaking and left the floor. The deal,which has overwhelming support from Senate Democrats and enoughvotes from Republicans to pass, hikes defense and domestic spendingby $50 billion in 2016 and $30 billion in 2017.