Bombshell: GOP Sen. Rand Paul And Other Republican Attendants Walked Out Of A Senate Meeting As Dem Sen. Gary Peters Proposed Additional Amendments

The GOP Sen. from Kentucky, Rand Paul along with his fellow GOP members left an ongoing meeting of the Homeland Security Committee amidst the markup of the Fire Grants and Safety Act after a heated exchange with the chairman of the panel, who is also a Democratic Senator from Michigan, Gary Peters. 

Paul unveiled his disappointment with Peters who used alternate reforms to effectively dissolve amendments to the legislation that again empowers the U.S. Fire Administration, the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program, and the Assistance to Firefighters (AFG) Grants Program.

Paul stated: 

“This is the first time we’ve had a hearing since I’ve been here that I know of that we’ve gotten second degree amendments on every one of our amendments.”

According to a report by Mediaite, Peters used secondary amendments to oppose those reforms brought forward by Paul, including an amendment that made fire departments unqualified for federal grants in case they kick out employees for not getting the Covid-19 vaccine. 

Paul stated while protesting: 

“That doesn’t make any sense. This is legislative legerdemain to obscure the fact that you’re trying to not vote directly on this.”

He continued: 

“If this is the way you’re going to run the committee, I would suggest that Republicans leave. I don’t see why we should stick around if you’re going to make up the rules.” 

That made an Independent Senator from Arizona, Kyrsten Sinema, step in. 

She stated: 

“We all take a couple minutes, lower the temperature, just figure out the procedure. There’s no need for us to turn this committee hearing into a partisan, ugly place like we’ve seen in other committees.”

Therefore, Paul left the meeting while other GOP Sens. James Lankford and Josh Hawley from Missouri and Oklahoma stayed there and voted against the reforms proposed by Peter, however, they passed and the legislation was eliminated from the committee.