WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) engaged in a rare bipartisan pile on against Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on the Senate floor Thursday.
Sen. Paul blocked a unanimous consent vote to refill the now depleted Small Business Administration’s disaster relief loan program.
Paul accused the Senate of trying to pass a multimillion-dollar plan without having enough tax revenue to fund the disaster loan program. He also said the package was scattered with “Green New Deal” policies.
“If the Small Business Administration needs this money, the least we can do is be good stewards with their money,” Paul protested.
Sen. Tillis accused Paul of “playing games.” He insists the House is obligated to find ways to pay for the program once the bill clears the upper chamber.
“I’ve got a community college degree, and I can figure this out,” shouted Tillis.
Tillis and Warner say delaying aid will cause businesses in North Carolina, southern Virginia, Florida and Georgia to shutter. While the SBA is encouraging small business owners to apply for loans, no money will be dispersed until Congress refills the program.
The program officially ran out of money on Oct. 15.
“It is not charity, it is their right as Americans,” said Warner.
Sen. Warner is vowing not to give up passing the plan by unanimous consent in the Senate. It’s unclear if Sen. Paul will dig his heels in, doing so could delay aid for days, if not weeks.
