Bloomberg: Sen. Rand Paul's Mastery of Legis. Amendment Process prompts Discussions & Votes

Rand Paul Finds Success by Obstructing U.S. Senate Legislation

By Jeff Bliss on June 28, 2012

In an age of voter disgust at Congress’s inability to get anything done, Senator Rand Paul is finding success through obstruction.

Paul, a Kentucky Republican, is developing a following that rivals the one devoted to his father, presidential candidate and Texas Representative Ron Paul. The younger Paul has done it, in part, by repeatedly insisting that Senate leaders schedule votes on amendments he’s pursuing on issues such as abortion or gun rights -- or he’ll delay major, bipartisan legislation.

This week, as the Senate convened to pass a backlog of bills before the Fourth of July holiday, Paul demanded a guaranteed vote first on defining life as starting at conception, as part of a bill renewing national flood insurance. Majority Leader Harry Reid postponed the debate rather than yield to what he called in a June 26 floor speech a “ridiculous” request.