Rand Paul standoff throws Russia bills into limbo – By Jordain Carney (The Hill) / March 27, 2022
A push to limit trade with Russia, which has broad bipartisan support, is facing a slog in the Senate.
A stand-off with Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) over sanctions language included in the House-passed bill to end normal trade relations with Russia dashed hopes of quickly passing it while President Biden was in Europe and could drag out the legislation for weeks as the Senate faces other looming priorities and an April break.
It’s a significant stumbling block for a bill that passed the House in a 424-8 vote — sparking rare unity between Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) — only to get snagged despite Senate leaders working out a deal to move it quickly.
Paul is demanding his language linked to human rights-related sanctions get added into the bill. And unlike other recent Russia-related stand-offs with the libertarian-leaning GOP senator, he is drawing a red line that he won’t let the bills move quickly unless it is added.
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