“I’m not so sure there’s a difference between Mike Johnson being in charge and Democrats being in charge,” senator says.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has had enough of House Speaker Mike Johnson’s flip-flops.
In an interview on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures”, Paul explained that Johnson’s leadership has become essentially that of a Democrat.
“As I see it now, I’m not so sure there’s a difference between Mike Johnson being in charge and Democrats being in charge,” Paul told host Maria Bartiromo.
Rand Paul has had enough:
“I’m not so sure there’s a difference between Mike Johnson being in charge and Democrats being in charge.” pic.twitter.com/ROIPeR6BGt
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) April 14, 2024
.@SpeakerJohnson was incredibly wrong to vote w/ Dems against the 4th amend. when he killed the FISA warrant requirement and wrong to give in to the Dems spending demands. As I see it now, I'm not so sure there's a difference between him being in charge and Dems being in charge. pic.twitter.com/NoyRhUrvRM
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) April 14, 2024
Paul criticized Johnson for helping a majority of Democrats pass a $1.5 trillion spending bill.
“The deficit this year will be 1.5 to 2 trillion dollars, and that’s Mike Johnson’s bill. He put it forward, he supported it with a minority of Republicans, with a majority of Democrats. This is not the using the power of the purse, this is abdicating the power of the purse.”
Paul also blasted Johnson for siding with the Deep State in reauthorizing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that includes a provision allowing warrantless spying on U.S. citizens.
“People have to be strong in their convictions,” Paul said. “He was seen as a conservative before he came to the Speakership, but now he puts a tweet out the other day saying they whispered to him about 702, how important it is, and now he’s completely changed and lost all his principles on the idea that we shouldn’t spy on Americans without a warrant.”
Paul said a real compromise with Democrats on the issue of spending would be “splitting the difference” between the spending levels Democrats want and the lesser amount the Republicans want.
“The Democrats got everything they want in the spending and all the hawks got what they want too, this is a problem on the Republican side,” he said. “We have people who want unlimited military spending, and then the Democrats want unlimited welfare spending and they get both.”
“But Johnson hasn’t held his ground. He has the power, he has the majority, use the power of the purse, Speaker Johnson. Do something to make us think you are different than a Democrat — but so far I don’t see a difference,” Paul added.