A cyber security bill that facilitates the sharing of information in the interest of countering threats in cyberspace shouldn't be controversial, but senator and Republican presidential candidate Rand Paul has made it controversial.
The Senate was expected to pass the bill before recessing for the remainder of the month, but Rand Paul is the monkey in the wrench that could prevent it from passing this week.
According to people with knowledge of the negotiations, leaders are struggling to incorporate the demands of the libertarian wing. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), for instance, is attempting to tie a number of divisive issues to the cyber bill, including a measure to limit federal funding for immigration “sanctuary cities” and an amendment to audit the Federal Reserve.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) pushed back a vote to proceed on the bill until Wednesday afternoon in the hopes of reaching an accord.
Fake libertarian Rand Paul wants to tie the security bill to a measure that would punish cities for following their own priorities. Rand Paul would wield the power of Big Government to accomplish this. For liberty.