WASHINGTON — Sen. Rand Paul found himself in a tug of a war for the Senate floor Sunday afternoon when Republican Indiana Sen. Dan Coats refused to yield the floor to Paul for five minutes.
The argument began as Paul prepared to give remarks on his opposition to the USA Freedom Act before a number of his supporters, wearing Stand With Rand T-shirts, sitting in the visitor galleries.
Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain scolded Paul for asking the senate’s presiding officer, Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley, to request to speak before Coats had yielded the floor back.
“I want regular order. The senator from Kentucky needs to learn the rules of the Senate,” said McCain. Coats then responded that he would be happy to take a question from McCain.
McCain then said, “Maybe the senator from Kentucky should know the rules of the Senate that a gentleman has the floor and is open to a responsive question. My question is to the Senator from Indiana and I want to say that his words are powerful and accurate.”
Paul cut in and asked Grassley how much time was left on the clock for Republicans to give remarks. Almost Four minutes remained, unbeknownst to Paul, and McCain ignored the Kentucky Republican’s question.
Finally, McCain said, “I ask for regular order, Mr. President.”
“I think the chair has made very clear that the senator from Indiana has the floor. They are entitled to speak,” Grassley responded.
Coats thanked Grassley and admonished Paul saying, “I know the senator from Kentucky understands that when a senator has the floor, they are entitled to speak.”
McCain piled on, noting, “Twice the senator from Kentucky has not observed the rules of the Senate…” The Arizona Republican continued further with Coats asking him several longer questions and ate up the remaining time on the floor for Republicans. McCain objected when Grassley said the time had expired.
Annoyed that McCain was attempting to continue, Paul said, “How can we have an objection when we already have a consent agreement that says we have 30 minutes of equally divided time and you still have five minutes remaining on the opposite side, Mr. President?”
Paul continued to argue with McCain and the presiding officer about how much time he was allowed to have on the floor.
“Regular order. Obviously, people don’t know the rules of the Senate. Maybe they should rule–,” McCain said and he was interrupted by Paul who requested for the remaining five minutes of time from the Democrats who were not present.
However, McCain objected to Paul’s motion.
Paul was finally given five minutes after calling off a quorum call he initially asked for.