Ky. Sen. Rand Paul introduces amendment to pull aid from Pakistan, Egypt and Libya

Jack Brammer | The Lexington Herald-Leader

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, announced Thursday a new version of his amendment to strip foreign aid from Pakistan, Egypt and Libya in the wake of the killings of the American ambassador to Libya and three other diplomats and the torturing in Pakistan of the doctor who helped America find and kill Osama bin Laden.

Paul's new amendment would strike the $4 billion-a-year American aid to Pakistan, Libya and Egypt and send an additional $2 billion to the $1 billion jobs bill for veterans and apply the remaining $2 billion to reduce the federal deficit.

Paul said he urges Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, "to do the right thing for taxpayers and veterans: to send a message to countries that our aid can't be taken for granted, and to stand up for our troops abroad now, and those who have returned home after serving."

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, criticized Paul's amendment.

tool goes here

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

We welcome comments. To post one, you must sign in using either your McClatchyDC login or your login for Facebook, Twitter or Disqus. Just click the appropriate box below.

Please keep your comment civil, short and to the point. Obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. If you find a comment abusive or inappropriate, please flag it for the moderator by placing your cursor on the comment, then clicking the "flag" link that appears. Thanks for your participation.