Johnson Stalls Senate Libya Vote

Politico reports:

Sen. Ron Johnson objected – again.

The rookie Republican from Wisconsin on Thursday blocked Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid from setting a vote next week on whether to authorize military action in Libya. The move will force Reid to hold a procedural vote first.

The objection stemmed from Johnson's insistence that the Senate deal only with budget matters.

“We’re simply not addressing the single greatest issue facing this country,” Johnson said.

Earlier this week, Johnson also threatened to withhold his consent to proceed with standard Senate business if no budget plan goes forward. By refusing to grant unanimous consent, one senator can force routine Senate business to grind to a halt.

Johnson’s brief soliloquy on Thursday prompted other freshmen to speak out, who apparently felt like complaining, too.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) directed his comments to President Barack Obama.

“Mr. President, where are you?” Paul said. “My understanding is, the president is campaigning … I don’t believe he’s here tackling the nation’s problems today.”

“Either the president doesn’t truly understand the nature of the problems we face, or he’s decided this is a political, not a policy one,” added Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.)

Next option for Reid would most likely be to invoke cloture – which would stop debate and allow for a vote -- on a motion to proceed with the Libyan resolution.