Cruz Skipped Vote Draws Paul’s Ire
With public viewership of the State of the Union address in decline, members of Congress are following suit — and criticizing each other for missing votes.
Of the four members of Congress running for president, only two showed up. While Sens. Bernard Sanders, I-Vt., and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., were in attendance — and a part of the welcoming committee — Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Rand Paul, R-Ky., skipped the speech.
.@SenSanders was in perfect eavesdropping position for @SenWarren & @marcorubio conversation @rollcall #SOTU16 pic.twitter.com/cizKuqq3HZ
— Hugh Thomas (@HughTFerguson) January 13, 2016
However, their absences didn’t stop them from using the event to highlight their campaigns. Paul took to Twitter and snuck in one more Festivus-like grievance.
I just yelled, "you lie" really loud. Good thing I'm not there. #SOTU — Dr. Rand Paul (@RandPaul) January 13, 2016
While Paul skipped the speech, he was in Washington and voting Tuesday to proceed to his bill to require auditing of the Federal Reserve. That procedural vote failed, 53-44, falling short of the 60-vote threshold required and provoking a potshot from Paul that Cruz wasn't there to back him up.
pic.twitter.com/SvtX1u7pov — Dr. Rand Paul (@RandPaul) January 13, 2016
Both Sanders and Rubio voted to proceed to Paul's bill.
While Cruz elected to use the SOTU as a quick fundraiser pitch Paul took to social media to plug his own response, a supplement to the official GOP response made by South Carolina Gov. Nikki R. Haley.
My response to the #SOTU address. https://t.co/sfUk6AsFY3
— Dr. Rand Paul (@RandPaul) January 13, 2016
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