WASHINGTON — An effort by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., to cut off America’s $1.5 billion in aid to Egypt lost, 86-13, in the Senate Wednesday, indicating continued broad support for the argument that the United States will have more leverage over Egypt’s military government by keeping the cash flowing.
Paul, a longtime foe of foreign aid, argued that the United States should not be spending money abroad when America’s cities, including Detroit, are crumbling. His proposal won the vote of Senate Minority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and 11 others among the Senate’s most conservative members, including Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Charles Grassley of Iowa.
Some human rights advocates also have called for a halt to aid, but none of the Senate liberals who typically back human rights causes joined Paul.
Opponents of the amendment argued that despite the Egyptian military’s bloody treatment of the Islamist opposition, ties with the military are essential for preserving U.S. strategic interests in the region and will enable U.S. officials to push the generals toward a more moderate course domestically. Opponents also stressed that Israel strongly favors continuation of the aid to Egypt.
