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By Humberto Sanchez and Niels Lesniewski Posted at 2:11 p.m. on Dec. 4, 2014

Paul wants an ISIS vote. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Sen. Rand Paul scored a victory Thursday in forcing an end-of-session debate on authorizing force against Islamic State militants.

The Kentucky Republican, and potential 2016 presidential candidate, used a legislative gambit to press the issue which the Obama administration has been reluctant to specifically engage with Congress on. Paul first tried to attach a Declaration of War against the terror group also known as ISIS or ISIL to an unrelated water bill at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Paul agreed to refrain from offering his amendment after the panel scheduled a Monday hearing on the issue, where Secretary of State John Kerry may testify. The hearing will be followed by a classified briefing, with a markup and vote on an Authorization for the Use of Military Forceon Wednesday.

I think the most important responsibility of a legislator is to vote yay or nay on whether or not we are sending our young men and women to war and I think we have been derelict in that duty. The president, I think in his arrogance has assumed he doesnt even need to ask, Paul said when leaving the markup meeting. Today we forced the issue and next week weve been promised a hearing on this as well as a vote on this and I am satisfied with that.

There was scant public notice of Pauls intentions, and the venue for the ordinarily routine business meeting (the committees ornate room on the first floor of the Capitol) wasnt particularly hospitable to reporters. But the effect of Pauls actions were clear, even if his amendment is unlikely to have enough support to advance.

Outgoing Foreign Relations Chairman Robert Menendez, D-N.J., who also has been pushing for a new AUMF, was expected to offer his own authorization as a substitute to the Paul war declaration amendment. But with Paul standing down, Menendez too held back.

Paul had the procedural backing of panel member Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., who has long advocated for adopting a new use-of-force resolution. Kaine said was eager to have the debate, but added that he does not agree with Paul about formally declaring war against a non-state actor such as ISIS.

I talked to Sen. Paul last week about his intention to file his amendment. I said Go for it, that would be great. We need to be banging the drum about making this happen. We have looked at every venue to try to force a hearing on this, to force the administration to come up and justify their position and do an AUMF, the Virginia Democrat told CQ Roll Call. Weve looked at the [defense authorization]. Weve looked at the likely omnibus that will come next week.

Originally posted here:
Paul Gambit Poised to Force Vote on ISIS