Deal to reopen government slowed by Paul objection on hemp language

To end the shutdown, the Senate voted to destroy the hemp industry

Just when you thought you’d seen it all on Capitol Hill, reopening the federal government appears to have hit yet another roadblock: Hemp. A day after Democratic Senators reached a deal with their Republican counterparts in the Senate to end the longest government shutdown in history, a vote on the agreement was held up by a provision in the bill that would ban the unregulated sale of hemp-based or derived products. The provision relates to fund…

No relief yet for travelers as D.C. pushes tentative deal to reopen government

The earliest the House will vote on the bill is Wednesday afternoon, according to an official notice issued after the Senate vote.

Senate Begins Voting on Package to End Government Shutdown

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Senate on Nov. 10 began a vote series on a legislative package to fund the government through January 2026 and provide full-year funding for key programs such as the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP). The upper chamber approved a procedural motion to move forward to consideration of the package in a 60–40 vote, which included the support of eight Democrats. Debate and voting on the package, which includes a v…

Sen. Paul's Objection Delaying Shutdown's End

Sen. Paul’s Objection Delaying Shutdown’s End

An objection from Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., about a provision in the government funding deal needs to be resolved before the 41-day shutdown's end can be accelerated, Senate Republican and Democrat leaders said Monday, The Hill reported. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters that there is only one "objector" to speeding up Senate consideration of the government funding package, referring to Paul,  who wants to get rid of a provi…

Rand Paul’s Fight Over ‘Reefer Madness’ Hemp Measure Could Slow Shutdown-Ending Bill

Samuel Corum/Sipa USA/Sipa USA via APSen. Rand Paul is threatening to delay passage of a bipartisan bill that would end the government shutdown over a provision that he says would destroy the hemp industry in his home state of Kentucky.His opposition to the measure, which would effectively recriminalize consumer hemp products, also puts him at odds with his home-state colleague, Sen. Mitch McConnell, whom Paul called out by name Monday while spe…