Sen. Rand Paul speaks on looming government shutdown

HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) — With a shutdown looming in less than two weeks, House Republicans plan to vote on a short-term measure to fund the government.

On Thursday, House Speaker Mike Johnson said he is cautiously optimistic the continuing resolution will pass. Democrats, though, have indicated they could vote for a shutdown – unless cuts to Medicaid are restored and Obamacare subsidies are extended beyond this year.

Eyewitness News talked with Republican Kentucky Senator Rand Paul about the potential shutdown. He says the resolution will likely pass, with a small group of Republicans like himself opposing the current spending levels.

Sen. Paul said, in part, “I will look at this and say I don’t want government to shut down, but I don’t want to keep it open at the same spending levels. So, I’ll vote for lower spending levels. My side will be smaller and will probably be defeated, and those who want to continue doing the same old, same old will probably win… Government always sort of eventually opens and, unfortunately, recent history is they open and continue to run a big deficit.”

The deadline to avert a government shutdown is September 30.