Senate roundly rejects proposal to halt Egypt aid, despite divide between tea party, GOP hawks

WASHINGTON – The Senate has roundly rejected a proposal to redirect U.S. aid for Egypt into bridge-building projects in the United States.

Republican Sen. Rand Paul’s amendment to next year’s transportation bill would have halted the $1.5 billion in mainly military assistance the U.S. provides Egypt each year. He cited the U.S. law prohibiting aid after military coups and the need to reinvest the money in the United States.

The Senate voted 86-13 against Paul’s proposal Wednesday.

Many Democrats and Republicans in Congress see continued aid to Egypt as critical to its stability and neighbouring Israel’s security.

For those reasons, the Obama administration is refusing to call the Egyptian army’s July 3 overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi a coup.

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