The Senate voted 78-22 to allow spending on training of Syrian rebel fighters and also insured the continued operation of government after Sept. 30.

U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor voted in the majority, as did John Boozman.

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Said Pryor, who’s in a tough re-election fight:

The continuing resolution is a sensible measure to keep our government operating and the economy moving forward. I’m pleased this measure also extends the Export-Import Bank, which helps Arkansas businesses expand and create new jobs. In the long term, however, Democrats and Republicans must work together to pass these annual funding bills in an orderly manner.

ISIS poses a clear and growing danger, and we need to destroy these terrorists with targeted airstrikes. Our allies in the region are also a critical element to defeating ISIS. I still have reservations about the Train and Equip program. However, unlike previous versions of this proposal, this resolution includes new and enhanced accountability measures. These safeguards, along with our regional allies on the ground, will help ensure U.S. equipment is used effectively to fight extremists.

Pryor’s election opponent, Republican Rep. Tom Cotton, naturally pounced. (As he would have had Pryor voted the other way.) He said in part (full version here):

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Just two months after he authored an amendment to block providing arms to moderate Syrian rebels, Senator Pryor has voted to arm and train Syrian rebels — something he previously sought to make illegal. There’s really no mystery at this point why Senator Pryor has gone to such extraordinary lengths to avoid foreign policy as a debate topic in the only one-on-one debate of this important Senate election.

Many Arkansans are rightfully concerned about the complete lack of seriousness of our senior United States Senator when it comes to matters of war and peace.