U.S. Senator Rand Paul

Senator Rand Paul Introduces 'Secure the Vote' Amendment to Immigration Bill

Phillip M. Bailey — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:03:57 +0000

Republican Rand Paul is introducing an amendment to the Senate immigration reform bill that would bar undocumented immigrants from voting in federal elections until they obtain U.S. citizenship.

The proposed is being put out on the same day the Supreme Court struck down an Arizona law that required residents to prove their citizenship before voting.

Paul's "Secure the Vote" amendment is aimed a tackling voter fraud and ensures those on work visas or given status under the Senate bill are not allowed to vote in federal elections until they become citizens.

The amendment would also provide states with new procedures to check that those individuals are not illegally registered to vote.

"Not only would this amendment prevent voter fraud, it would also clear up the problem created by today’s Supreme Court decision," Paul said in a statement. "My amendment requires states to check citizenship before registering people to vote in federal elections."

Senator Rand Paul Outraged Over NSA Collecting U.S. Citizen's Phone Records

Phillip M. Bailey — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 16:20:50 +0000

In a blistering statement, U.S. Senator Rand Paul, R-Ky., says President Obama has "sunk to a new low" after reports the National Security Agency has collected millions of U.S. citizen's telephone records.

A story in The Guardian revealed the practice and shows a court order requiring Verizon to provide the NSA with information about calls in its system on an "ongoing, daily basis" from inside county as well as between U.S. customers and people in foreign countries.

The White House is defending the practice as a tool to combat terrorism, but civil liberties advocates say the practice is similar to NSA overreach under President George W. Bush in 2006.

Paul says the president is abusing his executive power, but that the Democratic-controlled Senate failed to put Fourth Amendment protections in the post-9/11 surveillance laws.

From Paul's office:

The National Security Agency's seizure and surveillance of virtually all of Verizon's phone customers is an astounding assault on the Constitution. After revelations that the Internal Revenue Service targeted political dissidents and the Department of Justice seized reporters' phone records, it would appear that this administration has now sunk to a new low.

Poll: Rand Paul Strongest Republican For Iowa Voters in '16 Presidential Election

Kenny Colston — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:18:37 +0000

Among voters in the key primary state Iowa, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul is the strongest Republican in the field of prospective 2016 presidential candidates, says a new poll by Quinnipiac University.

Kentucky's junior senator leads current Vice President Joe Biden by five points among Iowa voters— and he trails former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the presumed Democratic frontrunner, by only four points.

Rand Paul Seeks to Cuts Corporate Tax, Fund Transportation

Kenny Colston — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:58:17 +0000

Through a single piece of legislation, Sen. Rand Paul is hoping to cut a corporate tax and get more revenue for transportation projects.

Senator Rand Paul Endorses Mark Sanford for Congress

Phillip M. Bailey — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:30:17 +0000

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky is endorsing fellow Republican Mark Sanford's bid for the South Carolina's First Congressional District seat.

The special election is next week and features Sanford, a former governor, in a tight contest against Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch, a political newcomer who is the sister of comedian Stephen Colbert.

Sanford gained national notoriety for having a extra-marital affair while in office, and it was recently reported he was accused of trespassing on his ex-wife's property.

Despite those controversies Paul says Congress needs strong and consistent voices that will support fiscal responsibility, adding Sanford has a history of sticking up for the taxpayer.

"What we absolutely cannot afford is someone like his opponent, who will be yet another vote for a return to the Pelosi speakership, for disastrous programs like Obamacare, and for more spending and debt," says Paul.

Congressman Thomas Massie Proposes Bipartisan Bill to Ease Federal Sentencing Laws

Phillip M. Bailey — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 21:37:25 +0000

Joining a Democratic colleague, Republican Congressman Thomas Massie Kentucky is introducing a bipartisan bill to give federal judges more flexibility when issuing mandatory minimum sentences.

The legislation is parallel to the Senate version proposed by fellow Kentucky Republican Rand Paul and Democrat Patrick Leahy of Vermont. Both measures expand the so-called "safety valve" provision that would provides the courts with more latitude, and tailor individual cases.

LG&E, Charah Partner to Create New Agriculture Pellet from Coal Byproduct

Kenny Colston — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:09:43 +0000

A partnership between LG&E and KU and a Kentucky company could help both the energy and agriculture sectors, Kentucky leaders announced Monday.

Kentucky company Charah is opening up a facility in Louisville that will take leftover gypsum from the Mill Creek Power Station and turn it into a sulfur product—such as fertilizers—for Kentucky farmers.

In Wake of Boston Bombings, Senator Rand Paul Wants to Delay Immigration Reform

Phillip M. Bailey — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:55:23 +0000

In a letter to the Senate majority leader, Republican Rand Paul says national security questions surrounding the Boston bombings need to be addressed before Congress deals with comprehensive immigration reform.

The terror attacks at the Boston Marathon last week were allegedly perpetrated by the Tsarnaev brothers, who are ethnic Chechens and immigrated to the U.S. a decade ago.

For some that is reason to be cautious on who the country is allowing in as lawmakers deliberate overhauling the immigration system. Others argue conservatives are only seizing on their ethnicity of the accused bombers to stoke nativist fears and derail reforms.

Paul is urging Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid to incorporate various national security concerns first and is openly asking if systemic failures allowed the two men to enter the U.S. without further background checks.

From Paul's office:

The facts emerging in the Boston Marathon bombing have exposed a weakness in our current system. If we don't use this debate as an opportunity to fix flaws in our current system, flaws made even more evident last week, then we will not be doing our jobs.

Senator Rand Paul: President Obama Using Gun Victims, Families As 'Props'

Phillip M. Bailey — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 15:03:12 +0000

Speaking to reporters at an event organized by the Christian Science Monitor, U.S. Senator Rand Paul, R-Ky., blasted President Obama for using the families of gun violence victims in his push for legislative reforms.

From Huffington Post:

"I think gun control is a legitimate issue for us to debate," Paul said. "I hate to see using people, I think, as props and politicizing people's tragedy. When I see the father and the mothers and them testifying - and I know they're coming voluntarily, and they want to come and be part of this debate - but it still saddens me just to see them, and I think that in some cases the president has used them as props. And that disappoints me.

The president has reached out to family members of victims from the Newtown massacre in the aftermath.

One mother stood in for Obama during one of his weekly presidential addresses. In that speech Francine Wheeler, whose 6-year-old son was murdered during the shooting spree, pleaded for stricter gun control laws.

Sen. Rand Paul: 'I'm Trying to Figure Out How To Get More Votes'

Devin Katayama — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 17:51:08 +0000

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., is asking Louisville’s African-American community to consider his vote.

Paul spoke to students and faculty members at Simmons College of Kentucky on Friday.

This follows his appearance this week at Howard University in Washington D.C. where Paul tried connecting black history to the Republican Party.