The NKyTribune invited both candidates for the U.S. Senate from Kentucky to make his case for why he deserves your vote on November 8. We are offering their responses as a public service to the voters of Kentucky. The responses are offered in alphabetical order, with Rand Paul as Part II. Jim Gray’s response appeared yesterday.
RAND PAUL
Dr. Rand Paul is a nationally recognized voice in the fight for liberty in America. An ophthalmologist by trade and practice, Dr. Paul decided in 2010 to take his talents of diagnosing a problem and finding a solution to the Senate where he has become a champion for Constitutional liberties and fiscal responsibility.
Dr. Paul has fought tirelessly against the over burdensome regulations of the federal government and has worked to return government to its limited, Constitutional scope. Dr. Paul lives with his family in Bowling Green, Kentucky, where he had his ophthalmology practice and performed eye surgery for 18 years. Together with his wife of 25 years, Kelley Ashby Paul of Russellville, they raised their three sons William, Duncan, and Robert. Dr. Paul has been a devoted father regularly volunteering to coach athletic teams for his sons. Dr. Paul and his wife Kelley are both devout Christians and are active in their local church.
Why I Should Remain Your Senator
Our country has seen a fall from prosperity, a lack of an economic boom, and a government that no longer feels that it is restrained by the Constitution. To be a United States Senator, one must be able to diagnose a problem and then execute a corrective decision according to a set of binding rules. That is precisely what I have done for years as a doctor. As an ophthalmologist, my patients expect me to be able to diagnose their problem and then correct it according to the rules of the medical field.
Since I took my experiences as a doctor to Washington, I have worked on behalf of Kentuckians to defend them from the federal government’s attempts to over regulate their businesses and lives. I’ve voiced my concern over the alarming $20 trillion debt our government continues to rack up and have offered solutions to alleviate the problem with such common sense ideas as a Balanced Budget Amendment. I’ve fought tirelessly to defend Kentucky from President Obama’s War on Coal by establishing legislation to limit the continued expansion of the EPA without Congressional approval. I’ve introduced legislation that would have prevented more money from going overseas to haters of America and instead keep it here in Kentucky where it belongs. And I’ve maintained a responsible office budget, returning $3 million of taxpayer dollars back to the Treasury from my Senate office budget.
Kentucky needs a United States Senator who is dedicated to establishing the hope for the American Dream for our sons and daughters that has slipped away over the years. As a medical professional, I’ve spent my life working to improve the lives of others, diagnosing their problems and working to find a solution. That is the kind of experience and leadership that I bring to Washington.
Q&A
Q. What Do You Consider Your Three Most Important Accomplishments As U.S. Senator Representing Kentucky?
We need to take back our country from the special interests that use Washington as their own personal piggy bank. That’s why I’ve introduced legislation that would put the people of Kentucky’s priorities first over that of the special interests.
First off, the federal government shouldn’t be in the business of putting industries out of business or conducting a war on the family farm. I’ve introduced a plan called the REINS Act to force regulatory agencies to obtain approval from Congress before any major agency rules are enacted. This would have increased transparency in the Federal regulatory process and eliminated their relentless strangle hold of unchecked power.
I’ve proposed doing something every family in America has to do: spend only what comes in. I have proposed amending the Constitution to include a Balanced Budget Amendment to keep future spending under control. And under my own plan to reduce the deficit, we’d be able to eliminate our debt in five years without raising taxes.
Previously, I’ve declared sending not one more penny to these haters of America and I’ve been working to keep money here at home. I have a plan to bring money back to the United States from overseas and I’ve introduced an amendment to redirect money being given to our enemies to American infrastructure projects. Kentucky projects such as the Brent Spence Bridge would have immediately benefitted from such a financial reinvestment in our community.
Q: What Are Your Primary Objectives For Your Next Term?
The debt has tripled under President Obama’s tenure leaving us on course for him to have added more debt than all of our previous presidents combined. I ran for office because we have too many career politicians. I believe it now more than ever. Congress is refusing to read legislation before they vote on it. Our spending is increasingly out of control. Our immigration system doesn’t emphasize securing our border and ensuring that all those we allow to come across our border mean us no harm. And over burdensome regulations created by federal agencies work to put our Kentucky small businesses and our family farms out of business.
Across many communities in our country, we’ve witnessed the destruction an expanding government can have. Just look to our coal mines or to our family farms. Look at our small businesses and our regions that are seeing jobs destroyed and families leave to find work elsewhere. At every turn, the government attempts to bring in more rules or higher taxes that disrupt these individuals’ ability to grow and improve their lives and improve the community they live in. That’s one reason why I suggested instituting what I call Economic Freedom Zones.
These Economic Freedom Zones would focus on providing tax breaks to economically challenged communities giving them an opportunity to incentivize business growth and job creation. It would encourage new entrepreneurial opportunities for both employees and employers. Just in eastern Kentucky alone, communities and businesses could benefit from a $5 billion surplus in their economy. It’s important we help get these communities back to work and these Economic Freedom Zones would do just that.
Conclusion
I’ve spent my career diagnosing problems as a doctor and then working to find the right solution to improve the lives of others. That is precisely the type of knowledge and experience that we need there. And in Washington, I can tell you there’s no monopoly on knowledge.
I’ve recognized the symptoms of a growing federal government and then fought to defend the people of Kentucky against attempts to put their businesses and farms at risk. The government has attempted to send Kentucky taxpayer dollars overseas to haters of America so I’ve fought to keep that money here to reinvest in our infrastructure.
When I promised to fight for Kentucky every day in the Senate and to stand strong for coal and Kentucky jobs, I meant it and I’m still leading the charge requiring major regulatory rules to obtain approval from Congress. The government spends more than they have so I’ve fought to cut spending, even going so far as to return more than $3 million in taxpayer money intended for my Senate office back to the Treasury.