Dear Friend,
You would think a $20 trillion national debt would be enough to give politicians pause, but Congress keeps trying to spend your money like it really does grow on trees! This week, I spoke out in the Senate against this unsustainable status quo and called for government to use taxpayer funds responsibly. I also had opportunities to make the case for being bold on tax reform and to stand up for the Fourth Amendment! You can read about my work on these issues and more in my latest update below.
Dr. Rand Paul: Both Parties are Guilty of Spending Taxpayer Money "Like There's No Tomorrow" In a speech on the U.S. Senate floor on Tuesday, I condemned the bipartisan consensus to "fund everything" regardless of available funds or existing restraints, which has led to runaway, reckless spending and a $20 trillion debt that greatly threatens our national security.  | | (Dr. Paul Speaks on the Senate Floor - Oct. 24, 2017) | I stood ready to offer an amendment, which the Senate blocked from consideration, that would have offset $36.5 billion in emergency relief by rescinding the same amount in funds government-wide that have not yet been spent, giving government the flexibility to pay for needed relief by cutting waste and properly prioritizing the American people's money.
"[Y]ou'll find often that it's easy to be compassionate with someone else's money," I said during my speech. "But it's not only that. It's not only compassion with someone else's money. It's compassion with money that doesn't even exist, money that's borrowed."
In addition, I raised a point of order that would have required the budget spending caps to apply to the $36.5 billion spending bill, which forced the Senate to vote to ignore them. Eighteen other senators joined me in voting to stick to the caps.
You can watch my speech HERE. Dr. Rand Paul and Bipartisan Coalition Introduce Legislation to Protect Civil Liberties Congress must not continue to allow our constitutional standard of "innocent until proven guilty" to be twisted into "If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear." The American people deserve better from their own government than to have their Internet activity swept up in warrantless, unlimited searches that ignore the Fourth Amendment. So on Tuesday, Senator Ron Wyden and I, along with a bipartisan coalition of 12 of our fellow senators, introduced the USA RIGHTS Act, which reforms a sweeping, secretive government spying program to protect the constitutional rights of Americans, while giving intelligence agencies authority to target foreign terrorists, criminals, and other overseas intelligence targets. A bipartisan group also introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill reforms Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to end warrantless backdoor searches of Americans' calls, emails, texts, and other communications that are routinely swept up under a program designed to spy on foreign targets. The sweeping authority has been clouded in secrecy, in part because the government refuses to answer essential questions about how it impacts Americans, including who can be targeted and how many American communications the government collects. Our bill institutes major reforms that prove we can still protect our country while respecting our Constitution and upholding fundamental civil liberties. You can learn more about the USA RIGHTS Act HERE, and you can read the entire bill HERE. Dr. Rand Paul Applauds President Trump's Choice to Head the Office of Surface Mining Yesterday, President Trump announced that he has nominated Kentuckian Steve Gardner to be the next Director of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE). Mr. Gardner currently serves as president and CEO of ECSI, LLC, which is headquartered in Lexington. Having Steve Gardner lead the Office of Surface Mining will be a welcome relief to Kentucky and the nation. The last administration's OSM ignored science and economics when it worked to put an end to Kentucky coal mining with an overreaching rule on waterways near coal mines. With Mr. Gardner's background in mining, I am confident this administration's OSM will ease up eight years of executive overreach and finally allow Kentucky coal to compete again in our nation's all-of-the-above energy policy. Dr. Rand Paul: "Let's Pass Big and Bold Tax Cuts Now!" In my latest op-ed for The Hill on Thursday, I reiterated my support for the "biggest, boldest tax cut that Congress can pass" to give taxpayers back more of their own money and create greater opportunity for American businesses to thrive here at home. I also discussed my efforts to ensure the plan does not raise taxes on the middle class. "I have been and will continue to be a loud voice for across-the-board tax cuts for everyone –- rich, poor, and middle class," I stated. When it comes to our job creators, I later noted that we "want a giant 'OPEN FOR BUSINESS' sign on American soil," and I believe we can institute reforms to make this happen! You can read the rest of the op-ed HERE. Dr. Rand Paul Meets with Hotel Owners from Across Kentucky On Wednesday, I met with Kentuckians representing the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) to discuss topics including drive-by lawsuits and reforming our labor and tax laws.
 | | (Dr. Paul Visits with Kentuckians from the Asian American Hotel Owners Association - Oct. 25, 2017) |
Media Wrap-Up On Wednesday, I joined Fox News' Fox & Friends to talk about tax reform and other pressing issues. I also spoke on the radio this week with Leland Conway and Tom Roten, and I held a conference call with national reporters regarding the USA RIGHTS Act and Section 702 reform. Have an Issue or Concern? If you are a Kentucky resident and need assistance with a federal agency, please feel free to contact my Bowling Green office at 270-782-8303. One of my staff members will be more than happy to assist you. Stay in Touch with Dr. Paul on Social Media You can stay up to date on my latest news and activities by visiting my Senate website, www.paul.senate.gov, or my official Facebook and Twitter pages. You can watch my Senate floor speeches and press interviews at my YouTube channel HERE. Warm Regards,  | 
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