Published: November 06, 2009 08:59 am      

Paul explains his platform

‘Kentucky should gets its fair share’

By Adam S. Sulfridge / Staff Writer

Dr. Rand Paul, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, explained his position on taxes, government spending, the drug abuse epidemic, welfare and other government benefits during an exclusive interview with the Times-Tribune, just hours before his appearance at the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg.

Initially, Dr. Paul addressed drug abuse in rural Kentucky. As a doctor, he immediately zeroed in on more vigilant policing of doctors who recklessly write prescriptions. He asked, “Are they being disciplined? I’m a doctor and occasionally I’ll get notification from the medical licensure board of people who are having their licenses suspended.”

Referencing a recent report which listed Whitley County as one of five Kentucky counties which averaged more than four controlled substances per resident, Dr. Paul said, “There needs to be more policing through the state licensure board… if you’re prescribing inappropriately or to somebody who is selling their medication, and there’s evidence of that, your medical career should be over.”

“I don’t know of anyone who has a magic bullet or answer… if they did, we’d have gotten rid of it by now,” he added. One idea Paul proposed was imposing drug testing on those who receive government benefits. He explained, “If you’re giving people money from the government, perhaps you could tie the money from taxpayers to the drugs.”

Shifting topics, he explained, “Of course, if more of your tax money was left at home, you could hire more officers to combat crime.”

“I think we ought to leave more of Kentucky’s tax money in Kentucky… if you need more money in Whitley, Knox, or Laurel, let’s stop sending so much to Washington D.C.” He defended his position, saying, “A lot of your tax money gets lost on the middle man… projects are better financed at the local level.”

“I think every individual taxpayer is entitled to retain as much of their hard earnings as they can… I don’t believe it should be taken from you, sent to Washington, and only 50 percent sent back to your community.”

When asked about Congressman Rogers’ record of securing federal funding for special projects across southeastern Kentucky, Dr. Paul pledged his opposition to earmarks. “I don’t have a comment on Congressman Rogers,” he said. “But as far as the earmarking process, or saying that I’ll go to Washington promising to ‘show you the money,’ I’ve made a promise to not make earmarks.”

However, he was quick to point out that even though he wouldn’t make earmarks, he believes “if we can balance the budget and be fiscally responsible, then yes, Kentucky should gets its fair share from the federal government.” The problem now, he says, is that Americans can no longer finance special projects in any state.

Turning to a more local topic, Dr. Paul congratulated Whitley County for landing Global Green Cars Inc. He said a community south of his current residence near Bowling Green recently missed out on a similar factory which would have produced Zap! cars. When asked his opinion of the Obama administration’s decision to not award any grant money to help Global Green Cars, he focused primarily on the administration’s gross spending habits.

While Global Green Cars may have deserved funding, Dr. Paul said, “My point is there’s no money to give anybody right now.” He asked, “Was it a good idea to give people $4,500 cash for clunkers?” And then answered the question himself, saying “Well yeah, if you’re the recipient.”

Dr. Paul then asked, “What happened to our country at large? Each person got $4,500 that we borrowed from somewhere… The number one issue facing our nation is the deficit; I think we’re drowning in debt.”

He continued railing against the nation’s spending habits, saying, “One of the main reasons I run, is that the debt is so profound now.”

While speaking to students and locals at U of C, Dr. Paul got the crowd’s attention when he said the nation is spending approximately $53,000 per second, with an expected deficit of 1.75 trillion dollars. Furthermore, he claimed that the interest alone on the nation’s debt is around $30 billion per month.

“We need to reduce the spending side in Washington… we all see the need for more spending, but we have to decide how we’ll finance that as a country… will we borrow more from the Chinese?”

Reverting back to the drug abuse epidemic, Dr. Paul said, “Williamsburg police need more officers. Well, can we borrow $32,000 for an officer’s salary from the Chinese?” Answering his own question, he believes people would find such a proposition absurd, saying, “No, that doesn’t make sense.”

He then said that local law enforcement could receive more funding if federal elected officials used restraint with the nation’s checkbook. During the interview and his speech, Dr. Paul pointed to Senator Robert Byrd and Senator Ted Stevens. Pointing to misguided fiscal priorities, he quipped that Byrd paved every road in West Virginia and that Stevens built the infamous Road to Nowhere in Alaska.

Of such Senators, he said, “They’re more concerned with feathering their own nests and their longevity… They have been bringing pork barrel projects to their states for years, and it’s not based on the quality of their projects, but their seniority.”

“I see no reason why a senator should be there longer than two six-year terms… I see no reason why a representative should be there longer than six two-year terms…. None of them should be up there for more than 12 years.”

Two of this area’s elected officials, Congressman Rogers and Senator McConnell, have served much longer than 12 years, and when asked after his speech how he felt about McConnell, he deflected and said, “I’d support term limits even if my own dad had to come home,” referencing Congressman Ron Paul of Texas.

Dr. Paul also shared his respect for those living in the Appalachian region of Kentucky, saying, “I’ve met people in Appalachia, and they’re no different than the people in western Kentucky… they’re just as smart, just as able.”

He said he was, however, concerned about the future of Appalachia due to what he feels is an attempt to restrict coal use by President Obama.

He explained, “Every time you want to mine coal, you must get a permit, and basically, Obama has slowed the process because he’s very anti-coal… if you interview any spokesman for the different coal companies, they’ll tell you they are very worried… I think that’s the biggest problem facing Appalachia right now.”

“I’m opposed to Cap and Trade; I think it will be a disaster for Kentucky.” If elected, Dr. Paul said he would streamline the process coal companies must go through to receive permits or, at least, minimize the federal government’s role in the process.

During the interview, he said, “I’d introduce legislation to force the executive branch to give permits.” During his speech, he also criticized recent presidents for expanding the powers of the executive branch of government. Dr. Paul received applause after he said, “The President has become way too powerful.”

Lastly, he explained his views on welfare and entitlement programs. Specifically, he targeted those who abuse the system, saying more policing is needed to ensure that those who receive government benefits actually need and deserve them.

“But,” he explained, “you don’t want the policing coming from Washington… in the old days, you would have to go to the office downtown and sit in front of someone who asks, ‘What’s wrong with you?’”

He continued, saying, “We’re not supposed to be giving life-long welfare, and we shouldn’t give Social Security to drug addicts, but if you say you’re addicted to heroin, they’ll put you on permanent disability.”

Before a crowd of nearly 90 people, Dr. Paul echoed a former sentiment of the ‘old’ Republican party.

He said, “Government created the crisis, government created the panic, government created the entire problem.”