WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Rand Paul today announced that he is returning $500,000 to the United States Treasury - money unspent from his official operating budget. The total amount being returned is more than 16 percent of Paul's original office budget. As far as is known, no U.S. Senator has returned as much to taxpayers.

"I ran to stop the reckless spending," said Paul. "And I ran to end the damaging process of elected officials acting as errand boys, competing to see who could bring back the biggest check and the most amount of pork."

At a press conference today in Louisville, Paul presented taxpayers with an "over-sized check" for $500,000, representing the money being returned to the Treasury.

"I hope this sets an example for the rest of government - at all levels," said Paul. "We can carry out our duties in a fiscally responsible way. Government can be both smart and efficient. We are proving that - and trying to convince the rest of Washington."

Paul achieved the savings while also having the most active office for a freshman in the U.S. Senate. In his first year, he introduced more legislation and amendments than any other freshman legislator, often teaming-up with fellow Senators to support legislation.

Paul has offered spending cut amendments to nearly every bill. And he has stood up for Kentucky, offering bills in support of the Commonwealth's bridges and ports, and working to stop the Environmental Protection Agency's war on coal.

Paul's office was one of only three in Washington to produce an entire fiscal blueprint for the federal government, a promise he made while campaigning in 2010. His plan, introduced in the first few weeks of his term, would balance the federal budget in five years.

Paul also kept his promise to work to reform Social Security. His proposal, introduced with Sens. Lindsey Graham and Mike Lee, would fix the entire system for 75 years. Later this month, Sen. Paul will introduce a plan to save Medicare.

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