National Interest Op-Ed: Congress Must Reclaim Its War-Making Powers

THE GREATEST security challenge facing the next president is the national debt. The United States owes nearly $20 trillion, not counting the nearly $50 trillion entitlement debt. The time approaches when America will no longer be able to manage its debt and fund national defense.

The debt continues to explode because Congress ignores the limitations of the Constitution. The federal government was intended to be limited to specific, enumerated powers, and yet, today’s federal government reaches its meddling hand far afield from the Founders’ intent. To minimize new debt and manage...Read more

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Breitbart Op-Ed: Let's Cut Taxes Now!

I'm just old enough to remember when Republicans used to be for tax cuts. Oh sure, many of them will make noises about lowering some taxes, but too often they are caught up in the trap of so-called "revenue neutral tax reform." This is especially true of Congressional leaders.

We owe it to the American people and to our party to go big and be bold again. We owe it to them to stop the coma-inducing Washington talk that never seems to shrink government or deficits.

I like to tell people, no one has ever knocked on a door or made a phone call because they were excited about ‘...Read more

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Breitbart Op-Ed: Restore the Bill of Rights

Two hundred and twenty-five years ago today, a young nation made ten additions to its already revolutionary Constitution. 

These amendments – this “Bill of Rights” – said we could speak our minds, worship freely, defend ourselves, be secure against unreasonable searches and seizures, and expect to be treated fairly if accused of a crime.

In contrast to almost all of the legislation Congress passes today, the Bill of Rights is full of language such as “Congress shall make no law” and “The right of the people… shall not be violated,” along with a guarantee that non-...Read more

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TIME Op-Ed: Why I Will Vote to Repeal Obamacare

As a physician, I know well the problems with Obamacare. I don’t think anyone has more disdain for this big government takeover of our healthcare system. It needs to be stopped, and we must replace it with reforms that move us in the opposite direction.

I will vote to repeal Obamacare in January. I believe it is something that the Republican Congress must do.

However, in our fervor to repeal Obamacare, conservatives should not...Read more

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Rare Op-Ed: Trump should pick a secretary of state who understands that Iraq was a debacle

Donald Trump should pick someone to be his secretary of state who will advocate for Donald Trump’s views on foreign policy. That sounds simple, but the mix of candidates bandied about by the media includes several who don’t share the president-elect’s worldview.

Trump has been clear and consistent about his opposition to the Iraq War and to regime change. The media never really understood and still largely doesn’t understand the significance of Trump’s grasping our failures in the Middle East.

The media, never shy from engaging in the petty,...Read more

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Rare Op-Ed: Will Donald Trump betray voters by hiring John Bolton?

Rumors are that Donald Trump might pick John Bolton for Secretary of State. Heaven forbid. 

One of the things I occasionally liked about the President-elect was his opposition to the Iraq war and regime change. He not only grasped the mistake of that war early, but also seemed to fully understand how it disrupted the balance of power in the Middle East and even emboldened Iran.

We liberated Iraq, but today their best friend is Iran, their second greatest ally is Russia, and their third strongest alliance is with Syria. Trump really seems to get the lesson. Hillary...Read more

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ICYMI: Sen. Rand Paul Discusses Consideration of Bolton, Giuliani for Sec. of State

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul appeared on CNN’s “Wolf” with Wolf Blitzer to talk about his opposition to the consideration of former Ambassador John Bolton for Secretary of State. Sen. Paul explained why Bolton, a well-known supporter of the Iraq War and regime change, does not represent President-Elect Trump’s promise of change and would be “totally unfit” to be Secretary of State.

Sen. Paul also discussed the potential selection of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani to the position. 

You can read Sen. Paul’s op-ed from today on...Read more

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Official Waste

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul released the latest edition of ‘The Waste Report,’ an ongoing project cataloguing egregious examples of waste within the U.S. government.

In this special, two-page edition, Dr. Paul examines federal employees doing union work on taxpayers’ dime, costing Americans hundreds of millions of dollars when member dues should be more than enough to cover representation costs. Many of these employees receive full salary and benefits despite not performing a government function. Though some argue such...Read more

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Herald Leader Op-Ed: Kentucky, once again, at forefront of hemp production

As senators from Kentucky, we’ve been fortunate to meet the many farmers who help make our state work. Agriculture is a vital part of Kentucky’s economy, and we’ve learned from Kentucky’s farmers that one way to keep our state’s agricultural sector growing is to explore new, viable cash crops for the state. This is why we’ve put our support behind expanding industrial hemp research.

Hemp is not new to our state. The first hemp plant was grown in Kentucky in 1775, and Kentucky led the nation in hemp production until the Civil War. Used as a fiber to make fabrics, textiles,...Read more

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Courier Journal Op-Ed: Ali a champion in more ways than one

How did Kentucky end up with two great men both named Cassius Marcellus Clay?

The first Cassius Clay, cousin of Henry, was an abolitionist who refused to compromise on the issue of slavery. I spoke of him in my inaugural Senate speech and do so often.

The second Cassius Clay later became Muhammad Ali and also never compromised on anything.  People should remember him as a great boxing champion, but also as a tireless fighter outside the ring.

Clay grew up in segregated Louisville in the 1940s and '50s and at the same time he was becoming a household name as...Read more

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