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[[Image:randpaul.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Rand Paul]]

Senator Rand Paul was born in Pennsylvania on January 7, 1963, the third of five children born to Ron Paul, a U.S. Congressman and 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate. He Rand Paul graduated from Baylor University and then from Duke Medical School, his father's alma mater, in 1963. Paul worked as an ophthalmologist, notably performing many free eye care surgeries and providing free eye care for young and impoverished patients. Paul, is a lifelong Republican with libertarian leanings, and first became involved in politics in 1994, when he founded Kentucky Taxpayers United, a watchdog group that tracked taxation and spending issues in the Kentucky state legislature until it disbanded its disbanding in 2000. Rand Paul gained national attention when he campaigned for his father, who was running for the Republican Presidential nomination in 2008. He Paul attracted a small, passionate following which while campaigning for his father, and this following helped him win the U.S. Senate seat for Kentucky in 2010. Paul is also the first U.S. Senator to serve alongside a parent in the U.S. House of Representativesand is widely known for his support of the Tea Party movement. [http://www.biography. com/people/rand-paul-588472#synopsis (From BIOBio) ]

'''Advocate of more rehabilitation and less incarceration'''*Apply the 10th Amendment to allow states to make marijuana legal*Bans on marijuana discriminates against lower income levels/ higher levels of incarceration among poor children than wealthy children*In addition to ending the over-criminalization of marijuana, {{:Rand Paul has risen awareness of an important issue among drug-related incarcerations, war on drugs has unintentionally had a racial outcome: "Even though whites used drugs at the same rate as black kids, the prisons are full of black kids and brown kids. There are Republicans trying to correct this injustice."*Supports community treatment rather than federal anti-drug programs*Favors legalizing medical marijuana*Exclude industrial hemp from definition of marijuana*Exempt industrial hemp from marijuana laws*Believes drug-abuse isn't a federally pressing issue, should instead be dealt with on the state levelFrom (OTI - DPDrug Policy)}}

From {{:Rand Paul (RPW - MEMiddle East)}}

"My consistent opposition to the {{:Rand Paul (Trade Promotion Authority, or TPA, stems from my belief that Congress has already given too much power to the Presidency.")}}

From {{:Rand Paul (RPW - TEnvironmental)}}

"When I was about ten years old, like many conservative middle-class families, our inclination was to resist anything to do with Red China. In that black {{:Rand Paul (Entrepreneurship and white world, you were either for us or against us. Trade with China was thought to be trade with the enemy. A funny thing happened, though, along the way. Many conservatives came to understand a larger truth. As trade began to blossom with China, many conservatives, myself included, came to admit that trade improves our economic well-being AND makes us less likely to fight. The success of trade with China made many conservatives rethink their view of the world." (NI - TInnovation)}}

"In November 2011, my office was happy to participate with the Raw Milk Freedom Riders, who set out to acquire raw milk in protest of raids on small farmers. Over the past several years, the President has taken the laudable step of urging Congress to pass free trade laws in order to elevate exports. However, apart from the effort to encourage free trade, the President'''RPW''' - Rand Paul's efforts to create an environment conducive to competing in a global economy have been largely misguided. The President and the central bank have attempted to increase exports by destroying the value of the dollar here at home."Website

"The President's agenda of increasing taxes on top of a weak dollar policy is inhibiting the country's ability of to compete overseas. One of the fundamental keys to export growth is investment. The correlation between tax rates, investment and export is demonstrated by 'OTI''' - On the tremendous export opportunities and growth of East Asia."Issues

'''Active Opponent of Government Regulation of Industry''' "In November 2011, my office was happy to participate with the Raw Milk Freedom Riders, who set out to acquire raw milk in protest of raids on small farmers. The Raw Milk Freedom Riders intentionally purchased and transported raw milk across state lines in violation of federal law.Civil disobedience. Hunger strikesSecond Abbreviation = Policy Issue (i. Persecuted activistse. The food freedom movement has all the hallmarks of the great struggles of the past, and that's because it shares a common enemy with those movements--aggressive and arrogant government." From (OTI - FTTR = Tax Reform)

(Bio) == Immigration ==[http://www.biography.com/people/rand-paul-588472#synopsis]

While serving in the Senate, Paul introduced legislation to make immigration reform conditional on Congress voting on whether the border is secure, requiring completion of a border fence in five years and a protection against the federal government establishing a national identification card system for citizens(RPW-TR) = [https://www. His "Trust but Verify" amendment requires Congress to write and enforce a bipartisan border security blueprint rather than using bureaucracies, such as the Department of Homeland Security, to come up with a plan. The amendment also would provide new national security safeguards to track the holders of student visas and those provided asylum and refugee statusrandpaul.com/issue/taxes]

Paul does not support the concept of "amnesty," but instead "supports legal immigration process" (RPW OTI - IJ)= [http://www. If elected President, Paul would implement his "Trust but Verify" plan and apply pressure on the Department of Homeland Security to secure the border and produce an effective visa tracking systemontheissues.org/2016/Rand_Paul_Jobs.htm]

*Replace current path to citizenship with work visas for illegal immigrants: supports "probation" followed by "assimilation," putting undocumented immigrants on an eventual track to either permanent legal status (a green cardOTI - HP) or citizenship*Immigrants get a temporary "work visa" but are not put ahead of anyone waiting to enter the country * Opponent to the federal government creating a national ID card*Believes U= [http://www.ontheissues.Sorg/Social/Rand_Paul_Health_Care. can accommodate current 11 million illegal immigrants already leaving in the country; however, we must completely secure the border before any other action can be takenhtm]

From (OTI RPW - IHP)= [https://www.randpaul.com/issue/sanctity-of-life]

(OTI - DP) == Environmental ==[http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Rand_Paul_Drugs.htm]

(OTI - ME) ==='''Balancing Environmental Safety with Deregulation''' ===[http://www.ontheissues.org/2016/Rand_Paul_Foreign_Policy.htm]

"Counteracting excessively burdensome government regulations has become a centerpiece of my tenure in Washington(RPW - ME) = [https://www. All my actions seek to find a balance between environmental, safety and health protection, without compromising the ability of family businesses to flourishrandpaul."com/issue/foreign-policy-defense]

"Unelected bureaucrats should not have the power to enact regulations that affect the lives of everyday Americans(RPW - T) = [https://randpaul. Whether it's ObamaCare or EPA regulations, cutting red tape and opening com/news/rand-paul-on-obamatrade-no-sane-reason-for-making-the regulatory process to scrutiny is an important step in holding government accountable to all Americans.-trade-treaty-classified]

In the Senate, I proudly introduced the Regulations from the Executive Need of Scrutiny (REINSNI - T) Act. This legislation is designed to increase accountability for and transparency in the Federal regulatory process= [http://nationalinterest.org/commentary/rand-paul-diplomacy-9714]

As President, I will place common sense and reasonable limitations on a bureaucracy that seeks to target well(OTI -intentioned businesses with burdensome regulationsT) = [http://www."ontheissues.org/2016/Rand_Paul_Free_Trade.htm]

"Our federal government regulates everything and anything(RPW - I) = [https://www. How much water goes into you commoderandpaul. How much water comes out of your showerhead. The temperature of the water in your washing machine. How many miles to the gallon your car must get."com/issue/immigration]

(OTI - I) ==='''Criticisms of EPA''' ===[http://www.ontheissues.org/2016/Rand_Paul_Immigration.htm]

'''Agency's Abuse of 'Wetlands' Term''' "The Clean Water Act never even mentioned the term "wetlands" while passing through Congress for approval. The unelected bureaucracy simply created the concept and defines it in distinct terminology dependent upon whatever scenario they are currently considering. "Wetlands" quite literally can mean whatever the EPA wants it to mean." "The definition of wetlands has become so absurd and transparent that the Army Corps of Engineers developed the "migratory bird theory." This theory states that if your land is a stopping point for any migratory bird that has traveled between real navigable waters, then your land is now de facto connected to the interstate navigable streams. I'm not kidding." "This theory is irrational & completely illogical. How did it ever become enforceable law? It happened because Congress has abdicated its duty in this area. Citizens often run afoul of these rules inadvertently due to the constant evolution of complex and unexplained regulations." '''High Costs of EPA's Regulations'''  "Since its creation in 1970, the Environmental Protection Agency has done more harm than good. EPA regulations cost more than 5% of our annual gross domestic product (which was over $15 trillion in 2012). This is equivalent to the costs of defense and homeland security combined. Most Americans are unaware of this." "Too often our rights are violated by abusive and power-hungry EPA bureaucrats who use threats, coercion, and force to implement power grabs. I wish these instances of abuse were random and the exception, but they have unfortunately come to characterize what many Americans now rightly see as a rogue government agency. EPA regulations have hampered landowners' ability to manage their private property as they please and have seriously impaired job creation. As with the massive cost of the EPA, many Americans are unaware of the routine suffering caused by the overreach of such regulatory agencies." '''EPA's Circumnavigation of Due Process and Judicial Review''' [The Sacketts were building their home when the EPA ordered them to stop] "They requested a hearing before the EPA where they could challenge the agency's claim that their property was a wetland. The EPA refused, claiming property owners have no right to a hearing regarding compliance orders. Throughout this waiting process, the daily $75,000 fine continued to accumulate." "However, they filed their own lawsuit in federal court, arguing that the Administrative Procedure Act entitled them to a hearing before a judge. Yet the Sixth and Fourth Circuits rejected any possibility of judicial review. Is this not a complete violation of the separation-of-powers principle? These circuit courts essentially handed the EPA free rein over innocent Americans and their private property. Our government was literally telling the Sacketts that in the US, you are free--unless the EPA decides to get involved, at which point your right to due process and private property becomes null and void." === '''Voting Record on Other Issues''' === *Voted NO on protecting ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems.*Rated 20% by The Humane Society Legislative Fund, indicating an anti-animal welfare voting record. From (OTI - E) ==='''In Support of Keystone XL Pipeline'''===  "Washington's bureaucratic regulations, corporate subsidies, and excessive taxation have made it unnecessarily difficult for energy developers to take advantage of new and innovative forms of cheap and clean energy[http://www. Cutting the red tape and encouraging energy freedom, new technologies, and discoveries will be a priority in my administrationontheissues. Like all other sectors of the economy, allowing businesses to compete in a free market will not only produce the most efficient forms of energy, but will also pass along the cost savings to the consumerorg/Domestic/Rand_Paul_Environment. I support the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline and I have repeatedly voted to allow this project to proceed." From (RPW - E) == Sources Key == '''RPW''' - Rand Paul's Website '''OTI''' - On the Issues '''NI''' - National Interest Second Abbreviation = Policy Issue (i.e. TR = Tax Reform)htm]

*(BIO) = [http://www.biography.com/people/rand-paul-588472#synopsis]*(RPW-TR) = [https://www.randpaul.com/issue/taxes]*(OTI - HC) = [http://www.ontheissues.org/Social/Rand_Paul_Health_Care.htm]*(OTI - DP) = [http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Rand_Paul_Drugs.htm]* (OTI - ME) = [http://www.ontheissues.org/2016/Rand_Paul_Foreign_Policy.htm]*(RPW - ME) = [https://www.randpaul.com/issue/foreign-policy-defense]* (RPW - I) = [https://www.randpaul.com/issue/immigration]* (OTI - I) = [http://www.ontheissues.org/2016/Rand_Paul_Immigration.htm]* (OTI - J) = [http://www.ontheissues.org/2016/Rand_Paul_Jobs.htm]* (RPW - T) = [https://randpaul.com/news/rand-paul-on-obamatrade-no-sane-reason-for-making-the-trade-treaty-classified]*(NI - T) = [http://nationalinterest.org/commentary/rand-paul-diplomacy-9714]*(OTI - T) = [http://www.ontheissues.org/2016/Rand_Paul_Free_Trade.htm]*(OTI - E) = [http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Rand_Paul_Environment.htm]*(RPW - E) = [https://www.randpaul.com/issue/energy]