A week after the government avoided a shutdown and came to an agreement on a budget U.S. Sen. Rand Paul voted against, Paul was in Bowling Green to speak to tea party supporters at a tax day rally Friday on the square. Speaking to the Daily News before the gathering, the Kentucky Republican said his message to them is that the tea party is a major force in American politics.
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“We are really just getting started,” Paul said. “We have had some electoral success. Now we have to translate that into the ability to try to change what’s going on in Washington.”
Paul also spent time meeting with local constituents at his state offices in Bowling Green.
“They come up to me and say do more of what you’re doing,” Paul said.
“I do tell people the difference between here and Washington is when I tell them at the tea party (rally) I’m for cutting $500 billion in one year, they applaud it and say, ‘You know what, that’s only a third of one year’s problem.’ When I tell them in Washington I want to cut $500 billion, they just give a blank look and aren’t ready for it yet.”
Paul said he believes the tea party will have an impact on the 2012 presidential election. Paul has said he will consider running if his father, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, does not.
“I think that most of the people running for office have learned you cannot ignore the tea party,” Rand Paul said.
Kentucky Republican gubernatorial candidate Phil Moffett also spoke at the rally, telling the crowd of a few hundred about his four-corners platform.
Rand Paul was in town after a week in which he, along with Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Mike Lee, R-Utah, introduced a plan to try to bring solvency to America’s Social Security system. The plan would reduce public debt by $6.2 trillion by the year 2085 and gradually increase the Social Security retirement age to 70 by 2032.
Rand Paul also voted against the short-term continuing resolution that was reached last week to avoid the government shutdown. He said earlier this week that the resolution does not set the country on a path to fixing its spending and debt problems. Paul also has been vocal about a lack of consumer choice for household items such as light bulbs and toilets.
“I think you have to have a plan to balance your budget,” Rand Paul said. “A balanced budget amendment to the Constitution would go a long way. Even a five-year or eight-year plan to balance the budget would please me. We don’t have any plans.”
Since taking office in January, Rand Paul has proposed cutting $500 billion in government spending. He also released his book, “The Tea Party Goes to Washington.” Paul also made appearances on the “Late Show with David Letterman” and “The Daily Show” as part of a national book tour.
Paul said the first three months as a senator have been exciting.
“To be a part of the nation’s debate and to go from yelling at your TV and writing letters to the editor, to actually being a part of the debate up there is a pretty exciting leap,” Paul said.
The senator has been living with his father in Ron Paul’s Alexandria, Va., residence since taking office.
“We have a lot of the same issues that they vote on in the House, so it gives us a chance to talk about the issues,” Rand Paul said.
