Rand Paul

I would like to summarize and say, why don't we legalize the Constitution?

I have had a position for a long time about what I think we should do with the Federal Reserve; I don't believe it contributes all that much.

I am convinced also that we are on the verge of a change from the current status.

So, those are basically my thoughts on this issue.

More attention has been given to the Federal Reserve in recent years than it has in the past but we have a long way to go.

We, as a Congress, have lived way beyond our means because the people in this country wanted us to live beyond our means.

I ask that the unanimous consent request be modified so once we are on the bill I can offer an amendment related to the Secretary of the Treasury and that a vote on that issue be reported.

Think how great it is that no one is shooting each other... Debate - we should never in our country complain about bickering because bickering is freedom of speech.

Interestingly, we've offered several compromises. I was part of a group that orchestrated a compromise called 'cut, cap and balance.' which would have given the entire $2 trillion the president requested in exchange for a balanced budget…

He really does believe that we're going to a very bad place in this country economically and he wants to draw a line in the sand and say no further.

We should never in our country complain about bickering because bickering is freedom of speech. And I think you guys in the media, you guys really want to protect the First Amendment and so do I.

I can accept that premise. I think we could come together on that premise and then the question is how should they do it? Should they do it by paying more taxes or maybe we can get the rich to pay more of their fair share by saying they…

In some ways, yes. We didn't win the legislative battle. I didn't get what I want. But I would say that the public debate now, everyone comes up to me and says, whether they're with me or not, they say the debate now is all about cutting…

Not really. Because I would say that some people who argue that by adding $2 trillion more in debt to our country that that threatens our country more than a temporary inconvenience of not raising the debt ceiling.

Yes. I'm not saying we don't pay our debt. In fact what I'm saying is this is going to increase our debt. We're at $14 trillion, this is going to take us up above $16 trillion and that's adding to our debt.

Well, interestingly we've offered several compromises. I was part of a group that actually orchestrated a compromise called 'cut, cap and balance' which would have given the entire $2 trillion that the President requested in exchange for a…

People often say in Washington nothing is ever bipartisan. I think we're going to show a change to that today, and I'm excited to see members on both sides of the isle testifying before us.

We have the Boehner proposal on the table. It will cut next year $1 billion. We are spending $1 billion an hour virtually. That is insignificant and not meaningful reform.

I am voting no on S. 1103, a bill to create a second 2 year term for the FBI Director. I am opposed to changing the term limits on this important position, which serve as a safeguard and check against the significant power of the position…

I guess some of the concern is that we are declaring everything a disaster and that some of this should be maybe taken care of at the State level.

One of the lessons, I think, may be that we get involved in so many routine storms that maybe we do not have enough money when we have truly catastrophic storms.

Some people have reported that part of our problem is that we have a shortage of money, and we have a lot more FEMA disasters declared than before.

I have great sympathy and condolences for those from Joplin for the horrible disaster there.

I have a question before we finish. The question I have is: We have not had a budget in 2 years. When is the last time we had appropriations bills and are we working in the committees? See, the people expect us to come up here and do our…

What was the intention, though? What was the intention that rule would do? By having a budget was it supposed to limit, then, what each appropriations bill for each subject would be allowed to spend?