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Drudge Report founder Matt Drudge praised Sen. Rand PaulRand PaulWhite House studying carbon tax and VAT: report Rice denies Obama administration inappropriately unmasked Trump team The Susan Rice smoking gun, and why it matters MORE (R-Ky.) after having lunch at his Capitol Hill office this week.

On Thursday morning, Drudge tweeted, "Intriguing lunch in hill office of America's best senator, Rand Paul. He's bold, brave and has somehow kept his heart in such a corrupt city."

Intriguing lunch in hill office of America's best senator, Rand Paul. He's bold, brave and has somehow kept his heart in such a corrupt city

Last Thursday, amid the struggle to rally enough Republican votes to pass an ObamaCare repeal-and-replace plan, he tweeted, "The swamp drains you," which many saw as a jab at President Trump's campaign pledge to "drain the swamp."

Drudge has previously saidRepublicans should be "sued for fraud" for not prioritizing tax cuts and an ObamaCare repeal.

It's not the first time he's singled Paul out for attention. Earlier this month, the Drudge Report featured a headline touting, "The return of Rand Paul," in what some viewed as a warning to moderate Republicans.

The headline linked to a Washington Examiner story that outlined Paul's problems with the GOP's healthcare bill.

Link:
Drudge praises 'America's best senator' Rand Paul after lunch in ... - The Hill (blog)

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April 2, 2017, 2:05 PM EDT April 2, 2017, 5:39 PM EDT

President Donald Trump golfed Sunday with an outspoken Republican opponent of the failed legislation to repeal and replace Obamacare, hours after insisting theres enough love and strength among factions of the party to find a new path forward.

Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky and White House budget director Mick Mulvaney golfed with the president at Trump National Golf Club in Potomac Falls, Virginia.

We had a great day with the president. Played some golf and we talked about a little bit of health care, Paul told reporters on the White Houses South Lawn after returning from the outing. I continue to be very optimistic that we are getting closer and closer to an agreement on repealing Obamacare.

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White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham earlier told reporters the threesome planned to discuss a range of topics, including health care, during their round, which took place on a sunny spring day perfect for hitting the links. The match took place just days after Trump blasted conservative lawmakers in the House, saying the Freedom Caucus will hurt the entire Republican agenda if they dont get on the team, and fast.

House Speaker Paul Ryan pulled a Obamacare repeal-and-replace bill, which had been heavily promoted by Trump and White House aides, in late March after it became clear it faced too much opposition within the party and would be voted down on the House floor. Paul was among those who said it wouldnt have had sufficient support in the Senate either.

Trump said in tweets early Sunday that talks on Repealing and Replacing ObamaCare are, and have been, going on, and will continue until such time as a deal is hopefully struck.

Anybody, especially the media, who thinks that Repeal & Replace of ObamaCare is dead does not know the love and strength in the Republican Party, Trump assured his 27 million Twitter followers.

On March 30, Trump said he was ready to fight the conservative Freedom Caucus, whose opposition helped to doom Ryans bill. Trump and his aides have suggested he could back critics rivals in primaries ahead of the 2018 midterm elections.

Trump had called out several conservative Republicans by name, saying they could drag down the partys entire agenda. The Freedom Caucus will hurt the entire Republican agenda if they dont get on the team, & fast. We must fight them, & Dems, in 2018! the president tweeted Thursday.

Trump social media director Dan Scavino on Saturday urged a primary challenge against Representative Justin Amash of Michigan.

Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio, co-founder of the House Freedom Caucus, said Sunday that tweets, statements and blame from the White House dont change facts and that Ryans legislation fell short of promises Republicans had made to voters about how Obamacare would be ended.

It was better to start over and get this thing done right, Jordan said on CNNs State of the Union. If Amash were to face a primary opponent, Im going to do everything I can to help him, Jordan said.

Paul, 54, a board-certified ophthalmologist before following his father, former Representative Ron Paul, into politics, had a prickly relationship with Trump even before the health-care standoff. Paul was among the crowded 2016 presidential primary field that Trump blitzed on his way to the partys nomination and the White House.

In August 2015, Trump said in a statement that he had easily beat Paul in a golf game and will even more easily beat him now in the presidential campaign.

Golf Digest in November said that Paul plays off a 17 handicap. It estimated that Trump, then the president-elect, had a handicap of 2.8.

Read the original post:
Trump Hits Golf Course With Sen. Rand Paul - Bloomberg

by

April 2, 2017, 2:05 PM EDT April 2, 2017, 5:39 PM EDT

President Donald Trump golfed Sunday with an outspoken Republican opponent of the failed legislation to repeal and replace Obamacare, hours after insisting theres enough love and strength among factions of the party to find a new path forward.

Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky and White House budget director Mick Mulvaney golfed with the president at Trump National Golf Club in Potomac Falls, Virginia.

We had a great day with the president. Played some golf and we talked about a little bit of health care, Paul told reporters on the White Houses South Lawn after returning from the outing. I continue to be very optimistic that we are getting closer and closer to an agreement on repealing Obamacare.

The most important business stories of the day.

Get Bloomberg's daily newsletter.

White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham earlier told reporters the threesome planned to discuss a range of topics, including health care, during their round, which took place on a sunny spring day perfect for hitting the links. The match took place just days after Trump blasted conservative lawmakers in the House, saying the Freedom Caucus will hurt the entire Republican agenda if they dont get on the team, and fast.

House Speaker Paul Ryan pulled a Obamacare repeal-and-replace bill, which had been heavily promoted by Trump and White House aides, in late March after it became clear it faced too much opposition within the party and would be voted down on the House floor. Paul was among those who said it wouldnt have had sufficient support in the Senate either.

Trump said in tweets early Sunday that talks on Repealing and Replacing ObamaCare are, and have been, going on, and will continue until such time as a deal is hopefully struck.

Anybody, especially the media, who thinks that Repeal & Replace of ObamaCare is dead does not know the love and strength in the Republican Party, Trump assured his 27 million Twitter followers.

On March 30, Trump said he was ready to fight the conservative Freedom Caucus, whose opposition helped to doom Ryans bill. Trump and his aides have suggested he could back critics rivals in primaries ahead of the 2018 midterm elections.

Trump had called out several conservative Republicans by name, saying they could drag down the partys entire agenda. The Freedom Caucus will hurt the entire Republican agenda if they dont get on the team, & fast. We must fight them, & Dems, in 2018! the president tweeted Thursday.

Trump social media director Dan Scavino on Saturday urged a primary challenge against Representative Justin Amash of Michigan.

Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio, co-founder of the House Freedom Caucus, said Sunday that tweets, statements and blame from the White House dont change facts and that Ryans legislation fell short of promises Republicans had made to voters about how Obamacare would be ended.

It was better to start over and get this thing done right, Jordan said on CNNs State of the Union. If Amash were to face a primary opponent, Im going to do everything I can to help him, Jordan said.

Paul, 54, a board-certified ophthalmologist before following his father, former Representative Ron Paul, into politics, had a prickly relationship with Trump even before the health-care standoff. Paul was among the crowded 2016 presidential primary field that Trump blitzed on his way to the partys nomination and the White House.

In August 2015, Trump said in a statement that he had easily beat Paul in a golf game and will even more easily beat him now in the presidential campaign.

Golf Digest in November said that Paul plays off a 17 handicap. It estimated that Trump, then the president-elect, had a handicap of 2.8.

Continued here:
Trump Tees Off With Rand Paul to Show GOP 'Love' on Health Care - Bloomberg

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by Elias J. Atienza

Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) cosponsored the The Small Business Tax Equity Act which would require marijuana businesses in states where it is legalized to be taxed similar to other small businesses. It would also remove restrictions on marijuana businesses to claim tax credits and deductions.

This is part of Senator Ron Wydens (D-OR)attempt to force the federal government to treat cannabis like alcohol and remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act. Though Paul has not cosponsored his other bills, Wydens package, known as the Path to Marijuana Reform, is the most comprehensive marijuana reform to date.

The two other bills are theThe Responsibly Addressing the Marijuana Policy Gap Act and theThe Marijuana Revenue and Regulation Act. However, the Marijuana Revenue and Regulation Act might not be popular because it puts a 25 percent federal excise tax on marijuana in addition to the state tax, though it does remove marijuana from Schedule One on the Controlled Substances Act.

The Responsibly Addressing the Marijuana Act Policy Gap Act, however, would remove federal penalties as described by the Huffington Post:

This would remove federal penalties for marijuana sale and possession in states that have legalized pot. It would also give marijuana businesses access to banking services, allow veterans to access state-legal medical marijuana and protect Native American tribes from federal punishment for marijuana sale and use.

Wyden called out Attorney General Jeff Sessions for his opposition to marijuana legalization and his desire to crack down on states where it is legalized.

Im particularly concerned because it appears that the attorney general wants to cherry-pick, apparently on the basis of some kind of whim, which states rights he likes and which ones he doesnt like, Wyden said to the Huffington Post.My sense is increasingly there are some in Washington, D.C., who say they favor states rights only to do so if they think the state is right.

RepresentativeEarl Blumenauer (D-OR) introduced the House equivalent and his bill to allow veterans access to medical marijuana in states where it is legal has five other sponsors including Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI) and Rep. Dana Rohrbacher (R-CA).

Attorney GeneralControlled Substances ActDonald TrumpJeff SessionsJustin Amashmarijuana legalizationmarijuana reformrand paulRon Wydenstates' rights

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Rand Paul Cosponsors Bill to Allow Marijuana Businesses to Claim Tax Credits and Deductions - The Libertarian Republic

Story highlights

On the Senate floor earlier this month, McCain accused Paul of "working for (Russian President) Vladimir Putin" when Paul objected to a resolution on allowing Montenegro to join NATO. Paul later fired back at McCain by saying the 80-year-old senator made "a really strong case for term limits." He added he was "past his prime" and "gotten a little bit unhinged."

Paul did not back down when asked about McCain on the Sean Hannity radio program.

"You know, I thought the old McCarthyism got kind of old," Paul said. "Calling people communists, calling people friends of Russia, I thought that was so 1950s. I really thought we're beyond that. I take it pretty seriously because when somebody in the Senate calls another senator basically a traitor to their country, you think that somebody ought to be rebuked for that?"

A McCain spokeswoman didn't immediately respond to Paul's comment.

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Sen. Rand Paul accuses John McCain of McCarthyism ...