Sen. Paul Appears on Fox #39;s The Kelly File- December 2, 2014
Sen. Rand Paul appears on Fox News Channel #39;s The Kelly File to discuss executive amnesty and the future of the Republican party.
By: SenatorRandPaul
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Sen. Paul Appears on Fox's The Kelly File- December 2, 2014 - Video
WASHINGTON -- Silicon Valley companies want strong rules to protect net neutrality, but Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), a likely GOP presidential contender who is vying to be seen as tech-friendly, is not in their corner.
When asked by The Huffington Post on Tuesday morning whether he has concerns about a plan backed by President Barack Obama, which would reclassify the Internet as a utility and ban companies from charging for better Internet access, Paul said, "Yeah, I don't want to see regulation of the Internet. I think it's the wrong way to go about it."
The Federal Communications Commission is currently weighing net neutrality proposals, including the one supported by the president and much of the public that would reclassify consumer broadband under Title II of the Telecommunications Act. Telecom and cable companies oppose this plan, because they favor less government regulation. Net neutrality advocates argue that without regulation, these companies will force content providers to pay for faster Internet access, a move that would stifle innovation.
When Obama announced his plan last month, prominent Republicans were eager to slam it. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) called it "Obamacare for the Internet." House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said, "Net neutrality is a textbook example of the kind of Washington regulations that destroy innovation and entrepreneurship." Paul did not issue a statement or tweet about the plan, instead remaining fairly quiet on the issue.
But Paul has a history of opposing net neutrality, and his aversion to reclassifying the Internet as a utility is consistent with that. In 2011, he co-sponsored a bill to repeal net neutrality regulations adopted by the FCC. The next year, BuzzFeed reported that Paul backed an online manifesto that sought to block government net neutrality rules.
Net neutrality advocates fear that without FCC regulation, digital monopolies will develop, as big companies charge for Internet access. Paul said, "I don't like monopolies, but I also don't like monopolies where the government gives the monopoly. For example, in many cities, there's a virtual monopoly on cable."
He pointed out, "I think if there's evidence that someone has a monopoly, let's take away government privilege that creates the monopoly."
Marvin Ammori, a lawyer who works for tech companies and backs net neutrality, said Paul is right that cable companies have virtual monopolies. But, he said, "the economics of this market make competition unlikely without some government support."
He added, "Thanks for working on dismantling the monopoly, but we need rules until then at least."
For now, Paul's position on net neutrality is not likely to be popular with many techies. The Internet Association -- which includes Google, Amazon, Facebook and Yahoo -- expressed support for Obama's proposal. And Paul has diverged from Silicon Valley on other issues it cares about, too. Last month, he was credited with helping kill the USA Freedom Act, a bill intended to reform the surveillance practices of the National Security Agency. He said he voted against it because it didn't go far enough.
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Rand Paul Opposes Net Neutrality Rules: 'I Don't Want To ...
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. (Andrew A. Nelles, AP)
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Rand Paul announced Tuesday hes running for office in 2016, but its not the one presidential watchers were expecting.
The Republican said in a news release that hesseeking re-election to the Senate from Kentucky. Paul will decide sometime this spring whether hell also run for the White House, according to Doug Stafford, a senior adviser to the senator.
Paul, who is at the top of some early polls for the GOP presidential nomination, has said previously he will not be deterred by a Kentucky law that prohibits candidates from appearing more than once on the ballot.
Republicans in Kentuckys Legislature tried unsuccessfully in the past session to change the law so candidates can run simultaneously for two federal offices as states such as Texas already do. The measure passed the GOP-controlled state Senate but did not go anywhere in the Democratic-controlled state House.
Stafford told reporters during a conference call there are many options available to Paul if he decides to run for president, including a court challenge. In an interview with Salon in November, Paul suggested a state nominating convention would mean he would not be on the ballot twice.
The senator also toldSalonthere should be an equal playing field across the states when it comes to running for president. TheConstitution set the requirements for eligibility for office that states cant modify for federal office; they can modify for state office, but I think thats actually a case that could be won, but its also just a fairness issue, he said.
In Pauls Senate re-election news release, GOP leaderMitch McConnell and all Republicans in Kentuckys congressional delegation endorsed their colleagues bid for a second term. McConnell, who is set to become majority leader in January, called Paul an irreplaceable partner and hailed him for his innovative mind for conservative reforms that create jobs and get the economy working again.
Paul also discussed his legislative record in Kentucky on issues such as industrial hemp as well as national ones like economic freedom zones. I ran for office because,like many Kentuckians, I was alarmed at the problems facing our country, he said, citing the economy, a disastrous health care plan and a misguided foreign policy. Paul said he wants to continue together in the task of repairing and revitalizing our great nation.
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Rand Paul running for Senate and maybe president in 2016 ...
By Sara Fischer, CNN
updated 7:38 PM EST, Thu December 4, 2014
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Washington (CNN) -- Republican Sen. Rand Paul could face a brutal battle against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a Democrat, in the 2016 battle for the presidency. But on Thursday, the Kentucky senator extended his potential rival an olive branch.
"We would welcome Hillary Clinton (to help reform the criminal justice system), if she would like to come and help us promote this agenda," Paul told Wolf Blitzer on CNN's "The Situation Room." "I've been working with Sen. Cory Booker and other Democrats. If she wants to join me, we would welcome her support."
Earlier this year, Paul joined forces with Attorney General Eric Holder, to re-examine the way law enforcement sentences people convicted of nonviolent drug offenses.
In light of the recent verdict not to indict a white police officer in the chokehold death of an unarmed black man, Eric Garner, Paul said he is "shocked" that no statement has been delivered from the Staten Island police about whether the bystanding officers involved in the incident will continue to serve.
"I really think to calm down the reaction to this, one thing that could happen is for the police could say, 'This is unacceptable for a policeman and we can't have this type of an individual on the police force,'" Paul said.
Asked about comments he made Wednesday where he blamed the politician who created New York's high cigarette tax for Garner's death, Paul said the black market created by heavy taxation and regulation -- whether it be food, drugs or cigarettes -- forces police officers to arrest people for mostly menial, non-offensive crimes. Garner was arrested for selling tax-free cigarettes.
"There's a black market because we have made the price of cigarettes so onerous that people are going to sell it illegally," Paul said. "I don't think it's justified what the police did but I also think it's bad policy that puts the police in an untenable position. ...So I think politicians are responsible for creating a situation and putting police in an untenable situation."
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Rand Paul would team up with Hillary Clinton
By Humberto Sanchez and Niels Lesniewski Posted at 2:11 p.m. on Dec. 4, 2014
Paul wants an ISIS vote. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
Sen. Rand Paul scored a victory Thursday in forcing an end-of-session debate on authorizing force against Islamic State militants.
The Kentucky Republican, and potential 2016 presidential candidate, used a legislative gambit to press the issue which the Obama administration has been reluctant to specifically engage with Congress on. Paul first tried to attach a Declaration of War against the terror group also known as ISIS or ISIL to an unrelated water bill at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Paul agreed to refrain from offering his amendment after the panel scheduled a Monday hearing on the issue, where Secretary of State John Kerry may testify. The hearing will be followed by a classified briefing, with a markup and vote on an Authorization for the Use of Military Forceon Wednesday.
I think the most important responsibility of a legislator is to vote yay or nay on whether or not we are sending our young men and women to war and I think we have been derelict in that duty. The president, I think in his arrogance has assumed he doesnt even need to ask, Paul said when leaving the markup meeting. Today we forced the issue and next week weve been promised a hearing on this as well as a vote on this and I am satisfied with that.
There was scant public notice of Pauls intentions, and the venue for the ordinarily routine business meeting (the committees ornate room on the first floor of the Capitol) wasnt particularly hospitable to reporters. But the effect of Pauls actions were clear, even if his amendment is unlikely to have enough support to advance.
Outgoing Foreign Relations Chairman Robert Menendez, D-N.J., who also has been pushing for a new AUMF, was expected to offer his own authorization as a substitute to the Paul war declaration amendment. But with Paul standing down, Menendez too held back.
Paul had the procedural backing of panel member Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., who has long advocated for adopting a new use-of-force resolution. Kaine said was eager to have the debate, but added that he does not agree with Paul about formally declaring war against a non-state actor such as ISIS.
I talked to Sen. Paul last week about his intention to file his amendment. I said Go for it, that would be great. We need to be banging the drum about making this happen. We have looked at every venue to try to force a hearing on this, to force the administration to come up and justify their position and do an AUMF, the Virginia Democrat told CQ Roll Call. Weve looked at the [defense authorization]. Weve looked at the likely omnibus that will come next week.
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Paul Gambit Poised to Force Vote on ISIS (Video)