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Rand Paul, right, believes hed be better at expanding the Republican Party than Ted Cruz.

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) Rand Paul said he would be better at expanding the Republican Party than Ted Cruz.

Paul, the Kentucky senator, was reacting Monday night to Cruzs announcement he will run for president. We kind of come from the same wing of the party, Paul said on Fox News, as quoted by the Hill. What makes us different is probably our approach to how we can make the party biggerIt isnt just about rousing a base, said Paul. Paul is expected to announce his own bid for the Republican nomination in two weeks.

Clinton tests themes: Hillary Clinton on Monday tested two themes likely to shape her pitch to voters in the 2016 presidential campaign: the need to combat economic inequality and the value of working together. In an appearance at the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank, Clinton emphasized the value of leaders working together. Her advisers, according to The Wall Street Journal, said that will certainly be one of her core themes as a presidential candidate. Clinton didnt put blame on either party, but her words could be read as a critique of both President Barack Obama and congressional Republicans.

Two budgets: House Republicans will pursue the risky strategy of holdingtwo separate floor votes on the GOP budget blueprint Wednesday, the Hill writes. The idea is to resolve a disagreement over defense spending and go to conference with the Senate. At issue is paying for extra defense spending: One version requires spending offsets; the other does not. The budget that gets the highest number of affirmative votes will be considered the final adopted version.

Health spending clash: House Republicans, meanwhile, cant look to Democrats for support in passing their budget. Democrats called a major GOP effort to privatize Medicare a non-starter on Monday. The Washington Examiner writes the full-throated defense of Medicare could complicate Republicans efforts to pass their own budget. House Democrats own budget avoids steep spending cuts to both Medicare and Medicaid.

The next Nancy Pelosi: Nancy Pelosi is shopping for a new successor, Politico writes. The California Democrat had a favored recruit in Rep. Chris Van Hollen, but his decision to run for Senate has opened a power vacuum in the House Democratic caucus. Pelosi hasnt signaled she is relinquishing her reign as House Democratic leader soon. But Van Hollens exit means more than a dozen members who have languished on the second and third tiers of influence can begin jockeying for promotions.

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Capitol Report: Rand Paul makes his case against Ted Cruz