Washington DC (Washington Insider Magazine) — Randal Howard Paul is an American physician and politician. Since 2011, he has served as the junior United States senator from Kentucky. He is the son of Ron Paul, the former three-time presidential candidate and a 12-term representative from Texas. In addition to supporting the Tea Party movement, Paul describes himself as a constitutional conservative.
Early Life
Rand Paul was born on January 7, 1963, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Ron and Carol (Wells) Paul on January 7, 1963. He is the middle child of five siblings; Ronald “Ronnie” Jr., Lori, Robert, and Joy Paul-LeBlanc. In his teen years, he was baptized an Episcopalian and considered himself a practicing Christian.
His name comes not from Ayn Rand as one might suppose but from his nickname “Randy” which was shortened by his wife to “Rand”. The family moved to Lake Jackson, Texas in 1968 for Ron’s medical practice of obstetrics in Brazoria County.
Paul graduated from Baylor University and later went to Duke University School of Medicine. He was practicing medical doctor (ophthalmology) in Bowling Green, Kentucky
During Rand’s teenage years, he studied Austrian economists who his father respected and Objectivist Ayn Rand’s writings. In 1976 when Rand was 13, his dad was elected to Congress. At the same time, Rand attended the Republican Convention where Ron headed Ronald Reagan’s Texas delegation.
That summer he interned in his father’s office and soon thereafter he joined the Baylor University honors program. He participated in swimming and the Young Conservatives of Texas club, as well as a secret society, is known for its humor -the NoZe Brotherhood. Rand wrote articles for The Baylor Lariat student newspaper. Without finishing at Baylor, he got into Duke University
Political Activism
Paul was the head of the Young Conservatives of Texas chapter at Baylor University. He took a semester off in 1984 to help his father run for the Republican Senate nominee seat. When he was attending Duke Medical School, Paul lent his assistance to his dad’s 1988 Libertarian presidential campaign. As President Bush had not kept his promise of not raising taxes, Paul established the North Carolina Taxpayers Union in 1991 and Kentucky Taxpayers United (KTU) in 1994.
He was the chairperson of KTU right from its start. Through KTU, Paul analyzed legislature records on taxes and expenses and urged them to swear they would vote against tax augmentations. In 1996, he managed his father’s efficient congressional race where he regained the House seat following a 12-year break. Despite backing from NRCC and leaders such as Newt Gingrich and George W. Bush, Greg Laughlin was defeated by Paul Sr., in the Republican primary match.
Paul and Freedom Works jointly filed a lawsuit in February 2014, alleging that the federal government’s collection of phone records metadata violates the Fourth Amendment. At a press conference, Paul voiced his frustration with such protocols. He stated that he was not against spying or examination of phone records – rather he wanted individuals to be identified by a judge before any action.
Critics argued this was merely a political “stunt” whereas Paul maintained there was no evidence the surveillance had prevented terrorism from occurring. The names of those who signed up on Paul’s websites as potential class-action participants are kept in an organizational database. They could be used for future campaign use.
US Senate
Paul has consistently and vocally been against U.S. involvement in the Libyan Civil War, as well as critical of President Obama for not obtaining Congressional approval before Operation Odyssey Dawn. During the debt ceiling crisis, Paul sought to only raise the limit if a balanced budget amendment was also implemented. He supported the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act despite it ultimately being blocked by Democratic leaders.
On August 3 Paul voted against raising the debt ceiling, and he called for a vote of no confidence in US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on September 7th. By October he was objecting to legislation related to oil and gas pipeline safety rules, believing it was not strict enough. Additionally, he blocked the offering of $36 million in benefits for elderly and disabled refugees due to his fear that this money may be used to fund domestic terrorists
This was prompted by two individuals who had entered America through refugee programs being arrested in Bowling Green allegedly as terrorists and receiving welfare payments. Only when Democratic officials agreed to open an inquiry into how refugee applicants are chosen. He investigated how these alleged terrorists were admitted via refugee programs did Paul agree to pass this bill.
Affordable Care Act Appeal
On January 25, 2017, Paul introduced a bill to replace the Affordable Care Act– one that included a tax credit of $5,000 for each person. He excluded the requirement that everyone have coverage, unlike Obamacare. On March 2, he marched to the House of Representatives side of Capitol Hill and was filmed as he knocked on a door while demanding to see their copy of the bill. Rand Paul then spoke with President Trump over the phone on March 6.
He told him that repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act should be two separate bills. Two days later, Paul declared Republicans were united in repelling the law but divided in their views on its replacement.
On March 12, he accused House Speaker Paul Ryan of not being truthful about backers of the American Health Care Act of 2017. Three days later further emphasized his opinion by claiming Ryan had “sold” Trump “a bill of goods” without explaining it fully to him.
After Republican leaders pulled the bill from voting consideration on March 24, Paul thanked conservative members for rising “against ObamaCare Lite.” Finally, he golfed with Trump and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney at the Trump National Golf Club in Virginia two weeks later and discussed various topics including healthcare.
Personal Life
In 1990, Paul married Kelley Paul (née Ashby), who is a freelance writer. They have three sons, William (born in 1992), Duncan, and Robert. In addition to attending the University of Kentucky, William, and Duncan attended a private school in Washington, D.C. The couple lives in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Previously, they were members of the Presbyterian church but have recently joined the United Methodist church.
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Net Worth
Rand Paul estimated net worth is USD 31 Million. He received over $20 million through inheritance from his family. Paul earns a senatorial salary is 174,000 per year.