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Sen. Rand Paul cut a six-figure check to the U.S. Treasury on Wednesday in an effort to do his part to put a tiny chip in the federal debt.
The Kentucky Republican returned $600,000 in funds he saved from his Senate office budget in the last year, the Louisville Courier-Journal reported.
“It’s the only budget I control,” Paul said at a news conference in Louisville. “It’s not enough, but it’s a start.”
The $600,000 — about 17 percent of his 3.5 million office budget — is on top of another $500,000 Paul returned to the Treasury last year, according to CNN. Paul said the total unspent money he’s returned to the federal government amounts to $1.1 million.
“We watch every purchase,” Paul said. “We watch what computers we buy, what paper we buy, the ink cartridges. We treat the money like it’s our money, or your money, and we look at every expenditure.”
The senator, a Tea Party favorite, noted, “We are frugal from top to bottom.”
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Comments (200)
M24
Feb. 21, 2013 at 1:12pmCopy That baddog, i feel the same way , My scars look like a road map ,But everyday is a good day,I refuse to surrender!!! SEMPER FI
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almaha01
Feb. 21, 2013 at 1:08pmThe guy holding the check sure is a handsome fella
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carollouise
Feb. 21, 2013 at 1:07pmI love that the liberals will always find a way to criticize this… lol. It’s laugable that they do.
The fact that this man RETURNED this amount of mney is amazing in and of itself. When was the last time you saw anyone in Washington ever do anything like this? I am 58 years old and nope, can’t think of ever one sigting! lol….My 58 year old eyes have never seen this before.
So I say hats off to you Senator Rand Paul. If you make a run, you have my vote. Thanks.
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carollouise
Feb. 21, 2013 at 1:09pmoops correction… I believe he did not return it, but just gave it to help.. Unbelievable. Thanks Rand!!!
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Johnny Cocheroo
Feb. 21, 2013 at 1:16pmMaybe this was a little tip of the hat to the fiscal conservatives.
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truth-seeker2020
Feb. 21, 2013 at 1:06pmGood job saving all this money, now this money can be used to pay for Obama’s next vacation.
I truly can’t see how putting money back in to the hands of a corrupt system can help. SORRY!
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BruceMajors
Feb. 21, 2013 at 2:03pmApparently Mrs. Paul doesn’t dine on lobster ravioli in Spain with her 40 closest friends.
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kat747
Feb. 21, 2013 at 1:04pmWhy doesn’t Sen. Paul get the Senate to make Barry put that $716 Billion Dollars back into the Medicare account.
Writing a check to the US Treasury for $600,000. ??? He has to be crazy….that money was most
likely transferred to Barry’s retirement account in the Caymans.
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heidihoneighbor
Feb. 21, 2013 at 1:04pmTThat is awesome. I wonder when others will follow suit.
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toledofan
Feb. 21, 2013 at 1:03pmI’d like to see a democrat do this, but, alas, you never will because they use every penny, waste as much as they can and always come back to ask for more. The MSM is probably saying under their breath what an idiot.
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pagraywolf
Feb. 21, 2013 at 1:00pmThank you, Senator Paul. Imagine what we could do if the majority of our representatives (local, state, federal) had your values re. spending our tax dollars.
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garbagecanlogic
Feb. 21, 2013 at 12:58pmIf this guy does not watch out – he is going to find himself running for president in “16!
Praise Be To Obama. Psalm 109:8
The U.N. Out Of The U.S.
The U.S. Out Of The U.N.
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Whatmeworry-never
Feb. 21, 2013 at 12:58pmToo bad that money will not go to pay down the debt but instead will be wasted on something totally insane and useless. This does show us how Rand would be responsible with our cash if he was President.
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moreteaplease
Feb. 21, 2013 at 12:56pmThat would buy quite a few Obama phones.
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Really2012
Feb. 21, 2013 at 12:55pmThis means a whole new round of Obama phones for some folks…
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65Mustang
Feb. 21, 2013 at 12:53pmI am proud of my Senator, I manned the phone banks for him.
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BruceMajors
Feb. 21, 2013 at 2:04pmThanks!
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kunman
Feb. 21, 2013 at 12:51pmI would like to see how many other Senators and Congressmen did the same thing. Can you answer that question, Blaze?
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The Third Archon
Feb. 21, 2013 at 12:49pmAm I supposed to be impressed by a Senator who isn’t worth 100% of what is spent on him returning 17% of a particular line item (i.e. his office budget)?
Because I’m not.
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wantsfreedom
Feb. 21, 2013 at 1:19pmwho cares what you think??
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Listen_then_think
Feb. 21, 2013 at 12:48pmRand putting his money where his mouth is. Do any of you flaming libs out there have one example of a dem / lib doing the same? Democrats don’t have honesty as a part of their life or mission statement.
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shofar
Feb. 21, 2013 at 12:47pmI’ve read the story about sequester, and I offer up an idea to the GOP members in both chambers. A GOP member needs to step forward and challenge the other members of their respective chambers to forgo any pay for the next year. If they want to protect those that are not in the “1%” group, make it so that anyone with a net worth of over $500,000 would be challenged to return their federal paycheck.
If every member of the House and Senate turned back what they got paid it would save the government approx. $90million for one year. If you exclude the approx. 190 members that have a net worth of less than $500K, it would still save approx. $60million.
Then challenge the President to do the same, and return his $400K p/yr salary to the Treasury.
Granted, this would be looked at as a “political stunt” but it would demonstrate to many Americans that those we have hired to SERVE us are willing to take a hit just like the rest of us have. It would also show the voting public who really thinks about and cares about the rest of the country.
I know there is no one in the GOP with the balls to make this challenge, but G-d it would make for some great political theater.
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matinva
Feb. 21, 2013 at 12:45pmGovernment has become nothing but one, giant scam at every level from local municipal to federal.
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jackbauer
Feb. 21, 2013 at 12:45pmThanks Sen. Paul. having some accountability to the tax payer.
I’m waiting on some of the “fat cats” in DC to return their salaries to the tax payer. Those that like to say the wealthy don’t pay their fair share and love to brag about being in the 1%. Hear me Obama, Pelosi, Clinton, Reed, etc. I’d say “Plugs Biden” but he’s but a piker compared to these others. Plugs could stop charging rent to the SS for staying in his pool house while protecting his arse.
And to the Republicans that have gotten fat in DC. Where’s your sense of public service and your lead by example, example.
Our country is being flushed down the drain and all of DC is bellying-up for an extra helping. Shape up or come home. The parties over!
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BruceMajors
Feb. 21, 2013 at 2:09pmFat ‘crats.
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Guerrino_P
Feb. 21, 2013 at 12:44pmNothing but a publicity stunt. The guy is a fraud and will never become president.
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katzkiner
Feb. 21, 2013 at 12:55pmThe Fraud in Chief made it twice. Goggle Dept of Energy loans. Obama has given billions to his supporters. Still is. If Jesse Jr. is going to jail, he should share a cell with Obama.
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Johnny Cocheroo
Feb. 21, 2013 at 1:03pmWell, take your pick.
A conservative guy that saves $500,000 from his budget or one of Obama’s publicity stunts.
It’s a step in the right direction & a pat on the pack is deserved.
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Guerrino_P
Feb. 21, 2013 at 1:05pm@KATZKINER
Did you take your meds today? They are all frauds. Accept it.
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BruceMajors
Feb. 21, 2013 at 2:07pmI’ll credit you as being something more than a troll when I see you attack someone who deserves it.
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zombiestopper
Feb. 21, 2013 at 12:40pmI applaud the Sen from KY for his efforts. Be sure the drive by idiot media will turn this into some kind of negative for sure. They will come up with some way to destroy a decent man trying to do the right thing.
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fgarvin
Feb. 21, 2013 at 12:39pmThe sad part about this story is that he is the exception. And that all the money he saved, The Prozac Ditz Pelosi will blow on an Airforce 1 ride this weekend. Oh well, someone in DC has to have class. Glad you’re there RAND.
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ILUVPORK
Feb. 21, 2013 at 12:37pmActions speak louder than words.Common sense rules. and Math does not lie! go Rand I only wish you could be cloned and replace everyone in washington!As a matter of fact lets fire all the representatives and have a one man government Rand for president and every state rep.!!!!!!!!
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Johnny Cocheroo
Feb. 21, 2013 at 12:36pmI would be willing to donate some of my discretionary funds in order to bring our debt back down if we actually had a budget and stopped deficit spending.
I think it would be an effort that many Americans would get behind. Something to work towards – but there is a greater chance that I will solve the riddle of time travel and will hence be crowned king of the world for my good deeds.
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Rand2016
Feb. 21, 2013 at 12:35pmAll of this talk about the sequester makes most Americans forget we’re not cutting anything, we’re just reducing the amount we expected to spend. This is actual savings. Sure seems like Rand is getting out there more, and I’d love to see him run in 2016.
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