Rand Paul Pushes Immediate Half-Trillion in Spending Cuts

CNN's Wolf Blitzer seemed baffled Thursday afternoon as Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., proposed to cut government spending by $500 billion -- a notion that necessarily means cutting some public sector jobs.

How could you cut peoples' jobs? Blitzer wondered aloud.

Additionally, Paul suggested cutting U.S. foreign aid, including aid to Israel.  "It's an interesting dance, avoiding seeming critical of Israel (which he refused to do), yet still doing the one thing that people who get upset at those who are critical of Israel want the least out of a U.S. politician: cutting off U.S. support," Reason's Brian Doherty observed.

Unlike many proposals to cut spending floating around on Capitol Hill these days, Paul's stands out because of his plan to cut spending during FY 2011.  To be blunt, the Kentucky tea party favorite wants to cut funding immediately.

TPM also notes that Paul's plan is like a thorn in many Democrats' sides as he proposes completely de-funding liberal favorites such as the Affordable Housing Program, the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Also on Paul's chopping bloc for significant cuts: the Consumer Product Safety Commission (de-funded); the Department of Energy (de-funded); the Department of Health and Human Services (cut $26.5 billion); the Department of Defense (cut $47 billion) ; and the Department of Education (de-funded).

Click here to view Sen. Rand Paul's bill.