Rand Paul

Other, 2015

Paul generally supports treatment over incarceration as the solution to the heroin epidemic. He also sponsored legislation to expand access to addiction-treating drugs. However, Paul came under fire in September 2015 after saying, "People always come up to me and say, 'We got heroin problems and all these other problems.' You know what? If you work all day long, you don't have time to do heroin."

Other, 2013

"A great education needs to be available for everyone, whether you live on country club lane or in government housing.

"This will only happen when we allow school choice for everyone, rich or poor, white, brown, or black.

"Let the taxes you pay for education follow each and every student to the school of your choice."

(Source: Huffington Post)

Other, 2013

Supports legal status, but not citizenship, for illegal/undocumented immigrants

Candidate's Facebook Page, 2015

"Any way you look at it, Common Core is an education nightmare come true -- and millions of Americans are flat-out fed up! I think it's time to get back to what worked: restoring control over education to parents, teachers and local school boards -- not Big Government bureaucrats in Washington, D.C."

Candidate's Website, 2015

"Gun control laws only restrict access to responsible gun ownership. High risk individuals will still be able to acquire firearms even with an increase in prevention. I do not support any proposed gun control law which would limit the right to gun ownership by those who are responsible, law-abiding citizens."

Candidate's Website, 2015

"In 46 states across the nation, a Balanced Budget Amendment (BBA) has been enacted in their state constitutions. I have long been a proponent of adopting the same principle for the Federal Government."

Other, 2015

"There is abundant evidence that carbon is increasing and has increased since the industrial age. All I ask for is that the solution has to be a balanced solution and that you have to account for jobs and jobs lost by regulation. And I'm not against regulation. I think the environment has been cleaned up dramatically through regulations on emissions as well as clean water over the last forty or fifty years. But I don't want to shut down all forms of energy such that thousands and thousands of people lose jobs. Plus we're a growing population and as we grow we need more energy and maybe cleaner energy will supplant less clean energy over time and it already is but I don't think that shutting down dramatically one form of energy is a good idea for an economy."

Candidate's Website, 2015

"So I am announcing an over $2 trillion tax cut that would repeal the entire IRS tax code-more than 70,000 pages-and replace it with a low, broad-based tax of 14.5% on individuals and businesses. I would eliminate nearly every special-interest loophole. The plan also eliminates the payroll tax on workers and several federal taxes outright, including gift and estate taxes, telephone taxes, and all duties and tariffs. I call this 'The Fair and Flat Tax.'"

Candidate's Website, 2015

"Since the inhumane acts of Planned Parenthood have surfaced, I have vowed to defeat and defund this taxpayer-funded organization. I am more appalled than ever by Planned Parenthood's complete disregard for the sanctity of human life. Today, I implemented Rule 14 and fast-tracked legislation to strip every dollar of Planned Parenthood funding. I will continue to lead this charge in defense of the unborn."

Other, 2015

Paul believes states that legalize marijuana should be allowed to do so

Other, 2015

Generally Paul opposes U.S. military interventions overseas. In a November 2015 interview with CNN he criticized U.S. airstrikes against ISIS unconstitutional because Congress has not declared war. He has not proposed a specific plan to combat the Islamic State (also known as ISIS, ISIL, and Daesh), but he said if Congress declared war he would only send large, overwhelming forces into battle. "I think if you're going to war, sending 50 people to war at a time is sort of a recipe for being surrounded and somehow having a disaster on their hands."

Candidate's Website, 2015

"My plan would also approve the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. I have consistently and repeatedly voted to allow this project to proceed. Rather than create thousands of new jobs, expand America's refining capacity, and strengthen our unique partnership with neighboring Canada, President Obama has elected instead to block any progress on building the Keystone XL, in stark contrast to the 'all-of-the-above' approach to energy production he claims to support."

Other, 2015

Paul supports increasing the voucher system for veteran health care. At a forum hosted by Concerned Veterans for America, Paul said, "If we decide we want VA hospitals, let's keep them for some of the specialized things: for burns, unfortunately for amputations, post-traumatic stress disorder, and some veterans' needs. But I think for routine care, if you live an hour and a half from the VA and... need a routine colonoscopy, you ought to just be able to get it in your local town."

Candidate's Website, 2015

"So I am announcing an over $2 trillion tax cut that would repeal the entire IRS tax code-more than 70,000 pages-and replace it with a low, broad-based tax of 14.5% on individuals and businesses. I would eliminate nearly every special-interest loophole. The plan also eliminates the payroll tax on workers and several federal taxes outright, including gift and estate taxes, telephone taxes, and all duties and tariffs. I call this 'The Fair and Flat Tax.'"

Other, 2014

"It is unconscionable that government would facilitate the taking of innocent life. I have stated many times that I will always support legislation that would end abortion or lead us in the direction of ending abortion."

Other, 2015

"Most crimes are adjudicated at the state level and should be, so there really are almost no crimes at the federal level really under the Constitution that would require the death penalty - I think treason being one. It isn't a big issue, I think as far as a change in federal policy, and I would leave it for the most part to the states."

Candidate's Website, 2010

Wants more transparency of NSA surveillance. Opposes the PATRIOT Act.

"Whether it's passing the 315 page Patriot Act without a single member of Congress ever reading the bill, proposing a National ID Card, establishing FISA courts and utilizing warrantless searches, or betraying the medical privacy of ordinary citizens, the Federal Government has overstepped its limited powers as stipulated in the Constitution."

Other, 2011

"I promise we won't do anything to change benefits for those currently receiving Social Security. But we have the baby boomers getting ready to retire; subsequently doubling the amount of people already dependent on an unsustainable system. To just say we're going to keep borrowing more money simply will not work. We must reform the program for younger Americans, including adjusting eligibility requirements. To sustain our current system, we may need to raise the retirement age for future generations." ("The Tea Party Goes to Washington" by Rand Paul)

Other, 2015

"No bank in Kentucky failed during this crisis, yet Dodd-Frank pummeled our small community banks with crippling regulations."

Other, 2013

Believes states should be the ones to decide on same-sex marriage, not federal government.

"You know, I think it's a really complicated issue. I've always said that the states have a right to decide. I do believe in traditional marriage, Kentucky has decided it, and I don't think the federal government should tell us otherwise. There are states that have decided in the opposite fashion, and I don't think the federal government should tell anybody or any state government how they should decide this. Marriage has been a state issue for hundreds and hundreds of years.

"DOMA is complicated, though, because DOMA does provide protection for the states from the federal government. But, then, you're right, part of it federalizes the issue.

"I think there's a chance the court could strike down the federalization part of it. If they do, I think the way to fix it is maybe to try to make all of our laws more neutral towards the issue, and, I don't want the government promoting something I don't believe in. But I also don't mind if the government tries to be neutral on the issue. You know, the tax code, I'm for a flat income tax and we wouldn't have marriage as part of the tax code. Health insurance, I think there is a way to write it where it would be neutral and you wouldn't bring marriage into the whole idea of health insurance."

Other, 2014

"I don't think there's a problem with showing your ID, but I do think there's a problem with Republicans saying, 'Hey, our big issue for the campaign is going to be voter ID.'"

Other, 2015

"I think the student loan bubble is looming. There is going to be a big problem if we ever get to the point where it is finally discovered that education costs have run so much, the return on investment isn't growing nearly as fast -- and people are already discovering, they are getting out of college, and the salaries they anticipated aren't there but the loans are there. I would consider going to school a business expense, so I would make the whole thing deductible. I would make the interest deductible, I would make the principle deductible, and I would let anybody do it."

Other, 2015

Rand Paul voted against the TPA legislation that would have enabled TPP, but he said he might still support TPP after he reads it. "I'm not saying there wouldn't be a time I could be for it, if I'd seen the trade agreement, and it's fine."

Other, 2015

Opposes Obama administration's nuclear deal with Iran, but not opposed to negotiating with Iran

(Source: Fox News, "Republican presidential primary debate")