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On the Senate floor earlier this month, McCain accused Paul of "working for (Russian President) Vladimir Putin" when Paul objected to a resolution on allowing Montenegro to join NATO. Paul later fired back at McCain by saying the 80-year-old senator made "a really strong case for term limits." He added he was "past his prime" and "gotten a little bit unhinged."

Paul did not back down when asked about McCain on the Sean Hannity radio program.

"You know, I thought the old McCarthyism got kind of old," Paul said. "Calling people communists, calling people friends of Russia, I thought that was so 1950s. I really thought we're beyond that. I take it pretty seriously because when somebody in the Senate calls another senator basically a traitor to their country, you think that somebody ought to be rebuked for that?"

A McCain spokeswoman didn't immediately respond to Paul's comment.

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Sen. Rand Paul accuses John McCain of McCarthyism - CNN

A handful of southern Kentucky activists rallied at the Bowling Green office of U.S. Senator Rand Paul in support of a national campaign to urge the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to establish an independent investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Rand Paul is a member of that committee.

Bowling Green resident Peter Zielinski said he used to be more politically conservative, but he attended the March 28 rally because he has concerns aboutnational leaders appointed by President Trump.

The history of many of the appointees is at least suspect, said Zielinski. There is a preponderance of people with ties to Russia and foreign governments and thats just the tip of what we know, at this point. We dont know the whole truth and we should know the whole truth.

A spokeswoman for Senator Paul said he was in Washington, D.C. on the day of the Bowling Green rally, but was glad to receive the letter from the local group and will review it.

Bowling Green retired teacher Claudia Hanes adapted a song from the musicalLes Miserablesfor the rally. Some of the lyrics were, Do you hear the people sing, singing the song of angry men? It is the music of a people who will not vote for you again."

Hanes said there are many questions about members of the Trump administration and their ties to Russia, and she wants answers.

Our rally is to convince Rand Paul to be part of the movement to get an independent commission to investigate thoroughly what happened and if nothing else, to see that it never happens again.

The rally was part of national campaign to deliver a similar message to all members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

2017 WKU Public Radio

Read more here:
Activists Rally to Urge Rand Paul to Support an Independent Investigation into Russian Influence - WKMS

Sen. Rand PaulRand PaulThe Hill's 12:30 Report This week: GOP picks up the pieces after healthcare defeat Trump, GOP fumble chance to govern MORE (R-Ky.) says Vice President Pence should oversee the Senate's debate on the GOP healthcare plan, pitching the idea as a solution to end the current stalemate in the House over replacing ObamaCare.

Paul suggested that a "firm commitment" that Pence would preside over the Senate and be the one making decisions about what can be included in the bill would help reassure conservative House members that their changes won't be stripped out by the Senate's parliamentarian.

Paul, speaking to reporters about what could help the House reach a deal, responded, "If President Trump and Vice President Pence made a public declaration that they are willing to make the vice president sit in the chair and have the vice president make the judgment on what is allowable under Senate rules."

"Are we going to let the parliamentarian decide what should be in the bill or are we going to let the vice president?" Paul questioned during a call with reporters.

The vice president is also president of the Senate, though in modern times, the incumbent has rarely filled that role except to break tied votes in the chamber.

House Republicans postponed a vote Thursday on their bill, a major setback for Trump and Speaker Paul RyanPaul RyanTrump approval hits new low Conservatism's worst enemy? The Freedom Caucus. Newsmax CEO: 'Trump still the winner after Ryan plan fails' MORE (R-Wis.), who have been working to wrangle votes and exploring ways to secure conservative backing.

Conservatives argue that Pence can decide what is and what isnt eligible under the special budget reconciliation process, which allows Republicans to pass legislation with a simple majority.

Asked if he and the Freedom Caucus had been making that demand during their meetings with the White House, Paul declined to speak for House lawmakers but said that "it's been part of the discussions when I've been in the room."

Paul signaled that he was concerned that if conservatives included a repeal of ObamaCare's insurance mandates in the House bill that the Senate parliamentarian will strip them from the bill because of the Byrd Rule.

To pass muster under the Byrd Rule, legislation using the reconciliation process must be primarily focused on addressing the deficit, which is why only provisions that have a budgetary impact may be included.

GOP senators said this week that they are already working with the parliamentarian to make sure their amendments comply with the rule and will be eligible to be included in the repeal and replace legislation.

Senate GOP leaders are also warning against expanding the House healthcare bill too broadly.

Asked about Pence or even the parliamentarian ignoring the Byrd Rule, Sen. John CornynJohn CornynThis week: GOP picks up the pieces after healthcare defeat GOP senators pitch alternatives after House pulls ObamaCare repeal bill Rand Paul takes victory lap on GOP health bill MORE (R-Texas) downplayed the chances of that happening.

"I'm deeply skeptical of that because the Byrd Rule is not just a precedent, it's not just a rule of the Senate, it's a law. ... What we need to do is spend our energy and time trying to build consensus around something that can pass," he said.

Asked if House conservatives should stop pitching changes that could go against the Senate's Byrd Rule, he replied, "The House doesn't take advice from the Senate."

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Paul: Pence should oversee Senate ObamaCare repeal votes - The Hill (blog)

Sen. Rand PaulRand PaulTrump, GOP fumble chance to govern GOP senators pitch alternatives after House pulls ObamaCare repeal bill Rand Paul takes victory lap on GOP health bill MORE (R-Ky.) quickly declared victory on Friday, praising conservatives for "standing up against ObamaCare Lite."

I applaud House conservatives for keeping their word to the American people, Paul said in a statement.

Republican leaders pulled their bill to repeal and replace ObamaCare on Friday afternoon, acknowledging that it was headed toward defeat.

Paul who has been a top antagonist of the House bill added that "I look forward to passing full repeal of ObamaCare in the very near future.

Paul and other House conservatives have offered an alternative repeal bill that mirrors 2015 legislation cleared by Congress but vetoed by then-President Barack ObamaBarack ObamaPence: Trump 'won't rest' until ObamaCare repealed Christie: No evidence Trump was spied on Pence pushes Manchin in home state to support Gorsuch MORE.

GOP lawmakers haven't signaled that they are preparing to take up another healthcare bill, instead telling reporters that they didn't have a plan B.

"I have no idea because we have not discussed a plan B," Rep. Mark Walker (R-N.C.) told reporters.

Senate leadership also signaled this week that they weren't preparing a backup plan if the House couldn't pass its repeal and replace bill.

"I'm not aware of any backup plan," Sen. John CornynJohn CornynGOP senators pitch alternatives after House pulls ObamaCare repeal bill Rand Paul takes victory lap on GOP health bill Senators push Trump on defense deals with India MORE (Texas), the Senate's No. 2 Republican, told The Hill. "I think our plan B is the same as our plan A."

The Senate will focus on Neil Gorsuch's Supreme Court nomination ahead of a two-week recess, and lawmakers are expected to focus on avoiding a government shutdown once they return.

President Trump told The Washington Post on Friday afternoon that he is moving on from healthcare after the House GOP pulled its bill.

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Rand Paul takes victory lap on GOP health bill - The Hill (blog)

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., isn't ready to give up yet on repealing and replacing Obamacare after the House GOP pulled the American Health Care Act from a vote on Friday, despite President Trump's insisting that his administration is moving on to tax reform.

"I think legislators can walk and chew gum hopefully at the same time, so why don't we do both? Why don't we set up a special committee," Paul told Fox News fill-in host Eric Bolling on "The O'Reilly Factor" Friday evening.

Paul, who was an ally to the House Freedom Caucus in their holdout over the Obamacare replacement bill, said the Trump administration should host the group, as well as House and Senate leadership at the White House and begin a "continuing conversation" about overturning the Affordable Care Act. Trump had met with members of the HFC multiple times during the past few days in the run-up to the expected vote.

"It doesn't have to be at the breakneck pace that it has been the last three days, but let's keep talking about it until we work it out," Paul said. "If we are going to talk about taxes simultaneously and move legislatively to that before we have the answer, so be it. But you can work both tracks, and whichever one comes to a resolution first, bring it to the floor for a vote."

Paul, a physician by trade, said he still has a "great deal of optimism" that the GOP-controlled House and Senate will repeal Obamacare and can work out the replacement aspect.

"I think that President Trump's been very open too many of our ideas. I just think we didn't have enough time and we set an artificial deadline and instead of saying we're going to work until we finally get this. I don't see a reason why we can't work next week, the week after, the week after, but we should work on repealing Obamacare and I'm going to continue to be for that as well as replacing it," added Paul.

In the interim, Paul said he is urging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to take up legislation that would let people join buying groups or co-ops.

Paul added that Senate Democrats should support that policy because it would give consumers better drug and insurance prices.

Also from the Washington Examiner

In multiple cases, the pro-Trump ralliers were confronted by anti-Trump demonstrations.

03/25/17 7:04 PM

Original post:
Sen. Rand Paul: GOP can do tax reform, Obamacare repeal simultaneously - Washington Examiner