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Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky thrashed GOP leadership Tuesday for failing to repeal Obamacare.

President Donald Trump and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan were forced to pull the American Health Care Act just hours before it was slated to go up for a vote on the House floor Friday, as House conservatives joined their Democratic colleagues in staunch opposition to the legislation. (RELATED: Who Do Trump Supporters Blame For The Failure To Repeal Obamacare?)

Paul appeared Wednesday on Fox News to talk about the recent GOP repeal effort, and his comments over the past few weeks disparaging the presidents and speakers proposal to dismantle Obamacare. The senator does not believe his recent vocal opposition, which somewhat mimics the language used by the House Freedom Caucus, means he is no longer loyal to the Republican Party.

I think loyalty and fidelity are very important. But I think our loyalty should be to the oath to uphold the Constitution as conservatives, to believe in fiscal conservatism, federalism, that most power should remain with the states and the people, Paul said. I think you will find the freedom caucus to be among the most honorable and principled men and women and Congress. I dont think theres a question of loyalty when we are talking about principle.

Despite a rocky roll out and a failed first attempt, Paul still sees an avenue towards health care reform. I think theres a way out of this, though. The house leadership bit off more than they can chew, Paul said. Instead of trying to push a bill through Congress that does little to satisfy both hard-line Democrats and conservatives, the senator proposes putting something more bland and moderate before members to start a negotiation process.

What if we start with a modest bill, a bell that has very little and it, except for what everyone agrees, every Republican agrees, then, build from there? I think that approach would work better, Paul said.

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Rand Paul: GOP Leadership 'Bit Off More Than They Could Chew' With Health Care - Daily Caller

Once again, Rand Paul (R-KY) of Kentucky stood alone on the Senate floor to argue his case against adding the country of Montenegro to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, citing concerns that Americans would once again have to fit the bill for a country a world away.

The Senate voted on Monday97-2 to approve admitting the European country into NATOwith virtually no debate.

Paul was the only one to voice a contrary opinion, giving a 16-minute monologueon the matter, warning of the dangers of making promises to foreign countries and upholding the controversialArticle V section of the NATO agreements.

"Our unrestricted, un-voted upon involvement in war everywhere informs my opposition to expanding NATO," Paul said. "Everyone likes to talk about NATO's Article V obligation -- to come to the defense of any NATO ally that is attacked. That is in the treaty. If Montenegro is attacked, we will have to respond," he warned.

Paul argued that some inCongress believe that Article V of the international order supersedes the Constitution when it comes to declaring war.

Also,members of NATO very rarely pay their dues. Each member country is expected to contribute 2 percent of their annual GDP. Since the early 2000s, the U.S. hasroutinely contributed3 to 5 percent of its GDP to NATO while major countries such asFrance (1.78 percent), Germany (1.19), Italy (1.11) and Canada (.99) fall well short.

Therefore, will Congress expect Montenegro to pay their fair share?

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Rand Paul Warns of Adding Montenegro to NATO: Another Commitment to Another Foreign Country - Townhall

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

Story highlights

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

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)