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[Editors note:Kevin Folta is amolecular biologist and chair of the horticultural sciences department at the University of Florida.]

Senator [Rand] Paul just placed his waste sticker on a gem of a project. He literally trashed aNational Science Foundation (NSF)-funded project that is rapidly resolving the genes associated with tomato metabolites as one of the egregious examples of waste in the U.S. government.In short, he took a barely-surfacy-cursory glimpse at NSFs carefully-refereed investment and unilaterally decided it was a frivolous waste of taxpayer funds.

Rand Paul

He then fabricated a sadly snarky response, ignoring science and evidence for a quick political dig. He saw a few buzzwords that he could toss into the science-funding fray, and score a few points as a hero on waste patrol.

But is he a budget hero if the work he calls a waste actually is an amazing investment?

Better tasting tomatoes spur more consumption, and a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables has been shown to be associated with long-term health. At a time of escalating health care costs, something as simple as a tastier tomato may translate into massive government savings. One chronic illness can easily cost the same as this entire grant.

The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion, and analysis. Read full, original post:Senator Paul- Make Tomatoes Great Again

For more background on the Genetic Literacy Project, read GLP on Wikipedia

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Rotten tomato: Senator Rand Paul misses mark targeting tastier tomatoes as wasteful research - Genetic Literacy Project

As new allegations arise regarding Russia and the 2016 presidential election, organizations such as Common Cause demanding an independent investigation.

On Wednesday, local Common Cause volunteers delivered a petition to Senator Rand Paul's office, signed by his constituents, demanding an independent commission investigation.

Common Cause volunteer Roger Givens says he urges Sen. Paul to support the formation of an independent investigation.

"We feel it has to be a nonpartisan because there are too many politicians putting [their] party before [the] people," says Givens. "Therefore, we are wanting an independent investigation to get to the bottom of it and find the truth".

Common Cause is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to upholding the core values of American democracy.

"We work to create open, honest, and accountable government that serves the public interest; promote equal rights, opportunity and representation for all; and empower all people to make their voices heard in the political process," reads the organizations webpage. "In this spirit, Common Cause serves as an independent voice for change and a watchdog against corruption and abuse of power".

As the congressional recess continues, Givens says similar petitions are being delivered to members of Congress across the country.

"This isn't just a Bowling Green thing," says Givens. "There are events like this taking place all over the U.S. today, delivering petitions while senators are on their break".

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Volunteers deliver petition to Sen. Rand Paul's office demanding ... - WBKO

Sen. Rand Paul has come out against President Donald Trumps decision to attack Syria on Thursday, calling it unconstitutional.

The president really doesnt have the authority under the constitution to initiate war, Paul said during an interview on Fox Business on Friday.

The U.S. military launched the surprise airstrike on a Syrian airfield Thursday evening. The move came in response to a chemical weapons attack on civilians the administration believes was launched by the countrys embattled leader, Bashar Assad, and killed dozens of people.

The U.S. has conducted airstrikes against the Islamic State in Syria since 2014, but Thursdays is the first against the Syrian government.

Paul has long spoken out against the U.S. taking military action in Syria and the Middle East. On Friday, he warned that the attack could strain relations with Russia, a close ally of Syrias.

The ramifications could be extreme they may not but there is a great danger in bumping up against another nuclear power, Paul said.

U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican representing northern and eastern Kentucky, also voiced opposition to Trumps attack, via Twitter.

President Trump should have sought Congressional approval for so many reasons starting with the #Constitution requires it,' Massie tweeted.

Meanwhile, Kentuckys other U.S. Senator, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell,threw his support behind Trumps actions.

The strike was well-planned, well-executed, was certainly more than a pin-prick and sends a message not only to Assad that using chemical weapons again is something he cannot do with impunity, McConnell said during a news conference on Friday.

McConnell notably opposed President Barack Obamas failed request in 2013 for an authorization to use military force against the Syrian government.

On Friday, McConnell said he couldnt see a resolution to the Syrian conflict that keeps Assad in power.

I just cant imagine after all the butchering of his own people that hes been doing now for four, five years that there could be any successful conclusion to this chaos with him still there, McConnell said.

U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, the only Democratic member of Kentuckys federal delegation, issued a statement in support of the strike against Syria, which he said was in response to criminal and inhumane actions.

But he also called on Trump to seek Congressional approval for future actions against the country.

I hope that Speaker Ryan and Majority Leader McConnell will move quickly to seek the congressional approval of yesterdays action, so that the constitutional prerogatives of Congresss war-making authority are asserted, Yarmuth said. No escalation of military activity in Syria or the region can proceed without explicit congressional approval.

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Rand Paul Calls Syria Airstrikes Unconstitutional - 89.3 WFPL

Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul took aim at the "one-sided" contract that airlines give its customers, responding to this week's United Airlines controversy in which a man was forcibly removed and bloodied after refusing to give up his seat on an overbooked plane.

"But it is [in] their 30,000 word contract so it must be ok," Paul said in the first of a pair of tweets Wednesday, mocking the airline. Paul was referencing an opinion piece from City Journal titled, "May I drag you from your seat?: Corporate cluelessness is leading to a decline in institutional confidence."

"We retain the right to take back the ticket you paid for, handcuff you, beat you about the head & bloody you," Paul continued his mock impression of a United Airlines contract in a follow-up tweet. He added: "This contract seems one sided."

The controversy started when video appeared online showing David Dao, a 69-year-old Vietnamese-American doctor, struggled with security guards and later, seemingly unconscious, being dragged off the overbooked United Airlines plane. The widespread backlash has prompted United CEO Oscar Munoz to apologize for the "horrific event" and said the company takes full responsibility and "will work to make it right."

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Rand Paul mocks United contract: We will 'bloody you' - Washington Examiner

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, addresses a crowd during a rally at the Western Republican Leadership Conference, in Sandy, Utah, April 25, 2014.(Photo: Associated Press)

U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, joined Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, in introducing a bill Tuesday that would require presidents to get congressional approval before taking military action over humanitarian concerns.

The bill comes on the heels of President Donald Trumps order last week to fire missiles at a Syrian air base in response to that governments use of chemical weapons in an earlier attack.

"Since the U.S. cruise missile strikes against the Shayrat Air Base in Syria last week, President Trump and several senior administration officials have indicated that the United States may be prompted to act again in retaliation to other attacks against civilians or for broader humanitarian purposes," Lee said in a written release. "We are all angered by the pictures and stories from Syria in recent years, and the desire to retaliate for these unfathomable attacks is understandable. However, over the past 200 years, the separate and distinct roles of the executive and the legislative branches to declare war, launch military attacks, and defend against or retaliate for an attack against the United States have become blurred."

The proposed legislation, the Military Humanitarian Operations Act, would require congressional approval before any military operations conducted to fulfill a humanitarian purpose where hostilities are anticipated.

"While such operations and interventions are well intentioned, recent history has shown they are often risky and may result in unintended consequences that are detrimental to our national security, Lee said.

Follow David DeMille on Twitter, @SpectrumDeMille, and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/SpectrumDeMille. Call him at 435-674-6261.

Read or Share this story: http://www.thespectrum.com/story/news/2017/04/11/mike-lee-joins-rand-paul-bill-requiring-congressional-approval-syria-type-military-action/100328330/

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Mike Lee joins Rand Paul on bill requiring congressional approval ... - St. George Daily Spectrum