This piece originally appeared in The Federalist.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., has drawn President Trump’s ire by criticizing the House reconciliation package’s $5 trillion increase to the federal government’s debt limit. The president argued Paul has not provided “practical or constructive ideas” for reducing spending. Paul should counter that accusation by offering a legislative proposal for cutting government waste.
During his three terms in office, Paul has consistently opposed unnecessary government spending. He routinely votes against spending bills, and his annual “Festivus” reports expose widespread government waste, including $1 trillion in unnecessary expenditures.
Yet, like most lawmakers of his generation, Paul has had limited opportunities to pass legislation shrinking the government. There are many reasons for the lack of cost-cutting legislation, not least of which are Senate leadership and limited opportunities for members to offer floor amendments.
