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Sen. Paul: The country's looking for something different
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KY senator talks immigration reform, sequester and CPAC straw poll
- Duration 9:28
- Date Mar 20, 2013
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KY senator talks immigration reform, sequester and CPAC straw poll
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He's become a big deal -- everything he says is picked apart so busy here is that it is Associated Press sticky -- it story that senator Rand Paul.
Planned to back a path to citizenship and his speech on immigration.
Reform.
The Kentucky Republican senator joining me now -- at the record straight senator welcomed.
Are you denying -- that plan.
Well the interesting thing about citizenship is the only time -- mentioned the word citizen and much when he minute speech is when I said.
That I haven't always been a model citizen when I was a kid I was kind of a derelict and -- trouble in school and didn't go to my Spanish glass.
So I never mentioned citizenship other than that but what I did say is that as Republicans we need to embrace immigrants and appreciate them.
And if you want to work and you're in America we need to find a place for you.
So that does imply yes I am for immigration reform.
But my amendment to the bill will be something called trust but verify.
Which -- we have to secure the border.
And that we have to have a report it's voted on by congress each year.
In order for immigration reform to go forward.
So how is.
Or is it different from Marco Rubio split.
We you know it's gonna include some of the same things that the bipartisan group -- I'm not necessarily in disagreement with what they're doing.
And in fact I don't think they have a new pathway to citizenship.
I think their bill like my bill.
Would say that you don't have to go home you don't have to leave you've been here for ten years a year working.
You don't go back to Mexico but you do have to get in line the same line as someone in Mexico City.
So someone today in Mexico City wants to get in the line to come to our country to be a citizen.
Same thing for those who we're gonna give work pieces to who are already here.
They have to get in that same line not the front of the line the same on that already exists.
So it's kind of confusing when people get into.
This is amnesty this is pathway to citizenship.
What I'm saying is if you're willing to work and you're not you don't -- -- come here for welfare but you wanna work we're gonna find a place for in America.
Do you think under that type of a plan -- senator.
Those who monitor this country illegally.
See there's no risk to doing so because well eventually.
Whether under Rand Paul or or Marco Rubio.
They're actually might be an incentive down the road to getting on that line.
Well.
Thing is is what we're going to do any of the reforms are gonna say after have been here -- certain period of time.
And they're also gonna say that there's a window that closes you'll have ten years to decide that you wanted to get this -- peace and be part of the program.
I don't know -- the -- going to be one year two years we'll just have to be a window for those who apply.
If you're part of the eleven million who came here many who did come legally actually to tell you the truth they came here legally.
There were working on our farms -- the -- overstayed their visa or chose not to be part of the work program.
Part of the problem with getting rid of illegal immigration is fixing legal immigration we had 65000.
People come to our country last year to pick crops.
Officially to the work recent program but we had a really over a million people came in to pick crops.
So where do we don't have a system that works we need to fix the system so we can have.
All legal immigration and have no illegal immigration.
Senator what talked a little bit of Pennsylvania Harry Reid said that has has created some waves on the depth of these soldiers in Nevada.
That he appeared to be linking the sequestration cuts he disavowed those remarks later on in -- statement.
But nevertheless he did refer to their deaths and the sequestration.
In the same remark so Republicans have been criticized him say they argue it still stands it was an awful thing for him to say.
Lanny Davis of course former Clinton advisor saying that it was it that's clumsily worded.
-- -- -- -- But you know I think the Democrats need to be very careful here because -- been trying to blame everything they're going to be playing in blaming them.
Bubonic plague on the sequester pretty soon.
But senator Blanche -- a good amendment today that we passed and it said oh why don't we take some money from here where it's not necessarily.
And put -- -- to have meat packing inspectors so we inspect army.
Because you that the Democrats are doing -- saying no we sequester -- -- gonna be dangerous for going back to the days before Upton Sinclair.
And that kind of hysteria does know any good if they are good leaders of your country's good leaders.
You find where money's being wasted and put -- -- essential things senator Moran try to do the same thing he tried to have an amendment to save air traffic controllers.
And towers in certain places in the country.
And they wouldn't let him do it.
-- -- it's almost as if they want the sequestered I have pain and have visible playing like not having a White House tour.
But they don't want to do the important things -- leaders would do which is make sure your food is inspected.
And make sure that the air traffic controllers -- there so I think it's irresponsible on their part.
What -- You think.
The that the reaction you're getting in the party now.
And the straw poll victory that -- sea -- that you're being much more scrutinized now and and that that that.
You've got to be careful on that those the party.
Stewards -- that is who they are saying that.
Maybe you're not as hawkish and maybe when it comes to cutting budgets are more reckless he want to have a plan or vehicle to editors soon -- Balance budget exemplified his -- ten years Paul Ryan wants to do.
That you Republicans should be.
A little bit cautious about you know.
But he said.
It's hard for me to be any thing except for who I am I'm pretty much -- forthright kind of guy I see problems in our country faces and I'm just gonna keep putting forward solutions.
You know I've always said look I had a good job before I came here from a position and I like doing surgery -- like helping to be able to see I'm I'm happy to go back and any time.
But I think also the countries looking for something different they're not looking for years traditional sort of cookie cutter conservative.
They're looking for somebody can represent the whole country.
And I think that the ideas that I'm talking about could help Republicans grow in areas like California.
New England Illinois State -- given up on Republicans so we do have to think about new ideas if we're going to be competitive as a national party.
You know senator some of the friction or whatever you want to call between you and Senator McCain the senator tried to put to rest with me last week by apologizing view.
And and and senator cruise for intemperate remarks how are you getting along with Senator McCain when you think of them.
You know I have a great deal of respect for Senator McCain I have no problem and we disagree obviously on some things but I do respect his war service and his many years as a POW.
And he is a voice for people who believe in national security.
But so the -- so I don't want to say that there can't be more than one way that we can defend our country.
And that there's not room for some waste and some cutting and some military programs.
That are being used wisely but that being said Senator McCain is also said the same thing he's been -- you talk to rejoice.
Currently it -- that regard one on one or loses this that's yeah yeah -- -- we we do we we have rod in the same elevator wave height of the escalator together.
We are cordial we are not gonna get in any fisticuffs or anything Senator McCain R&R fine.
-- we are gonna disagree sometimes.
But I also don't think that the people even sometimes Senator McCain knew things were so different.
I don't think we're always so different he hearkens back and says he admires Reagan well guess what so -- why.
We both of slightly different twist on what we think Reagan represented.
The Reagan represented a strong national defense and I truly do believe in a strong national defense on that Senator McCain and I really should be in agreement.
We're just.
Our units that as you probably dollars as -- as -- -- -- -- Measure to keep the government funded through the end of September but I just had Charlie Rangel here are earlier the broadcast senator.
Who was saying the fact that the president hasn't submitted a budget yet that these things and it's gloriously late on all counts.
Well they're not beat this disease seriously because the bottom line is that they're not really worth -- -- spread it on I'm I'm really.
Paraphrasing here but I do think that's the gist of what he said.
I raise the issue within them and then why bother if they're just a joke.
He quibble with that what do you think.
You know I would say that budgets are very important in fact we have a wall that says that all of our appropriations bills -- supposed to agree with our budget.
It is a blueprint for how the country's first operate.
You don't find almost any business in America that doesn't have a budget from a business a grosses 200000.
To 200 million have a budget no plan for how they spend their money.
They pay attention to the revenue in the difference is every business in America says that they cannot spend more than comes in.
They have to pay interest if -- borrowed money but their balance she has to -- each year and they can't do it for very long weren't doesn't.
Our country needs to be run more like a business and that's.
Our problem is that it's not and I think we're running the country into the ground.
By you know borrowing a trillion dollars every year can't go on.
Are you running for president.
Let's say I want to be part of the national debate haven't made any decision on -- they know that I will run for reelection in the US senate.
But I do wanna be part of the national debate in growing the Republican Party so we can win again nationally.
Senator Rand -- -- -- thank you very much.
Thank you.