Ronald Paul (Presidential Candidate)
Biography
PAUL, Ronald Ernest, a Representative from Texas; born in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pa., August 20, 1935; graduated from Dormont High School, Dormont, Pa., 1953; B.A., Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pa., 1957; M.D., Duke University Medical Center, Durham, N.C., 1961; internship and residency training, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Mich., 1961 and 1962; obstetrics and gynecology training, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa., 1965-1968; medical doctor; United States Air Force, 1963-1965; United States Air National Guard, 1965-1968; delegate, Texas state Republican convention, 1974; unsuccessful candidate for election to the Ninety-fourth Congress in 1974; elected as a Republican to the Ninety-fourth Congress, by special election to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of United States Representative Robert R. Casey (April 3, 1976-January 3, 1977); unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the Ninety-fifth Congress in 1976; elected to the Ninety-sixth and to the two succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1979-January 3, 1985); was not a candidate for reelection to the House of Representatives in 1984, but was an unsuccessful candidate for nomination to the United States Senate; publisher; unsuccessful Libertarian Party candidate for election for President of the United States in 1988; elected as a Republican to the One Hundred Fifth and to the five succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1997-present).
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Energy
Congressman Paul believes that the government should not interfere with the energy sector and that benefits and special subsidizes to energy companies should be repealed.
Evolution/Intelligent Design
During a May 2007 GOP debate, the moderator asked all the candidates to raise their hands if they did not believe in evolution. Paul did not raise his hand.
Environment
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Congressman Paul supports drilling in ANWR, but through private enterprise because he believes all natural reserves should be privatized.[1]
Global Warming
Dr. Paul does not conclusively think that climate change is being caused by human activities; saying in an interview with Grist in October 2007 that he thinks “some of it is related to human activities, but I don't think there's a conclusion yet. There's a lot of evidence on both sides of that argument.”
Healthcare
Congressman Paul supports opening up Health Savings Account (HSA) eligibility to all Americans, making medical expenses tax deductible, and reducing regulation of the field. In Congress, Paul introduced the “Health Freedom Protection Act” (H.R. 2117), which would end the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) restriction of the kind of nutrient-disease treatment information allowed on packaging. He also opposes legislation that increases the legal power of the FDA. In an interview with the Kaiser Family Foundation in July 2007, Paul displayed support for a free market solution to healthcare, saying “…there's ways we can go in the directions of delivering health care in a free market system. It's through health savings accounts, letting patients have more control. Make sure they can pick their doctors. Make sure if they want holistic medicine they can.”
Stem Cell Research
Paul does not support federal funding for embryonic stem cell research because he believes it is unconstitutional, but wrote in a 2005 objection to a stem cell funding bill that he would allow for “individual states and private citizens to decide whether to permit, ban, or fund this research.”
Writings on Science and Health Policy Issues
May 24, 2005 No Federal Funding for Stem Cell Research
June 30, 2003 HillaryCare, Republican Style
July 2, 2001 “Patients Bill of Rights” or Federal Takeover of Medicine?
December, 11, 2000 Drug Reimportation Increases Medical Freedom
SCIENCE IN THE DEBATES:
CNN/L.A. Times/Politico.com Republican Debate, January 30, 2008
Question:Governor Schwarzenegger has proposed that California be allowed to implement much tougher environmental regulations on emission requirements than apply to the rest of the country. This is an initiative that conservatives generally oppose, and the Bush administration rejected California's request....Congressman Paul, do you agree with Governor Schwarzenegger on this one?
Paul: Yes, I think California should do what they want, and we all recognize that. But one thing that hasn't been emphasized here that should be emphasized when we're dealing with the environment and gas house -- you know, greenhouse gases is property rights.We neglected during the industrial revolution property rights, and governments and big corporations got together and colluded. And that's what has to be reversed. You have to emphasize the property rights.
MSNBC/CNBC Republican Debate, October 9, 2007
Question: Polls show the Republicans are known as the party of national security and of moral values. The polls also show that voters look now, at least, to the Democrats to handle the economy. How are you going to win back their confidence in order?
Paul: Well, first, we have to have a sound economy and we don't. We're overtaxed, we're overregulated. We work with a currency that is non-functional, and our prosperity is slipping. And we are overextended overseas; you can't have a prosperous economy at home when you're spending all the money overseas. You can't even have a strong national defense if you're spending all this money overseas in wars that we're not winning. So if we want a prosperous economy here, we have to change these policies, and we can't be bailing out farmers and subsidizing ethanol. This is just the wrong way to go. The taxpayers pays for the subsidies, and then they pay for higher prices when they buy the gasoline or buy the food. It never works.
MSNBC/Politico.com Republican Debate, May 3, 2007
Question: … Dr. Paul, yes or no on federal funding?
Paul: Programs like this are not authorized under the Constitution. The trouble with issues like this is, in Washington we either prohibit it or subsidize it. And the market should deal with it, and the states should deal with it.
Endnotes
- ↑ Ron Paul on environment http://www.ronpaul2008.com/issues/environment/
