Sen. Rand Paul interviewed Friday about NSA lawsuit, economic freedom bill

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette

SEN. RAND PAUL

Friday, Feb. 14, 2014, 10 a.m. — Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul filed a class action lawsuit against President Barack Obama earlier this week to challenge the National Security Agency’s practice of collecting “metadata” — information about the phone calls placed by millions of U.S. citizens.

Sen. Paul spoke with “Brooks & Company” host Jim Brooks Friday morning about the lawsuit, which he said is simply a request for the NSA to honor citizen’s Fourth Amendment rights against improper search and seizure.

He told listeners the NSA’s data collection is governed by a secret court that approves requests without an appeals process. The senator said he isn’t opposed to spying to thwart domestic terrorism, but the process should still respect U.S. citizens’ Fourth Amendment rights. The NSA lawsuit has received support from Republicans, Democrats and the ACLU.

Sen. Paul also discussed his legislation that would reduce federal taxes and regulations in areas of the country with high unemployment levels, including areas of southeastern Kentucky.

He explained that his legislation to create “Economic Freedom Zones” would not be another government bailout. The program would cut individual, corporate and payroll taxes for employers and employees in an effort to “leave money in the hands of those who earned it.”

Sen. Paul’s interview will replayed at 11 a.m. Tuesday on the next edition of “Brooks & Company” on WBRT 1320 AM and 97.1 FM.

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