Rand Paul balks at Trump GOP's big-dollar border agenda
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Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is deeply skeptical of some of President-elect Trump's and GOP leadership's aggressive border plans.
Why it matters: He's gaining power next Congress. Paul, an infamous deficit hawk and libertarian, will chair the committee that oversees the Department of Homeland Security.
- Incoming Senate GOP leader John Thune is prioritizing a border package in Trump's first 100 days.
- It is likely to include a huge cash infusion of more than $100 billion into border security and the infrastructure to carry out Trump's mass deportation promises.
💰 But Paul is balking at the early price tag.
- "I'm not a big fan of what Republicans are saying, they're going to spend $100 billion on the border, another $200 billion on military to bust the military caps," Paul told us.
- "I think it's a terrible way to start."
🚨 Paul also has reservations about Trump's plans to use the military to assist with deportations, calling it illegal.
- "If they send the Army into New York and you have 10,000 troops marching, carrying semi-automatic weapons, I think it's a terrible image and I will oppose that," he told CBS News' "Face the Nation" last month.
🧱 Paul even seems to question the idea of heavy investments in more miles of border wall.
- "Walls work in some places, but there's never going to be a contiguous wall on the whole border," Paul said.
- When pressed about more money for deportation or detention — key Trump priorities — Paul said, "Put them back on the other side of the river. Shouldn't cost that much. And we spend an enormous amount."
Between the lines: Paul can't stop the process on his own, but he is known for finding ways to drag out the process.
- He'll also be able to launch Senate investigations.
- Some of the immigration portfolio also goes to the Judiciary Committee, which will be chaired by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa).
What he's saying: Paul supports Trump's nominee to lead DHS, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who he met with Wednesday. Paul has vowed to move quickly to confirm her in time for Inauguration Day.
- He's pledged to use the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee's first hearing to look at resuming Trump's Remain-in-Mexico policy, which forced asylum-seekers to await their court proceedings south of the U.S.-Mexico border.
- He also told colleagues in a letter last month he plans to "restore our committee's rightful place as the oversight body of the Senate."
- "Senate rules give us oversight responsibilities over the entire government, even beyond the agencies under our direct legislative jurisdiction," he said in the letter.
