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Senator Rand Paul visits central Kentucky, discusses flooding and other issues

Stu Johnson

Kentucky U.S. Senator Rand Paul says the massive flood event in eastern Kentucky demonstrates the need for additional warning measures. While making a stop in Lexington, Paul said monitoring a rain gauge during heavy downpours takes on added significance.

“But my guess is somewhere between zero and eleven inches is a danger zone where maybe we’d even send the sheriff out door to door because 40 people died. It could be that those ten or 20 or 30 or 50 houses you could actually go door to door when the rainfall hits three or four inches or five inches,” said Paul.

Paul said he also heard from residents who spoke of a build-up of sediment in creeks and streams as a contributing factor. The senator also spoke on a number of other issues.

Paul said the government shouldn’t be looked to as the answer for solving certain societal issues. He addressed the Association of Mature American Citizens. The two-term senator said young people need to hear a message of responsibility.

“Maybe the biggest problem related to poverty in our country is having children before you are married. And it’s like, what am I supposed to do about that? I mean, it’s really what are you going to do about that? What are churches, what are pastors going to do? And some of it is leading by example,” said Paul.

Paul said inflation came from borrowing money. On the long-term stability of Medicare, the senator said raising the age eligibility and means testing along with some recipients paying higher premiums may be needed. When asked about the pandemic, Paul noted a large percentage of Americans now have COVID immunity through having the disease or vaccination, and so he believes wearing a mask in public is not necessary.

Stu has been reporting for WEKU for more than 35 years. His primary beat is Lexington/Fayette government.
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