U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is back at work in the Senate after being attacked and seriously injured by a neighbor outside his home in Bowling Green on Nov. 3.
Paul, who was hospitalized with several broken ribs and bruised lungs, returned to work Monday, tweeting that he was “still in a good deal of pain” but “ready to fight for liberty and help move forward with tax cuts in the coming days and weeks.”
Kelley and I want to thank everyone once again for your thoughts and prayers for my recovery. While I’m still in a good deal of pain, I will be returning to work in the Senate today, ready to fight for liberty and help move forward with tax cuts in the coming days and weeks.
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) November 13, 2017
Paul was attacked by anesthesiologist Rene Boucher after stepping off his riding lawn mower. Initial reports suggested a landscaping dispute between the two neighbors prompted the attack, but Paul’s office has said there no such quarrel and other neighbors are casting doubt on that explanation, according to Fox News.
Boucher pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge. Paul’s office has been told to also expect federal charges against Boucher, prompting speculation the attack may have been politically motivated. Boucher holds anti-Trump and socialist views and is known for getting into arguments about politics, reports The Daily Caller.
Earlier today in a post on Facebook, Paul spoke about tax reform and called for repealing the Obamacare individual mandate. He wrote:
Today I am announcing my intention to amend the Senate tax bill to repeal the individual mandate and provide bigger tax cuts for middle income taxpayers.
The mandate repeal is a promise we all made and we should keep. I‎t also allows an additional $300 billion+ in tax cuts.
My amendment will fix a problem in the Senate bill where many taxpayers would see a tax increase because of the loss of state and local deductions.
I will introduce a similar deduction as the House plan, making the tax reform plan more fair for everyone.
This will also help ensure House acceptance of the Senate plan, as leaders there have stated they will not accept a plan with no state and local deductibility.
Repeal the mandate, fix problems with Senate bill through more tax cuts for all, and help ensure House and Senate plans more fully agree. That will be my amendment.
