Kentucky bill would let Rand Paul run for two offices simultaneously

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Kentucky bill would let Rand Paul run for two offices simultaneously

Associated Press in Frankfort
theguardian.com, Friday 7 March 2014 15.45 GMT

Rand Paul’s biggest political decision is approaching: whether to run for president in 2016 or focus solely on re-election to his US Senate seat. A Republican lawmaker from his home state wants to free him from the potential dilemma by letting him run for both.

State Senate majority leader Damon Thayer said Thursday he wants to clarify that current Kentucky law, which prevents someone from running for multiple offices, does not apply to federal elections.

A bill he introduced would allow candidates’ names to appear twice on the same ballot if one or both offices sought are federal offices.

“He (Paul) is the impetus for it, but it could affect anyone in the federal delegation,” said Thayer, a republican from Georgetown, who introduced the bill in the GOP-led Kentucky Senate.

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Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/07/kentucky-bill-rand-paul-run-two-offices

[warrior1]

1. he's such a coward

If he thinks he can become president, don't create a special law that protects the senate seat. Geez.

[former9thward]

6. Paul Ryan, Joe Biden and Joe Lieberman all did the same thing.

They ran for Vice President while also running for the offices they currently held.

[A Little Weird]

11. Did they have to have special laws written for them too

Or was it already legal in their states?

[former9thward]

12. It was already legal because special laws had already been written by others.

[A Little Weird]

13. In Kentucky, it's specifically not allowed to be on the ballot twice

That's why I'm wondering. Did the other states ever have that restriction or was it ever restricted to start with?

If, God forbid, he were to win both elections. The taxpayers of Kentucky would have to spend money on a special election. I think that was the point of the restriction. I'm not in favor of rescinding it personally.

[former9thward]

14. A special election was needed when Biden won the VP.

I don't know the history in the other states. But this is one of those things that can hurt either party. I think it is up to the people. They know that if he won both jobs there would be a new election. If they want to vote for him twice, knowing that, then so be it.

[leftyohiolib]

2. 2nd house bill would automatically install paul into presidency

[Thinkingabout]

3. Now here we have Rand Paul who wants to possibly have the tax payers lay for two elections in order

To accommodate his personal needs. He is always yelling about the spending and he is very willing to have wasteful spending. It's the old story either $hit or get off the pot.

[A Little Weird]

15. Exactly!

I'm a Kentucky taxpayer - I like the law as it is. Pick a race and go for it - don't run for two offices at the same time. I do understand others have done it before in other places but I thought it was dumb when Biden did it and I thought it was dumb when Paul Ryan did it. It's one of the few things I think Kentucky gets right, I hope they don't change it.

[oldandhappy]

4. Only two??

shucks!!

[oldandhappy]

5. And if he were to win the presidency (hilarious, crash to floor)

then he would cost his state for another election. Can you pay for this Rand??

[Proud Liberal Dem]

7. What's the matter, Paul?

Not confident you'll win?

[Wounded Bear]

8. I don't think he's worried about winning...

He just wants to double dip on the campaign donations, and make sure he gets a lot of that Koch money.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

9. Don't you dare impugn Mr. Paul's "snow white" motives for running for POTUS!

[Xyzse]

16. I have no idea but this one made me laugh for a good minute.

[bigwillq]

10. No issue with it

Other candidates, including some Ds, have done the same because of a similar law.

[sakabatou]

17. And this is legal, how?

[madinmaryland]

18. Not sure where the angst is, especially with the "cost".

Any election held to replace him would most likely occur at the same time as a general election.

What would be funny is if he lost both races Presidency and Senate and ended up back as a "fake" doctor.

[blkmusclmachine]

19. ,

,

[davidpdx]

20. Well if that's not a huge road side saying

Rand Paul is running for president, I don't know what is.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

21. He could still run for president without it

He just couldn't appear on the Ky. ballot

[Redfairen]

22. Isn't this an admission that he has no chance to win the presidency?

I think that's the truth. Kentucky senator is the zenith of his career.