Rand Paul Calls Out Speaker Johnson for Deficit Disaster and Spying Bill [VIDEO]

Sen. Rand Paul, a Republican lawmaker, is heavily criticizing Speaker of the House Mike Johnson for his failures to address the deficit and support for a bill that allows intelligence agencies to conduct surveillance without a warrant on certain Americans.

During an appearance on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures,” Paul spoke out against Johnson, stating that he sees no difference between Johnson and Democrats when it comes to handling important issues such as the budget deficit and privacy rights of American citizens. In particular, Paul pointed out Johnson’s sudden change of heart regarding the renewal of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which allows for warrantless spying on foreigners overseas. Johnson had initially opposed this measure but later shifted his stance, which Paul views as a betrayal of his principles.

Johnson’s shift in position on FISA can be traced back to his tenure as House speaker. According to his own statements, he changed his mind after receiving a confidential briefing from the staff on the necessity of Section 702 for national security. However, Paul has fiercely criticized Johnson for succumbing to the pressure of the establishment and disregarding the importance of protecting the privacy rights of American citizens.

But FISA is not the only issue in which Paul believes Johnson has failed to uphold conservative values. Paul also slammed Johnson for his support of the recent 1.2 trillion dollar budget bill, which has added significantly to the federal deficit. Paul pointed out that this bill was supported by a minority of Republicans, along with a majority of Democrats, a clear indication that Johnson has abandoned the principles of fiscal responsibility and the power of the purse.

Beyond the budget bill, Paul’s frustration with Johnson as speaker also extends to other areas of policy-making. He criticized Johnson and other Republicans for giving in to Democrat demands, including increasing funding for welfare programs and the military. In Paul’s view, this further highlights Johnson’s lack of commitment to conservative principles and maintaining a strong stance against government overreach and excessive spending.

Speaker Mike Johnson explains why he flipped his stance on FISA after an Intelligence briefing.
Sound legit?
I tend to agree with Snowden on this one…
“This is a textbook case of Congressional capture. With a single briefing, the intelligence agencies routinely transform their… pic.twitter.com/AFAzEvsBoL

— RoamingRN (@roaming_rn) April 11, 2024

Johnson’s tenure as speaker has not been free of controversy. He took over the position after former speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted amid growing frustration with the actions of both Democrats and Republicans in Congress. Many conservatives were hoping for a change in direction with Johnson’s leadership, but Paul’s scathing remarks suggest that this has not been the case.

As a vocal and respected conservative lawmaker, Paul’s criticisms serve as a reminder to Johnson that accommodating Democrats and going against conservative values will not be tolerated by the Republican base.

WATCH

Rand Paul has had enough:

"I'm not so sure there's a difference between Mike Johnson being in charge and Democrats being in charge." pic.twitter.com/ROIPeR6BGt

— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) April 14, 2024

Paul has made it clear that he is disappointed in Speaker Mike Johnson’s leadership and is not afraid to speak out against the speaker’s actions. The criticisms leveled by Paul highlight a growing frustration among conservative voices in Congress who are tired of business-as-usual and demand a stronger stance against government overreach, excessive spending, and the erosion of privacy rights.

Will Johnson listen and make the necessary changes to satisfy his base, or will he continue down the path of compromise and appeasement?

Only time will tell.