Senator Tea Party

1:01 am February 4, 2011, by Jamie Dupree

If there is anyone who seems to fit the mold of the Tea Party in the Senate, it might be Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY).  He may well turn out to be a party of one many times in the Senate.

I got that thought after Paul was the only Senator to vote against an amendment to an aviation bill that made it a federal crime to aim a laser pointer at the cockpit of an aircraft.

The vote was 96-1.  Just like his dad, the kid may be ready to be the lone holdout in the Senate on a variety of issues.

When I related the laser pointer news on Twitter, the comments pro and con rolled in like the tide on a beach.

"Seriously? One hold-out?" asked one of my Tweeps.  "Is laser-pointing airline pilots a sport in Kentucky?"

The amendment from Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) would allow penalties of up to five years in prison for someone who is convicted of using a laser pointer on pilots.

Paul simply argues that states should set such laws and penalties, not the federal government.

"Good 4 Rand," said another one of my Twitter followers, not impressed with the idea of penalties for lasering a pilot.

"Even if it's an alien spacecraft?" added one Twitter jokester.

Paul also set the table for a fight next week over the budget of the Federal Aviation Administration, as he wants to limit the budget to what it was back in 2008.

"What I am asking is a very modest proposal," said Paul on the Senate floor, who called it a "first step to budgetary restraint."

The Senate left town without setting a vote for Paul's amendment, which will be the first test on spending this year.  It will be interesting to see if Republicans stick with him on this vote or not.

His father sometimes has trouble getting the support of his party's leadership over in the House.

We'll see if the son gets treated a little differently next week.