Rand Paul Links Gov't to Busted Toilet

(NewsCore) - Kentucky Senator Rand Paul told a Senate Committee on Thursday that his toilet doesn't work.

And the US government is to blame.

Paul, a Republican, blamed his plumbing conundrum on federal legislation that forces Americans to buy more energy efficient appliances.

"Light bulbs, refrigerators, toilets, you name it. You can't go around your house without being told what to buy," Paul said.

"You restrict my purchases. You don't care about my choices. You don't care about the consumer.

"Frankly, my toilets don't work in my house, and I blame you and people like you who want to tell me what I can install in my house. I find it insulting."

Paul was speaking during a hearing on a bill to improve appliances' energy efficiency and another proposal to repeal a 2007 law that phases out traditional incandescent light bulbs in favor of more energy-efficient options.

Paul is among the Senate Republicans backing the repeal effort.

He also said the Obama administration's pro-choice stand on abortion was hypocritical when it did not allow the same choice for consumers buying appliances.

"I think there should be self-examination from the administration on the idea that you favor a woman's right to an abortion but you don't favor a woman, or a man's, right to choose what kind of light bulb, what kind of dishwasher," Paul said.

"The point is that most members of your administration probably would be frank and would be up front to characterize themselves as being pro-choice for abortion.

"But you're really anti-choice on every other consumer item that you've listed here."

Responding to Paul, Energy Department official Kathleen Hogan said she did not think the standards restricted the choices of consumers.

She also said she would help Paul find a toilet that works.