Rand Paul’s opposition to pipeline safety bill is Dereliction of Duty.

We ask our military to make the ultimate sacrifice for this nation and its people and we assume that sending politicians to state and federal institutions would do the same.  This apparently not the case involving Kentucky Senator Rand Paul and a bill to strengthen safety rules for oil and gas pipelines.

According to an article written by Joan Lowy for the Associated Press titled Senator blocks pipeline safety bill on principle, “a senator who opposes federal regulation on philosophical grounds is single-handedly blocking legislation that would strengthen safety rules for oil and gas pipelines, a bill that even the pipeline industry and companies in his own state support.  Republican Sen. Rand Paul's opposition to the bill hasn't wavered even after a gas pipeline rupture last week shook people awake in three counties in his home state of Kentucky.  A deadly gas pipeline explosion near San Francisco last year — along with other recent gas explosions and oil pipeline spills — has created consensus in Congress, as well as in the industry, that there are gaps in federal safety regulations.  No Democrat objected to the pipeline bill, but initially two Republicans did. They were Paul and Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, industry, safety and congressional officials told The Associated Press. Coburn has since withdrawn his objection, but Paul has resisted persuasion to drop his, they said.  Officials familiar with Paul's objections said he has told lobbyists and company officials that he's not opposed to any specific part of the bill, just to the notion of additional federal regulation.”

This ability given to those in congress and the Senate may be all of the evidence you need to see why many in the public sector have serious questions about those elected to serve.  Standing on your principles may be seen as a good thing to some but for those who know what true leadership is, this action only displays a “selfish disease” infecting many in Washington.  They were sent to do the will of the people but when the people say yes, failing that makes one believe that Rand Paul thinks he knows what is better for this nation than the rest of us.  Wonder what many would say if our military suddenly decided to stop defending this nation on philosophical grounds? 

I do have a solution to this dilemma.  Any Senator or politician period that blocks a bill that is designed to make this nation better should be charged with “dereliction of duty” and if anyone is harmed or killed because of their blockage should also be considered as a party to that injury or fatality.  Just a thought!