I’m generally not a big Chris Christie fan, but I absolutely despise Rand Paul and his phony “libertarian” bloviating. In fact, as Christie points out, Kentucky is a HUGE net recipient state, getting “$1.51 on every dollar they send to Washington.” In stark contrast, “blue” states like New Jersey are major net DONOR states. That’s right, the “conservative” states – in the Great Plains (massive corn ethanol subsidies), Deep South (massive transfers for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, you name it), etc. – are overwhelmingly redistributing money from the more progressive states like New England, New York, and New Jersey. Gotta love it. So yeah, let’s see Rand Paul give up all that federal money if he hates the federal government so much. Same thing with Bob McDonnell, Ken Cuccinelli, and every other Republican who likes to bite the federal hand that feeds their state. Just don’t hold your breath waiting for it to happen.
P.S. Of course, Paul isn’t “libertarian” on social issues any more than he’s “libertarian” on federal government transfer payments to his state.