Kentucky Senator Rand Paul is making pit stops in several commonwealth communities this week. Tuesday he spoke to people in Pulaski County about issues important to the region.

While speaking to a crowd at Lake Cumberland’s Burnside Marina, Paul said he’s working to lessen the burden federal government agencies impose on those who live around the lake.

Paul also touched on the theme of local officials who are deciding local issues. His visit comes exactly one week prior to Election Day in the Bluegrass, but he did stress that this was not a political visit. However, he did note there are going to be some tight races for a few of Kentucky’s key seats.

“The House is very close. I think the Senate is going to remain in Republican hands,” said Paul.

Paul said that President Donald Trump’s recent visit to Richmond to stump for Congressman Andy Barr could be the key in deciding a very close Sixth District Congressional race.

“The President came down here a few weeks ago. We had a huge crowd, over 6,000 people, a couple of thousand outside. That helped develop some momentum for Andy Barr,” said Paul. “I think Andy Barr has a good chance of being reelected.”

But after he spoke about the upcoming election, Paul said he is concerned about the tone of political rhetoric in some of the state’s races. He said he was afraid that some could take their behavior too far.

“What it does is encourages people who are the unstable, crazy, aggressive potentially violent people,” said Paul.

Paul said it is important to have intelligent debate about differences, not rhetoric. He says while the debates in Washington D.C. might seem heated at times, they aren’t as bad as they seem.