Justin Sayers

@_JustinSayers

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul will be in Louisville on Monday but will head back to Washington D.C. prior to President Donald Trump's political rally at Freedom Hall.

The Kentucky Republican, is scheduled to speak at the St. Matthews Chamber of Commerce's "Legislative Coffee with Senator Rand Paul" Monday at 10 a.m. to discuss the first 100 days of the new administration and its impact on business, according to a news release. The event is closed to the public.

Kelsey Cooper, Paul's spokeswoman, said in an email that the appearance has been on the senator's calendar for "over a month." He's scheduled to spend the rest of the day and week in Washington D.C.

"Senator Paul is always happy to have President Trump in Kentucky, and looks forward to continuing to work with the administration and Congress to address healthcare reform with a real repeal of Obamacare and replace it with conservative market-based solutions that will bring down prices and give families more choices," Cooper said in a statement.

MORE FROM THE CJ

►Trump’s budget cuts looming over Louisville

►Council urges outside inquiry into LMPD scandal

►U of L Foundation audit cost doubles to $1.8M

►Norton plans $78M upgrades, including JLaw unit

►March Madness vasectomies: Instant staycation

► ON THE GO? Download the CJ app for iPhone, Android and iPad

► FOLLOW US: Watch the latest featured video on YouTube

Trump's Monday rally comes just nine days after Vice President Mike Pence visited a warehouse of the Harshaw Trane heating and cooling business in eastern Jefferson County to pitch the administration's plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.

The Republican plan already is controversial within the GOP, with some arguing it doesn't go far enough to fully repeal the law. Among those is Paul, who denounced the bill last week and reintroduced legislation from the last Congress to fully repeal Obamacare.

Doors for the Monday political rally are scheduled to open at 4:30 p.m., three hours before the event begins, according to Trump's campaign website. Tickets are available — two per mobile phone number — on donaldjtrump.com. The event will be held at the Kentucky Exposition Center, 937 Phillips Lane.

A spokesman for Sen. Mitch McConnell said earlier this week the Kentucky Republican and Senate Majority Leader will be in attendance. Representatives for U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said the Democrats will not attend the rally.

Reporter Justin Sayers can be reached at jsayers@gannett.com or 502-582-4252. Follow him on Twitter at @_JustinSayers.