Rand Paul lone dissenter in laser-pointer vote

By Felicia Sonmez

Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul was the sole "no" vote Thursday night on a measure that would make it a federal crime to aim a handheld laser pointer at an aircraft.

The measure, offered by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) as an amendment to a measure on funding the Federal Aviation Administration, passed on a 96-to-1 vote, with three senators not present. It would call for anyone who knowingly aims the beam of a laser pointer at an aircraft to face fines or a prison term of up to five years.

Paul told reporters after Thursday's vote that he believed the laser-pointer issue was one best handled by the states, not the federal government.

"There are a lot of states that already have laws, and I think states ought to take care of it," Paul said.

The laser-pointer vote marked the second time in the past week that Paul voted "no" on a measure supported by the vast majority of his Senate colleagues. Last Thursday, Paul joined with fellow Senate Tea Party Caucus members Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) as well as Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) to oppose a rule change that would end the practice of secret holds. That measure passed 92-to-4.

While the 112th Congress is only one month old, Paul's early "no" votes echo the voting record of his father, Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), who has frequently been the lower chamber's lone dissenter on measures that he believes overstep Congress' constitutional authority.