text: There are criticisms which contend that Paul's position is disingenuous because he often requests earmarks for bills that he supposedly knows will pass no matter which way he votes.  For example, during 2007, he requested about $400 million in earmarks in bills he voted against. A spokesman in the Fox News article says, "Reducing earmarks does not reduce government spending, and it does not prohibit spending upon those things that are earmarked. What people who push earmark reform are doing is they are particularly misleading the public—and I have to presume it's not by accident." One group supporting fiscal conservatism finds Paul's actions with earmarks to be contradictory and cites his 2003 speech regarding the award of a Congressional Gold Medal, at which time the Congressman declared, "I will continue in my uncompromising opposition to appropriations not authorized within the enumerated powers of the Constitution;" however, Paul himself has inserted appropriations for projects such as the renovation of a movie theater and subsidies for the shrimp industry, whereas reportedly, "neither of which is envisioned in the Constitution as an essential government function". The Congressman has responded to criticism about earmarks by providing an explanation in his weekly column. Paul says, "In an already flawed system, earmarks can at least allow residents of Congressional districts to have a greater role in allocating federal funds – their tax dollars – than if the money is allocated behind locked doors by bureaucrats."
  Plan to Restore America (2013 budget)
  In October 2011, Paul released a federal budget proposal for 2013, entitled the "Plan to Restore America". The plan calls for cutting $1 trillion from the federal budget in the first year, along with other measures which Paul says would balance the federal budget within 3 years. To achieve these goals, the plan would seek:
  Spending cuts:
  eliminate five cabinet-level agencies (Education, Interior, Commerce, Energy, and Housing and Urban Development)
  privatize the FAA and the TSA
  cut the federal workforce by 10%
  cut funding (down from 2006 levels) for the
  Food and Drug Administration by 40%
  Centers for Disease Control by 20%
  Department of Homeland Security by 20%
  National Institutes of Health by 20%
  Environmental Protection Agency by 30%
  Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration by 20%
  cut the Department of Defense budget by total 15%; eliminate all foreign war funding
  freeze funding for most other federal agencies at 2006 levels
  eliminate all foreign aid
  eliminate international drug programs
  substantially reduce federal travel
  eliminate international organizations and commissions