A state Republican lawmaker is considering filing a bill that will permit U.S. Senator Rand Paul to run for re-election in Congress as well as President of the United States.Senate GOP Floor Leader Damon Thayer is mulling legislation that would clarify a state law that prohibits candidates from holding or running for two offices simultaneously.Thayer says that Paul discussed the issue with members of the Senate Republican caucus earlier this month, when Paul testified in Frankfort in support of a bill restoring felons’ voting rights.“He did … bring it up to the entire caucus,” Thayer said. “[He] explained much like I just did the situation in that he is running for the U.S. Senate in 2016, but that he is strongly considering seeking the Republican nomination for President. I hope he does.”Thayer denied that the caucus’ consideration of the idea was in exchange for Senate GOP support of House Bill 70, which would automatically restore voting rights for some felons -- an issue that has become a cornerstone as of late in Paul’s remodeling of the GOP brand in an effort to broaden the party’s base.Thayer says he will decide whether to file the bill by this Wednesday, when the filing window for introducing bills in the 2014 General Assembly expires.Paul, who is rumored to be a GOP frontrunner in the 2016 presidential race, has not officially announced his intention to seek higher office.
