Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul returns to New Hampshire just a day after hiring two key state staffers as he gears up for his anticipated presidential campaign.
But despite recent media reports, the Republican has not officially announced his candidacy, but said he expects to announce in the coming weeks.
While attending an event at the Manchester internet service provider Dyn on Friday, Paul praised the initiative nature of the tech industry - saying that it does not just rely on government to fix its problems.
He also reiterated the need to shrink government involvement, adding that if elected he would rein in government spending while also “drastically" lowering taxes.
“How would I do that without exploding the debt – I’d get rid of departments, I’d cut down government. I would close the Department of Commerce, I think you’d see it would be gone and you wouldn’t even notice it was gone. That is 30 or 40 billion dollars," Paul said, adding that he would also shut down the Department of Education.
Like many other Republicans, Paul is critical of common core standards, adding that education should never come from Washington.
“Education is a state and local function, 95 of your schools are paid for with your local taxes, you wouldn’t know it if the department of education was gone,” Paul said.
On Saturday Paul expects to make stops in Rochester, Exeter, Hampstead and Hollis.