Ron Paul: ‘I’d Really Like to Repeal 1913′

Ron Paul: ‘I’d Really Like to Repeal 1913′

By Michael Crittenden

ROCHESTER, Minn – Rep. Ron Paul frequently calls for repealing this law or eliminating that federal agency in his stump speech for president. The Texas Republican went further on Saturday, calling for the elimination of a whole year.

Mr. Paul, appearing at a campaign rally in Rochester, Minn., singled out 1913 for his ire, garnering loud applause from a standing-room only crowd of more than 300 at a high school here.

“I would like to repeal the Federal Reserve charter, but I’d really like to repeal 1913. We could get rid of the income tax, and the Federal Reserve and the foreign policy,” Mr. Paul said, his comments drowned out by the cheering crowd.

His focus on 1913 owes to the fact that two key targets of his campaign speech – the Fed and the federal income tax – came into being that year. The Federal Reserve Act of 1913 created the current central bank system, the same year the 16th Amendment allowing the federal government to levy a tax on incomes was ratified.

Mr. Paul is making a series of stops in Minnesota over the next several days ahead of Tuesday night’s caucuses. Campaign officials hope for a solid showing, but they acknowledged it will require a solid get-out-the-vote effort. Marianne Stebbins, state chairwoman in Minnesota for Mr. Paul’s campaign, told supporters we will “rely on each of you finding a couple of your friends, neighbors, family members who will come out to caucus with you. Turnout is everything.”