Sen. Rand Paul , a Republican who hails from Kentucky coal country , tried to find some `` middle ground '' with HBO host Bill Maher on climate change , saying Friday night that he supports deregulating alternative sources of energy . `` We need more energy , and maybe cleaner energy will supplant less clean energy over time -- and it already is -- but I do n't think that shutting down dramatically one form of energy is a good idea for an economy , '' the first-term senator said on `` Real Time . '' Bill Maher : I had drinks with Rand Paul . While saying he 's not against some regulations , such as on carbon emissions and clean water , Paul said he plans on introducing legislation `` in the next month or so '' that would cut regulation of alternative fuels . `` I 'm for trying to get the government out of the way of converting your trucks from diesel to natural gas , or from gasoline to ethanol , '' he said . `` And try to let the marketplace take care of this , because some of these fuels are actually cheaper , too , and if they 're cheaper then people will go for a cheaper alternative that also is cleaner for the environment . '' His comments come as Paul , who 's planning a presidential run but says he has n't made a final decision yet , has blasted President Obama and other Democrats for supporting policies that would negatively affect the coal industry in his home state . He has also gone after the Environmental Protection Agency for what he describes as overbearing regulations . And Paul blasted Hillary Clinton this fall for arguing that climate change is one of the biggest threats facing the United States . On the show Friday , Paul continued to argue that the rhetoric in the climate change debate can be exaggerated . `` It gets so far out there , and it does almost get there with a religiosity that I do n't think we need to have , '' he said . `` If we 're going to say the Statue of Liberty is drowning , that 's alarmist . '' Maher , a liberal leaning independent who shares some of Paul 's libertarian views , sounded encouraged by Paul 's talk on alternative energy but challenged the senator on his point about the discussion surrounding climate change . Joining the Los Angeles-based program remotely from Washington , Paul also answered questions about the recent call to increase the number of troops in Iraq to fight ISIS . `` I 'm not for sending any troops into Iraq , and will oppose sending any of our troops back into Iraq , '' he said . Also on the program , Paul reiterated his position in favor of criminal justice reform for nonviolent drug convictions and vowed : `` I will do everything to end war on drugs . '' HBO , like CNN , is a division of Time Warner .
Bill Maher 's says he wants the marketplace to determine alternative sources of energy . Iraq senator hails from coal country and has taken a tough stance on the `` war on coal '' Rand Paul was appearing on Rand Paul HBO talk show .