FRANKFORT — Jack Conway said he’s not exactly angry — “but I am fired up” — about recent statements, both personal and philosophical, by his Republican Senate opponent, Bowling Green eye doctor Rand Paul.

Conway had a news conference Wednesday on the lawn of the old state capitol in downtown Frankfort and said Paul’s view of the U.S. Constitution is that it doesn’t have “any room to afford basic protections for worker safety, mine safety.”

He quoted Paul as saying the country hasn’t followed the constitution since 1937 — the year the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of Social Security. Conway said Paul is a “constitutional minimalist” who doesn’t believe the federal government has a role in regulating civil rights, access for disabled persons, medical care and mine safety.

Paul’s campaign spokes-person, Gary Howard, said Conway, Kentucky’s attorney general, is in no position to lecture Paul on the constitution — while throwing in some jabs about national Democrats to whom Paul wishes to tie his opponent.

“Jack Conway should be the last person lecturing us about the constitution,” Howard said. “He supports President Obama and Nancy Pelosi’s unconstitutional federal takeover of health care. Jack needs to read the 9th and 10th Amendments, and join the other state attorneys general in challenging the constitutionality of Obamacare.”

A few state attorneys general have challenged the constitutionality of the federal health care reform mandate that all buy health insurance — one state judge has already ruled it constitutional but other cases are progressing through the courts. Conway declined to join the suit, saying it is based on faulty legal reasoning and he supports the major portions of the bill.

Paul often criticizes what he deems the Supreme Court’s expansive interpretation of the commerce clause, saying “you can drive a truck through the court’s interpretation of the commerce clause.” Over the years, the court has relied on the clause which allows the federal government to regulate commerce between the states to justify federal regulation of a variety of activities.

On Wednesday Conway said that interpretation allows the federal government to protect citizens and regulate food safety, civil rights, mine safety and public access among other things.

He said Paul has made statements indicating he wants to return to the pre-World War II era before insurance companies began reimbursing for standard medical procedures. “Rand Paul, along with some of his gang of radicals, think doctors and patients should bargain for rates without insurance companies,” Conway said. Paul has often used the price for contact lenses as an example of how patients can negotiate lower prices for medical services.

He also said Paul would repeal the 16th amendment that allows income taxes. Paul on Tuesday endorsed a national sales tax and elimination of income taxes.

Conway called Paul’s views on the government’s role in protecting individuals “callous and wrong.” He took personal offense to a call by Paul during a debate Monday night at Northern Kentucky University for Conway “to step up and be a man” and explain some of his positions.

“I’m going to stand up and protect the Constitution of the United States,” Conway said and then challenged Paul to “stand up and be a man and tell the people what you really think of the constitution.”

Ronnie Ellis writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com. Follow CNHI News Service stories on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ cnhifrankfort.