WASHINGTON--GOP White House hopeful Rep. Ron Paul hopeful stepped up his criticism of the Transportation Security Administration after his son, Sen. Rand Paul was not allowed on an airplane Monday after he refused to be patted down after an alarm went off went he went through a screening maching.

"The police state in this country is growing out of control. One of the ultimate embodiments of this is the TSA that gropes and grabs our children, our seniors, and our loved ones and neighbors with disabilities. The TSA does all of this while doing nothing to keep us safe," Paul said in a statement.

"That is why my 'Plan to Restore America,' in additional to cutting $1 trillion dollars in federal spending in one year, eliminates the TSA.

"We must restore the freedom and respect for liberty that once made American the greatest nation in human history. I am deeply committed to doing that as President of the United States."