Fiscal Conservative: Ron Paul Won't Attend CPAC Without $50K Fee

Former Texas Rep. Ron Paul inspired legions of dedicated supporters during his 2008 and 2012 campaigns for the presidency.

This post has been updated to reflect comment from Ron Paul.

Ron Paul won't attend the Conservative Political Action Conference this March after he was declined a $50,000 speaking fee he requested, Whispers has learned.

A CPAC spokeswoman confirmed that the American Conservative Union, which runs the conference, had invited the former Texas congressman and presidential candidate and that he declined the invitation.

"We do not give speaking fees, and unfortunately that is a barrier to some speakers," CPAC spokeswoman Laura Rigas tells Whispers.

[READ: Ron Paul Blasts NRA, Liberals Over Gun Issue]

Megan Stiles, a spokeswoman for Paul's political organization Campaign for Liberty, says Paul isn't attending because he's retired. The former congressman's typical speaking fee is $50,000.

Though Paul attended CPAC most of the years he was in Congress, he skipped the conference last year to focus on campaigning, making him the only Republican presidential candidate not to attend.

When Paul addressed CPAC in 2011, he told an enthusiastic crowd that he was "glad to see the revolution was continuing."

But while Paul won't attend this year's conference, the American Conservative Union is keen to draw the kind of crowd he usually attracts: young and passionate.

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Fiscal Conservative: Ron Paul Won't Attend CPAC Without $50K Fee