Day four of the Republican National Convention "Make America One Again"
07/21/2016 07:30 PM
CLEVELAND-Kentucky State Senator Ralph Alvarado, R-Winchester, commanded the stage on night three of the Republican National Convention. The Kentucky delegation was impressed and proud to have him representing the commonwealth on a national stage. Mike Duncan, the national Republican Party chair for Kentucky, believes this election is going to be about international and personal security. He also says he believes that Donald Trump is the candidate that voters want protecting them. Alvarado wasn’t the only one to take... Read more 
Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes to speak at DNC
07/21/2016 04:02 PM
The Democratic National Convention Committee announced Thursday afternoon a list of speakers who will address the convention in Philadelphia next week. So far, Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes is the only Kentuckian on the list. The DNC statement says leaders were chosen “to speak about their support for Clinton’s vision of an America that is stronger together and where the economy works for everyone, not just those at the top.” They say more speakers will be announced in the coming... Read more
Day three of the Republican National Convention " Make America First Again"
07/20/2016 08:00 PM
CLEVELAND – Donald Trump officially clenched the Republican Presidential nomination and the Kentucky delegates got to take part in history. Speaking on behalf of the Kentucky delegation, Governor Matt Bevin cast the roll call vote and Kentucky delegates called it exciting. State Representative David Osborne, R-Prospect, said, “I just absolutely saw history made. And regardless of what that looks like, it’s exciting to be a part of it. It’s what our country’s made of.” Delegates are not the only people... Read more
Cabinet officials tell legislators that benefind is improving and will get better in the future
07/20/2016 06:45 PM
FRANKFORT – Officials from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services told members of the Interim Joint Committee on Health and Welfare on Wednesday that they continue to iron out the problems with benefind, the Bevin Administrations portal for needs based assistance programs like Medicaid and food stamps, which was launched on February 29. CHFS officials presented much of the same message last week to members of the Program Review and Investigations Committee. Office of Administrative and Technology Services Executive Director... Read more
Judge to rule soon on legality of changes Gov. Bevin made to KRS board
07/20/2016 08:05 AM
FRANKFORT – After a 4 1/2 hour marathon hearing on Tuesday in Franklin Circuit Court, in the lawsuit intitiated by by Thommy Elliott and Mary Helen Peter, members of the former Kentucky Retirement Systems Board of Trustees, Judge Phillip Shepherd told attorneys that he will make a ruling soon on a number of executive order changes that Gov. Matt Bevin made to the Kentucky Retirement System Board of Directors including the termination of Board Chair Elliott. Other changes include, through the... Read more
Day two of the Republican National Convention "Make America Work Again"
07/19/2016 07:30 PM
CLEVELAND — Now that the dust has settled after chaos broke out on the convention floor on Monday, the Pure Politics team is catching up with the Kentucky delegates to get their take on all of the action. From the anti-Trump movement trying to get traction to what they think of vice presidential pick Mike Pence, state Sen. Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, and Gov. Matt Bevin weigh in on the convention process. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is speaking in... Read more
Sen. Paul's campaign and victory committees net $1.4M in latest fundraising quarter with nearly $2.3M cash on hand
07/19/2016 06:58 PM
U.S. Sen. Rand Paul will report raising $1.3 million in the latest fundraising quarter that ended June 30, Paul’s campaign told Pure Politics on Tuesday. That’s more than the nearly $1.1 million raised by Lexington Mayor Jim Gray, the Democratic candidate in the race. Paul’s campaign and the Rand Paul Victory Committee have nearly $2.3 million in cash on hand, according to the campaign, with that total jumping to $2.4 million when counting other various committees. Gray’s campaign has said it... Read more
McConnell previews his Tuesday speech at RNC
07/18/2016 11:38 PM
CLEVELAND — When U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, takes the stage on day two of the Republican National Convention he will cast likely Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton as bad for the economy. McConnell’s speech comes as part of the “Make America Work Again” theme and will focus on jobs and the economy and why Clinton will be an extension of the Obama years. “I’m clearly going to talk about what Hillary Clinton will be — four more years just... Read more
Day one of the Republican National Convention "Make America Safe Again"
07/18/2016 07:30 PM
CLEVELAND — The first day of the Republican National Convention is underway in Cleveland, and the Pure Politics team is there following the Kentucky delegates over the next four days. Mac Brown, chairman of the Republican Party of Kentucky, got the day started addressing the delegates. “We’ve come on a long road and I’m excited. I’m excited about where we are, the opportunity to nominate a man to lead this country in the right direction,” Brown said to the... Read more
Hillary Clinton calls for unity and justice reforms in light of police shooting tragedies
07/18/2016 05:59 PM
CINCINNATI — Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton decried the recent killing of policemen in Dallas and Baton Rouge and called for unity between law enforcement personnel and the communities that they serve as well as justice reform in a speech to members of the NAACP at their annual convention in Cincinnati. While Clinton feels that there has been progress in some communities building those relationships between police departments and the public, she says that there is still much work to... Read more
Political experts say decisions by Paul, Gray to skip national conventions will matter to diehards, not so much everyday voters
07/17/2016 09:22 PM
U.S. Sen. Rand Paul and his Democratic opponent, Lexington Mayor Jim Gray, won’t be attending their parties’ respective national conventions this year as Republicans and Democrats nominate the two most unpopular presidential candidates in modern history. But state political observers caution against reading too much into those decisions by Paul, who is among numerous Republicans skipping this week’s festivities in Cleveland, and Gray, who is campaigning in a state that has become increasingly conservative in federal elections. Paul has said he... Read more
Paul, Gray will skip national conventions to campaign in Kentucky
07/15/2016 06:48 PM
U.S. Sen. Rand Paul and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jim Gray will not attend their parties’ respective national conventions this year, instead opting to stay in Kentucky and focus on their campaigns. Paul told radio host Laura Ingraham on Tuesday that he would not attend the coronation of presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in Cleveland next week, saying he had scheduled campaign events in Kentucky. Paul spokeswoman Kelsey Cooper said the Republican incumbent will be performing pro-bono eye surgeries... Read more
Kentucky Democrats preparing for national convention
07/15/2016 02:57 PM
FRANKFORT — As Republicans from across the nation gather in Cleveland for their national convention next week, Democrats are preparing to head to Philadelphia the week of July 25 to nominate their presidential candidate. Speaking to Pure Politics from the Kentucky Democratic Party headquarters in Frankfort, KDP Chairwoman Sannie Overly said Kentucky’s delegation, which is split between pledged Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton delegates, will be treated to a “once in a lifetime opportunity.” “We have a number of events scheduled... Read more
Sen. Alvarado tapped for primetime speaking role at RNC
07/14/2016 08:41 PM
State Sen. Ralph Alvarado has been added to the primetime line up of speakers at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Alvarado, R-Winchester, will speak on Wednesday night around 9 p.m., according to the Republican Party of Kentucky. “It is an honor to be asked to speak at the convention and to represent Kentucky on the national stage,” Alvarado said in a statement. “I strongly believe that the Republican Party is the party of opportunity for voters of all backgrounds,... Read more
Tumultuous start behind them, cabinet officials say benefind on right track as lawmaker questions $3.5M paid to contractor for delays
07/14/2016 08:00 PM
FRANKFORT — After a rocky rollout in February, officials in the Cabinet for Health and Family Services told a legislative committee on Thursday that they have ironed out most of the issues that plagued benefind at its launch. But some lawmakers questioned the decision to open the portal for needs-based assistance programs like Medicaid and food stamps, with Sen. Danny Carroll suggesting that Attorney General Andy Beshear might want to look into whether the state could recoup some of the money... Read more
U.S. Senate sends bill addressing opiate addiction as health problem to President Obama
07/14/2016 10:11 AM
With a 92 to 2 vote the U.S. Senate approved comprehensive addiction legislation in a bipartisan manner. The bill known as the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, or CARA, will essentially change the way police and health care professionals treat people struggling with opioid addiction. CARA contains numerous proposals passed in recent years in the House and Senate. The bill which is expected to be signed by President Obama would strengthen treatment programs and increase access to the overdose halting... Read more
Bevin says Trump “absolutely” credible, reacts to removal of former first lady’s name from education center, lawmaker’s claim of partisan arm-twisting
07/13/2016 06:43 PM
FRANKFORT — Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is “absolutely” credible for the nation’s highest office, Gov. Matt Bevin said Wednesday. Compared with President Obama, “it’s not even a comparison,” Bevin said of Trump’s credentials. But as he’s done in the past, Bevin reiterated his decision against endorsing Trump in his run for the White House. “What people think of him personally is up to them individually,” Bevin told reporters after a Capitol news conference. “I’ve not endorsed anybody in my entire... Read more
Treasurer Ball defends motion to intervene in KRS case
07/13/2016 05:51 PM
Kentucky state Treasurer Allison Ball has stopped payment on two checks amounting to $50,000 from the Kentucky Retirement Systems to defend Thomas Elliott, who was ousted from his position as board chair in April. In an interview with Pure Politics on Tuesday, Ball said as treasurer she feels “strongly” about pension funds and making sure they’re used to aide retirees. Elliott is challenging Bevin’s authority to remove him from his post three years before his term was set to expire.... Read more
Work Ready Skills Initiative will make Kentucky “manufacturing hub of excellence,” Bevin says
07/13/2016 05:37 PM
FRANKFORT – With $100 million budgeted in the current biennium for bonds to improve workforce development in Kentucky, Gov. Matt Bevin and other cabinet officials unveiled on Wednesday a new program to dole out those funds. The Work Ready Skills Initiative will link educational institutions and private businesses in partnerships aimed at improving work readiness throughout the state, Bevin said at a news conference in the Capitol Rotunda. The governor noted that Kentucky currently ranks 47th nationally in workforce participation, reflecting a... Read more
Consultants Carville and Matalin say police forces need more pay, better training, more minority officers in light of recent tragedies
07/12/2016 10:52 PM
LEXINGTON — Hours before President Barack Obama and former President George W. Bush spoke at a memorial for five Dallas police officers slain in a racial shooting attack by an African-American veteran last week, political consultants James Carville and Mary Matalin offered their thoughts on police-race relations on the closing day of the Southern Legislative Conference. Both said cops should be better trained and paid more, with Matalin adding to more than 400 at the Lexington Convention Center on Tuesday that... Read more
UofL appointee declines post after tweeting about divisive topics and school athletics officials
07/12/2016 05:40 PM
A University of Louisville appointee who called for the resignation of the university’s president and athletics officials in the wake of scandal and opined on divisive topics like incompatibility of Christianity and homosexuality, evolution and climate change on Twitter has declined the post. Doug Cobb, entrepreneur-in-residence at the venture capital firm Chrysalis, notified Gov. Matt Bevin of the move in a letter on Tuesday. “You have honored me by appointing me to serve on the Board of Trustees of the University of... Read more
