Monday, September 8, 2014

Today's Political Headlines


Massie explains why he was against militarization of the police before Ferguson

09/08/2014 08:11 AM
In mid-June most of the House of Representatives voted against an amendment to stop the demilitarization of police forces across the nation, just a handful of Congressman including Kentucky’s fourth district U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Vanceburg, voted in favor of the bill. Little did Congress know that a police involved shooting on the outskirts of St. Louis would have the whole country weighing in on the tactics and tools of police just one month later. In the wake of unrest... Read more 

McConnell says minimum wage hike is a 'job killer', but once the economy rebounds it 'might make sense'

09/07/2014 10:04 AM
With an election being waged partially on the issue of raising the federal minimum wage and a new poll showing a majority of Kentuckians favoring the hike the candidates in the race for U.S. Senate are both making the case for why they are on the right side of the issue. Speaking to reporters in Louisville on Wednesday U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, who has said throughout the campaign that he is not in favor of raising the minimum wage, said... Read more 

Bevin "absolutely considering" potential run for another office, says no one should vote Grimes in 2014

09/06/2014 09:35 AM
Former Republican U.S. Senate candidate Matt Bevin is looking past his race against Kentucky U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell and says he is considering the encouragement of those around him to run for another office. Bevin told Pure Politics at the annual Fancy Farm picnic that he has been encouraged to run for another office. And in a poll about the 2015 governors race, Bevin topped the list of potential Republican candidates with 25 percent. On Wednesday, Bevin told Pure Politics he has... Read more 

State of the Judiciary: Minton calls for raises for elected judges, expungement for drug treatment and more

09/05/2014 03:26 PM
Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice John Minton said the judicial system in the state is moving forward after some trying years, but there are more initiatives ahead. In remarks about the state of the court system Friday, Minton said the system is moving forward with increased technology initiatives which the state has lagged in, but in order to keep up with other states and attract better judges he said judges need a bump in pay. The two-year state spending plan passed in... Read more 

U.S. Sen. race ads chatter: McConnell uses current events to illustrate leadership while Grimes uses absence from meetings

09/05/2014 11:29 AM
In the most recent round of ads in the U.S. Senate race, Kentucky U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell says the current problems the country faces requires someone with experience and leadership while Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes says the senator should be fired for missing committee meetings. Showing clips of recent news reports about struggles across the world leading to big decisions having to be made by the United States, the McConnell ad—titled “Serious Times”—seeks to illustrate the role that McConnell’s leadership position... Read more 
AFL-CIO brings 'Koch Sisters' ad to Lexington airwaves for minimum-wage push
from syoungman@herald-leader.com (Sam Youngman)
Though recent polls suggest that incumbent Mitch McConnell has established a small but steady lead over Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes in the U.S. Senate race, they also show overwhelming support…Click to Continue » [...]
Mon, Sep 08, 2014 11:14:00 AM, Continue reading at the source
Poll shows McConnell opening up clear lead over Grimes in Kentucky
from Accountability Editor
By Sam Youngman syoungman@herald-leader.com A new poll released Sunday morning shows U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell opening up a clear lead over Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes in Kentucky's U.S. Senate race. An NBC News/Marist poll shows McConnell's strongest positioning yet. His 8-point lead among likely voters, 47 percent to 39 percent, is outside the poll's margin of error of plus or minus 3.7 percentage points. Libertarian candidate David Patterson pulled 8 percent. Chuck Todd, moderating his first episode of "Meet the Press" on Sunday, noted the success Grimes has had fundraising when he announced the new numbers. "In red-state Kentucky, Alison Grimes, a Democrat, tons [...]
Sun, Sep 07, 2014 6:39:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
In Senate races, candidates tackle the blame game
Who's to blame for Washington gridlock?Click to Continue » [...]
Sun, Sep 07, 2014 12:24:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
Much at stake in struggle for control of Kentucky House
from jbrammer@herald-leader.com (Jack Brammer)
An intense political struggle is under way in the Bluegrass State for control of the state House in the Nov. 4 elections. Democrats and Republicans agree on at least one…Click to Continue » [...]
Sat, Sep 06, 2014 10:21:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
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Friday, September 5, 2014

Today's Political Headlines

Bevin says he hopes the Benton resignation does not impact McConnell's campaign

09/05/2014 09:00 AM
The resignation of Kentucky U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell’s campaign manager should not distract from the real issues in the race, according to McConnell’s former primary opponent Matt Bevin. Bevin told Pure Politics Tuesday he does not have a comment on the resignation of Jesse Benton because all the facts of the case are still not out and “we live in a country where we have the privilege of being innocent of everything until proven otherwise.” Without knowing the full facts of... Read more 

Agencies preparing for sweeping juvenile justice reforms, Westerfield says

09/04/2014 07:12 PM
Sen. Whitney Westerfield, R-Hopkinsville, one of the architects behind a series of reforms to the state’s juvenile justice system expects there to be some tweaks to the bill over the next session, and possibly further changes to the system in the coming years. Westerfield spoke to Pure Politics before the legislatively mandated first meeting of the juvenile justice oversight council on Thursday when he said he would hear “for the very first time where the agencies are up to this... Read more 

Beshear calls for state-owned properties to be tobacco-free

09/04/2014 04:00 PM
Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear announced Thursday he signed an executive order stating that all executive branch state property campuses will be tobacco-free effective November 20 – the day of the Great American Smokeout. The order means no cigarettes, tobacco products or e-cigarettes may be used in state-owned or leased buildings, in state-owned vehicles or on state property. The policy would impact 2,888 state-owned buildings and 568 other structures that the state leases. Beshear says that the tobacco ban will help with... Read more 

Hoover says mentality behind push polls in competitive races is "the problem in Kentucky"

09/04/2014 03:33 PM
House Republican Leader Jeff Hoover says the questions asked about Republicans in push polls being conducted by Democrats are unfair because they don’t tell the full story and are part of partisan games. Hoover said the questions asked in the push polls that were being conducted in some of the more competitive districts are unfair because they are not telling the full story behind the votes in question. For instance, state Rep. Michael Meredith, R-Brownville, told Pure Politics he had been told... Read more 

McConnell Campaign Manager Subpoenaed in Bribery Case Before He Resigned
from Phillip M. Bailey
The e-mails and financial statements of Republican Mitch McConnell’s former campaign manager were subpoenaed a month before he quit as the senator’s top aide.That’s according a grand jury document posted Thursday by The Center for Responsive Politics in a report about an ongoing federal investigation stemming from an alleged bribery of an Iowa legislator in 2012. [...]
Fri, Sep 05, 2014 12:00:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
3rd party candidates could tip key Senate races
A pizza deliveryman in North Carolina, a "libertarian cop" in Kentucky and an Alaska candidate — but not the one who was expected — hope to do what a Kansas…Click to Continue » [...]
Fri, Sep 05, 2014 7:45:00 AM, Continue reading at the source
Candidates for Lexington mayor, council at large share stage at Kentucky Theatre
from bmusgrave@herald-leader.com,By Beth Musgrave (Beth Musgrave)
Mayor Jim Gray, challenger Anthany Beatty and six men vying to become Lexington's next vice mayor shared the stage for the first time Thursday night as campaigning for the Nov.Click to Continue » [...]
Fri, Sep 05, 2014 1:28:00 AM, Continue reading at the source
McConnell adviser: Campaign has no knowledge of subpoenas reportedly involving former manager
from syoungman@herald-leader.com (Sam Youngman)
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's top adviser said Thursday that the campaign has no knowledge of subpoenas reportedly issued in an Iowa bribery investigation that seek information about McConnell's…Click to Continue » [...]
Thu, Sep 04, 2014 8:53:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
AFL-CIO's New Ad Takes Aim at Koch Brothers’ ‘Corporate Cash’ in Kentucky
from Phillip M. Bailey
A national labor union is launching a catchy new ad campaign in Kentucky on Thursday to counteract and draw attention to the politically-influential, billionaire Koch brothers.The AFL-CIO is making a six-figure ad buy this week introducing voters to the so-called “Koch Sisters,” two women, Karen and Joyce, who cast Republicans and the Koch brothers as enemies of middle-class Americans. [...]
Thu, Sep 04, 2014 5:19:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
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Thursday, September 4, 2014

Today's Political Headlines


The Chatter: Barr and Jensen release first ads of campaign focused on position in Congress

09/04/2014 11:14 AM
The candidates in the sixth district Congressional race are introducing themselves to the voters of the area with their first ads of the cycle released just one day apart. U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, R-Lexington, released two ads Wednesday marking his first ads of the election cycle. In the first ad, the messaging revolves around the title of the ad as it looks to say Barr is protecting “Our Home” in Congress. “This is our home, our values, and Andy Barr is protecting... Read more 

Kentucky along with 11 other states file suit against EPA on carbon regulations

09/03/2014 10:27 PM
ASHLAND — Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway and West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey announced that they have joined 10 other states in filing suit against the Environmental Protection Agency which in June proposed new regulations on carbon emissions. Conway and Morrisey appeared in Ashland on Thursday along with several eastern Kentucky lawmakers to announce the lawsuit and why the officials say the agency does not have the authority to regulate carbon emissions in the state. “The rules that have been proposed... Read more 

McConnell says Congress will likely back military action against Islamic militants

09/03/2014 05:53 PM
More military involvement in Iraq and Syria is a possibility, U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell told reporters in Louisville on Wednesday, but first McConnell said the president needs to come up with a plan and present it to Congress. Responding to a question from Pure Politics, McConnell said that he feels the president is heading down the right path on threat from ISIS, which McConnell said is a threat to Americans at home. However, McConnell said that President Barack Obama needs to... Read more 

House GOP leadership plan for control of chamber includes Right to Work, tax reform, action on kynect and more

09/03/2014 05:04 PM
On the road to trying to take control of the state House, Republican leaders of the chamber have announced their plan of action to pass legislation they believe the state desperately needs if they gain the majority. The “Handshake with Kentucky” platform released by House GOP leaders Tuesday includes legislation dealing with job growth, spending, stopping the Affordable Care Act’s impact on the state and “ending corruption in the House of Representatives.” In the statement about the plan, the party leaders say... Read more 

McConnell avoids questions on former campaign manager saying he is focused on issues in U.S. Senate race

09/03/2014 03:20 PM
LOUISVILLE — U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, avoided questions Wednesday about his former campaign manager Jesse Benton who resigned amid a deepening bribery scandal in Iowa from 2012. McConnell told reporters in Louisville that he is focused on “issues related to the race” adding that is what he thinks Kentuckians want to hear about in the final two months of the campaign. “My opponent wants to talk about anything other than the issues in the race,” McConnell said. “We... Read more 

Massie says there is more work to do in D.C. to build a coalition for deregulated hemp

09/03/2014 11:14 AM
Kentucky’s Fourth District U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Vanceburg, says he will need to keep gathering supporters for deregulating industrial hemp in the House of Representatives before the crop can have commercial success in the state. Massie has already filed a bill to deregulate the crop, which is now being grown in Kentucky in pilot projects. “My initiative in Congress is to get a full version of industrial hemp act passed,” Massie said. “What we need to do before you... Read more 
37,500 TV Ads Have Aired For Kentucky's Senate Race, Report Says
from Phillip M. Bailey
Spending in Kentucky’s U.S. Senate contest is expected to top $100 million, which could buy a lot in a poor state like this one.The campaigns and aligned groups for Republican incumbent Mitch McConnell and Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes are putting much of that cash into television ads. [...]
Thu, Sep 04, 2014 2:59:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
Andy Barr, Elisabeth Jensen take to the airwaves in fight for congressional seat
from jcheves@herald-leader.com (John Cheves)
Both candidates in Kentucky's 6th Congressional District started airing their first commercials of the fall campaign this week.Click to Continue » See ads from the 6th District race between Andy Barr, Elisabeth Jensen Jensen ad Barr ads [...]
Thu, Sep 04, 2014 2:02:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
Mitch McConnell Ready to ‘Move On’ After Campaign Manager’s Resignation
from Phillip M. Bailey
Less than a week after his top campaign aide, Jesse Benton, stepped down while being circled by questions from a federal bribery case, Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell is ready to move forward.“We’re moving on,” McConnell told the Lexington Herald-Leader on Tuesday. “We've got 60-some odd days left in the campaign. We're talking about the future and not the past.” [...]
Wed, Sep 03, 2014 3:30:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
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Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Today's Political Headlines


Barr calls for action in Iraq saying ISIS presents "a clear and present danger" to the U.S.

09/02/2014 09:40 PM
U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, R-Lexington, is calling for action from President Barack Obama and the United States military against Islamic militants in Iraq and Syria known as ISIS saying the terrorists pose a threat to Americans at home. After weeks of bombings in Iraq have pushed ISIS back from strategic strongholds news broke Tuesday that ISIS had killed a second American journalist captured in the region. The news prompted some congressmen to call for swift action from the president. On Friday,... Read more 
Mitch McConnell declines to discuss his campaign manager's resignation
from bestep@herald-leader.com (Bill Estep)
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell declined Tuesday to discuss the resignation of his former campaign manager, Jesse Benton, who quit last week as questions swirled about his role in a…Click to Continue » [...]
Tue, Sep 02, 2014 8:20:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
McConnell on former aide: 'We're moving on'
Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell is declining to answer questions about his former campaign manager who resigned amid a federal investigation of a 2012 Iowa Republican Caucus bribery scandal.Click to Continue » [...]
Tue, Sep 02, 2014 8:17:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
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Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Today's Political Headlines


Former U.S. Senate candidate Gurley L. Martin dies at 90

09/02/2014 12:35 PM
Gurley L. Martin, who ran as a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2010 and again briefly in 2014, passed away on Friday at the age of 90. Martin, who served in the Army stateside during World War II and retired after 40 years from Union Carbide Chemical Corporation, got 2,850 votes in the 2010 U.S. Senate primary which was won by Rand Paul. On November 27, 2013, his 90th birthday, Martin filed to run again as a GOP... Read more 

Ky. U.S. Sen. race candidates release ads based on news of the day as new poll shows issues voters care about

09/02/2014 11:36 AM
News of the day continues to conquer real issues in the Kentucky U.S. Senate race as both candidates launch new ads highlighting recent news stories harmful to their opponent. After news of the resignation of Jesse Benton , who was the manager for the campaign of Kentucky U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes released a web ad Tuesday morning hitting McConnell on the news story. The thirty-second web ad, titled “Mitch McConnell: UNDER FIRE for bribery scandal”, uses clips of... Read more 

Taking a shot at Rand Paul, Edelen says he's only going to run for one office at a time

09/01/2014 09:10 AM
After making the decision not to run for governor in 2015 state Auditor Adam Edelen is gearing up for a re-election bid for a second term in the office and he says “whatever happens after that happens.” Edelen has made no bones about one day wanting to be governor of Kentucky, but his name has also been included on the short list of potential Democrats to run for U.S. Senate in 2016. While taking a jab at U.S. Sen. Rand... Read more 

Northern Kentucky Chamber says poor voter turnout in region is responsible for lack of attention

08/31/2014 08:41 AM
COVINGTON – One thing that has plagued Northern Kentucky during recent elections has been low voter turnout and the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce is looking to change that by partnering with groups to get more area voters to the polls. During the recent May primary, Boone County had the second lowest turnout rate in the state with 16.94 percent going to the polls while Kenton County and Campbell County weren’t much better with Kenton at 17.85 percent and Campbell coming... Read more 

What Jesse Benton's departure means for McConnell's campaign & the possible attacks to come

08/30/2014 02:47 PM
UPDATED: With the resignation of McConnell’s campaign manager Jesse Benton amid a growing Iowa bribery scandal Democrats and Republicans are seeking to make their case for why it does or does not matter in Kentucky. Benton has been acting as McConnell’s campaign manager since September of 2012 and at stake for Benton is his role in the bribery of former Iowa state Sen. Kent Sorenson — who has plead guilty to receiving thousands for switching his support from Michelle Bachmann... Read more 

Next up for Edelen: Kentucky Teacher's Retirement System audit

08/30/2014 12:27 PM
Calling for bold solutions to the “extraordinary” problem of growing debt within Kentucky Teacher’s Retirement System Auditor Adam Edelen says all options should be on the table to deal with the liabilities— including bonding. Edelen’s next audit will focus on the governance of the Kentucky Teacher’s Retirement System. A new accounting rule changes will mean that the fund’s debt — or unfunded liability — will nearly double to $23 billion in 2015. The rule change, Edelen said, is essentially ending... Read more 

Stumbo says new clean energy project in Pike Co. a glimmer of hope for the region's economy

08/30/2014 07:25 AM
RCC Big Shoal and Pike County officials announced the beginning of a new project to build a natural gas-to-liquids plant in Pike County Thursday which they say will help the eastern Kentucky economy with the new natural resource. As the region looks to find new ways to re-build the economy as the the coal industry continues to decline, the new plant in the region would use natural gas extracted throughout the region to create new products. According to the officials at the... Read more 
State House Republicans unveil 'Handshake with Kentucky' election platform
from jbrammer@herald-leader.com (Jack Brammer)
Unveiling a platform called "Handshake with Kentucky," state House Republican leaders vowed Tuesday to approve "right-to-work" legislation and a host of other proposals if they gain control of the House…Click to Continue » [...]
Tue, Sep 02, 2014 5:06:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
Kentucky Republicans Question Libertarian Senate Candidate’s Ballot Signatures
from Phillip M. Bailey
The Republican Party of Kentucky is questioning petition signatures obtained by Libertarian U.S. Senate candidate David Patterson to place him on the Nov. 4 ballot.In a letter to county clerks last week, GOP Chairman Steve Robertson asks that the signatures be reviewed and verified. Patterson obtained around 9,100 signatures for his petition to join Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes and Republican Mitch McConnell on the ballot. [...]
Tue, Sep 02, 2014 3:07:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
Poll: Two-thirds oppose law change so Rand Paul can run for Senate, president simultaneously
from syoungman@herald-leader.com (Sam Youngman)
Though U.S. Sen. Rand Paul is generating national buzz as he flirts with running for the White House in 2016, voters in Kentucky are not as enthused by the idea,Click to Continue » [...]
Tue, Sep 02, 2014 12:00:00 AM, Continue reading at the source
Bluegrass Poll: Kentucky voters split on which political party should lead the state House
from jbrammer@herald-leader.com (Jack Brammer)
As Republicans try to take over the state House for the first time since 1921, a new poll shows Kentucky voters split on on the question of which political party…Click to Continue » [...]
Mon, Sep 01, 2014 12:00:00 AM, Continue reading at the source
Mitch McConnell Extends Lead Over Alison Lundergan Grimes in Latest Bluegrass Poll
from Phillip M. Bailey
Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell has added slightly to his lead over Democratic challenger Alison Lundergan Grimes, according to the latest Bluegrass Poll released Saturday evening.The survey of 569 likely Kentucky voters puts McConnell ahead of Grimes by four points in the tightly contested U.S. Senate race, a lead that is still within the margin of error with less than 10-weeks until Election Day. [...]
Sun, Aug 31, 2014 12:00:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
McConnell Campaign Manager Resigns After Iowa Bribery Probe Expands
from Phillip M. Bailey
Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell’s campaign manager Jesse Benton stepped down late Friday as a federal bribery investigation of Ron Paul’s 2012 presidential run expands.In a released statement, Benton, who ran Paul’s presidential campaign, said he met with McConnell on Friday afternoon and resigned in order to avoid further distractions in Kentucky’s tightly-contested Senate race. [...]
Sat, Aug 30, 2014 12:07:00 AM, Continue reading at the source
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