Pol Watchers

Please bookmark Bluegrass Politics now

jstamper@herald-leader.com (Pol Watchers) — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:21:06 PST

If you're still using this site as a way to reach Bluegrass Politics, please bookmark the new site now. Pol Watchers will disappear later this month. Thanks again for being a loyal reader. - John Stamper

We've moved

jstamper@herald-leader.com (Pol Watchers) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:44:49 PST

Pol Watchers is now Bluegrass Politics. Click over and take a look. While you're there, go ahead and bookmark the site and subscribe to our feed if you like what you see.- John Stamper

Recanvass shows no changes in 2 state legislative races

jstamper@herald-leader.com (Pol Watchers) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:17:01 PST

FRANKFORT -- A recanvass Thursday showed no changes in a state House race in Hardin County and a state Senate race in Northern Kentucky, Secretary of State Trey Grayson's office said. In the race for the 26th House District in Hardin County, Republican incumbent Tim Moore received 7,659 votes to Democrat Mike Weaver's 7,551, a recanvass showed. In the 23rd Senate District, a recanvass showed Republican incumbent Jack Westwood with 21,057 votes to Democrat Kathy Groob's 20,250. The recanvass totals in both races were identical to official vote totals certified to Grayson's office after the Nov. 4 elections. Les Fugate, deputy assistant secretary of state, said the recanvass results will be presented to the State Board of Elections next Tuesday for official certification of the votes. Candidates have until Friday to file a petition for a recount with a court, he said. A recanvass involves checking the math of voting...

Conway selects 6 counties for post-election audits

jstamper@herald-leader.com (Pol Watchers) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 06:15:38 PST

FRANKFORT -- Attorney General Jack Conway held a public drawing in his Capitol office Thursday to choose in which Kentucky counties his office will conduct post-election audits. Selected were Pendleton, Edmonson, Monroe, Cumberland, Montgomery and Union counties. State law requires the state's chief law-enforcement official to conduct a post-election audit investigation in no fewer than 5 percent of Kentucky's 120 counties after each primary and general election. The counties are selected in a random drawing, which must be done within 20 days of the election. Counties selected for audits in the previous election cannot be selected for the next round of audits. Conway said his office will contact clerks in the counties selected, check their voting machines, conduct interviews and "try to make certain the elections were free and fair." Conway's office will report findings of the audits to the grand jury in each county. He said he hopes to...

Patton raises odds of his running for U.S. Senate

jstamper@herald-leader.com (Pol Watchers) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 11:00:44 PST

FRANKFORT -- Former Democratic Gov. Paul Patton indicated today that he's not a likely candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2010. While talking to reporters after a higher education meeting Wednesday, Patton was asked about a recent column by Courier-Journal political reporter Joe Gerth that handicapped possible candidates for the seat now held by Republican incumbent Jim Bunning. Gerth placed the odds of Patton's entering the race at 50-1. "Better make that 1,000-1," Patton said . --Jack Brammer

Advocates push to increase dropout age

jstamper@herald-leader.com (Pol Watchers) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:50:30 PST

Kentucky child advocates said Wednesday they plan to pursue legislation that would raise the legal age to drop out of school from 16 to 18 years old. Kentucky's graduation rates have long been below national averages -- no matter what statistics the state uses to measure the number of students who graduate high school in Kentucky. Increasing the age at which a child can leave school will improve those numbers, child advocates said Wednesday at a news conference in Frankfort. The increase in the legal age to drop out and a cap on interest rates for payday loan operators are two key pieces of legislation that the group plans to introduce in the General Session starting in January. Other issues the group plans to push include increasing the amount of time children spend doing physical activity at school to 30 minutes a day, pressing for more money for services that...

State lawmakers form caucus to promote healthy babies

jstamper@herald-leader.com (Pol Watchers) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:37:37 PST

FRANKFORT -- Aware that Kentucky gets a failing grade from the March of Dimes for the health of its mothers and newborns, two state lawmakers will announce the formation Wednesday of a new legislative caucus to deal with maternal and child health issues. Sen. Julie Denton, R-Louisville, and Rep. Jimmie Lee, D-Elizabethtown, are to hold a 3:30 p.m. news conference in the Capitol Rotunda to announce they will co-chair the new Healthy Babies Caucus of the Kentucky General Assembly. Denton is chairwoman of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee. Lee is chairman of the budget review subcommittee on human resources for the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee. More than 20 lawmakers already have agreed to join the caucus. “The Healthy Babies Caucus will have a simple but critically important mission: help the General Assembly and state government take measures that will reduce premature births and improve the health of Kentucky...

Sen. Pendleton's employment record part of 'open investigation'

jstamper@herald-leader.com (Pol Watchers) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 11:15:44 PST

FRANKFORT – Attorney General Jack Conway has declined to release records about a state senator's employment record at Murray State University, citing an "open investigation." Conway revealed the investigation, which somehow relates to the employment documents of state Sen. Joey Pendleton, D-Hopkinsville, in a letter to State Republican Party Chairman Steve Robertson on Nov. 5, the day after Pendleton was re-elected to the Senate. Robertson is accusing Conway of “a political cover-up.” But Allison Martin, a spokeswoman for Conway, said the attorney general’s office will neither confirm nor deny any investigation of Pendleton. She also said Conway has handled open records requests from Robertson about Pendleton “according to protocol.” “To insist that Attorney General Conway is not handling this in a professional manner is disingenuous and inaccurate,” Martin said. In late October, Robertson asked Conway to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate allegations that Pendleton got unauthorized pay from the...

Judge sets rules in bid rig case

jstamper@herald-leader.com (Pol Watchers) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:53:43 PST

U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Todd ruled Monday that subpoenas to witnesses by defense lawyers in a widely-watched transportation bid tampering case should go through his office first. All subpoenas will come to Todd and then Todd will decide if the subpoena was overbroad. Any documents requested by the subpoena will also be reviewed by Todd before going to defense lawyers, Todd said Monday. Todd's ruling, after a one-hour hearing in federal court in Lexington Monday, was in response to ongoing disputes between federal prosecutors and lawyers for indicted road contractor Leonard Lawson, former Transportation Secretary Bill Nighbert and a Lawson employee, Brian Billings. All three were indicted in September in connection with charges relating to the tampering of bids for Lawson-related companies during former Gov. Ernie Fletcher's administration. All three have pleaded not guilty. Billings, who faces two counts of obstruction, was the only defendant present for Monday's hearing....

More change coming Friday

jstamper@herald-leader.com (Pol Watchers) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:41:35 PST

Click the image above to visit the beta version of our new site. While you're there, please go ahead and bookmark the new site and subscribe to its feed via a reader or e-mail. We'll be tinkering with things like color schemes and blogrolls this week, so let us know what you like and dislike. But don't forget to check back here until Friday, because our latest content won't be reliably showing up on the new site until then.- John Stamper

Change

jstamper@herald-leader.com (Pol Watchers) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 06:48:02 PST

If you didn't read to the end of Ryan Alessi's Notebook column today, you missed the important part. Here it is:My last political columnAfter more than four years of writing the weekly political notebook column, this is my final one.Later this month, I will begin covering Kentucky's colleges and universities, as well as higher education policies and trends, for the Herald-Leader.It's a new challenge that I'm eager to tackle. But it doesn't signal a cutback in the Herald-Leader's commit ment to covering state government and politics. Eventually, a new political writer will be named.For the nearly six years I served in that capacity, I had the tremendous fortune of learning from some of the most knowledgeable and insightful sources and analysts, who patiently taught me the history and nuances of Kentucky's unique and colorful brand of politics.And although the ranks of the Frankfort press corps have shrunk in recent years,...

Some Republicans looking to replace Duncan at RNC

jstamper@herald-leader.com (Pol Watchers) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 08:05:00 PST

Republican leaders in different states say a growing number of hopefuls have been making calls and sending out feelers to replace Republican National Committee chairman Mike Duncan of Inez, even though Duncan is said to want a new, two-year term. Next weekend, South Carolina GOP chairman Katon Dawson plans to bring RNC members from around the country to Myrtle Beach to hash over what went right and what went wrong on Election Day. Besides losing the White House, the party lost more seats in the U.S. House and Senate and gave up control of more state legislatures than it gained. Dawson has been courting support among the RNC’s members to replace Duncan. - The Associated Press

Duncan: GOP will be firm, moderating force

jstamper@herald-leader.com (Pol Watchers) — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 22:03:47 PST

FRANKFORT — After taking a drubbing in national elections but holding their own in Kentucky, Republican leaders said the party will move forward on both fronts by serving as a firm, moderating force to keep Democrats in check. “I know I speak for Republicans everywhere when I say we owe it to the American people to put the ‘loyal’ back in loyal opposition,” said Republican National Committee Chairman Robert “Mike” Duncan. “The facts do refute absolutely the preposterous idea that this election represents a mandate for another New Deal or that it is the death rattle of Republican conservatism.” Duncan, an Inez banker who now heads the RNC, told the Kentucky Republican Party’s central committee Saturday that President-elect Barack Obama’s first test will be whether he can keep congressional Democrats — he mentioned House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy, among others — from straying too far from...

Bunning wants $10 million for re-election; Dems eyeing seat

jstamper@herald-leader.com (Pol Watchers) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 04:21:13 PST

FRANKFORT — Republican U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning warned GOP activists Saturday that he’ll soon need help amassing at least $10 million to fund his campaign for a third term, which he expects will draw fierce Democratic opposition. Then he laid down the gauntlet to any would-be Democratic challengers. “I’m telling you right now we’re going to kick butt in 2010,” said Bunning, the Hall of Fame pitcher and two-term senator who hails from Northern Kentucky. His comments come as both parties take a deep breath after Tuesday’s election and begin looking to the next cycle in 2010, when Bunning’s Senate seat will be the top prize in Kentucky. Already, a host of high-ranking Democratic officials are being mentioned as potential contenders. Bunning knows they’re gunning for him and says he’s ready. Speaking to the Kentucky Republican Party’s state central committee members, Bunning praised the state GOP’s performance in re-electing U.S....

McConnell, Obama congratulate each other

jstamper@herald-leader.com (Pol Watchers) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 07:58:40 PST

U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, now the top-ranking GOP official in Washington, fielded a call from Democratic President-elect Barack Obama on Thursday in which the two men congratulated each other and agreed to talk at length later in D.C. McConnell had left a message for Obama Wednesday, a day after both men won decisive electoral victories. And Obama returned the call Thursday while McConnell was grocery shopping at the Bardstown Road Kroger in Louisville, said Robert Steurer, McConnell's spokesman. The call lasted about five minutes, and McConnell told Obama he expected Senate Republicans to suppport qualified candidates that Obama nominates for cabinet posts, Steurer said. McConnell released a statement and told reporters on a Wednesday conference call that he expects that process to go smoothly. "I fully anticipate that President-elect Obama will select well-qualified nominees for the key, early cabinet secretary nominations," McConnell said in the statement. "And if so, he...

'Comment' will analyze Election Day

jstamper@herald-leader.com (Pol Watchers) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 07:00:49 PST

Three political reporters will join host Ferrell Wellman to discuss the elections on this weekend's "Comment on Kentucky," a public-affairs show of the Kentucky Educational Television network. They are Pat Crowley of the Kentucky Enquirer, Mark Hebert of WHAS-TV in Louisville and Greg Stotlemyer of WTVQ-TV in Lexington. The show begins at 8 p.m. Friday on KET1. -Jack Brammer

Beshear's rift with GOP Senate could imperil revenue plan

jstamper@herald-leader.com (Pol Watchers) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 08:49:34 PST

Gov. Steve Beshear said Thursday he will move forward with plans to generate more state revenue, but those efforts would have to clear a solidly-Republican state Senate with whom Beshear has an increasingly frigid relationship. Atop Beshear’s list of options to erase a projected $300 million budget shortfall is a potential increase in the state’s 30-cent-per-pack tax on cigarettes. Beshear has suggested a special legislative session to address that or other measures, but any firm plan will come after key revenue projections are released following Thanksgiving. “At that point, I need to put together a proposed plan, and then I want to take that plan out to the people of this state to get some feedback. I want to discuss it with legislators to get their feedback,” he said Thursday. “So realistically, we’re looking at after Christmas or after the first of the year to be in a position to...

Panel to propose changes in criminal law

jstamper@herald-leader.com (Pol Watchers) — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:48:49 PST

Meeting in small groups since March, the Kentucky Criminal Justice Council has been debating ways to reduce the state's swollen inmate population in prisons and local jails without endangering public safety.Gov. Steve Beshear expects a report from the council next month so he can propose changes in the penal code to the 2009 General Assembly this winter.The council -- which includes Justice Secretary J. Michael Brown and about 16 prosecutors, public defenders, legislators and state officials -- plans to meet Nov. 24 to adopt its report. So far, the council's subcommittees favorably have discussed ideas that include: Expand parole opportunities for elderly and ailing inmates who no longer pose an obvious threat, but who still have years left to serve; Expand substance-abuse programs so they're available at all prisons and every local jail that is contracted to hold state inmates (although panel members note that the state government doesn't seem...

Campaigns raise, spend $2 billion in 2008

jstamper@herald-leader.com (Pol Watchers) — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:11:28 PST

It's a wonder the United States is in a recession, since the presidential and congressional campaigns that ended Tuesday pumped nearly $2 billion into the economy.A report issued Thursday by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks money in politics, says the presidential campaigns spent $1.2 billion during the primaries and general election; U.S. Senate campaigns spent $250 million; and U.S. House campaigns spent $483 million.In each category, Democrats on average had more money this year than Republicans.Most of the time, the candidate with more money won. Democratic President-elect Barack Obama, who broke his pledge to accept public financing and spending limits, raised $640 million, dwarfing the $370 million of Republican Sen. John McCain, who accepted public financing.Nearly 95 percent of the Senate and House candidates with more money -- and as a result, more TV and radio commercials, more yard signs, more staff -- beat their opponents.And those...

Beshear to press ahead on revenue measures

jstamper@herald-leader.com (Pol Watchers) — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:32:41 PST

Gov. Steve Beshear, coming off an election in which Democrats managed mostly to tread water in state legislative races, said he will move forward with plans for to generate more state revenue later this month. At the top of the list is a potential increase in the state's 30-cent-per-pack tax on cigarettes. Beshear has suggested a special legislative session to address that, which he said must come after key revenue projections come out after Thanksgiving. "At that point, I need to put together a proposed plan and then I want to take that plan out to the people of this state to get some feedback. I want to discuss it with legislators to get their feedback," he said. "So realistically, we're looking at after Christmas or after the first of the year to be in a position to take any kind of official action."Republican Senate President David Williams has balked...