Republican Party of Kentucky

2006 Christian County Young Republicans River Run Rally

2006-03-21T10:24:00.000-05:00

2006 Christian County Young Republicans River Run Rally

Date/Times: April 15, 2006 4-7 pm CST

Location: River Run Farms – Tate House
Striped Bridge Road
Hopkinsville, KY 42240

Hosted by: Christian County Young Republicans

Cost: $50.00 per person

Dist. Guest: Congressman Ed Whitfield, State Sen. Winters, Rep's. Carr & Rudy

Music and Food Provided

Dress: Business Casual

Mail fee to: Christian County Young Republicans
4044 Ft. Campbell Blvd. PMB #158
Hopkinsville, KY 42240

RSVP by: April 3, 2006

Contact: Thomas J. Monroe- Christian County Young Republicans Chairman (270) 498-5009
Chad Roberts- Christian County Young Republicans Vice-Chairman (270) 498-1904

2006 Lincoln Day Statesmen Dinner

2006-02-06T10:24:00.000-05:00

The Republican Party of Kentucky will hold its 2006 Lincoln Day Statesmen Dinner on Saturday, February 25 at the Lexington Convention Center. The keynote speaker will be U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist.

A Statesmen Reception with GOP leadership will last 5:30 - 6:30pm, with a cost of $1,000/person. The Dinner, scheduled for 7 - 9pm, is $75 in advance or $100 at the door. Advance tickets must be purchased by February 20.

If interested, please click on the appropriate sidebar link for a form that must be printed, completed, and returned.

Please don't hesitate to call (502-875-5130) or e-mail with questions.

2006 Fayette County Ronald Reagan Dinner

2006-01-06T09:05:00.000-05:00

The Fayette County Republican Party is holding the 1st Annual Ronald Reagan Dinner with Special Guest Bill Kristol, Editor of the Weekly Standard and Fox News Analyst.

The event is being held on Friday January 27th, 2006 at the Marriott Griffin Gate Resort, 1800 Newton Pike in Lexington Kentucky.

Private Reception begins at 6:00pm
Dinner begins at 7:00pm

Levels of support
Benefactor ($2,000) 2 Seats at the Head table at the dinner, admission to the private reception and a photo-op
Patron ($1,000) 4 preferential tickets to the dinner, admission to the private reception and a photo-op
Sponsor ($500) 2 preferential tickets to the dinner, and admission to the private reception
Friend ($250) 2 preferential tickets to the dinner
Guest ($75) 1 ticket to the dinner

Contact: Fayette County GOP Headquarters 859-254-3532

Event for Sen. Dan Seum

2005-11-29T09:12:00.000-05:00

Please join Lt. Governor Steve Pence in honoring State Sen. Dan Seum.

December 15th 2005 from 6p-8p

2101 Arnold Palmer Blvd
Louisville, KY 40245

RSVP: dtoborowsky@aol.com or 502-548-3093

Kentucky Democrats embrace Hillary Clinton

2005-11-07T14:27:00.000-05:00

State Democrat party continues to embrace liberal agenda

FRANKFORT- Today the State Democrat party announced that Sen. Hillary Clinton will be attending a December 2nd fundraiser to benefit the struggling Kentucky Democrat fundraising efforts. After embracing radical Sen. Joe Biden, whose Pro-gun control, Pro-Same Sex Marriage and Pro-big government record, the State Democrats have found someone even more liberal by hosting the 'Sen. Hillary Clinton show.'

"It amazes me how truly out of touch the State Democrat Party is with the values of Kentuckians." said GOP Chairman Darrell Brock. "I would have thought that they would have learned with the huge rejection John Kerry experienced in 2004, Northeast liberals are not what Kentuckians want to embrace."

Hillary Clinton, long considered the liberal conscience in the Bill Clinton presidency, has since brought her ideology to the US Senate with a record that makes John Kerry look like a moderate. Hillary Clinton's record of accomplishment:
~Voted against the Bush tax cut package's in 2001 and 2003
~Clinton's 95% rating by the Americans for Democrat Action, puts her ahead of liberals such as Senators Schumer, Kennedy, Feinstein and Kerry.
Rated 100% by the National Abortion Rights Action League and a 0% from National Right to Life. These votes reflect her support of Partial Birth abortion.
~The one score that the Christian Coalition has issued since she has been in the US Senate was a 0%.

"With a record only Speaker Jody Richards and the House Democrats could be proud of, it will be interesting to see which of the 'conservative members' of the Democrat House and Senate Caucuses show up to embrace her liberal agenda," continued Brock.

"Kentucky Democrats have lost elections by running away from who they are at a national level." concluded Brock. "Since that strategy has failed, we welcome their endorsement of a Clinton-Biden-Kerry-Dean agenda because I can guarantee they will win even fewer elections with that message."

Kentucky GOP strong in voter registrations in 2005

2005-10-27T10:54:00.000-04:00

FRANKFORT- New data from Secretary of State Trey Grayson office shows that from June 15, 2005 until October 17, 2005, Republican's out registered Democrats by 47%. Totals for the year show Republicans have far out registered Democrats with over 24,000 new Republican voters to only 12,000 new Democrats.

“Kentuckians are responding to the party’s vision of growth, opportunity and prosperity and our success is due in large part to the wonderful grassroots activities of the party,” concluded US Senator Mitch McConnell. “I am proud that Republican values are clearly Kentucky values and look forward to this trend continuing for years to come.”

The Republican Party of Kentucky along with its extremely active and energetic County Party structure made registering new voters a huge priority. Activities were conducted by dozens of county parties throughout the summer at county fairs and festivals. There were also larger efforts such as door-to-door activities in Kenton County where Republicans have almost become the majority party.

“Since January 1, 2005 the goal of the Republican Party of Kentucky was to live by the three “R’s,” commented Chairman Darrell Brock. “We wanted to Register more voters, Raise more money and Recruit a lot of great candidates—our plan is going great!”

The breakout is as follows:

*Data obtained by request from the Office of the Secretary of State

"These numbers represent the continuation of an impressive trend of unprecedented growth for the Republican Party, and reflect a clear recognition by many Kentuckians that the Republican Party shares their conservative values," said Secretary of State Trey Grayson.

Republican registration activities will continue throughout the remainder of this year and into next year. For example in the first few days of November the Christian County Republican Party will be doing a Voter Registration Campaign, called "Surf the Wave" where they will be running their efforts as a campaign with educational advertisements and volunteers moving around the county hitting targeted areas for new registrants or potential switchers.

"Our County Parties are the life-blood of our success," concluded Brock. "No matter what the Democrats try and say, people are proud to be Republicans."

To understand better about the drop in registered voters and to learn more about the Secretary of State’s policy of cleaning of the voter roles: http://sos.ky.gov/secdesk/mediacenter/pressreleases/article10.htm

###

Liberal Sen. Joe Biden and Kentucky Democrats hug in Northern Kentucky

2005-10-21T16:42:00.000-04:00

FRANKFORT- With the Kentucky Democrat Party in Frankfort strapped financially, State Democrat Chairman Jerry Lundergan has called in one of his ‘Howard Dean-Liberal Cronies’ from Washington DC, to help raise money in Northern Kentucky.

Sen. Joe Biden’s record is certainly one that all the Democrats in the Kentucky Legislature would be proud of, as it is one the most liberal of all US Senators.

“Bringing in ultra-liberal Joe Biden proves how desperate and out of touch the Democrat Party of Kentucky is with the values of real Kentuckians,¨ commented U.S. Senator Jim Bunning.

Sen. Joe Biden’s record in Washington DC includes:
~A rating of 16% by the Christian Coalition, which demonstrates his anti-family voting record
~An “F” by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun control voting record
~A 0% for his votes during 107th Congress by the National Right To Life Committee
~A rating of 15% by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes
~A 100% rating for votes In 107th Congress from the Human Rights Campaign, a group that describes themselves as “As America’s largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization.”

“It will be interesting to see which of the members of the Kentucky Legislature decide to show up to put their arms around Joe Biden and his liberal agenda,” said Darrell Brock, State GOP Chairman.

The Democrats in the Kentucky State House have tried to portray themselves as moderate, even as recently as October 4th when House majority caucus chairman Rep. Bob Damron proclaimed in the Courier-Journal “Kentucky Democrats are not what northern Democrats are."

“Bob Damron and the other Frankfort Democrats like to pretend their agenda and their party leadership aren’t liberal. Yet when you embrace someone like Joe Biden and take his money, do you really expect to be able to claim the conservative agenda? I think not,” said RPK Chairman Darrell Brock.

McConnell gets ready to step into Frist's shoes

2005-10-19T15:58:00.000-04:00

The Washington DC newspaper The Hill published a wonderful article about Kentucky's senior Senator, Sen. Mitch McConnell. He has always been a great leader for Kentucky and the article details how close he is to leading the United State Senate:

McConnell gets ready to step into Frist's shoes

Some excerpts:
Mitch McConnell is waiting patiently in the Senate's wings, but he will soon be standing in the spotlight - a fact not lost on lawmakers, lobbyists and aides.
...
Halfway through his fourth term, the 63-year-old McConnell has established a reputation as an institutional insider who is masterful in the interdependent arts of cutting deals and building legislative coalitions. Before moving into the upper echelon of leadership, he ran the two committees that often give lawmakers the least news coverage but the most leverage with colleagues: Ethics and Rules.
...
"He's an incredibly politically astute person," said the member of his inner circle. "He does have that ability that good politicians exhibit: to see around corners."

For the full story: http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/101805/mcconnell.html

Senator Gary Tapp announces for reelection

2005-10-11T14:52:00.000-04:00

Senator Gary Tapp announces for reelection

FRANKFORT- State Senator Gary Tapp (R-Waddy) announced today his intent to file for re-election to the State Senate in 2006.

Senator Tapp, "I have been honored by the confidence of the people of this district. I look forward to continuing to give the 20th District honest and fair representation.”

Senator Gary Tapp represents the 20th District which comprises Bullitt, Shelby, and Spencer counties. He is the Chairman of the Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations Committee and serves on the Appropriations and Revenue Committee, Education Committee, and Transportation Committee. Senator Tapp was elected to the House in 1999 and to the Senate in 2003.

Senator Ernie Harris announces for reelection

2005-10-11T14:04:00.000-04:00

Senator Ernie Harris announces for reelection

FRANKFORT- State Senator Ernie Harris announced today his intent to file for re-election to the State Senate in 2006.

Senator Harris stated, "I have worked hard on issues such as economic development, agriculture, and affordable healthcare and I look forward to continuing serving the citizens of the 26th District.”

Senator Ernie Harris (R-Crestwood) represents the 26th District comprising Carroll, Henry, Jefferson, Oldham, and Trimble counties. He is the Vice-Chairman of the Appropriations and Revenue Committee and is a member of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, Banking and Insurance Committee, and State and Local Government Committee. He has served as senator since 1995.

Senator Katie Stine announces for reelection

2005-10-11T14:03:00.000-04:00

Senator Katie Stine announces for reelection

FRANKFORT- State Senator Katie Kratz Stine (R-Ft. Thomas) announced today her intent to file for re-election to the State Senate in 2006.

Senator Stine stated, "It’s been an honor to serve the people of Campbell and Pendleton counties in the Senate. As a member of Leadership, I look forward to serving my constituents even better in the future.”

Senator Katie Kratz Stine represents the 24th District which includes Campbell and Pendleton counties. Senator Stine is a member of the Republican Senate Leadership; as President Pro-Tem, she presides over the Senate Chamber when Senate President David L. Williams is unavailable. She is the first woman to hold this position. Senator Stine is also the Vice-Chair of the Judiciary Committee and serves on the Committee on Committees, Economic Development, Tourism and Labor Committee, Health and Welfare Committee, Rules Committee, and Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection Committee. She was first elected to the House in 1995 and to the Senate in 1999.

Senator Charlie Borders announces for reelection

2005-10-06T13:58:00.000-04:00

Senator Charlie Borders announces for reelection

FRANKFORT-- State Senator Charlie Borders (R-Russell) announced today his intent to file for re-election to the State Senate in 2006.

Senator Borders stated, "I am extremely thankful for the almost 15 years that the citizens of the 18th district have given me to be their voice in Frankfort. Much has been accomplished yet much remains to be done. Our state must address major issues including education, health care, corrections, transportation, and economic development. I feel that my experience and in particular my position as Appropriations and Revenue chairman allows me to continue to be a strong voice for those I serve as we address these and other important issues."

Senator Charlie Borders represents the 18th District, encompassing Bracken, Carter, Greenup, Lewis, Mason, and Robertson counties. He is the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee and serves on the Health and Welfare and Transportation committees. He has worked for his district since 1991.

Senator Dan Kelly announces for reelection

2005-10-06T13:50:00.000-04:00

Senator Dan Kelly announces for reelection

FRANKFORT- State Senator Dan Kelly (R-Springfield) announced today his intent to file for re-election to the State Senate in 2006.

Senator Kelly stated, "I appreciate the opportunity I have been given to work on issues such as early literacy intervention, better math education, improved water and sewer services in our rural communities, and dealing with the difficult issue of providing affordable healthcare. These are important concerns and there is still much work to be done.”

Senator Dan Kelly represents the 14th District encompassing Marion, Mercer, Nelson, Taylor, and Washington counties. Senator Kelly is a member of the Senate Leadership; as Senate Majority Floor Leader, he directs the flow of legislation on the Senate floor. He is vice-chair of both the Committee on Committees and Rules Committee. He also serves on Appropriations and Revenue Committee and Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. Senator Kelly has served his district since 1991.

State Senator Alice Forgy Kerr announces for reelection

2005-10-05T11:16:00.000-04:00

State Senator Alice Forgy Kerr announces for reelection

State Senator Alice Forgy Kerr (R-Lexington) announced today her intent to file for re-election to the State Senate in 2006.

Senator Kerr stated, "The greatest honor and privilege of my life is serving the fine people of Fayette County. I hope to continue to serve, if re-elected, so that we can work together to make our home the best place in the state for our children, grandchildren, and parents to live and flourish.”

Senator Alice Forgy Kerr represents the 12th District in Fayette County. Chairwoman of the Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor Committee, Senator Kerr is also the Vice-Chair of the State and Local Government Committee. She is also serves on the Appropriations and Revenue Committee, Education Committee, and Health and Welfare Committee. Senator Kerr has held office since 1999.

Senator Elizabeth Tori announces for reelection

2005-10-05T11:14:00.000-04:00

Senator Elizabeth Tori announces for reelection

FRANKFORT- State Senator Elizabeth Tori (R-Radcliff) announced today her intent to file for re-election to the State Senate in 2006.

Senator Tori stated, "I have been most appreciative of the support of the people in this district over the past years. I will continue to work for you and your family in a Christian and conservative way.”

Senator Elizabeth Tori represents the 10th District which encompasses Hardin and a part of Jefferson counties. She is the Chairwoman of both the Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection Committee and the Enrollment Committee. She also a member of the Appropriations and Revenue Committee and State and Local Government Committee. She is in the process of pre-filing legislation to return the 10 Commandments Monument to the grounds of the State Capitol.

Senator Tori has served her district since 1995.

Senator Tom Buford announces for reelection

2005-10-04T16:05:00.000-04:00

Senator Tom Buford announces for reelection

FRANKFORT- State Senator Tom Buford (R-Nicholasville) announced today his intent to file for re-election to the State Senate in 2006. As state senator, he has championed issues such as affordable healthcare for autistic children, the Abandoned Baby Bill to protect newborns, and enhanced benefits for police and firemen.

Senator Buford stated, “It’s just been a pleasure to serve the people of Boyle, Garrard, Fayette, and Jessamine counties. As a life-long resident, it would be an honor to represent you for another four years. I look forward to completing the 4-lane project of US-27 through Garrard, assisting in the construction of the new library in Danville, and continuing to push for road support for the Eastern Bypass in Jessamine.”

Senator Tom Buford represents the 22nd District which includes Boyle, Fayette, Garrard, and Jessamine counties. He is the Chairman of the Banking and Insurance Committee and Vice-Chairman of the Health and Welfare Committee. Senator Buford also serves on the Appropriations and Revenue Committee – chairs its Health and Human Services Subcommittee - the Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations Committee, and the Capitol Projects and Bond Oversight Committee. He was first elected as senator in 1991.

2005-10-04T09:50:00.000-04:00

Rep. James Carr switches Party Registration to Republican

House Democrat will join the Republican Caucus

FRANKFORT- US Senator Mitch McConnell and Congressman Ed Whitfield stood alongside State Representative James Carr, as he announced his intention to switch parties from the Democrat to the Republican yesterday.

With announcements in Hopkinsville and Frankfort Rep. James Carr stated that his beliefs and values are more in line with the Republican Party than the Democrat Party.

"The leadership of the Kentucky Democratic Party is out of step with many rank-and-file Kentucky Democrat voters who hold issues such as gun control, abortion and the military close to their hearts," Carr said in a morning AP story.

“The sun may rise in the east but in the west we are the first to see the light,” commented Rep. Carr.

After the successful 2004 elections in which Republicans added seven new seats to its caucus and the news today of Rep. Carr, the Republicans now sit at 44 seats in the State House of Representatives. This is the largest number of Republicans in the State House in 62 years.

Quotes from yesterday’s announcement in Frankfort:

“The Republican Party of Kentucky continues to advance and is aggressively looking to gain numbers in the State House and State Senate,” Sen. Mitch McConnell commented at the press conference in Frankfort.

“It was a principled decision not made for personal or political gain,” said Congressman Ed Whitfield.

“The grassroots members of the Republican Party should be pleased with today’s announcement,” commented Chairman Darrell Brock. “We have a strong plan for 2006 and nothing will dissuade us from that mission.”

For futher information:

Western Kentucky legislator bolts Democrats for GOP- Courier Journal

W. Ky. legislator switches to GOP- Lexington Herald Leader

BUNNING STATEMENT ON SENATE CONFIRMATION OF JOHN ROBERTS TO BE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE UNITED STATES

2005-09-29T15:23:00.000-04:00

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Jim Bunning today issued the following statement regarding the confirmation of Circuit Judge John Roberts to be Chief Justice of the United States. Judge Roberts was confirmed on a bipartisan vote of 78-22.

“Judge Roberts is a brilliant legal scholar, an accomplished attorney, and a fine judge. Throughout his career he has shown himself to be a fair and open-minded justice who has great respect for the law and constitution. I was proud to cast my vote in support of him today.”

STATEMENT OF SENATOR McCONNELL ON THE CONFIRMATION OF JUDGE JOHN ROBERTS TO BE THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE UNITED STATES

2005-09-29T11:18:00.000-04:00

Below are excerpts from Sen. McConnell's statement delivered on the Senate floor today. Click here for full remarks.

...
“United States Senators cast many important votes—votes to strengthen our highway system or to implement a comprehensive energy strategy, for example. But it is not often that we cast a vote that is both important and truly historic. We do so, however, when we vote on whether to confirm a nominee to be Chief Justice of the United States.
...
“The occupant of the “center seat” on the Court often has had a profound impact on the shape and substance of our legal system. But despite such profound effects, the position of Chief Justice actually got off to a rather inauspicious start.
...
“Our last great Chief Justice, William Rehnquist, may be said to have possessed the best qualities of Marshall, Taft, and Hughes. He had an exceptional mind, an engaging personality, boundless energy, and a courteous and professional manner. These qualities helped him revolutionize federalism jurisprudence, administer the Supreme Court and the court system very efficiently, and interact constructively with Congress.

“We will soon vote on the nomination of his successor, Judge John Roberts, who, in one of life’s bittersweet turns, served as a young and able law clerk to Chief Justice Rehnquist. In meeting with him and watching his confirmation hearings, I believe that Judge Roberts possesses many of the qualities of our great Chief Justices: an impressive legal acumen, a sterling reputation for integrity, and an outstanding judicial temperament. But I want to focus on one quality in particular: his devotion to the rule of law.

“I do so because of positions my colleagues have taken during this nomination. A distinguished member of this body said on this floor that he needed to find out “whose side” John Roberts “is on.” Another asked Judge Roberts whether, as a general proposition, he will be on the side of the “big guy” or the “little guy.” Still another insisted that the position to which Judge Roberts is nominated is akin to an elected official; in other words, an elected politician. Comments like these are based on a fundamental misunderstanding of the role of a judge.

“Many of the Founders were politicians, and they, of course, recognized that politicians may favor certain constituencies. Judges, however, are not on any group’s “side.” They are not supposed to favor one political party’s “little guy” at the expense of another political party’s “big guy.” In short, judges are anti-politicians; at least they’re supposed to be.
...
“In other words, judges must only interpret the law, not write it in order to favor one group over another.

“John Roberts understands the role of a judge, and he is committed to adhering to it. As he noted:

“Judges are not politicians who can promise to do certain things in exchange for votes. I have no agenda, but I do have a commitment. If I am confirmed, I will confront every case with an open mind. . . .and I will decide every case . . . according to the rule of law, without fear or favor, to the best of my ability.”

“To put it more simply, he knows that if the law favors the little guy, then the little guy will win. The same goes for the big guy. It is as simple and principled as that.

“I do not know the mark a Chief Justice Roberts will leave on the Court. With his many fine qualities, he may be a great administrator. He may lead some great reform of our court system. He may revolutionize some area of law. But he will be a successful leader. And I suspect that whatever else, with his total devotion to the rule of law, he will instill in our legal system a renewed appreciation for the role of judges in our Republic, and thereby keep the Court on the path the Founders intended.

“So today, Mr. President, I, like my colleagues, am mindful of the gravity and the privilege of this vote to confirm our 17th Chief Justice. I do so with the absolute conviction that Judge John Roberts meets the measure of his great predecessors and will lead the Court with the judgment, skill and integrity as befits the third branch of government that protects our liberties by insisting that ours is a country of laws and not men.”

President Bush's Statement on the War on Terror

2005-09-28T11:44:00.000-04:00

Below are excerpts from the President's remarks. Click here for full text.

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. I just had a good meeting with Generals Abizaid and Casey. We discussed the war on terror in which this country is engaged. General Abizaid talked about the global scope of this war. He talked about the nature of an enemy we face, an enemy which is ruthless and brutal, an enemy which has got strategic goals and tactics necessary to achieve those goals. We also talked about the fact that we're determined to defeat the enemy. We discussed our strategy for victory in Iraq, as well. After all, Iraq is a key battlefront in this war on terror.
...

Our strategy is clear in Iraq. We are hunting down high value targets like Azzam and Zarqawi. We're coordinating aggressive counterterrorism operations in the areas where the terrorists are concentrated. We're constantly adapting our tactics to the changing tactics of the terrorists. We're training more Iraqi forces to assume increasing responsibility for their country's security.

The growing size and increasing capability of the Iraqi security forces are helping our coalition address a challenge we have faced since the beginning of the war. And General Casey discussed this with us in the Oval Office.
...

Because of our joint efforts, hundreds of terrorists have been killed or captured or flushed, which makes it more difficult for the foreign terrorists to enter Iraq through the northwest route.

As part of General Casey's strategy, Iraqi forces remain in Tal Afar to ensure that the terrorists are not allowed to return and regroup. Coalition and Iraqi troops are on the hunt for terrorists in western Iraq. We're on the offense. We have a plan to win. We're working to stop those terrorists from crossing into the country through Syria, and we're denying safe haven to al Qaeda in the Anbar province.
...
At this moment, more than a dozen Iraqi battalions have completed training and are conducting anti-terrorist operations in Ramadi and Fallujah. More than 20 battalions are operating in Baghdad. And some have taken the lead in operations in major sectors of the city.

In total, more than 100 battalions are operating throughout Iraq. Our commanders report that the Iraqi forces are operating with increasing effectiveness. As Iraqi forces show they're capable of keeping the terrorists out, they're earning the trust and confidence of the Iraqi people, which ensures the success of a free and democratic Iraq.
...

Next month the Iraqis will vote on a democratic constitution. If that constitution is approved, they will return to polls later this year to elect a fully constitutional government. The terrorists will fail. See, the Iraqis want to be free. They proved that last January when over 8 million citizens, in the face of violence and threats, voted. And the terrorists are going to fail this time. But we can expect they'll do everything in their power to try to stop the march of freedom. And our troops are ready for it.

I urge the members of Congress to attend the briefings with Generals Abizaid and Casey. I urge them to ask questions about our efforts in Iraq and to listen carefully about the type of war we fight. The support of Congress for our troops and our mission is important, and Americans need to know about the gains we've made in recent weeks and months. They need to know the way we're adopting our tactics and the way we're changing our strategy to meet the needs on the ground.

As members of Congress speak with Generals Abizaid and Casey, I'm confident they'll see what I see -- our leaders, these two Generals are men of vision and determination, and it is their leadership that is helping bring victory in the war on terror.

Thank you, very much.
END 10:33 A.M. EDT

Rep. Stan Lee Voices his Support for Judge Roberts on "KY Tonight"

2005-09-23T15:19:00.000-04:00

Rep. Stan Lee (R-Lexington) backed President Bush's nomination in Judge John Roberts for Chief Justice of U.S. Supreme Court. He offered his support and insight with host Bill Goodman and other guests on KET's "KY Tonight" public affairs show.

“…Judge Roberts handled himself extremely well… if we come away with nothing else from these hearings, we’ve seen a gentleman who is clearly an intellectual superior of many in this country. In fact there have been many commentators who have said and some senators who have said that Judge Roberts is probably the smartest man who has ever been nominated to chief justice…” (Rep. Stan Lee, KY Tonight, 9/19/05)

Click here to watch the entire discussion.

The show aired just days before the endorsement of Roberts by the Senate Judiciary Committee. Now the vote goes to the full Senate where overwhelming support for Roberts is expected.

According to the Washington Post, "The 13 to 5 vote reflected Roberts's praised performance at last week's hearing and the Democrats' inability or unwillingness to mount a united campaign against him. While Republicans and Democrats agreed President Bush's next Supreme Court nomination will be far more contentious, liberal activists clearly saw yesterday's vote for the conservative Roberts as a blow to their effort to maintain a voice in shaping the judiciary." (Charles Babington and Amy Goldstein, "Senate Panel Endorses Roberts," 9/23/05)

Tori Announces Military Families Benefits Bill

2005-09-23T13:30:00.000-04:00

Frankfort - State Senator Elizabeth Tori (R-Radcliff), filed legislation today creating a new benefits package for military families and veterans in Kentucky. While the Military Families Benefits Bill focuses primarily on National Guard families, the bill also makes provisions for families of those serving active duty or in the reserves.

Accompanied by Adjutant General of the Kentucky National Guard, Major General Donald Storm, fellow senators, and military families, Tori explained, "It is clear the brave members of the Kentucky National Guard are being asked to perform more missions and for a longer period of time, than at any point in history. The time these Guardsman and other members of the military spend away from home places pressure on those family members remaining behind. This pressure is not only emotional, but financial. The purpose of this bill is to begin identifying solutions that will relieve the pressure on these families. They deserve it."

General Storm stated, "I want to thank Senator Tori for her efforts to help our great citizen-soldiers with this legislation. The soldiers and airmen of the Kentucky National Guard are not only fighting a war on two fronts, but they are heavily involved in possibly the greatest natural disaster recovery mission in the history of our nation. These men and women represent Kentucky's community-based defense force and they - along with their families - deserve our thanks and recognition. Senator Tori's legislation goes a long way toward doing just that."

Senator Tori went on to outline the legislation, "Kentucky has provided one of the largest contingents for deployment. So many of our families are sacrificing right now -- these families' concerns are our state's concerns."

Mrs. Clara F. Reese, chaplain of the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary (DAVA) of Radcliff, complemented the senator, "I am a wife of a disabled veteran and I am a veteran myself and anything that will help the military family is a benefit to the state. Senator Tori is looking out for us."

Military Families Benefits Bill:

Military Family Assistance Fund

All military families face financial pressure during activation, but for some families this pressure threatens their very way of life.

A Military Family Assistance Fund will create a means to help these families with targeted aid for rent, utilities, groceries and other basic needs when there is an identified financial hardship.

The fund, supported through direct appropriations from the General Fund and charitable contributions, will be controlled by a Board appointed by the Governor and General Assembly and attached to the Department of Military Affairs for administrative purposes.

Help with Medical Expenses

Military families go on federal health care insurance during activation. However, many of these families find it difficult to meet the co-pays required under this federal program. The Military Family Assistance Fund will help Kentucky Military Families with medical expenses incurred while their service member is deployed.

Help for Returning Guardsman and Their Families

A "Welcome Home Ambassador Program" will be created using already existing Family Readiness Groups.

This program, attached to the Military Affairs/Family Readiness Group in the Department of Military Affairs for administrative support, will utilize retired veterans to screen returning active duty National Guard servicemen and their families for emotional, physical or financial problems and then refer them to the appropriate state or federal agency.

Protecting Military Family Homes

The Kentucky Housing Corporation shall develop a program of loans to provide financial assistance for active duty National Guard families to make mortgage payments while deployed.

Eligibility will be determined by the Kentucky Housing Corporation

Child Care Assistance

The Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) will be expanded to include qualified military families during deployment.

Day Off for Deployment and Return

State employee spouses of active duty service members may receive one day off, with pay, from work when he/she leaves for deployment and one day off, with pay, when he/she returns from deployment.

Children of active duty service members will receive one day excused absence from school for deployment and one day excused absence from school when he/she comes home, without losing the school ADE.

Protecting Custodial Rights

No parent should lose their custodial rights simply because they have been deployed.

Any court-ordered change in custody, due to a call to active duty, shall be temporary and will revert back to original order at the end of the deployment period.

Unemployment Compensation for Spouses

Spouses who relocate from Kentucky with an active duty military spouse who has been transferred will be eligible for unemployment compensation.

Expanded Death Benefit

A death benefit in the amount of $80,000 will be created when a member of the Kentucky National Guard or Reserve dies on active duty.

Bridging the Financial Gap for Returning Disabled Veterans

State will pay 100% of the projected federal veteran disability for the month before federal benefits begin.

Increasing Access to Veteran's Benefits

Five additional field benefit representatives and one additional regional coordinator will be funded at the KY Department of Veterans Affairs.

Senator Tori is the Senate Chair of the Seniors, Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection Committee. She also sits on the Appropriations and Revenue Committee and the State and Local Government Committee. Senator Tori represents the 10th district which includes Hardin County and a portion of southern Jefferson County. She has served in the Senate since 1995.

Check out the story about Sen. Tori's bill in the Hardin County News-Enterprise.

Representative David Floyd Launches New Website

2005-09-23T11:34:00.000-04:00

State Representative David Floyd (HD-50) of Bullitt, Nelson, and Spencer counties is using the technology of the web to communicate pertinent information to his constituents. He has launched a new website which features his newspaper columns, his newsletter "A Capitol View," and his updates on the issues and happenings of Frankfort.

Be sure to check it out at www.davidwfloyd.com

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER AND REMEMBRANCE SERVICE

2005-09-16T14:02:00.000-04:00

Washington National Cathedral
Washington, D.C.

THE PRESIDENT: On this Day of Prayer and Remembrance, our nation remains in the shadow of a storm that departed two weeks ago. We're humbled by the vast and indifferent might of nature, and feel small beside its power. We commend the departed to God. We mourn with those who mourn, and we ask for strength in the work ahead.

The destruction is immense, covering a city, a coastline, a region. Yet the hurt always comes down to one life, one family. We've seen the panic of loved ones separated from each other, the lonely pain of people whose earthly possessions were swept away, and the uncertainty of men and women and children driven away from the lives they knew. Many did not survive the fury of the storm. Many who did ask, why -- and wonder, what comes next.

In this hour of suffering, we're prayerful. In a wounded region, so many placed their faith in a God who hears and helps. And so many are bringing their grief to a Savior acquainted with grief. Our nation joins with them to pray for comfort and sorrow, for the reunion of separated families, and a holy rest for the ones who died.

Through prayer we look for ways to understand the arbitrary harm left by this storm, and the mystery of undeserved suffering. And in our search we're reminded that God's purposes are sometimes impossible to know here on Earth. Yet even as we're humbled by forces we cannot explain, we take comfort in the knowledge that no one is ever stranded beyond God's care. The Creator of wind and water is also the source of even a greater power -- a love that can redeem the worst tragedy, a love that is stronger than death.

In this hour of suffering, our nation is thankful. We have been inspired by acts of courage and goodness: Coast Guardsmen and military personnel reaching out of helicopters and lifting victims from rooftops; firefighters wading through mud and debris to search for victims and survivors; doctors and nurses defying danger so their patients might live. Many of those who saved others lost their own homes and were separated from their own families. And many stories of heroism and rescue will never be told because they are known to God alone.

We're thankful for a spirit seen across the Gulf Coast that faces the worst and chooses to hope. We're thankful, as well, for the many ordinary citizens who heard the cries of neighbors and answered them. Across the country, Americans saw the hungry and gave them something to eat; saw the thirsty and gave them something to drink; saw strangers and invited them in. One man who was rescued and given shelter after the storm said, "I didn't think there was so much love in the world."

In this hour of suffering, our nation is also mindful of the work ahead. Through this tragedy great duties have come to our nation. The destruction of this hurricane was beyond any human power to control, but the restoration of broken communities and disrupted lives now rests in our hands. And we accept this responsibility not as a burden or a chore, but as an opportunity to serve our fellow Americans, as they would do for us.

This task will measure our unity as a people. Americans of every race and religion were touched by this storm; yet some of the greatest hardship fell upon citizens already facing lives of struggle -- the elderly, the vulnerable, and the poor. And this poverty has roots in generations of segregation and discrimination that closed many doors of opportunity. As we clear away the debris of a hurricane, let us also clear away the legacy of inequality. Let us deliver new hope to communities that were suffering before the storm. As we rebuild homes and businesses, we will renew our promise as a land of equality and decency. And one day, Americans will look back at the response to Hurricane Katrina and say that our country grew not only in prosperity, but in character and justice.

On this National Day of Prayer and Remembrance, we pledge ourselves to the demanding work of revival, and renew the faith and hope that will carry that work to completion. In the worst of storms, and in the rush of flood waters, even the strongest faith can be tested. Yet the Scriptures assure us, "many waters cannot quench love; neither can the floods drown it."

So now we go forward, confident in the good heart of America, and trusting that even among the ruins, the love of God remains at work.

May God bless and keep the souls of the lost. May His love touch all those in need, and may He always watch over the United States of America. God bless.

White House website

Fact Sheet: President Bush Addresses the Nation on Recovery From Katrina

2005-09-16T11:41:00.000-04:00

Click Here for a Full Fact Sheet on Recovery from Hurricane Katrina

...The American people share in the sorrow of the residents of the Gulf Coast as we search for loved ones and grieve for the dead. We have seen our fellow citizens left stunned and uprooted and witnessed the kind of desperation no citizen of this great and generous Nation should ever have to know. We have also seen courage and kindness to make Americans proud. The Coast Guard, first responders, religious congregations, and families have all lent a hand to their neighbors in need. The trials we have seen on the Gulf Coast remind us that we are stronger than we know and that we are all tied together in this Nation. At these times, it can be hard to imagine a bright future for the Gulf Coast, but that future will come.

Victims Of Katrina Need To Know They Are Not Alone. Many victims are far from home, friends, and familiar things. They need to know that our whole Nation cares about them and that in the journey ahead, they are not alone. We will do what it takes and stay as long as it takes to help citizens rebuild their communities and their lives. There is no way to imagine America without New Orleans, and that great city will rise again.

The President Outlined Three Major Commitments For Recovery Along The Gulf Coast

We Must Meet The Immediate Needs Of Those Who Have Had To Leave All Behind. The Department of Homeland Security is registering evacuee households in shelters, churches, and private homes near and far from the Gulf Coast. The President has signed an order providing immediate assistance to people from the disaster area. As of today, more than 500,000 evacuee families have received emergency help to pay for food, clothing, and other essentials. Many families were separated during the evacuation and should call 1-877-568-3317 for help to reunite and assistance with travel expenses.
...
We Must Help The Citizens Of The Gulf Coast Rebuild Their Lives And Their Communities. Miles along the Gulf Coast have been swept clean by wind and water. Many thousands of homes in Mississippi are damaged or destroyed. Over a quarter million houses in New Orleans and surrounding parishes are no longer fit to live in. Hundreds of thousands of people from across this region will need to find longer-term housing.
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Communities Will Be Rebuilt Even Better And Stronger Than Before. The Gulf Coast has some of the most beautiful and historic places in our country, as well as some deep and persistent poverty, rooted in racial discrimination and opportunity denied. Now is the time to rise above this legacy of inequality. As the Gulf Coast rebuilds, evacuees should come home to the place they love with a chance at a better life.

Click Here For Full Fact Sheet

President Bush Addresses the Nation

2005-09-16T11:35:00.000-04:00

Jackson Square
New Orleans, Louisiana

THE PRESIDENT: Good evening. I'm speaking to you from the city of New Orleans -- nearly empty, still partly under water, and waiting for life and hope to return. Eastward from Lake Pontchartrain, across the Mississippi coast, to Alabama into Florida, millions of lives were changed in a day by a cruel and wasteful storm.

In the aftermath, we have seen fellow citizens left stunned and uprooted, searching for loved ones, and grieving for the dead, and looking for meaning in a tragedy that seems so blind and random. We've also witnessed the kind of desperation no citizen of this great and generous nation should ever have to know -- fellow Americans calling out for food and water, vulnerable people left at the mercy of criminals who had no mercy, and the bodies of the dead lying uncovered and untended in the street.

These days of sorrow and outrage have also been marked by acts of courage and kindness that make all Americans proud. Coast Guard and other personnel rescued tens of thousands of people from flooded neighborhoods. Religious congregations and families have welcomed strangers as brothers and sisters and neighbors. In the community of Chalmette, when two men tried to break into a home, the owner invited them to stay -- and took in 15 other people who had no place to go. At Tulane Hospital for Children, doctors and nurses did not eat for days so patients could have food, and eventually carried the patients on their backs up eight flights of stairs to helicopters.

Many first responders were victims themselves, wounded healers, with a sense of duty greater than their own suffering. When I met Steve Scott of the Biloxi Fire Department, he and his colleagues were conducting a house-to-house search for survivors. Steve told me this: "I lost my house and I lost my cars, but I still got my family ... and I still got my spirit."

Across the Gulf Coast, among people who have lost much, and suffered much, and given to the limit of their power, we are seeing that same spirit -- a core of strength that survives all hurt, a faith in God no storm can take away, and a powerful American determination to clear the ruins and build better than before. ...

Click here for full speech
An In Depth Look At Hurricane Relief

SENATOR McCONNELL HIGHLIGHTS THE GENEROSITY OF KENTUCKIANS

2005-09-14T11:42:00.000-04:00

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell today delivered the following floor speech highlighting the continuing efforts of Kentuckians to aid the victims of Hurricane Katrina:

“Mr. President, it is difficult to find words adequate enough to express the emotions of so many Americans, all across our country, as we continue to learn more about the utter devastation of the Gulf Coast region created by Hurricane Katrina.
...
“Individual citizens are making a difference. I would like to share with my colleagues an inspiring story about a group of officers from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Twenty-three officers, most of whom did not know each other when they set out, took 12 boats to New Orleans and scoured the flooded neighborhoods to rescue over 200 people.
...
“Led by Captain Clark Boggs of Philpot and Captain Frank Floyd of Bedford, these men risked their lives and their health and their safety for people they did not even know. On the first day, they heard gunshots ring out next to them. The toxic water they steered their boat through was a breeding ground for who knows how many diseases. Some of these men still bear scars and rashes from their mission.
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“Let me also speak about a group of Kentucky doctors and nurses who flew down to the vicinity of New Orleans to provide emergency medical services. When they arrived, they found two gymnasiums full of people requiring medical attention. They assisted in setting up an emergency shelter that has to date treated over 7,000 patients.

“One of those nurses, Addia Wuchner of Florence, Kentucky, is also a state representative. She spent seven days helping the people of New Orleans and told my staff about her experiences there.

“One of the hardest parts of her job was to tell the people she was treating, who had not been watching the news and had no idea of the devastation to New Orleans, that their homes were most likely flooded and unsalvageable. She also had the much more pleasant opportunity to reunite a grandfather and a granddaughter.

“St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Edgewood, Kentucky, donated the medical supplies that the team brought with them. And St. Elizabeth Medical Center is holding several fundraising drives and collecting employee donations, to continue to aid the people of the Gulf Coast region. The group’s airfare was paid for by a local Kentucky businessman named Bill Butler, who graciously stepped in when the medical team was unsure whether they would be able to afford to fly down to help.

“Let me share another story. Once upon a time, before Katrina, Charity Hospital in New Orleans helped the Pikeville Medical Center, in Pikeville, Kentucky, set up a drug detoxification program. So when New Orleans needed help, the Pikeville Medical Center responded. A nurse named Cheryl Hickman rounded up other volunteers willing to travel down to the Gulf Coast area, and within hours a team of nurses and EMS personnel were on the road, driving ambulances stocked full of medical supplies.

“Mr. President, stories like these, stories of generosity and charity, are so numerous in Kentucky that I could tell you many more. Churches, rotary clubs, and charitable organizations throughout the Commonwealth have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars. Even two little girls in Louisville, 12-year-old Briana O’Holleran and 11-year-old Amy Williams, raised $60 by setting up a lemonade stand.

“Kentucky employers are also making a difference. Humana Inc., a health care company based in my hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, has donated one million dollars to relief efforts—half of that to the Red Cross, and half to local relief agencies in the Gulf Coast who are able to use the money for food, clean water and other supplies and get it to the people who need it the most.

“UPS, a major employer in Louisville, has donated one-and-a-quarter million dollars to several different agencies. Also, since they are of course a shipping company, they have provided transportation services for relief agencies, and have hauled bottled water into Mississippi for evacuees.

“General Electric, which has its appliances division based in Louisville, has donated $6 million to the Red Cross, and their employees have raised another $1 million which will be matched by the company. They are also working to donate $10 million worth of generators and equipment to aid relief workers.
...
“So, Mr. President, as we continue our vital work here in the Senate to get the Gulf Coast region back up on its feet again, I hope we will be guided by the giving spirit of the Kentuckians I have mentioned. Just as they, and so many others, are working tirelessly to restore hope and mend broken lives, so should we.

Click here for full press release

Statement from Chairman Brock

2005-09-12T14:23:00.000-04:00

Statement on the Confirmation Hearings of John Roberts

“Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee begins the historic confirmation hearings for John Roberts as America’s 17th chief justice. After serious consideration for the past few months it has become clear to the American public that John Roberts has the qualifications, impartiality, and respect for our Constitution that will make him a superior chief justice. In the interest of our nation and its highest court it is my hope that the hearings are focused and fair and conducted in a timely fashion so that the Supreme Court will have a chief justice when it convenes in October.” -- Chairman Darrell Brock

Representative Marcotte Speaks Out

2005-09-12T14:14:00.000-04:00

"Let The Important Work Resume In Frankfort"
Column By Rep. Paul Marcotte (R-Union)
The NKY Challenger

...Republicans are in the majority in Boone County but you wouldn't know it by the personnel figures. In 2004, 62 percent of state merit employees were Democrats, 24 percent Republicans.
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According to one source in the Transportation Cabinet, which has long been a patronage haven for Democrats, 83 percent of the merit employees are Democrats.
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The Transportation Cabinet has long been the most corrupt in state government. These folks understood Ernie Fletcher's pledge to eliminate fraud and waste.
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Since taking over, the Fletcher administration has saved more than $1 million of our tax dollars by eliminating questionable change orders on highway construction contracts. Ernie was on the right path, moving to eliminate no-bid contracts for highway contractors who financed the Democratic Party. One could think that the Courier Journal and Herald Leader would applaud his efforts. But they don't.
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One would hope that these liberal journals would at least reprint editorials from other publications that appreciate the governor and his good work. That would be fair and balanced, but not part of their pathetic playbook.
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The governor has taken the first step, by issuing pardons, as recommended by a respected western Kentucky newspaper. Now it is time to complete the job he was hired to do, to solve the problems of Medicaid and rising health care costs and to create new jobs in the private sector. Let the important work resume!

For Full Article Click Here

Chairman Brock Appearing on "Kentucky Newsmakers"

2005-09-09T17:32:00.000-04:00

Chairman Brock joins host Bill Bryant on"Kentucky Newsmakers" to discuss the Republican Party of Kentucky and politics in Frankfort. Be sure to tune into WKYT Ch 27 of Lexington TOMORROW, Saturday, September 10th at 11:00 AM EDT.

State Rep. Addia Wuchner Offers Expertise to Help Hurricane Victims

2005-09-09T17:02:00.000-04:00

According to the Boone Community Recorder, "Northern Kentucky reaches out to Gulf Coast," State Representative Addia Wuchner was one of the many Northern Kentucky residents to head south last weekend:

Residents of Northern Kentucky are mobilizing to assist those affected by the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
...
A group of local 14 nurses, two doctors and a respiratory therapist are working at a shelter in Thibodaux, La., a town southwest of New Orleans. The doctors and about eight of the nurses work at St. Elizabeth Medical Center. One of the nurses is state Rep. Addia Wuchner, R-Florence.

For Full Article Click Here

In Case You Missed It: Ky.'s storm drains clogged by patronage

2005-09-08T13:45:00.000-04:00

Frankfort, KY: An editorial in the Cincinnati Enquirer offers an insightful and much-needed perspective to the continuing “pandemonium” over the merit system investigation. In the editorial Peter Bronson criticizes Greg Stumbo’s political motives in “trying to make a federal case out of misdemeanor political parking tickets,” and he aptly calls out the “hypocrisy” of the Governor’s critics when he writes, “people who shrugged when Democratic Gov. Paul Patton pardoned his pals for campaign fund-raising violations are now demanding Fletcher must resign.” He also reminds readers of the political patronage system of the past and notes “nobody had a problem with that as long as they were all Democrats.”

Please see below for more excerpts:

The Cincinnati Enquirer
Ky.'s storm drains clogged by patronage
Editorial By Peter Bronson
Thursday, September 8, 2005

The pumps and sewers that drained New Orleans worked fine for decades - until they were overwhelmed by Katrina. It sounds a lot like Kentucky state government.
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For 30 years, Kentucky governors have been Democrats who appointed Democratic state bureaucrats, who hired Democrats to work for the state and infiltrate the merit system like rising floodwaters.

Then along came Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher, who triggered pandemonium by trying to drain the swamp.

The Fletcher administration is now under siege, accused of violating state law to install Republicans in merit-system jobs. The merit system is supposed to be shielded from politics like some kind of neutral Switzerland of state government. It's an illusion.
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In other words, there was enough slack to make sure political hacks floated to the top. And nobody had a problem with that as long as they were all Democrats.

A report last week by the task force found that 73 percent of state merit employees are registered Democrats, compared with 57 percent for all voters statewide. Among Kentucky Transportation Cabinet workers, 83 percent are Democrats. Even in red-state Republican Northern Kentucky, the report found that Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties had two merit-system Democrats for every Republican.

"There has been a lot of pent-up demand during the 30 years since Kentucky had a Republican governor," said Fletcher's communications director, Carla Blanton. "Lots of Republicans say they have been shut out. Clearly, the governor wanted to level the playing field."

To hear Democrats tell it, he "leveled the field" with bulldozers and blasting caps.

An unsigned memo from the Fletcher administration said, "This is our opportunity to find folks that can help us change the culture."

Call them crazy, but Republicans thought that was what the election was all about - changing the culture. The attorney general, a Democrat, doesn't agree.

He indicted nine people for allegedly using political patronage to fill merit jobs. Fletcher pardoned everyone but himself - and his critics were apoplectic.
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Still, there's plenty of hypocrisy spilling over the levee.

People who shrugged when Democratic Gov. Paul Patton pardoned his pals for campaign fund-raising violations are now demanding Fletcher must resign.

"The governor believes the investigation is politically motivated," said Blanton. She has a point. Attorney General Greg Stumbo wants to run against Fletcher. So he's trying to make a federal case out of misdemeanor political parking tickets.

Let's see: The governor is accused of using state government for political patronage - by an attorney general who is using state government for a political prosecution.
…

For Full Article Please Visit: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050908/COL05/509080328/1004

Democrats Staging More Political Theater in State Capitol

2005-09-06T17:22:00.000-04:00

Frankfort, KY: While the grand jury in Frankfort is out this week Democrats are finding other ways to keep their smear campaign alive. Under the guise of “Kentucky citizens,” leaders of the Democrat party and labor bosses are planning a protest in the Capitol Rotunda.

“It is completely transparent that this protest is just one more in a series of coordinated attacks by the leaders of the Democrat party to undermine the first Republican governor in over three decades,” said Chairman Darrell Brock. “Protests and political attacks have become the platform of the Democrat party and tomorrow will be more evidence of their strategy.”

Since Governor Fletcher’s announcement of pardons Democrats have scrambled to raise the ire of their party faithful. State Senator Julian Carroll released talking points from his state e-mail account, a liberal left group from Washington D.C. funded by Hollywood elitists filed a complaint, and DNC chairman Howard Dean offered his rebukes. But the most obvious politician has been the prosecutor- Greg Stumbo has appeared nonstop for radio, print and TV interviews in an attempt to justify his costly pursuit of misdemeanors.

“Since the dawn of this investigation, the actions of Stumbo and the leaders of the Democrat party have been proof positive that this is an orchestrated political attack, and it will continue like clockwork until they realize that the people of Kentucky want leadership not partisan theatrics,” said Chairman Brock.

Fletcher Administration Launches New Statewide Employee Health Plan

2005-09-06T15:33:00.000-04:00

Employees' Benefits, Premium Costs Stay the Same for 2006

FRANKFORT, Ky. - On Jan.1, 2006, the Fletcher administration will launch the Kentucky Employees Health Plan, a new statewide employee health insurance plan that will offer the same benefit choices currently available for the 2006 plan year at the same cost to employees. The state will move to a self-funded plan, rather than using regional contracts with various insurance companies across the state.

"Helping curb the cost of employee health insurance is critical, and by self-funding, we can take steps to do just that," said Governor Fletcher. "Self-funding will help us reduce administrative expenses, cut insurance profit margins and secure better network discounts and pharmacy rebates. Just as important, it will allow the state to invest in our employees' long-term health and wellness.

"I appreciate the hard work of the Personnel Cabinet and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services in taking this major step in helping solve the insurance challenges we face today, and those we will face in the future."

In addition, co-payments on prescription drugs covered in the first tier will be reduced to $5 per prescription to encourage the use of generic drugs offering the same medical benefit at a lower cost.

The Health and Family Services Cabinet and the Personnel Cabinet are collaborating on implementation of the new plan. The state has selected Humana, in partnership with Bluegrass Family Health, to administer medical benefits, while Express Scripts, Inc. will be the pharmacy benefits administrator for the new Kentucky Employees Health Plan. The companies will coordinate services and information with one another to ensure seamless delivery of service for members. The contract runs for two years and was awarded using the state procurement process.

Kentucky is following the successful example of such large employers as the University of Kentucky, Toyota Manufacturing and many other state governments that have moved to the self-insurance approach. Under the self-insured program, the state itself will accept the risk of and manage the entire health plan. The move will provide consistent benefits and an extensive provider network to members across Kentucky.

Open enrollment is scheduled for Oct. 17-28, during which employees, for the first time, will be able to take advantage of online enrollment. Employees seeking additional information can contact Member Services at the Personnel Cabinet at (888)581-8834 or (502)564-6534 or visit the Personnel Cabinet's Web site at http://personnel.ky.gov/ .

Governor's Website: www.governor.ky.gov

Statement from Governor Ernie Fletcher's Office Regarding Today's Search Warrants

2005-09-02T18:38:00.000-04:00

Wow, what a surprise, another Greg Stumbo stunt. This is the same old tired story of a politician run amok. If it wasn't such a misuse of the judicial system, it would be laughable.

Apparently, Stumbo is piqued that the Governor stood up to him and his runaway investigation so he's resorting to his standard publicity stunt: issuing search warrants late on a Friday afternoon -- too late in the day to provide any real answers, but just in time for today's media deadlines. Clearly, Greg Stumbo places a higher premium on headlines rather than the truth.

We will comply with the search warrants - and the thousands of dollars in taxpayers' money it will take to do so. While serious state problems fester, Greg Stumbo has caused the commonwealth to spend millions of dollars on an investigation that has resulted in a handful of indictments comparable to noodling out of season.

GOVERNOR FLETCHER TAKES IMMEDIATE ACTION TO CURB GASOLINE SHORTAGES

2005-09-02T18:35:00.000-04:00

Also encourages gas-saving measures across state government

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Governor Fletcher today took emergency measures to ensure Kentuckians have sufficient supplies of gasoline for the coming days.

To address supply shortages of gasoline, the governor joined other states today in requesting the U.S. EPA temporarily suspend the regulations mandating the sale of specialty reformulated gasoline, or "boutique fuels" in certain parts of Kentucky. This will allow regular gasoline, like that sold elsewhere in the state, to be sold for five days in markets around Northern Kentucky and Louisville. This should provide sufficient supplies to help control prices in those regions. We are awaiting approval of this request.

The governor also today signed emergency regulations to allow stations with older gas pumps from having to shut down. Many gas stations have been unable to obtain fuel for less than $3.00. Rather than sell gasoline for a loss, many of these stations have simply shut down. The governor's emergency regulations will allow gas stations to sell half gallons, so long as the price and quantity are predominantly displayed. Combined, these efforts will allow more gasoline into Kentucky during this time of nationwide shortages and reduce the prices consumers are paying at the pump.

"I instructed my administration to take immediate, appropriate steps to help ease the suffering of Kentucky's consumers," Governor Fletcher said. "I believe these two measures accomplish just that. I am also joining President Bush in encouraging all Americans to take appropriate steps to conserve gasoline during this time of shortages and high prices."

Steps have also been taken in state government to conserve gas for the coming days. In a memo to cabinet secretaries and constitutional officers, Finance and Administration Cabinet Secretary Robbie Rudolph asked that all business-related travel be limited to that of an essential or urgent nature until further notice, and that all officials with an assigned state vehicle surrender that vehicle until the crisis subsides. Cabinet secretaries are also asked to re-evaluate the need to use vehicles permanently assigned to specific agencies.

Lieutenant Governor Steve Pence announces troopers, officers will depart for hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast

2005-09-01T15:19:00.000-04:00

Kentucky State Police, Department of Corrections, and Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement answering the call for assistance in wake of Hurricane Katrina

Lieutenant Governor Steve Pence announced today dozens of employees in the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet will depart for the hurricane-ravaged areas in Louisiana and along the Gulf Coast. KSP troopers, KVE officers, and DOC officers will assist in restoring order following the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina.

"This hurricane has already claimed hundreds of lives and ripped thousands of livelihoods to shreds. Our prayers are with the victims and survivors," said Lieutenant Governor Pence, who also serves as secretary of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. "I am proud that Kentucky law enforcement officers are willing to leave their families to help those in need."
...

"Our law enforcement officers are the true heroes of Kentucky," added Lieutenant Governor Pence. "I have every confidence these brave men and women will make a significant contribution to the relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina victims."

President Bush Leads Nation's Efforts On Disaster Relief

2005-09-01T11:35:00.000-04:00

President Bush is directing federal, state, and local relief efforts to areas hurt most by Hurricane Katrina and is urging nationwide assistance. Below are excerpts from remarks he made last night:

...We are dealing with one of the worst natural disasters in our nation's history.
And that's why I've called the Cabinet together. The people in the affected regions expect the federal government to work with the state government and local government with an effective response. I have directed Secretary of Homeland Security Mike Chertoff to chair a Cabinet-level task force to coordinate all our assistance from Washington. FEMA Director Mike Brown is in charge of all federal response and recovery efforts in the field. I've instructed them to work closely with state and local officials, as well as with the private sector, to ensure that we're helping, not hindering, recovery efforts. This recovery will take a long time. This recovery will take years.
...
I want to thank the communities in surrounding states that have welcomed their neighbors during an hour of need. A lot of folks left the affected areas and found refuge with a relative or a friend, and I appreciate you doing that. I also want to thank the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army and the Catholic Charities, and all other members of the armies of compassion. I think the folks in the affected areas are going to be overwhelmed when they realize how many Americans want to help them.

At this stage in the recovery efforts, it's important for those who want to contribute, to contribute cash. You can contribute cash to a charity of your choice, but make sure you designate that gift for hurricane relief. You can call 1-800-HELPNOW, or you can get on the Red Cross web page, RedCross.org. The Red Cross needs our help. I urge our fellow citizens to contribute.

The folks on the Gulf Coast are going to need the help of this country for a long time. This is going to be a difficult road. The challenges that we face on the ground are unprecedented. But there's no doubt in my mind we're going to succeed. Right now the days seem awfully dark for those affected -- I understand that. But I'm confident that, with time, you can get your life back in order, new communities will flourish, the great city of New Orleans will be back on its feet, and America will be a stronger place for it.

The country stands with you. We'll do all in our power to help you. May God bless you.

Click here for the White House "in focus" on Hurricane Katrina
Full Press Release
White House Fact Sheet on Federal Relief

Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman Urges Citizens to Help

2005-09-01T11:27:00.000-04:00

Ken Mehlman, chairman of the RNC, asks citizens to give to the disaster relief:

"Hurricane Katrina has passed and now the people of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama must begin the process of rebuilding. Our thoughts are with those who were affected by this powerful storm. During times like these, there is no room for politics and partisanship. This is a time when we all come together to help our neighbors.

Due to the size of this storm and the area of impact, the cost for recovery will be staggering. For that reason, we are asking you, our supporters, to make a donation to hurricane relief efforts. The American Red Cross and the Salvation Army provide shelter, food, water, blankets and clothing to those who have lost everything. "

Republican National Committee Website

Governor Fletcher Sending Kentucky Assistance to Mississippi and Louisiana

2005-09-01T11:15:00.000-04:00

Governor Ernie Fletcher announced the mobilization of more than 260 Kentucky Air and Army National Guard troops to support the humanitarian relief mission in response to the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina.

“Once again Kentuckians have been asked to answer our nation’s call,” said Governor Fletcher. “Our hearts ache to see the death and destruction brought on by this historic disaster and we are committed to support our neighbors in whatever way we can. To do any less would be unconscionable. This is our duty as public officials, as National Guard men and women, and as citizens of this great nation.”

Governor Fletcher called upon Major General Donald C. Storm, Adjutant General for Kentucky, to oversee the deployment of Kentucky guard troops, which will come from a variety of units from across the commonwealth.

Click here for full press release

No wonder they're losing

2005-08-31T20:56:00.000-04:00

Over the weekend the Courier-Journal blasted the state Democrat party for reminding "voters why they are no longer in charge." Read some of the highlights below:

"No wonder they're losing"
Editorial, 8/28/05

...the state's Democratic leaders have stepped forward to remind voters why they are no longer in charge.

Going boldly where they have gone so many times before, Democratic honchos laid out a set of goals last week for the 2006 legislative session. Herewith, their strategy:

Promise to increase education spending, while irresponsibly ignoring the reality that state revenues are already woefully inadequate.

Make the financial mess worse by pandering to senior citizens with pledges of new tax breaks, even though many older folks are prosperous and don't need them.

Pander, further, to veterans with a feel-good offer of a $75,000 death benefit for Kentuckians killed in combat and preferences to veterans who apply for state jobs.

House Speaker Jody Richards and party chairman Jerry Lundergan think such schemes reflect traditional Democratic values and appeal to voters.

More likely, they will be evidence that it's unwise to treat voters as if they're stupid.

Few people oppose spending for education, or tax relief for retired citizens who really are overwhelmed by financial burdens. But where is the plan -- a fair and balanced plan -- to raise additional money to pay for such things? The Democrats need to tell us.
...

They could, in a word, offer leadership. Maybe they're just more comfortable carping from the sidelines.

In Case You Missed It: Stumbo, not Fletcher, the one who has done real harm to the state

2005-08-31T20:54:00.000-04:00

Frankfort, KY: Yesterday, the Danville Advocate Messenger printed an editorial that criticizes the attorney general’s illegitimate investigation and claims the “real harm to state government has been done not by Fletcher and his administration but by Stumbo.” According to the Advocate Messenger, “all of the demonizing and criminalizing of the Fletcher administration that's taking place doesn't make any sense. What does make sense is Fletcher's creation of a bi-partisan task force to review the Merit System and recommend changes.”

The Danville Advocate Messenger
Stumbo, not Fletcher, the one who has done real harm to the state
Editorial
Sunday, August 28, 2005

Gov. Ernie Fletcher made a strong defense of his administration last week in the first of a series of monthly radio addresses and newspaper columns.
…
Fletcher's story is similar to those that one hears nearly everywhere else - except from the state's attorney general's office and in the state's big-city liberal media - that the Merit System has never really worked for anybody but the Democrats. It's the reality that everyone knows is true but the Fletcher administration's persecutors and prosecutors don't want to face because it undermines their entire case: The only way one can justify the kind of draconian, heavy-handed prosecution being carried out by Attorney General Greg Stumbo and cheered on by left-leaning editorial pages is if you put the Merit System up on a pedestal, if you pretend that it ever actually worked, and if you pretend that bending a few rules in hiring friends and supporters is something that only the Fletcher administration has done.

If you take the Merit System down from that pedestal and acknowledge that the same kind of thing that happened to Fletcher in 1974 has happened to thousands of other people thousands of times in the intervening 30 years, then all of the demonizing and criminalizing of the Fletcher administration that's taking place doesn't make any sense.

What does make sense is Fletcher's creation of a bi-partisan task force to review the Merit System and recommend changes.

The Democratic hounds and their supporters in the media are in full cry at the moment, but one has to believe that reality will soon sink in as the public comes to realize that real harm to state government has been done not by Fletcher and his administration but by Stumbo and his politically motivated attack on the first Republican administration in more than three decades.

For entire article please Click Here

In Case You Missed It: MOVE ON- Fletcher should shut down circus

2005-08-31T20:49:00.000-04:00

Frankfort, KY: Over the weekend, a Paducah Sun editorial called out for Governor Fletcher “to shut down Attorney General Greg Stumbo's three-ring circus and get back to the business of governing Kentucky.” According to the Sun, “the only way he [Gov. Fletcher] can stop the runaway investigation is to pardon everyone charged in the probe — and follow that action with a promise to pardon any other officials who may come under indictment.” It went on to appropriately characterize Stumbo as “a long-time Democratic pol who came into the attorney general's office with a record devoid of any hint that he would become a crusader for good government.”

Please See Below For More Excerpts:

The Paducah Sun
MOVE ON- Fletcher should shut down circus
Editorial
Saturday, August 27, 2005

It's time for Gov. Fletcher to shut down Attorney General Greg Stumbo's three-ring circus and get back to the business of governing Kentucky.
…
As best we can tell, the reason for all this is that Stumbo, a long-time Democratic pol who came into the attorney general's office with a record devoid of any hint that he would become a crusader for good government, discovered that some of the governor's people may have practiced the ancient art of patronage politics, Kentucky-style.

The gist of Stumbo's indictment of the Fletcher administration is that it corrupted the state merit system. That's like being accused of compromising Madonna's virtue.

For decades Democratic administrations treated state government as a favor-dispensing machine. Jobs were handed out to party loyalists chosen by a network of local patronage bosses. Somehow, Stumbo never seemed to notice this during his many years in the legislature.

But after he got his hands on the police powers of the attorney general's office, he went after the Republican administration with his newly formed Kentucky Bureau of Investigation. According to the Courier-Journal of Louisville, Stumbo has assigned at least four KBI agents (as many as 21 agents have helped to execute the regular volleys of search warrants) and four lawyers to the task of tracking down suspected GOP patronage malefactors. State Auditor Crit Luallen loaned Stumbo's office a technology expert to help the investigators comb through thousands of e-mails and other electronic documents.
…
It should be pointed out that when former Gov. Paul Patton was accused of trying to influence state personnel decisions, the investigation was handled by the Executive Branch Ethics Commission. But Stumbo decided to criminalize the accusations against Republicans, setting off a chain of events that threatens to embroil state government in partisan recriminations for years to come.

It's now up to Gov. Fletcher to put an end to this ridiculously inflated scandal. The only way he can stop the runaway investigation is to pardon everyone charged in the probe — and follow that action with a promise to pardon any other officials who may come under indictment.

If Stumbo wants to go to the extreme of seeking an indictment against the governor, Fletcher should take whatever steps are necessary to spike it, including a temporary move to appoint Lt. Gov. Steve Pence acting governor so that Pence can issue a pardon.

After he has closed down the political circus, Fletcher should expand on his admission that his administration made mistakes in handling personnel matters.
…
The state faces a crisis in Medicaid, long-term economic problems related to anti-business policies in Frankfort and deficiencies in education that persist despite nearly two decades of costly reform initiatives.

Fletcher needs to focus full-time on the serious work of governing this state. If he has to take away the attorney general's peashooter to do that, so be it.

For Entire Article Please Visit: Click Here (Subscription)

Governor Fletcher's Monthly Newspaper Column

2005-08-24T15:33:00.000-04:00

"Merit for Examining State System"
By: Governor Ernie Fletcher
Click here to watch the video or listen on radio

A young man with a college degree in hand hits the street looking for his first full time job. This young man walks into a state government agency and is told that in order to be considered for employment he must change his political party affiliation.

It sounds strange, but it’s true.

How do I know? Because that young man was me.

In 1974, I had just graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in engineering and sought a job with the Transportation Cabinet. I was told in order to get a job I would have to change my political party affiliation.

I wasn’t hired.

But that story got me thinking…how many qualified people have been turned away from working in state government because of their political affiliation?

When my administration took office, we vowed to level the playing field so the best qualified people could be considered for employment in state government, whether they are Republican, Democrat or Independent.

The first thing we did was eliminate a political patronage system that had been in place for years which its primary purpose was to have a “party boss” in each county decide who would get jobs in state government based on their party affiliation.

When we eliminated the political patronage system of the past, it created a vacuum that is causing us to learn many lessons and explore ways on how we can improve the merit employment system in our commonwealth.

To know what we needed to do we first had to look at the merit law itself.

The merit system itself was created in 1960 at a time when a gallon of gas cost 24 cents, the price of bread was 20 cents a loaf and families were tuning in each week to watch a new program about a sheriff in North Carolina—“The Andy Griffith Show”.

Our state, our country and our world have seen many major changes since 1960--except in the merit law.

The needs of our citizens and how state government serves them have changed. The available workforce has changed. But our merit law has not kept up with the changing times.

The antiquation of our merit system was first looked at 33 years after its creation when, in 1993, then Governor Brereton Jones established a task force to study Kentucky’s merit law and employment system.

Among other things, the task force determined that the merit law was obsolete and ineffective; programs were not reflective of modern practices; statues and regulations were confusing and rigid, thus impeding the ability of our government to recruit, develop and retain a competent and motivated work force.

Twelve years have passed since that report and yet these very problems still exist today—45 years after the merit system was created.

Because many in my administration lacked the knowledge and expertise to manage in our out-of-date merit system, I acknowledge that some mistakes were made. I myself have learned a lot about the merit system and know more about the system now than I did when I took office.

We provided our management team instruction on the merit system and how it worked.

Recently we developed a centralized referral system within our Personnel Cabinet to ensure the large amount of recommendations could be reviewed and directed to the appropriate agency.

And, I appointed a bi-partisan task force to review the merit system as it currently stands, address the 1993 study and make any recommended changes and implementation that are needed to the merit law.

Recent events have put the spotlight on Kentucky’s merit system but I’ve stated my belief many times that the overwhelming majority of state workers, both merit and non-merit, are hard working, well intended and want to do a good job.

That is why for the sake of protecting our merit employees and improving how we serve the commonwealth, it’s time for us to take a hard look on how we can improve Kentucky’s merit system.

Otherwise, like that show about the sheriff in Mayberry, the current problems with the merit system will be constantly in re-runs.

Visit the Governor's website: www.governor.ky.gov

Lieutenant Governor Steve Pence leads motorcycle tour to promote strengthening Kentucky sex offender laws

2005-08-19T16:30:00.000-04:00

Mark Lunsford of Florida joins Lieutenant Governor Pence to raise awareness

FRANKFORT, Ky.: Lieutenant Governor Steve Pence guided a group of more than 50 motorcyclists on a state tour to promote more stringent sex offender laws in Kentucky.

"This is an issue that affects every family in the commonwealth. We must send a clear message that sex offenders are not welcome and will be dealt with harshly in Kentucky," said Lieutenant Governor Pence. "We need to consider lifetime supervision, mandatory minimum sentencing, and elimination of parole for many sex offenders."

The motorcycle tour kicked off with a ceremony at the state capitol. The lieutenant governor also presented Mark Lunsford with a Kentucky Colonel at that time.

"I am honored to take part in this important promotional tour," said Mr. Lunsford. "My goal is to help other states raise awareness so no other child has to face what my daughter Jessica endured. I commend Lieutenant Governor Pence for taking the lead in Kentucky."

In February 2005, nine-year old Jessica Lunsford was abducted from her bedroom by a repeat sexual offender. Her body was found nearly three weeks later less than 150 yards from her home. The case prompted Florida legislators to enact a bill that requires life sentences or lifetime monitoring for sexual offenders who prey on children.

"No child should have her life cut short by violence the way Jessica did. I commend Mark Lunsford for having the courage to help other states raise awareness about the dire need to strengthen legislation that will protect our children," said Lieutenant Governor Pence.

The motorcycle tour proceeded from the state capitol in Frankfort to a rally in Florence, Kentucky. Following that stop, the motorcyclists rode to Louisville Waterfront Park for another press conference, where the tour concluded.

Sen. McConnell Speaks Out Against The Liberal Attacks

2005-08-19T15:33:00.000-04:00

STATEMENT OF U.S. SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL ON CRITICISM
OF JUDGE JOHN ROBERTS’ TENURE IN THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senate Majority Whip Mitch McConnell today reacted to liberal Democrat’s most recent attacks on Judge John Roberts, President Bush’s Supreme Court nominee.

According to a July 5 Washington Post report, Democrats and their allies described a strategy weeks before a nominee was even announced to replace departing Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. According to the Post, their plan consisted of: 1) complaining that White House consultation with Senators about the nominee is insufficient; 2) painting the nominee as extreme; and 3) demanding confidential and privileged documents.

“These latest attacks on Judge Roberts are simply part of a pre-planned strategy to paint him in an unfavorable light, regardless of the facts. Apparently, their view is that being an able and respected lawyer for President Ronald Reagan and his policies makes you a member of the ‘radical right,’” said Senator McConnell. “That view is certainly belied by the facts, chief among them that Ronald Reagan is one of our most popular and revered presidents and was re-elected by 49 of the 50 states.”

-30-

Liberal Groups Lead Dems In Attacking Judge John Roberts: http://www.gop.com/News/Read.aspx?ID=5730

Find out how you can help confirm Judge Roberts: http://www.gop.com/GetActive/

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Congressman believes attorney general's state investigation politically motivated

2005-08-19T15:21:00.000-04:00

Bardstown, KY: At a recent Republican executive committee meeting Congressman Ron Lewis aptly described the attorney general’s merit investigation as “ridiculous” and politically motivated. He also told the crowd that Governor Fletcher is doing a “great job” and should be “left alone to do his job.”

Please see below for more excerpts:

The Kentucky Standard
Congressman believes attorney general's state investigation politically motivated
By: David Mann
Wednesday, August 17, 2005

Congressman Ron Lewis said an investigation into alleged illegal state hiring practices is based on "silly misdemeanor charges."

Furthermore, Lewis characterized the investigation as a hindrance to the state in general, calling it "ridiculous." …

Lewis was in Bardstown Saturday as a part of the Republican Party's annual second congressional district meeting. He was one of several party leaders speaking at a meeting of the GOP's State Executive Committee.

"Ernie Fletcher is doing a great job," Lewis said, "if he would be left alone to do his job."

The investigation is directly connected with the political aspirations of the attorney general, he said. Additionally, he said, media coverage of the alleged criminal activity has been lopsided.

Stumbo's investigation into the personnel practices of the Fletcher Administration was a hot topic among speakers Saturday. Representatives from the State Republican Party including national committeewoman Gail Russell and national committeeman Mike Duncan echoed Lewis' comments on the investigation.

Vicki Glass, a spokesperson for Attorney General Greg Stumbo, declined to comment on the congressman's words. …

For the full article visit: The Kentucky Standard

JOIN LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR STEVE PENCE ON A MOTORCYCLE TOUR

2005-08-17T13:16:00.000-04:00

Mark Lunsford to join tour to promote strengthening Kentucky’s Sex Offender Laws

Please join Lieutenant Governor Steve Pence as he travels Kentucky by motorcycle. The goal of the tour is to raise awareness about the importance of strengthening the laws that protect our children and families from sexual assaults. Mark Lunsford, father of the late Jessica Lunsford of Florida, will be riding as well to show his support.

WHO: Lieutenant Governor Steve Pence

WHAT: Motorcycle Tour promoting stronger sex offender laws

WHEN: Friday, August 19th, 2005; kickoff at 10:00 AM

WHERE: Tour will begin in Frankfort and end in Louisville

DETAILS: The motorcycle tour will kick off at the bottom of the capitol steps at 10:00 AM. The group will then proceed to Northern Kentucky and stop at the Florence City Building for a rally at approximately noon. Following that stop, bikers will ride to Louisville for the final rally of the day at approximately 3:00 PM. All times are in flux.

Not So Fancy Farm

2005-08-17T09:55:00.000-04:00

Column by State Representative David Floyd(R-Bardstown):

I made my first trip to Fancy Farm this past weekend. The experience
was worthwhile. I had a back row seat to the whole thing. Literally
back row because, along with other spectators, I was in Fancy Farm's
version of the nose-bleed section.

Fancy Farm is a town in Graves County. It's a beautiful area, and
there's a church called St. Jerome's. Just like churches around my
home district, they use picnics as fundraisers for the parish and its
programs. This one is big and just finished its 125th year. The picnic
facilities are more permanent than what I've seen around home; the
Fancy Farm picnic is in Guinness as the world's biggest picnic.

Around the middle of the last century they added to the picnic some
political speaking. The political meeting is on the grounds, but is
separate from the church picnic. This Saturday, it wasn't all
good-natured. Normally reserved men were yelling into a microphone. The reason they were yelling?

Might just have been trying to talk over the noisy crowd. Might have
been anger. Some of the comments made me uncomfortable, and I believe
they weren't called for in that public forum. My opinion is that
political talk in that venue should be more of a roast; fun, not threatening.

There were humorous jabs. Of the funniest lines, one came from the
House Speaker, who made a joke about how polite it's become in
Frankfort since the Governor came (pardon me, pardon me). The other
was from our Governor, who said the Attorney General (AG) has the best
job in government because he gets paid $90,000 a year just to go
fishing. Those were funny, and well-crafted. That's what I'd hoped to
hear at Fancy Farm, because with a sense of humor you can enjoy the
jousting no matter which political party is talking.

Our state Auditor wanted to sound political, but she didn't try too
hard. I suppose she was uncomfortable, too. Her main point was that
there's a big list of problems that Kentucky needs to be working on,
and we're wasting money and energy on a political spectacle. This was
essentially what the Governor said, and they're both right.

Kentucky's Attorney General is in the spotlight because he's
conducting an expensive investigation. We're not talking drug dealers
(although he did have FedEx drop off two small busts for him. No
dealers, just the drugs.) No, I'm talking about an investigation into
the hiring practices of the Fletcher administration. The AG is using
every resource that we taxpayers put at his disposal to ferret out anything that might yield him some meat.

Only this is the stuff of misdemeanors, one step above traffic violations.

Normally these merit hiring questions would be decided by a Personnel
Cabinet complaint process. When the AG got involved, he saw potential
misdemeanors. Those are normally handled in a district court. But it's
become apparent that our AG wanted indictments, whether or not anyone
was guilty. For that he needed a grand jury. And he got one. Until now
Kentucky's never convened a grand jury for the purpose of considering
misdemeanors.

Count me among the majority who recognize the AG's motives as
self-serving and politically motivated. Ask yourself - if Kentucky had
a Democrat governor do you think this investigation would be taking place? I don't.

Evidence indicates that the percentage of merit jobs in our state that
are held by registered Democrats is much higher than it would be if
hiring knew no party. In his decades of state service under Democrat
Governors the AG has never before made an issue out of this disparity.
Now, with a Republican Governor, he has made it into a criminal
investigation. Does the AG have a record of recommending and hiring
qualified members of both parties? Maybe the answer to this question should be a part of the public record.

As I said, I was uncomfortable with much of the talk. Even the House
Speaker (who I consider a gentleman) got undignified; I've never seen
him that way before. There were threats - public, prosecutorial
threats - from him and from the AG about their intended targets (governor, lieutenant governor).

The worst part of it was the crowd of listeners, who'd have been just
fine if they'd only listened. But they were yelling and whistling
almost nonstop, and were anything but polite. Seated next to me in the
stands was a couple from Louisville on their first trip to Fancy Farm.
While leaving, they told me it would be their last. Can't say I blame them.

Upcoming Event: Scott County Republican Picnic

2005-08-16T12:15:00.000-04:00

The Scott County Republican Party is having its 4th Annual Summer Picnic

When: Saturday, August 20, 2005, 4:00 PM EDT

Location: Graywood Farm 1140 Graves Road Stamping Ground, KY

Hosted By: Connie Gray

Guest Speakers to include: Congressman Geoff Davis, State House Republican Floor Leader Jeff Hoover and State Senator Damon Thayer

Tickets are $5.00 per person, children under 12 free. You can pay at the door, but please RSVP at scottcountyrepublicanparty@yahoo.com. Visit www.scottcountyrepublicanparty.org for more details.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Past Awaits Stumbo

2005-08-16T11:46:00.000-04:00

Frankfort, KY: While the attorney general’s political witch-hunt drags on, his lack of credibility continues to be exposed. It is not hard to figure out why a politician like Greg Stumbo is so anxious to gather “ammo to use in a run for governor in 2007.” According to a recent Kentucky Post column, Stumbo’s failure to pay “$43,000 in back child support” is “an issue that haunted Attorney General Greg Stumbo in his first run for statewide office.” Since Greg Stumbo is the figure head of the Child Support Enforcement Commission questions on his moral authority “will likely resurface should he make another go for votes across the state.”

Will we continue to see more illegitimate charges from this illegitimate prosecutor?

Please see below for excerpts from the column:

The Kentucky Post
Past awaits Stumbo
By Amanda York

An issue that haunted Attorney General Greg Stumbo in his first run for statewide office will likely resurface should he make another go for votes across the state.

At a recent stump-speaking event for politicians, supporters of Gov. Ernie Fletcher donned T-shirts and hoisted handmade signs that berated Stumbo for a child he fathered in an affair.

One sign read: "Ma-ma - where's pa-pa? He's AG."

Currently a killjoy for the administration of Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher, Stumbo is also thought to be a possible challenger for Fletcher in the 2007 elections.
…
Fletcher and his supporters have accused Stumbo of using the investigation as a means for gathering ammo to use in a run for governor in 2007. Stumbo has repeatedly denied politics are his motivation.

But should he decide to go for the governor's mansion, his opposition will likely do as it did in 2003 and attack his history.

"Anything and everything in a person's past regardless of whether it has anything to do with serving in public office is fair game for politics, and candidates should anticipate anything about their personal lives eventually being revealed," said Joe Gershtenson, political science professor at Eastern Kentucky University.

In Stumbo's case, his son was born in 1988. The child's mother later filed a lawsuit seeking $43,000 in back child support. Stumbo began paying child support in 2002 after a DNA test confirmed he was the father.

Stumbo's spokeswoman - Vicki Glass - declined to comment for this article. "That is a personal matter,'' Glass said.

Republicans weren't holding their tongues last weekend at the annual Fancy Farm picnic in far Western Kentucky. Many criticized Stumbo through T-shirts that said "Wanted" on the front and then spelled out what to look for in Stumbo in points that criticized his investigation and past.

David Littlejohn's T-shirt read: "Approach with caution will indict anyone, last seen reading Republican e-mails in Frankfort and avoiding any responsibility for his child support." The back of the T-shirt featured a picture of a crawling baby with Stumbo's head photo-shopped onto the child's body.

Littlejohn, who came to the event with Republicans from Western Kentucky University, said he wore the shirt because: "Someone needs to. He's just a dirty, old man."

How much the issue would resonate with potential voters is unknown, but one thing is certain.

"Republicans will bring up this issue," Gershtenson said. "They are not going to let him have a bye on this."

In 2003, Stumbo's Republican opponent for the office he now holds hammered the issue repeatedly. At the Fancy Farm picnic that year, Jack Wood - who also carried personal baggage dealing with his time spent as a judge - spoke about child-support cases in Louisville, then turned to Stumbo and said: "Does that give you nightmares at night, Greg?"
…

Dale Emmons, a Democratic political consultant from Richmond, said Stumbo should be judged on the job he is doing now as attorney general and not for personal issues in the past. He went on to say that every candidate has a set of assets and liabilities.

For Entire Article Please Visit: http://news.kypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050813/NEWS02/508130323/1014

Upcoming Event: Hardin County GOP Picnic

2005-08-12T14:35:00.000-04:00

"A Salute to GOP Youth"
Special Guests Include: Congressman RonLewis, State Senator Elizabeth Tori, and Hardin County Judge Executive Harry Berry

WHAT: The Hardin County GOP Picnic
WHEN: Saturday, August 20th starting at 4:00 PM EDT
WHERE: Searle Pavilion at Freeman Lake Park in Elizabethtown

Picnic is open to the public and there is no charge, however donations are gladly accepted. For info on the picnic contact Jim Weise at 270-766-1073 or Norma Shehan at 270-369-9513.

A car and motorcycle contest sponsored by the Young Republicans will also be held. There is a $10 entry fee for the car and motorcycle contest and for info contact Mike Phillips at 270-272-2290.

Senate President David Williams Elected Chairman of SLC

2005-08-10T17:11:00.000-04:00

FRANKFORT -- Senate President David L. Williams was recently elected to the Southern Legislative Conference's top position.

As the new chairman of the Southern Legislative Conference (SLC), Williams will lead an organization that represents members of legislatures in 16 states across the South. The group gives policymakers from the South a forum to share knowledge on the key issues confronting their state legislative chambers.

"I'm honored to have been chosen to chair the Southern Legislative Conference," said Williams, (R-Burkesville). "The South is an important and vibrant area of our country. It is important that, as state legislators, we unite with one voice on the issues impacting our region."

Williams accepted the chairmanship of the SLC during the organization's annual meeting in Mobile, Alabama. He will serve as chairman until the 2006 annual meeting, which is expected to draw 1,500 participants and over $1 million to Louisville next summer.

Williams has served in the Kentucky General Assembly for 21 years. After serving as caucus chairman, minority floor leader and majority floor leader in the Senate, he became the first Republican chosen as Senate president in January 2000.

###

Visit: http://www.slcatlanta.org/staff_and_structure/officers.htm for more information about SLC.

Lt. Governor Pence Urges For Stricter Laws To Deal With Sexual Predators

2005-08-10T17:01:00.000-04:00

Below is an editorial published in the Lexington Herald Leader:

State needs stricter laws to deal with sexual predators
By Steve Pence

Over the past few months, the media have reported several horrific cases of kidnapping, rape, torture and murder of children in Florida, Utah, Idaho and elsewhere by depraved sexual predators.

These incidents, along with the numerous reports about serial rapists across the country, are painful reminders that these crimes are some of the cruelest affecting our society today.
The damage created by these deplorable assaults is permanent for victims.

Unfortunately, our children are at risk every time they go to a park, mall, movie theater or other public place.

In fact, the abduction and murder of Jessica Lunsford in Florida and the abduction and abuse of Shasta Groene, and the murder of her brother Dylan, in Idaho, prove that our children are sometimes not even safe in their own homes.

The time is right for Kentucky to implement stricter laws to prevent and deter these crimes. We need to take every step possible to protect our children from sexual predators before we have a Jessica Lunsford case or a Shasta and Dylan Groene case in our state.

The last thing we want to do is name a Kentucky law for a child who was a victim of a sexual predator.

The U.S. Department of Justice reports that rapists and pedophiles are more likely to repeat their heinous crimes once they are placed in the probation system. Kentucky laws regarding sexual assaults must be strengthened, particularly the laws regarding repeat offenders. We must do better to ensure that these criminals don't have the chance to strike a second time.

The Kentucky Coalition Against Sexual Assaults was created to look for ways to strengthen state laws against sexual predators. I asked the coalition to consider several areas of the laws that must be intensified to protect our children and families.

Among them:

• Identify the category of offenders that warrants a minimum sentence of 20 years for first offenses perpetrated against a child.
• Eliminate parole for repeat offenders.
• Consider castration as an alternative for criminals who commit particularly heinous sexual crimes.
• Require lifetime supervision and treatment of predators.
• Enact changes to the status given to some juvenile offenders. Rights of juvenile offenders should not trump the rights of their victims. The community has a right to know about juvenile offenders who commit violent crimes against other children.

It is time for Kentucky to get tougher on these heinous crimes before another predator strikes. In fact, we should get out in front of other states when it comes to protecting our children.

All the opportunities, happiness and prosperity in the world are meaningless if our children cannot walk the streets or feel safe at home.

We need stricter laws to deter and punish those who harm our families. We need to send a loud and clear message that sexual offenders are not welcome in Kentucky and that they will be dealt with harshly.

President Bush Signs Transportation Act

2005-08-10T14:19:00.000-04:00

Today, in Illinois, President Bush signed into law the Highway Bill which provides funding for America's transportation system without raising gas taxes. Below are excerpts from his speech. For the full remarks click here.

...Last four years, this economy has been through a lot. You know what I'm talking about. We've been through a recession, the stock market declined, corporate scandals, we had an attack on the homeland, and we've had the demands on our ongoing war against the terrorists. To grow the economy and help the American families, we acted. We passed significant tax relief. And the economic stimulus plan we passed is working. Thanks to the efforts of our workers and entrepreneurs, this economy is strong, and it is getting stronger. (Applause.)

Real disposable personal income is up, home ownership is at an all-time high, small businesses are flourishing, and last week, we learned that we've added over 200,000 new jobs in the month of July. (Applause.) The national unemployment rate is 5 percent. Since May of 2003, we've added nearly 4 million new jobs. More Americans are working today than ever before in our nation's history. (Applause.)

But we recognize in Washington more needs to be done. That's one of the reasons I signed an energy bill. In order to keep this economy growing, we've got to become less dependent on foreign sources of oil. (Applause.)

And that's why I'm proud to be here to sign this transportation bill, because our economy depends on us having the most efficient, reliable transportation system in the world. If we want people working in America, we've got to make sure our highways and roads are modern. We've got to bring up this transportation system into the 21st century. I mean, you can't expect your farmers to be able to get goods to market if we don't have a good road system. You can't expect to get these Caterpillar products all around the United States if we don't have a good road system.

This road system that we have is going to be modernized through the Transportation Equity Act. It provides more than $286 billion over six years to upgrade our nation's network of roads and bridges and mass transit systems. The Transportation Act will finance needed road improvements, and will ease traffic congestion in communities all across this country.

...
In other words, this bill is going to help modernize the highway system and improve quality of life for a lot of people. And these projects will require workers. Highways just don't happen; people have got to show up and do the work to refit a highway or build a bridge. And they need new equipment to do so. So the bill I'm signing is going to help give hundreds of thousands of Americans good paying jobs.

This bill upgrades our transportation infrastructure, and it will help save lives. The bill establishes a safety belt incentive grant program, which will provide incentives for states to adopt laws that increase seat belt usage. Under this bill, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will set stability standards to help prevent vehicle rollovers.

In other words, this is more than just a highway bill; it's a safety bill. The American people expect us to provide them with the safest possible transportation system, and this bill helps fulfill that obligation. This law makes our highways and mass transit systems safer and better, and it will help more people find work. And it accomplishes goals in a fiscally responsible way. We are not raising gasoline taxes in order to pay for this bill. (Applause.)

Our Secretary of Transportation, Norm Mineta, will work to ensure that taxpayers get the most from this bill and that projects are delivered on time and on budget. (Applause.)

The United States Congress can be proud of what it has achieved in the Transportation Equity Act, and I'm proud to be right here in Denny Hastert's district to sign it.

Thank you all for coming. May God bless you. (Applause.)
(The bill is signed.) (Applause.)

President Bush Signs Energy Policy Act

2005-08-08T18:17:00.000-04:00

Below are excerpts from the President's remarks during the signing in New Mexico:

...
This bill will strengthen our economy and it will improve our environment, and it's going to make this country more secure. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 is going to help every American who drives to work, every family that pays a power bill, and every small business owner hoping to expand.

The bill is the result of years of effort. It is the result of good folks coming together, people who have made a commitment to deliver results for the American people. This bill launches an energy strategy for the 21st century, and I've really been looking forward to signing it.
...
I want to remind you about the fact that this economy of ours has been through a lot. And that's why it was important to get this energy bill done, to help us continue to grow. We've been through a stock market decline; we went through a recession; we went through corporate scandals; we had an attack on our homeland; and we had the demands on an ongoing war on terror. And to grow this economy, we worked together to put together an economic growth policy, an economic growth package, the cornerstone of which was to cut the taxes on the American people. And that tax relief plan is working. This economy is strong, and it's growing stronger. And what this energy bill is going to do, it's just going to help keep momentum in the right direction so people can realize their dreams.

Last week we had some good news that America added just over 200,000 jobs -- new jobs -- in the month of July. Since May of 2003, we've added nearly 4 million new jobs. More Americans are working today than ever before in our nation's history. (Applause.) Workers are taking more of what they earn -- taking home more of what they earn. Inflation is low, mortgage rates are low. Home ownership in America is at an all-time high. In other words, this economy is moving. And what this energy bill does is it recognizes that we need more affordable and reliable sources of energy in order to make sure the economy continues to grow.

It's an economic bill, but, as Pete mentioned, it's also a national security bill. For more than a decade, America has gone without a national energy policy. It's hard to believe, isn't it? We haven't had a strategy in place. We've had some ideas, but we have not had a national energy policy. And as a result, our consumers are paying more for the price of their gasoline, electricity bills are going up. We had a massive blackout two summers ago that cost this country billions of dollars and disrupted millions of lives. And because we didn't have a national energy strategy over time, with each passing year we are more dependent on foreign sources of oil.
...
First, the bill makes an unprecedented commitment to energy conservation and efficiency -- an unprecedented commitment. The bill sets higher efficiency standards for federal buildings and for household products. It directs the Department of Transportation to study the potential for sensible improvements in fuel-efficiency standards for cars and trucks and SUVs. It authorizes new funding for research into cutting-edge technologies that will help us do more with less energy.
...
Second, this bill will allow America to make cleaner and more productive use of our domestic energy resources, including coal, and nuclear power, and oil and natural gas. By using these reliable sources to supply more of our energy, we'll reduce our reliance on energy from foreign countries, and that will help this economy grow so people can work.
...
Thirdly, the bill I sign today will help diversify our energy supply by promoting alternative and renewable energy sources. The bill extends tax credits for wind, biomass, landfill gas and other renewable electricity sources. The bill offers new incentives to promote clean, renewable geothermal energy. It creates a new tax credit for residential solar power systems. And by developing these innovative technologies, we can keep the lights running while protecting the environment and using energy produced right here at home.
...
Fourth, the energy bill will help ensure that consumers receive electricity over dependable modern infrastructure. The bill removes outdated obstacles to investment in electricity transmission lines in generating facilities. The bill corrects the provision of the law that made electric reliability standards optional instead of mandatory.
...
After years of debate and division, Congress passed a good bill. It's my honor to have come to the great state of New Mexico to sign it. I'm confident that one day Americans will look back on this bill as a vital step toward a more secure and more prosperous nation that is less dependent on foreign sources of energy.

Click here to view the full remarks.

Energy Policy 2005 Fact Sheet

Congressman Geoff Davis' Weekly Column

2005-08-08T17:49:00.000-04:00

The House of Representatives has worked hard since January to produce results that will benefit all of us in Kentucky.

Last week the House of Representatives passed major medical malpractice reform legislation and a bill authorizing the formation of Association Health Plans. Together these two legislative initiatives will improve health insurance for Kentuckians by giving our doctors some additional protections from frivolous lawsuits and by permitting small businesses to join together to bargain for better insurance at lower rates. The Senate has not yet taken up these bills.

Another accomplishment in the House this year is legislation we passed that will update and improve the Perkins student loan program. This legislation will strengthen vocational and technical education by streamlining federal funding to better help states and local communities. The legislation rejects federal standards, returning control to those that know the needs of our local communities best. When Congress returns in September we will complete work on legislation to improve opportunities for higher education and reforms to the Head Start program.

Congress enacted critical judicial reform this year by passing the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 and the Class Action Fairness Act. The Bankruptcy bill restores the concept of filing for bankruptcy only as a last resort and requires those who have the ability to pay their debts to do so. The Class Action bill implements protections for consumers and class members to ensure more equitable results from class action lawsuits for those who were maligned. This will mean more money for victims and less money for the victims’ attorneys.

The House of Representatives has maintained a firm commitment to our homeland security and protecting our borders. The Homeland Security and Defense appropriations bills for fiscal year 2006 have both passed by overwhelming, bipartisan majorities. We have also just finished reauthorizing the PATRIOT Act. Many significant new protections were included, and oversight has been improved to prevent abuse of Patriot Act provisions while still providing our law enforcement personnel the tools necessary to prevent terrorist attacks.

Congress loudly declared the need for sweeping reform at the United Nations. The United Nations Reform Act requires that international organization to achieve specific reforms and directs the State Department to actively seek ways to increase our influence within the U.N. The bill provides consequences for failure to specifically address those reforms.

Last week Congress passed comprehensive and much-needed energy legislation. This legislation is important to the nation and to Kentucky. The Energy bill will help lower energy costs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Also included in the bill are incentives for the development of clean coal technology that will produce jobs in Kentucky and cheaper, cleaner fuel across the country.

We concluded work on the Transportation bill last week as well. I was proud to have been able to secure $12.8 million for critical infrastructure projects in Kentucky’s Fourth District. This legislation and the funding it provides will create jobs while building a foundation for future economic growth.

Congress approved the Dominican Republic- Central American Free Trade Agreement. This courageous step will increase our security by strengthening our bonds with our neighbors. CAFTA will also help to create jobs at home by opening new markets to our U.S. goods and services. CAFTA is not similar to NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement). Under previous agreements, the vast majority of goods from CAFTA countries already enter our U.S. markets free of tariffs. CAFTA will open the markets of participating nations to U.S.-produced goods and services so that our products can be exported free of tariffs to those countries. This agreement is fairer to U.S. workers than any trade agreement we’ve ever had.

While each of these accomplishments has benefits, the growing strength of our economy is indicative of the positive direction in which we are headed overall. That strength is reflected in many ways, not the least of which is the 1.9 million new jobs created and the 10.9 percent growth in our exports over the last year.

Finally, there is an accomplishment of which I am exceptionally proud. The House of Representatives has approved the permanent repeal of the death-tax. This tax hurts our farmers and small business owners and takes capital out of our communities. Rather than paying taxes on the lifetime work and achievement of our local families, the repeal of estate taxes will allow families to invest in their farms and small businesses instead of paying more money to the federal government. The Senate has not yet considered legislation repealing the death tax this year, but I am hopeful that they could find time to debate and vote on that legislation before the end of the year.

Congress is in adjournment until after Labor Day. I will be spending all of my time the next few weeks in Kentucky working in the Fort Mitchell and Ashland offices and traveling the 4th District. It feels great to be home after having accomplished so much in the first few months of my first term in Congress.

Contact Congressman Geoff Davis:

277 Buttermilk Pike, Fort Mitchell, KY 41017, 859-426-0080; 1405 Greenup Ave., Ste. 236, Ashland, KY 41101, 606-324-9898; 1541 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515, 202-225-3465. E-mail: www.house.gov/writerep. Website: www.geoffdavis.house.gov.

Governor Fletcher talks LIVE on Fox 41 News

2005-08-01T20:13:00.000-04:00

Check out the interview at:
http://www.fox41.com/article/view/842/?tf=wdrbarticleview.tpl

Governor Fletcher Opens 2007 Reelection Campaign Account

2005-08-01T20:07:00.000-04:00

Frankfort, KY: Governor Ernie Fletcher announced today that he has opened his 2007 reelection campaign account, and has asked Kelly Knight, a Glasgow, KY native, to serve as finance chair of his reelection campaign fundraising efforts.

In March Governor Fletcher declared his intent to run for reelection and has made it clear that he plans to serve Kentucky for a second term.

“When I was elected governor, I committed to bringing real change and restoring hope and opportunity to our great Commonwealth and after a little over a year and a half we have passed landmark pieces of legislation and streamlined government in epic proportions. Opening this account is indicative of my commitment to continue bringing progress and prosperity for another four years,” said Governor Fletcher.

Kelly Knight, 43, resides in Lexington with her husband, Dr. Judson Knight, and their two daughters. They are members of Christ Church Episcopal. She is a graduate of the University of Kentucky.

“I am honored to be serving Governor Fletcher in this capacity and I am anxious to get started,” said Kelly Knight “So many people have wanted to contribute over the past months, that I have no doubt that we will hit the ground running.”

Kelly was on the Bush-Cheney04 Kentucky Finance Committee, the RNC Victory Committee, and W Stands for Women National Steering Committee. Kelly is currently the Co-Chairman of the Republican National Finance Committee representing Kentucky. Kelly serves on Congressman Hal Roger's HAL PAC.

In addition, Kelly serves on the following boards; The Lexington Philharmonic, The University of Kentucky Children's Hospital Advisory Board, The United Way of the Bluegrass, The Kentucky Arts Council, and The Boy Scouts of the Bluegrass. She is the co-founder of 'With One Heart' a tsunami children's relief foundation.

Currently, Kelly is the Finance Chair of the Republican Party of Kentucky, a position she will resign before commencement of fundraising for the Governor’s reelection.

The name of the committee will be Friends of Governor Fletcher.

Secretary of State Trey Grayson Named Chairman of National Elections Committee

2005-07-31T18:46:00.000-04:00

(St. Paul, Minnesota) - States across the country are working feverishly to implement changes in their election process by deadlines in 2006 imposed by the 2002 Help America Vote Act (HAVA). As they head into the home stretch of this mandate, many states will turn to Kentucky and its Secretary of State, Trey Grayson, for help in this implementation. Grayson, who at age 33 is the youngest Secretary of State in the country, was appointed to serve as the chairman of the elections committee of the National Association of Secretary of State's (NASS) summer conference this past week in Minnesota.

"The country is facing some important changes in this upcoming election," stated Grayson after his appointment. "I look forward to helping my colleagues around the country with this transition as well as looking for the most innovative ideas to provide greater access to the election process while providing an atmosphere for corruption free elections."

Grayson was appointed by the newly elected President of NASS, Secretary of State Donetta Davidson (R-CO). Davidson was recently appointed to the Election Assistance Commission by President George W. Bush and will serve as NASS president until her confirmation. Grayson previously served as the vice-chairman of the voter participation committee under an appointment from outgoing NASS president Rebecca Vigil-Giron (D-NM). He will continue to serve as a member of the voter participation, business services, and presidential primaries committees.

Kentucky is well on its way to meeting the mandates set out by HAVA and, in many instances, has served as a model for other states' implementation. Most notably, the state has utilized a statewide voter registration system for nearly three decades. Kentucky has also served as leader in other technologies which Grayson has placed as a top priority in his administration. He credited the outstanding work of past Kentucky Secretaries of State, County Clerks, and State Board of Elections members and staff for helping place Kentucky in the limelight for well-run elections.

Secretary Grayson noted that he also has big plans for the election committee beyond HAVA legislation. "I think there is much work Secretaries of State can do to utilize technology in building a stronger election process. We will be exploring a number of ways that technology can aid not only elections officials but most importantly, our constituents."

Grayson currently serves as Chairman of the Republican Association of Secretaries of State and on numerous state and national boards for non-profits and other associations.

Earlier in his term, Secretary Grayson was named a "Rising Star" in the Republican Party by United Leaders, a nonpartisan, nonprofit action tank based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was also one of 40 state leaders from across the country selected to participate in the prestigious Toll Fellowship Program sponsored by The Council of State Governments.

# # #

Northup Introduces Legislation Protecting Future Rx Imports

2005-07-28T16:53:00.000-04:00

WASHINGTON - Blocking prescription drug importation through U.S. trade agreements will no longer be possible if legislation that Congresswoman Anne M. Northup introduced today becomes law.

"Americans in need of affordable prescriptions should not be barred from lower-priced medications by the fine-print in trade agreements," Congresswoman Northup said. "Now that allowing Americans to buy safe, FDA-approved medication from abroad is gaining steam in Congress, opponents have been forced to look for more creative road blocks."

Congresswoman Northup introduced the stand-alone bill, "Protecting Free Trade in Pharmaceuticals Act of 2005," as a companion measure to an amendment to the FY-06 Science, State, Justice, Commerce Appropriations bill, which she sponsored. That amendment would prevent for one year the U.S. Trade Representative from using certain language to block parallel prescription drug trade in future trade agreements.

The past three U.S. trade agreements (Australia, Singapore, and Morocco) included language that would bar Americans from purchasing medications from those countries, even if the U.S. legalizes prescription drug importation; if Congress passes legislation to legalize drug imports, the U.S. would then be in violation of those trade agreements.

Pharmaceutical industry insiders sitting on an advisory panel of the U.S. Trade Representative recommended that the anti-importation language be included in the past agreements, and have expressed support for including it in all future agreements.

The stand-alone legislation Northup introduced today is broader than the appropriations amendment. It would prevent outright the USTR from including in trade agreements any provision that could block parallel prescription drug trade, and it forces USTR to add consumer representatives to its advisory panel.

Representative Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut joins Northup as a House sponsor of the "Protecting Free Trade in Pharmaceuticals Act," which the Ways and Means Committee now must consider. Senators David Vitter of Louisiana and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan introduced identical legislation in the U.S. Senate.

SENATOR McCONNELL INTRODUCES LEGISLATION

2005-07-28T16:52:00.000-04:00

*The Equine Equity Act will provide tax relief for horse owners*

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell introduced a bill today designed to promote investment in the horse industry by removing unfair provisions of federal law that favor other investments. The Equine Equity Act of 2005 will reduce the capital gains holding period for horses, allow horse owners to depreciate all racehorses over the same period, and make horses eligible for federal disaster assistance.

“The horse industry is vital to Kentucky’s economy and to the thousands of Kentuckians who participate in horse-related activities,” said McConnell. “Horses are Kentucky’s largest agricultural product. Our signature industry employs more than 50,000 Kentuckians and provides an annual economic impact of $3.5 billion to our Commonwealth.”

The McConnell bill:

· Would reduce the capital gains holding period for horses from 24 months to 12 months, which is the case with most capital assets. Currently, horses must be held for two years to receive capital gains treatment.

· Would apply equal depreciation standards for all racehorses. Current law states that racehorses that begin training when older than 24 months of age are depreciated over three years, while those horses that begin training before reaching 24 months of age are depreciated over seven years. Most horses begin training before they reach 24 months, but their racing careers do not last seven years. The McConnell legislation would reduce the depreciation period to three years to more accurately reflect the racing life of horses.

· Would establish equity in eligibility for disaster assistance between horses and other livestock. Most livestock are eligible for federal disaster assistance during a drought, but horses are not. This legislation would make horses eligible for disaster-assistance programs offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“There is no good reason why horses and their owners should not be eligible for the same disaster assistance as other livestock,” said McConnell. “My legislation will remove the unfair tax burden on horses that discourage investment in the horse industry.”

A recent study found that horse industry contributes approximately $39 billion in direct economic impacts to the U.S. economy each year. The industry sustains 1.4 million full-time jobs each year, with over 460,000 of those jobs created from direct spending within the industry.

The bill is co-sponsored by Senators Jim Bunning and Blanche Lincoln (D-AR).

Remarks of Governor Ernie Fletcher to Blue Ribbon Task Force on Kentucky's Merit System

2005-07-28T16:50:00.000-04:00

FRANKFORT, Ky.-Governor Ernie Fletcher's remarks to the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Kentucky's Merit System are available for viewing at Governor Fletcher's web site at http://governor.ky.gov.

Rep. Geoff Davis hails passage of CAFTA as step forward for free trade, national security

2005-07-28T16:48:00.000-04:00

"DR-CAFTA presents an opportunity for us to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our neighbors who share our commitment to
democracy and freedom," Davis said.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. House yesterday approved the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA). This trade agreement will open markets to American goods, create jobs here at home and increase the economic stability of Central American neighbors while improving the United States' national security.

DR-CAFTA is the best opportunity the United States has to strengthen democracy in the Western Hemisphere, turn back the rising tide of anti-democratic movements and solidify U.S. borders against criminal gangs and illegal immigrants.

Criminal gangs, drug traffickers and smugglers of illegal immigrants create a highly volatile network next-door to the United States' borders. But dictators and corrupt politicians are being driven out of this region and replaced by leaders seeking to establish emerging democracies.

Currently, 80 percent of exports from the countries included under DR-CAFTA - Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic - enter the U.S. free of costly tariffs while the number is even higher - 99 percent - for agricultural goods. Likewise, U.S. goods will now enter the CAFTA countries duty-free.

"Free and fair trade helps create jobs here at home by opening foreign markets to U.S. goods while ensuring that our products can reach as many corners of the globe as possible," Davis said. "DR-CAFTA presents an opportunity for us to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our neighbors who share our commitment to democracy and freedom."

Unlike the 1980s when the U.S. confronted communists in Central America, the threat today is an authoritarian populism movement emerging while Central American countries struggle to compete economically with China.

"By enacting DR-CAFTA, we've empowered the Central American countries to retain their textile workers and production in our hemisphere," Davis said.

DR-CAFTA will help:

Kentucky Agriculture Producers: DR-CAFTA will eliminate tariffs on 50 percent of U.S. exports immediately and most remaining duties will be phased out in the next 15 years;
The agreement includes provisions to eliminate tariffs on high-value cuts of meat, which will benefit Kentucky's beef and pork producers;
Kentucky Distilled Spirits Producers: DR-CAFTA will eliminate all tariffs on liquor, and it commits all six countries to recognize Bourbon as a distinctive product of the U.S. This will ensure that only Bourbon produced in the U.S. may be sold as Bourbon in the DR-CAFTA countries;
Kentucky Manufacturers: DR-CAFTA will immediately eliminate tariffs on 80 percent of U.S. exports and eliminates all tariffs within 10 years, including current taxes of up to 15 percent on chemical and machinery products of which Kentucky is a significant producer.

The Senate approved DR-CAFTA June 30 by a 54-45 margin. The bill will now move to President Bush's desk for signature into law.

Senator McConnell's Prepared Remarks On Senate Floor, 7/28/05

2005-07-28T16:46:00.000-04:00

Just yesterday I expressed my concern that some may try to turn the confirmation process for Judge John Roberts into a political circus. After recent media reports I have become concerned that some of the fears that I spoke of earlier on this floor are coming true--namely, that our friends on the other side of the aisle are going to do everything they can to obstruct the confirmation process of the president's nominee to the Supreme Court.

Earlier, I spoke of a Washington Post article that outlined a carefully constructed plan of attack on the Roberts nomination. It was a three-staged battle plan. The first stage was to assert that the amount of consultation from the White House, no matter what the amount, was insufficient.

But that dog won't hunt. The White House consulted with over 70 Senators, including two-thirds of the Democratic caucus, and every Democrat on the Judiciary Committee. The President himself met with the Democratic leader, and the Democratic ranking member of the Judiciary Committee. He and his staff were receptive to any and all suggestions our Democratic friends cared to give. Frankly, Mr. President, he has done more than the Constitution requires by far, and more than his predecessors did. No one can say he did not consult the Senate, period. End of story.

The second salvo against the president's nominee, as told to the Washington Post, was to try to distort and destroy his record, and paint him as extreme. This plan, too, has failed.

Judge Roberts is one of the pre-eminent jurists of his generation. He is a top graduate of Harvard University and Harvard Law School. He was unanimously approved by the Senate for his current position on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Over 150 of his peers, Democrat and Republican alike, endorsed him for his current position. And he has argued before the Supreme Court 39 times, virtually more than any other member of the Supreme Court bar. He is clearly in the mainstream, is fair-minded, has a keen intellect, and a sterling record of integrity.

So now some of my Democratic friends, as some of us could have predicted, have come to the third and final stage of the attack plan. They are making unreasonable demands for documents about the nominee.

The Administration has been very generous in releasing documents from Judge Roberts's time in the Justice Department as a Special Assistant to Attorney General William French Smith, and his tenure in the White House Counsel's office.

The Judiciary Committee will receive some 70,000 pages of documents, at the behest of the Administration. Let me say that again--70,000 pages. I doubt that my colleagues have pored through those pages already, and yet they are that hungry for more.

Since the release of these documents, some in the media have hurriedly - some might say recklessly - skimmed document after complex legal document, looking for any hint of controversy so precious to the demands of the 24-hour news cycle.

In so doing, they run the risk of simplifying complex constitutional issues beyond recognition.

For example, during the past couple of days, there has been great deal of media attention regarding the arcane issue of so-called "court stripping," a shorthand term describing the issue of whether Congress has the authority to deny jurisdiction to federal courts.

The New York Times writes this morning that "Mr. Roberts consistently argued that courts should be stripped of authority of abortion, busing, school prayer and other matters."

The Washington Post, yesterday: "Roberts presented a defense of bills in Congress that would have stripped the Supreme Court of jurisdiction over abortion, busing and school prayer cases."
The Boston Globe: "One memo suggested that [Roberts] supported proposals in Congress to strip the federal courts of jurisdiction over abortion, busing and school prayer cases."

"Aha!" say our friends in the media. The media and some of our friends on the other side of the aisle suggest that John Roberts may have taken a position on these controversial issues.

The problem, Mr. President, is not that this is an oversimplification. The problem is that it's just plain wrong.

As a young attorney in the Justice Department, John Roberts was assigned to write a memo advocating that Congress had the constitutional authority to determine the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and other courts. This memo was written in response to legislation introduced in Congress proposing to strip federal jurisdiction on a number of controversial social issues.

Mr. Roberts was a constitutional scholar, and he did what constitutional scholars are frequently asked to do: Argue a legal theory about Congressional authority. Mr. Roberts was given this assignment by his boss, and he responded with the outstanding advocacy for which he is justly admired.

Making a legal argument, however, is miles away from endorsing the policy underlying the constitutional argument.

And as it turns out, Mr. President, John Roberts didn't think that "court stripping" was good policy in the first place.

Let me say again: John Roberts didn't think that "court stripping" was good policy in the first place.

The Associated Press reported yesterday that in 1985 "[A]s a lawyer in the Reagan White House, John Roberts wrote that Congress had authority to strip the Supreme Court of jurisdiction over cases involving school prayer and similar issues, but he added that 'such bills were bad policy and should be opposed'."

This tempest in a teapot over "court-stripping" refers to a position that Mr. Roberts had never agreed with in the first place.

That's the problem, Mr. President, with a rush to judgment on the complex legal documents that have been recently released. Instant media reports can muddy the waters by confusing a legal opinion with a policy position.

After all, Mr. President, half the story only conveys half the truth. And a half truth is frequently 100 percent wrong. I hope those in the media who got it wrong won't make the same mistake again.

This is the exact kind of misrepresentation I hope the Senate can avoid as it debates the Roberts nomination.

Mr. President, Judge Roberts deserves a fair and dignified process. The Senate needs to be thorough and deliberate but it must be fair.

So, Mr. President, I suggest we all take a deep breath and not rush to judgment in an effort to rush out tomorrow morning's headlines.

Rep. Geoff Davis votes to send comprehensive Energy Policy

2005-07-27T18:50:00.000-04:00

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. House today passed the Conference Report for the Energy Policy Act of 2005, sending the measure to President Bush's desk for signature into law.

"After years of trying to pass a comprehensive energy policy that will reduce our dependency on foreign oil and increase our natural reserves here at home, Congress has finally passed significant legislation that will help with long-term planning for energy use and conservation," said Rep. Geoff Davis. "The provisions in this plan will ensure our nation has the infrastructure to meet our energy needs in the century ahead, make us safer at home by directing our efforts inwards instead of toward foreign countries and create hundreds of thousands of jobs for American workers."

Davis continued, "By fostering conservation, increasing our investment in renewable, clean sources of energy, and encouraging greater domestic production, we can build a safer and more secure future."

The Energy Policy Act of 2005:

Encourages domestic production of oil by streamlining the permit process, promoting greater refinery capacity and curbing proliferation of boutique fuels;
Reduces the demand for oil by increasing funding to improve fuel efficiency standards and encouraging the development of alternative energy sources;
Boosts production of clean, natural gas to help lower soaring gas prices;
Improves our nation's electricity transmission capability and reliability to prevent future blackouts;
Promotes clean and renewable fuels by providing incentives for clean coal technology and other fuels such as biomass, wind, solar and hydroelectricity;
And encourages conservation by establishing new mandatory efficiency requirements for federal buildings, greater efficiency standards and product labeling for battery chargers, refrigerators, freezers, unit heaters and other household products.

Senators Bunning & McConnell Introduce Legislation To Bring Cheaper Power To All Kentuckians

2005-07-27T18:06:00.000-04:00

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Jim Bunning and Mitch McConnell yesterday introduced the “Kentucky Competitive Access Program (KCAP)” bill that would allow Kentucky’s residential and industrial electric customers served by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to secure less expensive power from other electric suppliers.

“Kentucky has some of the cheapest electricity rates in the nation,” said Bunning. “However, those Kentuckians who receive their power from TVA currently pay higher rates than those Kentuckians not served by TVA. My goal is to fix this problem and ensure that all Kentuckians have access to more affordable electricity.”

“Kentuckians served by TVA pay rates that average 30% higher than the rest of the Commonwealth, costing these communities more than $100 million in higher rates per year,” said McConnell. “If distributors want to free their customers from this TVA tax and pursue more affordable power, they should be able to do so. This legislation will ensure that Kentucky distributors have this option.”

Bunning and McConnell’s legislation would allow Kentucky electric consumers to purchase cheaper power and have it transmitted over TVA’s electric grid to the Kentucky electric distribution companies who would then provide the power to Kentucky customers.

Kentucky electric distribution companies served by the TVA currently can not provide their customers with access to Kentucky’s inexpensive power. This is because under existing federal law the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has limited authority over TVA and can not require it to transmit the cheaper power to most, if not all, of the Kentucky distributors. Bunning and McConnell’s legislation removes this restriction and provides the FERC with the authority to require TVA to transmit power to all Kentucky distributors.

“All Kentuckians deserve to choose where they receive their power,” said Bunning. “This bill will not only give them that choice, but it will also create a more competitive environment among Kentucky distributors and allow our businesses and residential consumers to keep more money in their pockets.”

Remarks Of Senator Mitch McConnell On Following The Ginsburg Standard, Not A Double Standard

2005-07-27T18:03:00.000-04:00

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell delivered the following statement today on the nomination of Judge John Roberts to be the next Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. During the speech, he urged his colleagues to follow the “Ginsburg Standard” when considering this nomination:

“Mr. President, with the nomination of Judge John Roberts to be the next Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, the President has selected one of the foremost legal minds of his generation. Many of my colleagues have already spoken Judge Roberts’s praises on this floor, and I agree with all of them. Judge Roberts possesses a keen intellect, an open mind, a judicious temperament, and a sterling reputation for integrity. He will faithfully apply the Constitution, not legislate from the bench. He should be confirmed in time for the Court to operate at full strength by October 3.

“Looking to recent history, and looking more specifically to the most recent Supreme Court nominations of Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer, I would think that I should not have cause to worry how this nominee will be treated. Then, as now, the President’s party controlled the Senate. Then, as now, the President nominated a jurist whose credentials could not be questioned. The only difference is that the occupant of the White House then was a Democrat, and the current president is a Republican.

“But that one simple fact may make all the difference to some of my friends on the other side of the aisle.

“In recent weeks I have begun to worry that some of my Democratic friends have forgotten the standard to which the Senate held Justices Breyer and Ginsburg when they were nominees. Mr. President, Judge Roberts deserves the same standard, no more or no less, than the nominees of the previous President. But I fear that “the Ginsburg-Breyer standard”—which I will call the “Ginsburg standard” for short--is giving way to a double standard. I would like to remind my colleagues of recent history, so we may draw some lessons from the confirmation processes of Justices Breyer and Ginsburg.

Click here for full remarks

Commonwealth Ends Fiscal Year 2005 in Strong Financial Shape

2005-07-27T17:22:00.000-04:00

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Governor Ernie Fletcher announced today that Kentucky is in good financial shape and that under his management, the state ended the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005, with a budget surplus.

"We are happy to report that the nation's economy is strong and the Kentucky economy is growing, resulting in additional unexpected revenues," Governor Fletcher said. "In addition, strong fiscal management has maximized the effectiveness of every tax dollar spent."

Both the General Fund and the Road Fund ended the year with unpredicted revenues and unspent appropriations, resulting in budget surpluses. Fiscal Year 2005 represents the first full fiscal year of the Fletcher Administration.

The General Fund surplus equals $214 million, which represents 2.8 percent of enacted appropriations. The Road Fund surplus equals $29 million, which represents 2.5 percent of enacted appropriations.

The General Fund surplus is the product of two key factors: revenue growth beyond budgeted levels and strong fiscal management of the commonwealth's expenditures. General Fund revenues grew 9.6 percent over Fiscal Year 2004, $195 million more than budgeted.

The healthy national and Kentucky economies resulted in across-the-board revenue growth from almost every tax. Sales tax receipts were up by 6.0 percent, the highest growth since FY '96. Individual income taxes were up by 8.6 percent, reflecting job growth and increasing wages in the state.

Corporation income taxes grew by 57.8 percent, reflecting increased corporate profitability and the shift of income tax from the individual level to the business entity level for pass-through entities

The surge in corporation income taxes experienced in Kentucky was also seen by most other states and the federal government, which realized a 41 percent increase in corporate tax receipts. The revenue increase also includes the enacted increases in cigarette taxes that became effective June the 1st, including the inventory, or floor stocks tax.

"I am most proud to announce the significant savings achieved by our fiscally conservative Cabinet and their strong management skills," Governor Fletcher said. "As a result of their efforts, $67 million of enacted appropriations were not spent and lapsed to the bottom line, accounting for approximately one-fourth of the surplus."

Through good stewardship and better management practices, the cabinets returned almost 1 percent of the entire General Fund - even though they were operating on budgets that already had been reduced through a $302 million budget reduction, then held flat.

Except for Fiscal Year 2004, when the government implemented a Budget Stability Initiative to save $110 million, the lapse amount for Fiscal Year 2005 is the highest on record since 1996.

Governor Fletcher announced that he will take a measured and conservative approach to determining the best use of these unexpected resources.

"We have several options to consider, which will be guided by the overall fiscal outlook for the commonwealth, as well as the needs of our citizens in some key areas," he said.

Governor Fletcher added that he will wait to see the outcome of revenue projections for the next two years due in mid-August before allocating any of the surplus.

Budget Director Brad Cowgill said: "The revenue outlook will help us understand how much of the surplus we can expect to be sustainable in the future. In addition, we have expenditure pressures in several areas on which we are working diligently to predict their impact on the budget, including Medicaid and health insurance for public employees."

The Governor expressed a need to rebuild the Budget Reserve Trust Fund, the "rainy day fund" to assure the bond rating agencies and financial markets that Kentucky is in good fiscal condition.

Governor Fletcher and Acting Secretary of Transportation Bill Nighbert also announced that the Transportation Cabinet successfully managed the Road Fund to result in a surplus of $29 million for Fiscal Year 2005. This represents 2.5 percent of enacted appropriations, no small accomplishment when revenues grew by less than 1 percent in the Road Fund over Fiscal Year 2004. Although revenues did grow $6.9 million beyond budgeted levels, the significant news is that the Transportation Cabinet saved $22.5 million from cabinet activities that now can be dedicated to state highway construction.

Budget Director Cowgill cautioned that while Kentucky closed Fiscal Year 2005 strong, the commonwealth faces challenges in the next biennial budget.

"We have problems in our state that need attention," he said.

He added that the enacted budget for Fiscal Year 2006 is based on several non-recurring sources of revenue, including: a large beginning balance; an unsustainable level of fund transfers; and a planned one-time bump in revenues from the tax modernization bill.

In addition, there will be an increased expenditure base for health insurance, Medicaid, corrections, state employee and teacher retirement systems, a full year of debt service for all bond obligations authorized in the 2005 session; and the need to appropriate funds for necessary government expenses and judgments that are not in the appropriation base.

Governor Fletcher acknowledged that the commonwealth faces some tough budget choices in the next legislative session.

"It is in that context that I have decided to gather more information about our revenue and expenditure outlook for the next biennium before making any decisions regarding how the surplus from last year should be allocated," he said.

###

GOVERNOR ERNIE FLETCHER ANNOUNCES JOY MINING MACHINERY TO LOCATE IN LEBANON

2005-07-27T17:13:00.000-04:00

FRANKFORT, KY - Governor Ernie Fletcher and Economic Development Cabinet Secretary Gene Strong announced today that Joy Mining Machinery, a global leader in the development, manufacture, distribution and service of underground mining equipment, to locate its new manufacturing and service operation in Lebanon. The $7.1 million investment will create more than 200 new jobs in the commonwealth.

"Today's announcement that an internationally respected company such as Joy Mining Machinery has chosen Kentucky to locate its newest operation emphasizes our continuing commitment to bring new jobs and new opportunities to the commonwealth," Governor Fletcher said.

"Marion County and the entire state will gain a tremendous economic boost by the addition of more than 200 new jobs and the multi-million dollar investment. We commend Secretary Strong and his staff for their work in bringing more than 4,000 new jobs to Kentucky in the last two months," Governor Fletcher added.

The company has purchased a 90,000 square foot building on 13 acres in Marion County which is expected to be operational by fall 2005.

"We are excited to be expanding our operations to Lebanon," said Mike Sutherlin, President of Joy Mining Machinery. "We will be ideally located to serve our customers in Kentucky and surrounding states."

Headquartered in Warrendale, Pennsylvania, Joy Mining Machinery was founded in 1919 by Joseph Joy and is the leading producer of underground mining equipment for coal and other bedded materials like trona, salt and gypsum. Its parent company, Joy Global Inc., is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as is Joy Mining's sister company, P&H Mining Equipment, which manufactures electric shovels, drills and draglines for surface mining operations. Joy Global Inc. had combined sales of $1.4 billion in 2004.

"We are very proud to have Joy Mining Machinery locate in our community," said Tom Lund, Executive Director of the Marion County Industrial Foundation. "We look forward to the diversification the company will provide to our community and our economy."

All Joy Mining Machinery products are distributed and supported by the company's 46 facilities located in eight countries around the world. The Joy facilities include sales offices, manufacturing plants, service centers and/or parts warehouses located in Australia, India, People's Republic of China, Poland, Russia, South Africa, United Kingdom and the United States. Two of its warehouses are currently located in Henderson and Lovely, Kentucky.

The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) approved Joy Mining Machinery for tax benefits up to $4.6 million under the Kentucky Rural Economic Development Act (KREDA), an incentive program designed to increase manufacturing employment in the commonwealth.

Those interested in applying for employment at the new Joy facility in Lebanon should contact or visit the local Department of Employment Services located at 634 W. Main Street, Lebanon or call 270-692-6870. A community profile for Marion County can be found at the following link: http://www.thinkkentucky.com/edis/cmnty/cw042/Location.htm.

GOVERNOR ERNIE FLETCHER ANNOUNCES UGN, INC.

2005-07-26T15:39:00.000-04:00

Facility will bring an initial 150 new jobs and a $16 million investment

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Governor Ernie Fletcher and Cabinet for Economic Development Secretary Gene Strong announced today the decision by UGN, Inc. to locate a new facility in Pulaski County, creating an initial 150 jobs with an expected total of 300 jobs in the next three years. The project represents a $16 million investment in the commonwealth.

"The decision by UGN, Inc. to locate its manufacturing facility in Somerset will provide a major boost to the local economy," Governor Ernie Fletcher said. "Kentucky has been an ideal location for automotive suppliers for a long time and UGN, Inc.'s new facility shows that the commonwealth continues to be a prime location for the automotive industry."

UGN, Inc. is a recognized leader for acoustic, interior trim and thermal management products serving the Japanese transplant automotive industry in North America. The 314,000 square foot Somerset plant will produce the company's first acoustical carpet system for 2007 production year vehicles and is expected to be operational by 1st quarter 2006.

"Expanding our offerings to include carpet systems to our current product line, paired with the opening of a fourth manufacturing facility is a great success for UGN. The addition of this facility validates the contributions and commitment UGN has made to the automotive industry and our customers," said Peter Anthony, president and CEO of UGN. "Somerset provides an excellent location for our fourth facility and we look forward to increasing the economic development of Somerset, as well as establishing a long and prosperous relationship with the community."

Established as a joint venture in 1986 between Nihon Tokushu Tokyo Co., Ltd. And Rieter Automotive Systems UGN, Inc. is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois and has three manufacturing plants, one research and development facility, and more than 1,200 employees.

"We are very happy with the announcement today that UGN, Inc. will locate a facility in Somerset," stated Mayor JP Wiles, City of Somerset. "We appreciate the assistance of Governor Fletcher and the Cabinet for Economic Development in making this project possible. This is the kind of company Somerset needs to grow so we thank UGN, Inc. for choosing our town."

The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) preliminarily approved UGN, Inc. for tax benefits up to $5.6 million under the Kentucky Rural Development Act (KREDA), an incentive program designed to locate or expand manufacturing operations in counties suffering from high rates of unemployment. A community profile for Pulaski County can be found at the following link: http://www.thinkkentucky.com/edis/cmnty/cw116/Location.htm.

# # #

The Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development is the primary state agency in Kentucky responsible for creating new jobs and new investment in the state. New business investment in Kentucky in 2004 totaled nearly $2.3 billion with the creation of just over 16,500 new jobs. Information on available development sites, workforce training, incentive programs, community profiles, small business development and other resources is available at www.thinkkentucky.com.

Fourth District Report By Congressman Geoff Davis

2005-07-25T15:43:00.000-04:00

One of the most important benefits offered to employees are health benefits. Without them, many families would not be able to visit with medical professionals who help prevent and treat illnesses.

But there are still too many Americans - 45 million - who do not have health insurance mostly due to the rising cost of providing this benefit. Small businesses, especially, suffer from a decreased ability to provide their handfuls of employees with basic healthcare.

This is the number one problem facing small businesses today. Estimates indicate that 60 percent or more of the working uninsured work for or depend on small employers. Eighty-three percent of companies with more than 5,000 employees voluntarily offer their workers a choice of more than one health plan. In contrast, only 10 percent of small businesses with fewer than 50 workers offer a choice of plans.

Working families should not have to face the struggles of everyday life without health insurance. This week, Congress will consider Association Health Plans (AHPs) that would allow small businesses to pool together through associations and purchase quality healthcare for workers and their families at a lower, more affordable cost. The bill also increases small businesses' bargaining power with healthcare providers, frees them from costly state-mandated benefits packages and lowers their overhead costs by as much as 30 percent. These are the same benefits that large corporations and unions already enjoy because of their larger economies of scale.

When I ran my company, a small business, I saw firsthand the difficulty providing my employees affordable health care. I recognized the importance of providing this benefit to my workers not only for them but for their families. But I had to weigh the costs of doing of business versus the benefits of health insurance. In the end, I decided that not providing health care was simply not an option. But for too many small businesses, that decision is too expensive to make.

During my campaign, I promised to support legislation to lower the cost of healthcare so that small businesses and families could afford this benefit. I am pleased to be able to support efforts to bring this valuable measure into law.

We have a responsibility to help small business owners provide health care choices to their employees. AHPs will reduce the number of uninsured Americans while giving their employers a choice in what health plan to offer.

These plans will not be unregulated. To prevent fraud, all AHPs must be certified by the Department of Labor as meeting the stringent requirements of the bill before they can offer benefits to a single worker. Insured AHPs remain subject to oversight by state governments and self-funded AHPs will be subject to oversight by the Department of Labor, like self-funded large employer and union plans. Currently, 72 million Americans are covered by health plans solely regulated by the Department of Labor.

In the last Congress, the House twice passed AHP legislation with strong bipartisan support. It is my hope that the House again passes this much-needed legislation and the Senate finally takes action to put onto President Bush's desk so we can begin giving small businesses options in offering health care to workers.

Contact Congressman Geoff Davis:

277 Buttermilk Pike, Fort Mitchell, KY 41017, 859-426-0080; 1405 Greenup Ave., Ste. 236, Ashland, KY 41101, 606-324-9898; 1541 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515, 202-225-3465. E-mail: www.house.gov/writerep. Website: www.geoffdavis.house.gov.

Perspective on the Selection of a U.S. Supreme Court Justice

2005-07-25T12:43:00.000-04:00

Below is an editorial by Representative Stan Lee published in today's Lexington Herald Leader:

With the resignation of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor...
By Stan Lee

With the resignation of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, pundits throughout the nation are gearing up for what is expected to be an ideological battle of epic proportions.

This Supreme Court nomination is President Bush's first and one of the most important steps he will take. The composition of the Supreme Court affects national policy for decades, and the opportunity to seat someone who will faithfully interpret our nation's Constitution is priceless.

However, as with all things that involve Senate confirmation lately, the nomination also provides liberal organizations -- such as the terrifying trio of MoveOn.org, People for the American Way and the Alliance for Justice -- the chance to turn the president's constitutional duty into a national spectacle.

While the organizations' names disguise their motives, a quick check into the background of each reveals its purpose in calling for a filibuster before the president even made his nomination. After all, these organizations are funded by the likes of Michael Moore and Barbara Streisand and known for propaganda against American soldiers (MoveOn.org), proudly opposing internet porn filters (People for the American Way) and calling for courts to subvert the legislative process and create new rights (Alliance for Justice).

Instead of acceding to the process, these groups want Bush to replace O'Connor with a candidate who fits their specifications. The real motivation is that O'Connor's reputation for providing swing votes has given liberals an outside chance in each case the court considers.

To accomplish their goal, the trio is urging Senate Democrats to again set aside the basic civility of the nomination process in favor of obstructing a two-century-old process.

Their attempts fly in the face of even the Clinton Supreme Court confirmations of Justices Stephen Breyer and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. When Ginsburg refused to answer questions on any issue that could potentially come before the court, Sen. Joe Biden replied that he was not looking for answers regarding any one specific case. What greater hypocrisy now to demand that Bush's nominee provide just that.

Are liberals truly convinced that seats on the highest court of the land should be handed out based on a quota system? Why else would they demand that Bush choose a nominee the way a golfer handicaps his game?

Have they completely overlooked the will of the American people? Sen. John Kerry made Supreme Court nominations a cornerstone of his campaign. Knowing this, the people overwhelmingly chose President Bush and, in turn, his future Supreme Court nominees.

Americans want a Supreme Court nominee to be evaluated based on standards of excellence, integrity and commitment to upholding our rights and legal protections. Bush has done that.

Stumbo's Witch-hunt Criticized In The Wall Street Journal

2005-07-23T19:29:00.000-04:00

The Opinion Journal from the Wall Street Journal editorial page highlighted an editorial which questions the motives of Attorney General Greg Stumbo:

"Office Politics Are Stalking Horse for Kentucky Wannabe"
By: Brendan Miniter

Indeed, the legal stakes may be small potatoes -- many expect the charges to be thrown out -- but the political stakes are higher than at the Kentucky Derby. Attorney General Stumbo has his own designs on the governor's mansion and is believed by GOPers to be using the indictments to pave the way for his election in two years.

Republicans are fighting back. Senate President David Williams showed up in court to lend "moral support" to the indicted Fletcher administration officials, telling reporters that the charges are "the biggest political farce I've seen in my 20-something years here in Frankfort. For 20-something years, not one Republican was ever hired into the Merit System. I guess these whistle blowers had sand in their whistles then."

Mr. Williams put his finger on the real issue: After a long period of Democratic dominance, the state bureaucracy is chock full of Democratic appointees who use every opportunity to cause trouble for their GOP bosses. Not content to fight this battle solely in the public relations arena, Gov. Fletcher has set up a 20-member task force to propose ways to fix a confused and contradictory civil service system established in the 1960s.
...

Just for good measure, last week Gov. Fletcher filled out the taskforce by placing Mr. Stumbo on it. That means if the AG wants to use the indictments to get his name in the news, he will simultaneously find himself on the front pages as part of a distinguished group finding fault with the laws he's been using to badger his political rivals.

Click here for full article

WAVE 3 Interview with Governor Ernie Fletcher

2005-07-22T13:35:00.000-04:00

Gov. Fletcher Answers Tough Questions

Stumbo Says: “It’s not the conviction, it’s the indictment or charge that takes the toll politically.”

2005-07-20T19:25:00.000-04:00

Frankfort, KY: The following are the words of Greg Stumbo when he opined about the conviction of friend Jerry Lundergan, now chairman of the Democrat Party of Kentucky:

“It’s not the conviction, it’s the indictment or charge that takes the toll politically.” (Lexington Herald-Leader, 7/13/91)

That statement goes to prove that Greg Stumbo knows exactly what he is doing by launching this political investigation into Governor Fletcher's administration.

To further demonstrate his political motivations, "the Darth Vader of Democrat Politics" (Louisville Courier-Journal, 7/20/05), Greg Stumbo knows the political impact of any indictment and this knowledge combined with his public admission that he would run for governor if Governor Fletcher became “wildly unpopular” proves this investigation is nothing more than a political witch-hunt.

“This circus is going to go on for as long as the attorney general feels he can benefit from it,” said RPK General Counsel Spencer Noe. “We have said all along there is a proper way to handle personnel complaints, but unfortunately at the expense of a lot of good people and taxpayer dollars this thing has been hijacked by the attorney general and is being used for political attacks.”

In May, the attorney general set the stage for his political attack with remarks like “smoking gun,” “mounting,” and “substantial” evidence. Now his office seems to think it can coast on the ramifications of its smear campaign with statements such as “no comment” and “we're making a lot of progress, and that should be evident from the indictments.” (Courier-Journal, 7/7/05)

The most disturbing is his office’s continuous remarks that “the indictments speak for themselves.” Or as Stumbo said back in 1991, “it’s the indictment or charge that takes the toll politically.” (Lexington Herald-Leader, 7/13/91)

Greg Stumbo knows the power of an indictment and when it comes to prosecuting his opponent he does not care if it lacks legs to stand up in court.

President Bush Nominates Judge John Roberts For U.S. Supreme Court Justice

2005-07-19T21:33:00.000-04:00

Immediately after President Bush's announcement Senators McConnell and Bunning and Chairman Darrell Brock offered their support for the President's superb choice. Below are the official statements:

Statement from Chairman Darrell Brock:

“Today, President Bush has nominated a man of experience, integrity, and sound judgment to serve on our nation’s highest court. Judge Roberts has received praise from leaders of both parties for his impartial application of the law and exceptional qualifications. Americans can be proud of the deliberate and bipartisan process the President has used to encourage input from Senators on all sides of this important national issue. Let us encourage members of our Senate to provide Judge Roberts the fair and full consideration that is owed to him by our Constitution and seek confirmation before the Supreme Court convenes in October.”

Statement from Senator Mitch McConnell:

“After unprecedented consultation with the Senate, President Bush has nominated John Roberts to serve on the Supreme Court. He is an excellent choice, and I was proud to vote to confirm him to the D.C. Circuit Court in the 108th Congress. Judge Roberts is a jurist of keen intellect, and the highest integrity, and he will faithfully interpret the Constitution. Judge Roberts and, indeed, the American people deserve a fair confirmation process that treats his nomination with dignity and respect. The Senate should give him an up or down vote before the beginning of the Court’s new term on October 3."

Statement from Senator Jim Bunning:

“Judge Roberts is an exceptionally well qualified nominee to sit on the United States Supreme Court. Just two years ago he was unanimously approved by the Senate to serve on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. I supported him then and I support him now. He has a proven record and is someone that can be trusted to follow the law, not make the law.

“The Senate now must move forward with one of the most important debates we will have this year. President Bush has made his choice for Supreme Court Justice, and it is our duty here in the Senate to provide Judge Roberts with a fair hearing process and debate on the Senate floor followed by a timely up-or-down vote on confirmation before the Supreme Court term begins in October. During this process I hope all Senators will treat Judge Roberts with the same dignity and respect he was treated with two years ago.”

Sore Loser Syndrome plagues Democrats

2005-07-19T17:57:00.000-04:00

Lexington Herald-Leader
By Michele Ferguson
CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST

Did you know that no score is kept in T-ball? The logic is that if a child loses a game, he'll lose his desire to play. But, lessons like "You win some, you lose some," and "Live to fight another day" and, my favorite, "Don't be a sore loser" shouldn't be postponed.

In fact, the sooner the first two lessons are learned, the easier it is for children to learn the third.

Otherwise, as adults they will fall victim to Sore Loser Syndrome, which is now an epidemic in the Democrat Party. With no cure in sight, victims are simply left competing with Al Gore to be the SLS poster boy.
...
Unfortunately for Kentuckians, SLS has not been contained in Washington. And, for Lexingtonians, it is only a baseball throw away. While SLS sufferer and Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean claimed that Republicans hadn't worked a day in their lives, Kentucky Republicans were being criticized for getting jobs.

Lacking a delicious scandal like a nursing home mistress who stopped getting favors when she stopped giving favors, Attorney General Greg Stumbo jumped on the next best thing: complaints from a disgruntled Democratic state employee.

Stumbo's position suggests that employers considering equally qualified job applicants should not choose the person recommended by someone they trust. Therefore, I assume, the people Stumbo once recommended for employment actually lessened their chances of getting hired.

Media examples of this grand conspiracy have included at least two state employees who, having failed to qualify for one position, had to apply for another. Where are the cases where an applicant got a job for which he or she was not qualified? Stumbo is now hunting in other departments to find one.

Of course, in fairness to the media, there really wasn't an appropriate fruit spread to attribute to the almost 600 similar job recommendations submitted during the Patton administration on paper rather than through e-mail. "Wordperfect Jelly" just wouldn't have had a ring to it.

And those past recommendations, which by Stumbo's standard must have also been indicative of criminal activity, even slid right past then-Attorney General Ben Chandler.

The law in question has either been viewed equally by past and present administrations, which means Stumbo simply has an ax to grind, or the law is so poorly written that two attorney generals from the same political party managed to discern completely different interpretations of it.

For those who slept through civics class, the proper remedy for a badly written law is found in the legislature. But, in the final throes of SLS, a liberal will inevitably choose instead to go to a judge and call his opponent a cheater.

When their agenda isn't chosen by the electorate, SLS sufferers will use accusations, suspicion and taxpayers' money to thwart the agenda selected. In other words, if they don't win, no one gets to play.

Having never learned from losing, SLS sufferers will eventually prevent the Democrat Party from living to fight another day.

Instead of using the party's ideas to try to persuade people, SLS sufferers either offer two-sided views -- We support the troops and even affectionately call a few of them Hitler -- or to cry foul when one hasn't been committed: Republicans sought recommendations from other Republicans for jobs under the first Republican administration in 35 years? Must be a conspiracy.

And to think adult SLS is actually preventable if caught during early childhood. Provided, of course, the child makes it past T-ball.

Visit the Lexington Herald-Leader for full article.

Stumbo's Priorities Misguided

2005-07-19T17:49:00.000-04:00

NKY Challenger Opinion
By: Edward L. Smith, Jr. Park Hills

The coverage of Greg Stumbo's investigation continually refers to the civil service system as the Merit System, when in fact, that is just part of the story. According to KRS 18A.010, which says in part,"All appointments and promotions to positions in the state classified service shall be made solely on the basis of merit and fitness, to be ascertained by competitive examination, except as hereinafter specified."Notice that the law says hiring shall be done "solely" on two criteria, both merit and fitness.

...
Fitness often means the same as "character." For example, even though a law school graduate has successfully passed the bar exam, he/she is not eligible to practice law in Kentucky until evaluated for "character and fitness."Since state employees may be given responsibility for making decisions involving perhaps millions of tax dollars or in dealing with the delivery of government services, it seems logical that their "fitness" as to, for example, being trustworthy or not, only makes common sense.

We have all heard the joke about highway workers spending the day lounging in the shade or just leaning on their shovels. For decades those workers were hired for purely political patronage reasons - "Vote for me and I'll get you a job in the Transportation Department." Governor Fletcher is trying to end that stuff.

...
In 2003, Ernie Fletcher was given the job of Governor by a majority of the Kentucky people. He had a mandate to go to Frankfort to change the way things had been done in state government. He has the obligation to pick people who meet both the "merit" and the "fitness" criteria as spelled out in KRS 18A.010. And, that is just what he has been doing.There is no limitation in the law as to who can be consulted when checking background of applicants.

The Governor should hire motivated, reliable people of good character to be the "new workers" of the future. He has the right to seek out reliable information attesting to the "fitness" of each person who is hired. And, if that means taking into consideration the recommendations of those who have demonstrated that they share the Governor's vision of moving Kentucky forward, so be it. That is his right.

Dr. James W. Holsinger, Jr., secretary of Kentucky's Cabinet for Health and Family Services, stated in a Lexington newspaper that we are seeing more cases of welfare fraud in Kentucky because the Fletcher administration is "serious about uncovering the fraud we all know has gone on too long." Holsinger said, "the Cabinet's Office of Inspector General has identified a record 1,850 cases of alleged fraud, an increase of more than 30 percent from the final year of the previous administration."

Attorney General Greg Stumbo, who should be prosecuting these cases, is demanding $6,500 per case to prosecute them. But, because he is not getting all the money he wants, he has "walked away from 133 substantiated cases of fraud discovered by the cabinet's inspector general worth a total of $1.7 million. An additional 278 cases, totaling $2.4 million have been returned to the Health and Family Services cabinet without any work being done."

Greg Stumbo's merit system investigation distorts and interferes with the Governor's efforts to improve the fitness of Kentucky's employees. And, while Stumbo uses our tax dollars to investigate what amounts to misdemeanor charges, he does nothing to get back the $4.1 million taken from us through welfare fraud. Stumbo's priorities are so bad he should be removed from office.

For Full Article Visit: www.challengernky.com

David Williams is right - Merit System hasn't protected Republicans

2005-07-19T17:24:00.000-04:00

Danville Advocate Messenger Editorial:

State Senate President David Williams spoke the truth last week when he pointed out that the state merit system hasn't been fair to Republicans over the years.
...
Williams, a Republican from Burkesville, called the court case "the biggest political farce I've seen in my 20-something years here in Frankfort.

"For 20-something years, not one Republican was ever hired into the merit system. I guess these whistle blowers had sand in their whistles then."
...
For decades, Republicans saw jobs and promotions go to less qualified individuals simply because they had a "D" beside their names on the voter registration rolls.
...
we are disturbed by the lack of fairness and perspective on the part of the state's larger media outlets in their coverage of what the Louisville Courier-Journal has characterized as "JOBTROT."

It's rather amusing that both the Louisville newspaper and the Lexington Herald-Leader seem never to have heard of political patronage in state government before. It's almost as if in their hatred of Fletcher and all things Republican that they have intentionally wiped out their institutional memory of how state government operated for years under one-party rule.

An editorial in the Herald-Leader Friday taking Williams to task was a good example of the media myopia when it comes to this case. The Herald editors called Williams' comments "an explosion of gas from a politician desperate for a publicity fix," and they challenged Williams to show them "the voter registration of every merit system employee hired in those '20-plus years.'"

A better response than putting down Williams would be to look into the allegations that he makes by interviewing Republicans who have served or tried to serve in state government and by comparing voter rolls to state government employment lists. Surely that information is available.

But that wouldn't make as good a story as smearing the reputations of a lot of good people by trying - as Attorney General Greg Stumbo is guilty of - to criminalize political practices that have been standard procedure in Frankfort under countless Democratic administrations.

For Full Article Visit: www.amnews.com

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

2005-07-15T16:46:00.000-04:00

AG May Have Violated Ethics Law
FROM: The Big Sandy News

Frankfort, KY: The Big Sandy News revealed today that Greg Stumbo has not been forthcoming on his financial reports: “Attorney General Greg Stumbo may have committed a state executive ethics violation by omitting on his financial disclosure statement a business he owns which develops and sells residential lots on StoneCrest Golf Court in Prestonsburg.”

Ironically, when Governor Fletcher’s reports were scrutinized Democrat Chair Jerry Lundergan told the Lexington Herald-Leader that he was, “not suggesting that the governor has done anything wrong, but he should be more transparent in what he is doing.” Maybe Jerry Lundergan should hold leaders in his own party to the same standard and ask Greg Stumbo to be more “transparent” when it comes to profiting off of a pricey state-funded golf course.

Please see below for more excerpts:

The Big Sandy News
AG may have violated ethics law
Stumbo didn't list firms on '03 disclosure statement
By Susan Allen

…
Attorney General Greg Stumbo may have committed a state executive ethics violation by omitting on his financial disclosure statement a business he owns which develops and sells residential lots on StoneCrest Golf Court in Prestonsburg.

The company, Mountaintop Development, recently sold for $215,000 a lot on StoneCrest that it purchased from the city of Prestonsburg in June 2003 for $35,000.
…
Mountaintop Development was not listed on Stumbo's state financial disclosure statement filed in February 2003 for the 2002 calendar year. Mountaintop Development and another company he owns, Braveheart Investments of Lexington, is listed on his recent financial disclosure filed on April 15, 2005, which is the last day elected officials can file the statement or face withholding of their salaries.

John Steffen, general counsel for Executive Branch Ethics Commission, said in general terms that an omission on a financial disclosure could result in an investigation if the ethics commission deems it necessary.
...
When asked if it was a contradiction for the attorney general not to register his companies because the consumer protection unit in his office cautions residents to use licensed and registered companies, Stumbo said no.

"The Attorney General's strong leadership on consumer protection issues is obviously unaffected by these facts," according to the written statement, which was addressing the issue that Stumbo's companies are not registered.

Braveheart is apparently in reference to his stately home on StoneCrest which he reportedly named as a dedication to "the hard working Eastern Kentuckians" who helped get the course built.

Stumbo reportedly decided to name his home Braveheart during his 50th birthday celebration at StoneCrest when his wife, Mary Karen, surprised him with a Jaguar convertible which was parked at the 18th hole on the course.

When Stumbo was a state representative, he helped secure millions of dollars in state funds for the development of the 18-hole course, which was built on a mountaintop on an old strip mining site.
…
Stumbo did not address a question relating to his role as a state legislator who helped acquire millions in state funds for the golf course and recreational project and who is now making a private profit from reselling the lots.

Also, the attorney general did not address a question about any state ethics issues or who the partners are in his companies, including S&V Properties, a trailer park at Minnie. Stumbo owns S&V Properties with Mike Vanderpool of Drift.
…
"The Attorney General supports growth and opportunity in Prestonsburg and all of Floyd County," according to the statement. "He personally invests in the future of his hometown and urges others to join him in improving the future of the community."

In a legal advertisement of delinquent property taxpayers, Stumbo is listed as owing the county $4,423.53.
…
In a deed dated June 25, 2003, but not filed in the clerk's office until Oct. 23, 2003, the city of Prestonsburg sold Mountaintop Development lot 75 in Crestwood for $35,000. On April 29, the company sold the lot to Lynette Greene, of Crestwood Drive in Prestonsburg, for $215,000.

Mountaintop Development sold Earl H. and Vickie L. Lambert of Paintsville lot 77 in Crestwood for $5,000 in August 2003 which the company bought in April 2003 for $35,000 from the city.

On the April 29 deed, Mountaintop Development has the same address as Braveheart, which is 1049 Palmore Court in Lexington, a condo that Stumbo owns.

For entire article please visit: http://www.bigsandynews.com

Larue County GOP launches website

2005-07-14T11:45:00.000-04:00

The Larue County Republican Party has launched its new website.

Check it out at: www.laruegop.com and www.laruecountyrepublicanparty.com

In Case You Missed It:

2005-07-13T19:48:00.000-04:00

Senate President David Williams Calls Greg Stumbo's Investigation A "Political Farce"

Frankfort, KY: Yesterday, Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, spoke out against the attorney general's investigation calling it a "political farce" and a "media circus."

As reported in the Lexington Herald-Leader, Senator Williams expressed his disgust with the court proceedings saying they were "the biggest political farce I've seen in my 20-something years here in Frankfort."

Senator Williams also told reporters, "For 20-something years, not one Republican was ever hired into the Merit System. I guess these whistle blowers had sand in their whistles then."

And according to the Herald- Leader, "Williams also questioned why Stumbo's office, instead of the county attorney, was prosecuting misdemeanor charges in district court. 'Where's the county attorney?' asked Williams. 'Have we gotten to the point where the attorney general is down here prosecuting Class B misdemeanors? I guess he'll be down here next week doing public drunks'."

Statement From The Republican Party of Kentucky

2005-07-11T20:31:00.000-04:00

Frankfort, KY: Today’s indictment of the chairman of the Republican Party of Kentucky proves without question that the attorney general’s investigation is a political witch-hunt. As we have maintained from the beginning, this investigation is about political payback and future ambitions of a zealous politician. We must not forget that the attorney general said one month before he launched his investigation that he would not run for governor unless Governor Fletcher became “wildly unpopular.” The way this investigation has been conducted in the court of public opinion shows that this is nothing more than a political attack designed to smear the progress Governor Fletcher and the Republican Party have made over the past years for the state of Kentucky.

Downard at $130,000 in mayoral bid

2005-07-08T17:54:00.000-04:00

Republican candidate for Louisville mayor, Kelly Downard, is off to a running start in fundraising...

Excerpts from today's Courier Journal:

Republican Kelly Downard has raised more than $130,000 in the first three months of his campaign for Louisville mayor, according to a report his campaign has filed with the state.
...

Downard said the $131,227 raised exceeded his goal for the three-month reporting period and that everyone he asked for money gave it to him.
"We tried to get $100,000 in the first reporting period and we did that," he said. "There is a momentum now."
...
Danny Briscoe, a Democratic campaign consultant who is not working with the Abramson campaign, said Downard's total makes him "credible" when he seeks more donations.
...

About one of every five contributions to Downard's campaign came from Democrats -- most of whom have traditionally given to Republicans or to candidates from both parties.
But one of those on Downard's list of supporters is John DeCamillis, a former Democratic candidate for Jefferson County attorney who has given only to Democrats and nonpartisan judicial candidates in the past.

Click here for full story

Governor Fletcher Accurately Interprets Law

2005-07-08T17:04:00.000-04:00

Disputes over KRS 18A.140(1) unfounded

Frankfort, KY: Due to the relentless attention to Greg Stumbo’s campaign for governor, the Fletcher administration has been forced to walk a thin line between defending its position to a scandal starved media market and protecting the integrity of a court battle under a prosecutor who has demonstrated the willingness to color outside the lines. Governor Fletcher has made it clear that the investigation is politically motivated and any mistakes that have been made were unintentional and would be rectified.

Governor Fletcher is correct in saying that statute KRS 18A requires that an individual must intentionally break the law. To question that position is wrong.

RPK General Counsel Spencer Noe strongly supports Governor Fletcher’s interpretation of the law: “The statute appears to forbid the appointment, etc., of individuals for ‘improper reasons.’ A prosecution for an event based on improper reasons necessarily requires proof of the accused individual’s state of mind. Therefore, the argument that KRS 18A.140(1) might be a strict liability statute simply is not persuasive. In any case, KRS 18A.140(1) is made subject to criminal prosecution via KRS 18A.990, which requires ‘willful’ conduct.”

In other words, it would be impossible to break KRS 18A.140(1) and 18A.990 unless an individual was willfully appointed, etc., solely for improper political reasons.

“We stand by Governor Fletcher’s statements and believe these upstanding individuals are innocent victims of a political attack,” said Noe. “Since 1960 this statute has never once been criminally enforced which makes the hypocrisy of the attorney general’s fishing expedition evident.”

###

Upcoming Event: Senator Dan Seum Fundraiser

2005-07-08T16:58:00.000-04:00

You are cordially invited to join

Governor Ernie Fletcher (Invited)

Secretary of State Trey Grayson

in supporting the re-election of Dan "Malano" Seum

for State Senate

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

5:30-7:30 PM EST

Lake Forest Lodge (Lake Forest Subdivision)

511 Wood Lake Drive

Louisville, KY 40245

Contact: David Toborowsky

(502) 548-3093

dtoborowsky@aol.com

President Bush Responds to London's Terrorist Attacks

2005-07-07T12:46:00.000-04:00

President Bush Stood With British Prime Minister Tony Blair To Express His Condolences To The People Of London And His Resolve On The War On Terror:

PRESIDENT BUSH: I spent some time recently with the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and had an opportunity to express our heartfelt condolences to the people of London, people who lost lives. I appreciate Prime Minister Blair's steadfast determination and his strength. He's on his way now to London here from the G8 to speak directly to the people of London. He'll carry a message of solidarity with him.

This morning I have been in contact with our Homeland Security folks. I instructed them to be in touch with local and state officials about the facts of what took place here and in London, and to be extra vigilant, as our folks start heading to work.

The contrast between what we've seen on the TV screens here, what's taken place in London and what's taking place here is incredibly vivid to me. On the one hand, we have people here who are working to alleviate poverty, to help rid the world of the pandemic of AIDS, working on ways to have a clean environment. And on the other hand, you've got people killing innocent people. And the contrast couldn't be clearer between the intentions and the hearts of those of us who care deeply about human rights and human liberty, and those who kill -- those who have got such evil in their heart that they will take the lives of innocent folks.

The war on terror goes on. I was most impressed by the resolve of all the leaders in the room. Their resolve is as strong as my resolve. And that is we will not yield to these people, will not yield to the terrorists. We will find them, we will bring them to justice, and at the same time, we will spread an ideology of hope and compassion that will overwhelm their ideology of hate.

Thank you very much.

Visit the Republican National Committee's website and the White House official website for further updates.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

2005-07-06T14:21:00.000-04:00

EXPANSIVE PROBE Stumbo investigating everything
From: The Paducah Sun

Frankfort, KY: On Sunday, the Paducah Sun exposed some of the lesser publicized discrepancies of the attorney general’s “expansive probe” stating “Stumbo is a politically ambitious Democrat investigating a potential political rival in the other party.” The Sun claims Stumbo seems to be investigating “everything” and “throwing subpoenas at Republicans” in an attempt to create “the impression that virtually the entire Fletcher administration and many of its GOP supporters are guilty of something.”

Blaming “Democrats and their allies on the editorial boards” for the incessant headlines and the “shock” at the Republican administration the Paducah Sun warns, “If the attorney general keeps this spectacle going much longer, he may find that the people of Kentucky are asking some probing questions about the inquisitor.”

Please see below for more excerpts:

The Paducah Sun
EXPANSIVE PROBE
Stumbo investigating everything
Editorial
Sunday, July 03, 2005

…
It's getting more and more difficult to figure out just what it is that Attorney General Greg Stumbo is supposed to be investigating in the Fletcher administration.

The answer seems to be: everything.
…
The Republican administration was accused of injecting politics into personnel decisions involving merit system employees. Democrats and their allies on the editorial boards of the state's largest newspapers were shocked. Apparently they had come to believe, after 30-plus years of Democratic Party rule in Frankfort, that only Democratic patronage practices had "merit."

General Stumbo, the state's top Democratic officeholder, has gone after the suspected misdemeanants with a vengeance. It's hard to keep track of all the subpoenas he's issued, Fletcher administration officials he's hauled before a grand jury and front-page headlines he's generated.

With the help of all the headlines and news stories, Stumbo has created the impression that virtually the entire Fletcher administration and many of its GOP supporters are guilty of something.

But it's hard to figure out precisely what crimes the Republicans are alleged to have committed. The apparent focus of the investigation, if it can be called a focus, is the role of politics in a Republican administration.

…
As Lt. Gov. Steve Pence pointed out, it's a bit unusual for a grand jury to probe charges of misdemeanor crimes, but, then, this is an unusual investigation. Stumbo is a politically ambitious Democrat investigating a potential political rival in the other party. This, of course, raises concerns about a conflict of interest, but Stumbo is not in the least disturbed by those concerns. He has appointed himself the independent prosecutor of Republicans.

…
Stumbo also is examining homeland security grants and a decision by the governor's office to reclassify civil service jobs.

The attorney general hasn't explained the connection between homeland security grants and the state personnel investigation. The only apparent connection is that a cryptic notation on a grant award letter produced yet another news story insinuating some ill-defined political machinations by the Fletcher administration.

State Auditor Crit Luallen said she was going to look into the grant distribution process. Maybe she will discover that Republicans in the Republican administration were involved in the grant process. Undoubtedly, the Democrats and the editorial boards are preparing to be shocked again.

It takes a special effort to be shocked by the administration's move to reclassify some state jobs and eliminate testing and competitive scoring for those positions. Former Gov. Paul Patton reclassified a number of state jobs in 1999, but no one was shocked. There wasn't even an investigation of whether Patton had any political motives for making the changes.

Stumbo has managed to command headlines for the past six weeks by throwing subpoenas at Republicans and rifling through the governor's files. If the attorney general keeps this spectacle going much longer, he may find that the people of Kentucky are asking some probing questions about the inquisitor.

For the full article please visit: www.paducahsun.com

In Case You Missed It

2005-07-05T16:30:00.000-04:00

Playing Political Games
From: The News-Enterprise

Frankfort, KY: In the News-Enterprise, Hardin County Judge-Executive Harry Berry expresses the sentiments shared by many Kentuckians who have witnessed the negative attacks of the Democrat Party in recent months, “Some Democratic leaders in our state must believe Kentuckians never get tired of hearing hollow attacks on Gov. Ernie Fletcher.” Noting the public exploitation of veterans in a long line of coordinated attacks from the Democrat Party he states, “This is the most absurd and obviously political claim yet in a coordinated campaign to smear the governor and his administration.”

He concludes that opponents of Governor Fletcher “could be communicating a positive vision and working with Gov. Fletcher on issues vital to Kentucky.” Instead Democrats are consumed “…with wild accusations and political games.”

Please see below for more excerpts:

The News-Enterprise
Playing Political Games
By Harry Berry
July 1, 2005

…
Some Democratic leaders in our state must believe Kentuckians never get tired of hearing hollow attacks on Gov. Ernie Fletcher. Now they are singing the chorus that Gov. Fletcher is eliminating preferential treatment for veterans in state hiring. This is the most absurd and obviously political claim yet in a coordinated campaign to smear the governor and his administration.
…
Rather than force state employees to jump through outdated bureaucratic hoops, the governor is streamlining hiring practices and making reasonable, objective judgments when filling state jobs.
…
Moreover, updating personnel procedures is a routine action done in every administration. …This is not a grand conspiracy to hire Republicans; it is just common sense and good management.

A significant number of top administration officials served in the armed forces. Lt. Gov. Steve Pence and Personnel Secretary Erwin Roberts are active today in the Army Reserve. To say our state leaders do not value the contributions veterans made to our nation is the worst kind of political rhetoric. To do so without any proof, but instead slinging mud rather than presenting facts, shows just how shameless opponents of the governor have become. Unfortunately, this is just the kind of bitter politics Kentuckians have come to expect. But Gov. Fletcher's leadership is working to make those tactics the politics of the past.

...
These liberal partisans could be communicating a positive vision and working with Gov. Fletcher on issues vital to Kentucky. Instead, they consistently choose to make up for their own shortcomings with wild accusations and political games. The fireworks won't be the only things producing smoke this Fourth of July.

Judge Berry is a retired Army lieutenant colonel

For Entire Article Click Here

Democrat Chicanery Goes Too Far- Exploiting Veterans to Prop Political Attacks

2005-06-30T16:43:00.000-04:00

Frankfort, KY: The level to which Democrats would go to smear the Fletcher administration has sunk to a new low. Today, just days before the Fourth of July holiday, the Democrat leadership is making a desperate plea to veterans in an attempt to paint the Fletcher administration as anti-military.

Using baseless accusations of discrimination under the merit system, Democrat leaders are trying to scare veterans into believing the Fletcher administration is removing preferential treatment from military veterans. Motivated by bitter politics, these arguments lose all credibility when considering the fact that Governor Fletcher and several high-level officials in his administration have all served in the military.

“The exploitation of our veterans on the eve of our Independence holiday is a disgusting move by the Democrat leadership. It is absurd to suggest Gov. Fletcher would discriminate against the men and women of our armed forces. Gov. Fletcher himself is a veteran—he knows the dangers and the sacrifices of service because he has been there and clearly he is a man who has personal respect toward our veterans,” said Chairman Darrell Brock, “This is politics at its worst and it is repulsive to citizens all across our great Commonwealth.”

Governor Fletcher served in the United States Air Force, as an F-4E Aircraft Commander and NORAD Alert Force Commander. As a fighter pilot, he led flights that intercepted Soviet military aircraft during the Cold War. Since becoming governor, he has placed leaders of our armed forces throughout his administration including: Lt. Governor Steve Pence, a colonel in the United States Army Reserve JAG Corps; Commissioner Mark Miller of KSP, a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Reserve JAG Corps; Joseph Whittle of the Lt. Governor’s office served in the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Army; Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Deputy Secretary Cleve Gambill served in the United States Army; General Maxwell Clay Bailey, former secretary of the Transportation Cabinet; Secretary Holsinger; Secretary Erwin Roberts, an Army reservist; General Beavers; General Shane; Bob Ramsey, former Personnel Cabinet secretary served in the Air Force and General Storm are all decorated military officials serving state government.

This administration honors the military and is implementing several initiatives to protect the integrity and the well-being of all veterans. The fact that so many members and veterans of our military are working for Governor Fletcher is further proof that Governor Fletcher seeks out the best, the brightest, and the most qualified.

“The truth will prevail and every Kentuckian will see this partisan witch-hunt for what it is and they will understand the fear that is motivating the Democrat Party, because Governor Fletcher is a man of integrity and service and he is bringing real change and real progress to our state,” said Chairman Brock.

###

Senator Mitch McConnell Breaks Historic Record

2005-06-28T11:07:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, Senator Mitch McConnell became Kentucky’s longest-serving Republican Senator, surpassing the record set by Senator John Sherman Cooper. Senator McConnell has served for over 20 years – 7,481 days, to be exact. Senator Cooper spent 7,479 days in the U.S. Senate. As Senate Majority Whip, Senator McConnell represents Kentucky and leads our nation on an international front bringing exemplary leadership to issues that impact the American people.

Please tune in TODAY to C-SPAN2 for speeches commemorating this landmark feat from Senator Majority Leader Bill Frist, Senator Jim Bunning and Senator Mitch McConnell:

Tuesday, June 28, 2005
3:45 – 4:30 p.m., EDT

Read the Kentucky Post for full-story.

Senator Bunning Leads Our Delegation In Debate Over Guantanamo Bay

2005-06-27T19:30:00.000-04:00

Excerpts of Senator Jim Bunning's Senate Floor Statement on Guantanamo Bay:

Our troops on the ground in Guantanamo are putting their lives on the line to protect and provide for terrorists. Yet some of my colleagues and other commentators suggest that these brave young men and women are the criminals. And when they make such outrageous statements, there are many in the media willing to repeat the accusations without bothering to check the facts for themselves.
...
First and simplest, if the terrorists are locked up in Cuba, then they cannot kill Americans in Iraq or New York or Afghanistan or Kentucky. Those being held at Guantanamo are the worst of the worst of the terrorists we have captured. The military has decided that they are so dangerous that they must be moved half way around the world to keep them away from the battlefield. That is reason enough to keep Guantanamo open.
...
We have a determined enemy that wants to do nothing but harm us. The only way to beat them is to stand stronger, fight longer, and not back down. What we are doing at Guantanamo is a key part of our fight. Those terrorists can not hurt us as long as they are locked up. They will continue to provide us with valuable intelligence. And we will continue to treat them with the dignity that they refuse to show us.

Finally, Mr. President, I want to say thank you to all the brave men and women working for our freedom at Guantanamo and throughout the world. I am always impressed with the fine young americans in our military, and seeing them yesterday was no exception. I had the privilege of meeting a few soldiers from Kentucky while at Guantanamo. I cannot say their names due to security reasons and to ensure their future safety. They and others are all serving our country with honor. And I thank them and their families for their sacrifices.

While Republicans recognize the complexity of the war on terror and support President Bush and America's troops, Democrats can only offer cheap rhetoric and obstructionist tactics. Earlier this month Democrat Sen. Dick Durbin compared our soldiers' efforts in Guantanamo Bay to Nazi camps and Soviet gulags. He was forced to apologize for his remarks.

Senator Bunning visited the detention camp at Guantanamo Bay last Sunday. For entire floor speech click here.

STUMBO 2007 SLINGS MORE MUD

2005-06-24T19:18:00.000-04:00

Statement from RPK General Counsel Spencer Noe:

“Once again on a Friday afternoon, the Stumbo campaign has leaked more information in hopes of breathing life into a faulty investigation. The leaking of information that is subject to confidential grand jury inspection is contemptible to the name of justice showing the attorney general’s absolute disregard for due process. His actions are shameful and unacceptable, and it is obvious that he is drudging up unrelated information simply to keep his campaign for governor afloat.”

###

In Case You Missed It: AG staffer once steered hiring, suit suggests

2005-06-24T19:15:00.000-04:00

From: The State Journal

Frankfort, KY: Yesterday’s State Journal brought to light more irrefutable evidence on the hypocrisy and blatant conflict of interest of the attorney general’s merit system investigation. It was revealed that, “Danny Ross, Patton’s former labor liaison to the governor’s office who currently holds the same title with the attorney general, may have placed political pressure on a commission’s executive director in 2000 who was hiring a merit staff assistant.” Ross, “one of four pardoned by Patton in 2003,” is mentioned in the testimony of Barbara Jessup, a 27-year state employee who testified that, “…Mr. Ross merely called Mr. Wigginton and said I want you to hire her, period.”

The fact that Barbara Jessup, an active member of local Democratic factions and Patton contributor, has testified to Ross’ direct involvement in merit hires rocks the credibility of a Democrat attorney general who continues a politically motivated investigation in the face of evidence that points to him and members of his staff.

Please see below for more excerpts:

The State Journal
AG staffer once steered hiring, suit suggests
By Erik A. Carlson
June 23

Accusations of political motivation and hypocrisy are emerging as two ingredients in the investigation of alleged abuse of the Merit System by the Fletcher Administrations.

The governor’s office has released a May deposition from a lawsuit suggesting a current staffer in the Attorney General’s Office pushed for merit hiring while serving Gov. Paul Patton.

In that deposition, Danny Ross, Patton’s former labor liaison to the governor’s office who currently holds the same title with the attorney general, may have placed political pressure on a commission’s executive director in 2000 who was hiring a merit staff assistant.

Ross, who declined comment through the attorney general’s spokeswoman Vicki Glass, was one of four pardoned by Patton in 2003 after indictments were upheld after a series of appeals accusing them of fraud in Patton’s 1995 defeat of Republican Larry Forgey.

In the May 19 deposition, Barbara Jessup, staff assistant in the Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (KOSH), said her former boss, Jacques J. Wigginton, told her Ross required she be given the job she currently holds.
…

“Were you aware that Mr. Ross was placing political pressure on Mr. Wigginton to hire you,” Morris asked Jessup during a short segment in the deposition about Ross.

“It’s my understanding that Mr. Ross merely called Mr. Wigginton and said I want you to hire her, period,” she said.

Jessup, who declined to comment to The State Journal on advice of an attorney as the lawsuit is still pending, told Morris she contacted Ross because at the time KOSH was a part of the Labor Cabinet and he was the cabinet’s liaison to Patton’s office.
…

After receiving the job, she stated Wigginton told her “There were other individuals who interviewed for my position who he thought had more qualifications than I had. And he stated other individuals told him that they had reviewed my State application and told him that they knew I did not have the same qualifications they did.”

As a follow, Morris asked: “And (Wigginton) told you he was required to hire you because Mr. Ross wanted you hired?”

“Yes,” Jessup answered.
…
Blanton said Jessup’s testimony combined with a 590-page document of recommendations during the Patton Administration released by Fletcher’s office last week raise questions that Attorney General Greg Stumbo should ask about members of his own office during the investigation.

“Mr. Ross did make recommendations for about 25 positions including a merit position in transportation and I do not know whether he made those recommendations appropriately or not,” Blanton said.

“But it’s something that needs to be considered as the attorney general is continuing to investigate whether recommendations were made appropriately during the Fletcher Administration, he needs to review employees in his office as well,” she said.

The Attorney General’s Office declined to comment.
…

A second of the four Patton pardoned, former union official Robert Winstead is also named in the suit. Winstead was the chairman of KOSH at the time of Wigginton’s firing and signed the letter dismissing him of his duties.

Others named in the suit are KOSH, State Auditor Crit Luallen who was Patton’s Executive Cabinet Secretary at the time and Vickie Curd Ladt a KOSH board member.

Entire article can be viewed in the June 23, 2005 State Journal

Stumbo Changes Tone After Hypocrisy Revealed

2005-06-21T18:13:00.000-04:00

Frankfort, KY: Now that it has been revealed that Attorney General Greg Stumbo himself has written numerous merit job letters of recommendation, the attorney general’s office seems to be changing its tone about the legality of those letters.

The attorney general’s political witch-hunt is wasting state resources to advance Stumbo’s political career while ruining the lives of honest, decent, hardworking public officials. Stumbo’s office originally refused to rule out prosecuting Kentuckians just for writing merit job recommendation letters, but now that evidence has emerged proving Stumbo himself has written such letters—including one letter endorsing a job candidate cited for viewing pornography on his government computer—the attorney general’s office denies it will prosecute individuals for such letters.

According to the June 10 Louisville Courier- Journal, “[Deputy Attorney General Pierce] Whites said whether [former gubernatorial candidate Larry] Forgy or anyone else is prosecuted is the decision of a special grand jury impaneled Monday.” By not denying that Forgy could potentially be indicted for the letter of recommendation he wrote, the attorney general’s office was basically agreeing with Forgy’s claim that Stumbo’s partisan witch-hunt is violating Forgy’s civil rights.

In today’s Lexington Herald-Leader, Assistant Attorney General Scott Crawford-Sutherland, who gave $2,000 to Fletcher’s 2003 campaign opponent, is quoted as saying: “There is nothing illegal about making a recommendation. People can make recommendations for employment.”

“The attorney general’s office’s comment yesterday about the legality of merit job recommendation letters directly contradicts their previous comments, and the reality is that Stumbo is investigating Kentuckians for doing exactly what he has done himself—writing letters of recommendation,” said RPK General Counsel Spencer Noe. “In light of his office’s backtracking, it is time for Stumbo to immediately end an investigation that is recklessly harming some of our state government’s finest employees. The attorney general should follow Governor Fletcher’s lead and get back to taking care of the people’s business.”

Scott County Republican Party Debuts Website

2005-06-21T17:56:00.000-04:00

GEORGETOWN, KY - The Scott County Republican Party today debuted its new website. The site is located at www.scottcountyrepublicanparty.org.

According to a release sent out by the Scott County GOP the website will constantly be updated, but the basic form will stay as it presently exists. It provides information in general about the Republican Party, local party activities, a list of Republican elected officials representing all or part of Scott County, and links to other websites of interest.

Senator McConnell Top Choice for Senate Majority Leader; Representative Northup Making Case for Prescription Drug Amendment

2005-06-21T15:12:00.000-04:00

In James R. Carroll's "Notes from Washington," the Courier-Journal reported on Sunday that Senator Mitch McConnell is the likely successor of Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist should he retire from the Senate before the 2008 presidential campaign:

Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the majority whip, is campaigning among his GOP colleagues to succeed Frist as majority leader, and it's going pretty well.

Actually, the race already is over, according to Sen. Robert Bennett, R-Utah, who is chief deputy majority whip and McConnell's campaign manager for the top Senate post.

Bennett told the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call last week that "we've got over 40 votes (for McConnell), and this race is beyond over."
....

The story also reported Representative Anne Northup's strong leadership on prescription drug importation:
...Rep. Anne Northup, R-3rd District, has been successfully pushing ahead with an amendment aimed at allowing the importation of less expensive prescription drugs from other countries.

The Louisville congresswoman amended a spending bill for the Departments of Commerce, Justice and State, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, barring future trade agreements from restricting the importation of drugs from other nations. The spending bill last week cleared the House, Northup's amendment included.

Northup said in an interview last week that she's been making her case to House GOP leaders.

Additional Recommendations Raise More Questions About Stumbo’s Credibility

2005-06-17T15:46:00.000-04:00

Frankfort, KY: This morning’s release of 590 pages of job recommendations between 1996 and 1998, including six by Attorney General Greg Stumbo, raises more troubling questions about the attorney general’s credibility. The additional Stumbo recommendations released today are more evidence that attorney general is prosecuting Republicans for doing exactly what he has done himself. The Louisville Courier Journal previously reported that Stumbo has recommended at least seven merit job candidates, one of whom was reprimanded for viewing pornography on his office computer.

RPK General Counsel Spencer Noe noted, “The additional recommendations by Attorney General Stumbo that came to light today further expose his hypocrisy and raise many questions that the attorney general must answer immediately. How many total letters has he written? Who else has he recommended? How many verbal recommendations has he made? What were his motivations for making these recommendations?”

Lieutenant Governor Pence has aptly called the attorney general as “party boss” Greg Stumbo for conducting a partisan witch-hunt to further his own political career. In light of his hypocrisy and mishandling of the investigation, Stumbo should immediately stop his wreckless efforts that are wasting taxpayer resources and ruining the lives of honest, decent, hardworking public servants.

Noe concluded: “Stumbo’s credibility has been further tarnished. This is further proof that the partisan witch-hunt being conducted by the Attorney General's office has been mishandled and misdirected from the very beginning. It’s time for Greg Stumbo to start providing truthful answers instead of political accusations.”

###

President Bush Proclaims Flag Day and National Flag Week 2005

2005-06-17T08:58:00.000-04:00

A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

For more than two centuries, the flag of the United States has been a symbol of hope and pride. The flag has inspired our citizens during times of conflict and comforted us during moments of sorrow and loss. On Flag Day and throughout National Flag Week, we celebrate the proud legacy of Old Glory and reflect on this enduring symbol of freedom.

On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution stating that "the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field." As States have been added to the Union, the flag has been modified to reflect their addition to our Nation. Today, the appearance of our flag is based on President Eisenhower's Executive Order of August 21, 1959, to include a star for all 50 States together with 13 stripes representing the original 13 American colonies.

Generations of Americans in uniform have carried the Stars and Stripes into battle so that our citizens can live in freedom. Across the globe, a new generation of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen has stepped forward to serve under our flag, defending America from our enemies. We are grateful to them and their families for defending our flag and the values of our great Nation.

On this Flag Day, we recall the rich history of Old Glory, and we remember our duty to carry our heritage of freedom into the future.

To commemorate the adoption of our flag, the Congress, by joint resolution approved August 3, 1949, as amended (63 Stat. 492), designated June 14 of each year as "Flag Day" and requested that the President issue an annual proclamation calling for its observance and for the display of the flag of the United States on all Federal Government buildings. The Congress also requested, by joint resolution approved June 9, 1966, as amended (80 Stat. 194), that the President issue annually a proclamation designating the week in which June 14 occurs as "National Flag Week" and calling upon all citizens of the United States to display the flag during that week.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim June 14, 2005, as Flag Day and the week beginning June 12, 2005, as National Flag Week. I direct the appropriate officials to display the flag on all Federal Government buildings during that week, and I urge all Americans to observe Flag Day and National Flag Week by flying the Stars and Stripes from their homes and other suitable places. I also call upon the people of the United States to observe with pride and all due ceremony those days from Flag Day through Independence Day, also set aside by the Congress (89 Stat. 211), as a time to honor America, to celebrate our heritage in public gatherings and activities, and to publicly recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-ninth.

GEORGE W. BUSH

Official Press Release of the White House
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