Health care, climate change votes could dog Chandler
By Halimah Abdullah – habdullah@mcclatchydc.com
U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler, D-Versailles
WASHINGTON — For U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler, controversial votes against a health care overhaul and for energy policies that could hurt the coal industry are floodlights signaling critics that the once seemingly unbeatable congressman may have an exposed flank.
“I knew going into this thing that I would be criticized no matter what I did. That’s one of the problems when you take a moderate viewpoint in today’s climate,” said Chandler, a fourth-term Democratic lawmaker from Versailles. “You can’t appease both liberals and conservatives. And I don’t vote the way folks want me to vote all of the time.”
Indeed, scarcely had votes been cast Saturday night than the conservative Americans for Limited Government sent an e-mail to its members and media outlets condemning Chandler for supporting the measure that would create a government-run health insurance plan. The organization, which sharply criticized Chandler earlier this summer, was forced to issue a hasty retraction and begrudging congratulations when it realized Chandler was one of 39 Democrats who voted against the measure.
The misstep spoke volumes about the difficulty some have had in pinning down Chandler’s methodology when voting on major pieces of legislation.
“Look at Ben Chandler and you see someone who voted for the Democratic energy bill, voted against health care, and he’s one of the four Democrats with that voting pattern who gained a well-funded challenger between June and November,” said David Wasserman, an editor at the Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan political analysis group in Washington. “It’s a reflection that these members no longer have an aura of invincibility as the energy level on the Republican side has increased.”
The National Republican Congressional Committee is targeting Chandler in anticipation of next year’s race. After roughly three weeks of fundraising, Republican Andy Barr, who confirmed his candidacy on Tuesday, outraised Chandler $186,000 to $160,000 during the third quarter, though Chandler has more cash on hand.
Chandler’s troubles may have begun just over a year ago, during the Democratic presidential primary contest, said Donald Gross, a political science professor at the University of Kentucky.
Chandler has “had a rough time over the last 12 to18 months,” Gross said. “Some of it started when he came out very early to support (Barack) Obama even though many of the state and district (Democrats) were supportive of (Hillary) Clinton.”
Then there was the criticism from some constituents, especially those with ties to coal, over Chandler’s vote for a hotly contested measure that would cap carbon emissions and fine companies that go over set limits.
Liberal-leaning supporters may have rejoiced over the cap-and-trade vote, but the celebration was short-lived.
Chandler’s “no” vote on the health care legislation stunned some Democrats who expected the lawmaker — who early in his tenure was given a plum position on the powerful Appropriations Committee and is seen as a rising star in the Democratic Party — to back party leadership. On Saturday, when President Obama made rounds on Capitol Hill to drum up support for the health care vote and asked Chandler “can you be with me on this?” the Kentucky lawmaker responded, “Mister President, I have some concerns.”
Those concerns included a Congressional Budget Office report that the bill does not significantly reduce the growing cost of health care. Chandler said he canvassed his Central Kentucky district and learned that many small business owners, physicians and others were against the measure.
“If you’re going to cause small businesses to take a hit, which they will, if you’re going to cause rural hospitals to take a hit, then you at least want to get something for it in reduction in health care costs,” Chandler said. “This is an entitlement program to cover more people without sufficient reform.”
Chandler will play a political price for his climate change and health care votes, political experts said. While the national party will still support him financially, he may face dampened enthusiasm among the local base, which traditionally mans phone banks, makes small donations and canvasses for votes.
“Ben Chandler has a lot of advantages, not the least of which is an admired family name in Kentucky politics,” said Wasserman of the Cook Political Report. “It’s that reputation as a Kentucky Democrat that has made him so tough to beat. … But this year is a completely different year. You have a democratic president whose favorability is well below the national average in his district, and that can help drive the race.”
Filed Under: Barack Obama • Ben Chandler • Elections • Federal Government • KY-5th
About the Author: John Stamper is the accountability editor for the Lexington Herald-Leader. A native of Monticello, Ky., he has been with the Herald-Leader in a variety of roles since graduating from Western Kentucky University in 2000. Reach him at jstamper@herald-leader.com
Ben Chandler has certainly lost my vote unless something major occurs to make me change my mind. I think he might be a Republican trying to pose as a Democrat.
Yep, he’s lost my vote too.
The voters (not the small business owners, physicians and others that he’s trying to please) put him in office, and the voters can put him out of office too.
This article is only true IF the Herald Leader keeps pushing the envelope. Creating news that Chandler is in trouble now that he has decided to be conservative instead of reporting actual events. Don’t really matter to me though I vote for Hal Rogers…they cannot touch him even though they have tried and tried and tried.
Liberal Media is very VINDICTIVE.
Great Job Ben,
I think you are trying to come around for the people of KY.
Do the right thing and you will keep your job.
What does Chandler have to do to make people happy? I think his record is pretty constant: he makes decisions that he thinks are right–even when it’s tough.
The health care bill is obviously a work in progress, but it is likely that a better bill out of both chambers will emerge. The cap and trade vote was one that our children needed us to be disciplined enough to make.
I think he’s doing exactly what I sent him to Washington to do: make tough decisions based on the best available information, not party lines. If people turn on him now, they deserve what they get a la Ernie Fletcher. But thanks from the rest of us who think he’s still behaving as the leader we elected.
Mr. Chandler has frittered away any support that he may have received from me.
Ben great vote on the health care bill
Chandler should be ashamed. This is very disappointing and I’ve told him as much.
He has lost my vote, also!!! Voting no for reform is voting for business as usual for the lobbyist.
Chandler has become a Washington juggernaut.
DON’T WORRY BEN- YOU ARE SAFE. THIS VOTE MAY HAVE BEEN ALL IT TAKES. THE NEWSPAPERS HAVE TRIED ALL THIS ON HAL ROGERS AND NOTHING EVER STICKS.
Rep. Chandler is right on the health vote. Too expensive. America is in heavy debt without more drain! Thanks, Ben!
Ben almost reminds me of a minor character in an old episode of “West Wing..”
The Congressman who ignored his constituents because he was charmed and hypnotized by committee chairmen and lobbyists.
What a cliché. What a tired lack of spine and leadership..
Oh no! He voted against the party on one bill and with them on another! That must mean he’s going to lose… really?
The reason I’ve voted for Chandler in the past and will continue to do so in the future is to have a representative in Washington who will think independently of the party leadership and make the tough decisions for this country. I couldn’t do it myself, but I’m glad we’ve got him there on our behalf.
Cap and Trade is a disaster for coal. Obama and his liberal agenda have doomed Kentucky to a economic downturn from which we may never recover. I like Ben personally, but he made the wrong call on Cap and Trade. Maybe the correct vote on healthcare will change my mind and I will support him once again.
Kentucky “progressives” are kind of like small, yappy dogs which pee all over the carpet when they don’t get their way. It might be a problem for Chandler if there were more than 50 of the little twerps.
Chandler was allowed this token anti-socialist vote by his handler Nancy Pelosi because he has already back-stabbed us on the cap-and-tax, junk science scam.
Ben Pelosi (Nancy’s lap dog) is history. Hope his wifey can find him a newly created job in state govt. somewhere.
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He has lost my vote, also!!! Voting no for reform is voting for business as usual for the lobbyist.
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