All Entries in the "Andy Barr" Category

Barr welcomes Michelle Obama to Kentucky with a message on coal

U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, R-Lexington,is welcoming First Lady Michelle Obama to Central Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District with an expressed hope she learns more about coal.

Mrs. Obama is to be the commencement speaker Saturday at Eastern Kentucky University, which is be attended by Gov. Steve Beshear and Kentucky’s First Lady Jane Beshear.

U.S. Rep. Andy Barr and wife welcome new daughter

By Jack Brammer
jbrammer@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT – U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, R-Lexington, and his wife, Carol Barr, had their second child last week – another daughter.

Barr, who took office in January, announced the news on his electronic newsletter Sunday.

“It has been an exciting week for our family!” Barr wrote. “On Monday, Carol, Eleanor and I were blessed to welcome Mary Clay to our family. She is a beautiful gift from God and we could not be happier or more thankful for her health.”

The Barrs’ first child, Eleanor, is 2.

U.S. Rep. Barr pays visit to the governor

FRANKFORT — U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, R-Lexington, had “a nice chat” with Gov. Steve Beshear Wednesday in the governor’s Capitol office.

Barr did not provide specifics of the visit, saying only, “It was just to catch up and to see how we could collaborate, particularly with trying to attract jobs to Kentucky.”

–Jack Brammer

Barr announces office hours in each county of 6th District

U.S. Rep. Andy Barr’s staff is to conduct regular office hours each month in every county of Central Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District, beginning Feb. 5

“I am pleased to announce the next phase of my continuing accessibility commitment,” Barr, R-Lexington said in a release. said. “Every month, my constituents will have a convenient opportunity to sit down with my staff in their hometown and voice their concerns; obtain assistance; and offer feedback.

“We look forward to providing the responsive, efficient, and compassionate service the people of Central and Eastern Kentucky deserve.”

The monthly schedule and location for each county appears below. Constituents also may obtain assistance by calling Barr’s district office at 859-219-1366 during the hours of 8:45 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Andy Barr says senators’ immigration reform model ‘in the ballpark’

By Jack Brammer — jbrammer@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT — U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, R-Lexington, called the efforts of a bipartisan group of U.S. senators to bring about immigration reform “a sign of progress on a broken system.”

“They are in the ballpark, I would say that,” Barr told reporters Tuesday before holding a public meeting with constituents at Farmers Bank in Frankfort.

The bipartisan group is “making progress, combining strengthening border security and rejecting amnesty but providing some way to apply tough love to undocumented immigrants to find some way to make sure they come out of the shadows,” Barr said.

The congressman, who was sworn into office earlier this month to represent Central Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District, said any reforms should make sure undocumented immigrants pay any fines they have incurred, pay any back taxes, learn English and U.S. civics and obtain proper papers.

A group of influential Senate Democrats and Republicans proposed on Monday a framework to overhaul the nation’s immigration system. President Barack Obama laid out his own immigration plan Tuesday.

The plans are similar, but the senators’ plan toughens border security before allowing illegal immigrants to take steps to gain citizenship.

U.S. Rep. Andy Barr assigned to two financial panels

U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, R-Lexington, announced Friday that he has been assigned to two subcommittees of the House Committee on Financial Services: the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit and the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

“These assignments enable me to immediately begin making a difference for Kentucky’s working families,” Barr said in a news release. “I look forward to working with Kentucky’s community banks to eliminate the regulatory excesses that prevent them from making the loans that can create jobs, grow our economy, and get Kentuckians back to work.

“It’s far past time to hold Washington accountable for destructive policies which label some banks as ‘too big to fail’ – allowing them to escape accountability while taxpayers pay the price.”

–Jack Brammer

Andy Barr sworn in as Central Ky’.s new congressman

Republican Andy Barr was sworn in Thursday as representative for Central Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District.

Barr, a Lexington attorney who ousted Democrat Ben Chandler from the seat in last November’s general election, joined other members of the 113th Congress in reciting the oath of office under the leadership of House Speaker John Boehner just after noon.

Later, Barr and his family joined Boehner for a ceremonial repetition of the oath of office in the Rayburn room of the United States Capitol.

“I am honored by the opportunity to serve the people of Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District and the faith they have placed in me,” Barr said in a statement. “I will approach this job every day with a humble resolve to make a difference in their lives – guided by the steady hand of principle, inspired by the light of compassion, and energized by the genuine opportunities that still exist to build a stronger America for our children.”

Barr said citizens in the district constantly remind him that, “We must get our nation’s financial house in order and our economy back on track.

“In order to pursue tomorrow’s dreams, we must firmly and finally confront the reality that too many Kentuckians are still out of work – and runaway spending pushes America closer to bankruptcy with every tick of the national debt clock.”

–Jack Brammer

Andy Barr gets seat on House Financial Services Committee

U.S. Rep.-elect Andy Barr has been assigned to the House Committee on Financial Services.

Barr’s staff said Thursday that Barr will join the “top-tier, ‘A-level’” committee when the 113th Congress convenes on Jan. 3.

“I am honored and humbled to receive this appointment,” Barr, a Lexington attorney, said in a statement. “Serving on the Financial Services Committee will enable me to immediately go to work on solving Kentucky’s jobs crisis.”

He said over-regulation continues to hurt Kentucky’s community banks, making it difficult for them to provide loans.

Barr says Heath Lovell ad was turning point in race against Chandler

By Jack Brammer — jbrammer@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT — Everyone — including the two major-party candidates — thought this year’s race for Central Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District would be extremely close.

It wasn’t.

Republican Andy Barr, who lost to Democratic U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler by only 648 votes in their 2010 contest, outdistanced Chandler by 11,786 votes in Tuesday’s election, creating the Kentucky upset of the day.

Barr got 50.57 percent of the 302,998 votes cast and Chandler trailed with 46.68 percent.

Barr, a bit weary Wednesday after only a few hours of sleep, credited his campaign’s victory on its unrelenting focus on coal and Chandler’s ties to President Barack Obama, who captured only 38 percent of the vote in Kentucky.

VIDEO: Andy Barr declares victory and Ben Chandler concedes #kyelect

Republican Andy Barr’s victory speech after winning Central Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District election:

Andy Barr Part 2:

Andy Barr Part 3:

Democratic U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler concedes: