http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com Covering Kentucky politics and government Tue, 22 May 2012 21:44:15 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2012/05/03/beshear-waits-on-issuing-order-for-state-health-insuranceexchange/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2012/05/03/beshear-waits-on-issuing-order-for-state-health-insuranceexchange/#comments Thu, 03 May 2012 16:57:41 +0000 Jack Brammer http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=21659 By Jack Brammer jbrammer@herald-leader.com FRANKFORT – Gov. Steve Beshear will wait until the U.S. Supreme Court rules on President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act before issuing an executive order to set up a Kentucky health benefit exchange. The exchange is envisioned as an online marketplace where consumers can shop for competing health insurance plans. It is intended to reduce coverage costs for individuals, small businesses and local governments, and would operate like Travelocity or Orbitz. Each state must have an exchange by 2014 under the federal health reform act enacted by Congress. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to decide in late June on the constitutionality of the federal act. If it is upheld, the state will have until the end of this year to demonstrate its readiness to run a health insurance exchange or the federal government will take responsibility for it.]]> http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2012/05/03/beshear-waits-on-issuing-order-for-state-health-insuranceexchange/feed/ 3 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2012/02/22/after-tea-party-rally-senate-panel-votes-to-set-a-limit-on-debt/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2012/02/22/after-tea-party-rally-senate-panel-votes-to-set-a-limit-on-debt/#comments Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:45:30 +0000 Jack Brammer http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=20651 Joe Bowen, R-Owensboro, would limit total debt payments to 6 percent of General Fund spending. Wednesday's vote was the third time the Senate panel has voted for the proposal in recent years. This time, the measure is Senate Bill 1, a designation to show that it is a priority for the Republican-controlled Senate, said committee chairman Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown. The committee approved the bill on an 8-1 vote and sent it to the full Senate for its consideration. The only no vote was cast by Sen. Walter Blevins, D-Morehead, who has expressed concern that the measure could hamper creating jobs by limiting debt.]]> http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2012/02/22/after-tea-party-rally-senate-panel-votes-to-set-a-limit-on-debt/feed/ 0 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/11/11/beshear-salutes-kentucky-veterans-at-frankfort-ceremony/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/11/11/beshear-salutes-kentucky-veterans-at-frankfort-ceremony/#comments Fri, 11 Nov 2011 17:50:24 +0000 Jack Brammer http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=19711 By Jack Brammer jbrammer@herald-leader.com FRANKFORT– Gov. Steve Beshear recognized the “monument of service and the ocean of sacrifice” by Kentucky’s military veterans in a ceremony Friday morning on the front steps of the Old Capitol attended by about 300 people. Besides honoring the more than 335,000 veterans in the state and the 12,000 Kentucky soldiers now serving in the Middle East, Beshear announced that the state plans to put up a bronze plaque in the Capitol to recognize the 59 Congressional Medal of Honor recipients from Kentucky. That group includes Dakota Meyer, a Marine sergeant from Greensburg, who received the medal in September from President Barack Obama. Meyer, who is now in the inactive reserve, charged into heavy gunfire in Afghanistan in 2009 and saved the lives of 36 people.]]> http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/11/11/beshear-salutes-kentucky-veterans-at-frankfort-ceremony/feed/ 0 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/10/31/williams-beshear-launch-new-tv-ads/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/10/31/williams-beshear-launch-new-tv-ads/#comments Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:12:02 +0000 Beth Musgrave http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=19581 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/10/31/williams-beshear-launch-new-tv-ads/feed/ 0 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/10/05/chandler-urges-support-for-obama%e2%80%99s-jobs-plan/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/10/05/chandler-urges-support-for-obama%e2%80%99s-jobs-plan/#comments Wed, 05 Oct 2011 22:21:51 +0000 Accountability Editor http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=19146 By John Cheves jcheves@herald-leader.com U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler said Wednesday that he supports President Barack Obama’s $447 billion jobs plan, although the Republican-led House is not expected to vote on the plan soon, if ever. Chandler, D-Versailles, said he approves of the plan’s mix of payroll tax cuts for businesses, infrastructure spending and aid to local governments to avert the layoffs of teachers and emergency workers. He said the plan would offer $1,330 in tax relief to a typical Kentucky household and save or create 12,000 jobs in the state. “There is no time to waste,” Chandler said in a prepared statement. “Congress must act now to create jobs, strengthen our middle class and expand our economy.” Chandler, who is expected to face a tough re-election battle in 2012, did not return calls seeking comment. ]]> http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/10/05/chandler-urges-support-for-obama%e2%80%99s-jobs-plan/feed/ 0 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/09/29/claim-that-beshear-supports-epa%e2%80%99s-coal-regulations-false/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/09/29/claim-that-beshear-supports-epa%e2%80%99s-coal-regulations-false/#comments Thu, 29 Sep 2011 22:01:12 +0000 Accountability Editor http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=19097 By Jack Brammer jbrammer@herald-leader.com The Herald-Leader will fact-check claims made by the candidates for governor and their surrogates leading up to the Nov. 8 election. The statement: “Beshear supports Obama’s EPA plans that will drive out our coal jobs by driving up our energy costs.” — Restoring America, a group supporting Republican gubernatorial candidate David Williams, in a television ad this week attacking Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear. The ruling: False The facts: Throughout this fall’s campaign for governor, Republican nominee David Williams has tried to tie Gov. Steve Beshear with Democratic President Obama, who is unpopular in the state.]]> http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/09/29/claim-that-beshear-supports-epa%e2%80%99s-coal-regulations-false/feed/ 0 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/09/22/obama-calls-out-mcconnell-on-jobs-bill-from-ohio-river-bridge/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/09/22/obama-calls-out-mcconnell-on-jobs-bill-from-ohio-river-bridge/#comments Thu, 22 Sep 2011 21:28:55 +0000 Accountability Editor http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=19074 By Jack Brammer and Kelsey Sheridan jbrammer@herald-leader.com CINCINNATI — Standing before an aging bridge that links the home turf of top Republicans in Congress, President Barack Obama touted his $447 billion jobs bill Thursday as a way to help repair the nation's infrastructure. Obama called out by name Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, as he spoke near the Brent Spence Bridge that carries I-75 and I-71 over the Ohio River. "Mr. Boehner, Mr. McConnell, help us rebuild this bridge," Obama said. "Help us rebuild America. Help us put this country back to work. Pass this jobs bill right away."]]> http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/09/22/obama-calls-out-mcconnell-on-jobs-bill-from-ohio-river-bridge/feed/ 1 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/09/16/ppools-new-add-ties-conway-to-obama/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/09/16/ppools-new-add-ties-conway-to-obama/#comments Fri, 16 Sep 2011 15:40:20 +0000 Beth Musgrave http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=19014 ]]> http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/09/16/ppools-new-add-ties-conway-to-obama/feed/ 0 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/09/15/beshear-seeks-meeting-with-obama-during-presidents-cincinnati-visit/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/09/15/beshear-seeks-meeting-with-obama-during-presidents-cincinnati-visit/#comments Thu, 15 Sep 2011 21:08:50 +0000 Jack Brammer http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=19008 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/09/15/beshear-seeks-meeting-with-obama-during-presidents-cincinnati-visit/feed/ 0 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/09/06/williams-uses-new-tv-ad-to-accuse-beshear-of-failing-to-create-jobs/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/09/06/williams-uses-new-tv-ad-to-accuse-beshear-of-failing-to-create-jobs/#comments Tue, 06 Sep 2011 15:02:00 +0000 Jack Brammer http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=18932 By Jack Brammer jbrammer@herald-leader.com FRANKFORT – Republican David Williams’ campaign for governor started airing its second TV ad Tuesday, accusing his rival, Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear, of failing to create jobs and his allies’ running a “negative, nasty campaign to cover it up.” Williams’ new ad, called “A Better Plan for Kentucky,” also says Williams will stand up to President Obama, who is unpopular in Kentucky. ]]> http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/09/06/williams-uses-new-tv-ad-to-accuse-beshear-of-failing-to-create-jobs/feed/ 0