All Entries in the "KY-2nd" Category
Census: A lot of Kentuckians will get a new congressman
By Bill Estep – bestep@herald-leader.com
A lot of Kentuckians are going to get new representatives in the U.S. House because of significant shifts in the state’s population.
The eastern and western ends of the state lost population between 2000 and 2010 while the middle third grew, according to U.S. Census figures released this week.
Three of the state’s six congressional districts fall short of the necessary population, while the other three are over it.
The national average for a U.S. House District will be 710,767.
However, the target number will vary by state; dividing Kentucky’s population of 4.3 million by six seats means a population target for each district of about 723,000.
Keeping Kentucky in the spotlight
David Adams, Rand Paul’s campaign manager through July and currently campaign manager for Phil Moffett, a candidate for the Republican nomination for governor, says he expects the Tea Party spotlight to stay on Kentucky through the 2011 elections. Paul’s quick victory in the Senate race was not surprising as he said, “This was over before [...]
Rep. Ron Lewis quit, then spent campaign funds
U.S. Rep. Ron Lewis spent more than $60,000 in campaign funds last year not running for re-election.
In the months after Lewis, R-Cecilia, dropped out of the race, his campaign paid for restaurant meals, catering, hotels, flowers, Christmas cards, gifts for friends, cell phones, car fuel and maintenance, photography and $13,000 “loyalty awards” for a top aide, among other expenses.
Federal elections law allows departing members of Congress to tap their campaign funds for certain expenses even after they’ve ended their campaigns — and some do. U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., abandoned his re-election bid in July and since has spent about $4,000 in campaign donations on Washington meals and airline tickets.
However, the law prohibits congressmen from diverting donations for their “personal use,” which raises questions about whether an expensive steak dinner, for instance, was for work or pleasure.
Ky. lawmakers say Canadian plan could decimate burley market
By Halimah Abdullah – habdullah@mcclatchydc.com
WASHINGTON — Kentucky burley tobacco farmers and the state’s congressional delegation are seeing smoke over a plan by the Canadian government to ban fruit and bubble gum flavors and other similar additives in cigarettes and cigarillos.
The lawmakers and the roughly 8,100 Kentucky farmers who cultivate burley tobacco say the proposal, designed to curb youth smoking, would decimate the market for American air-cured burley tobacco, which is used to make most of Canada’s cigarettes.
“One of the biggest things it does is it effectively bans almost all flavoring used in products other than menthol,” said Joe Cain, director of national affairs for the Kentucky Farm Bureau. “Where it becomes important to Kentuckians is that American blend cigarettes are about 25 percent burley. Burley gives it texture and body, but it’s bitter and kind of harsh. It needs that flavoring to take the edge off of it.”
Many growers and their supporters feel their industry is under political assault and are still reeling from last week’s congressional passage of legislation that gives the Food and Drug Administration regulatory powers over tobacco.
Guthrie lands top GOP post on higher ed panel
Freshman U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Bowling Green, landed the Republicans’ top position on the House Education and Labor Committee’s panel on higher education.
Guthrie, who replaces retired Republican Rep. Ron Lewis in Kentucky’s 2nd District, will start his congressional career as ranking member of the subcommittee on higher education, lifelong learning and competitiveness.
Bill Clinton campaigning in Ky. Friday
Former President Bill Clinton will be in Paducah and Bowling Green on Friday to campaign for Democrats Bruce Lunsford and David Boswell.
Jerry Lundergan, the chairman of Hillary Clinton’s Kentucky campaign, confirmed that Bill Clinton will appear in Paducah with Lunsford, who is challenging Republican U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, on Friday.
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- Voters select finalists in three Lexington council districts
- Two in five Kentucky Democrats vote for 'uncommitted' instead of Obama
- VIDEO: Andy Barr's primary election victory speech
- Chris Girdler gets GOP nomination in 15th Senate District
- Damon Thayer defeats Ricky Hostetler in GOP primary for 17th Senate District
- Lawless, Spires are top finishers in four-way race for Lexington's District 3
