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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

Contemplating his future, Ben Chandler says all options still on table

By Jack Brammer
jbrammer@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT — After 21 years as an elected official, Ben Chandler is looking for a new job.

“I have no idea what the future holds,” he said Thursday morning, about 36 hours after losing his seat in the U.S. Congress to Republican Andy Barr.

Possible options for the Democrat from Woodford County include seeking another elective office, accepting an appointment for public office, becoming a lobbyist or pursuing the presidency of Eastern Kentucky University.

Chandler, 53, has been in Congress since February 2004. He won a special election then to replace Republican Ernie Fletcher, who defeated Chandler in the 2003 race for Kentucky governor.

Chandler will depart Congress in January 2013 to make way for Barr, a Lexington attorney who defeated him by 11,786 votes in Tuesday’s race for Central Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District seat. Barr narrowly lost to Chandler by 648 votes in 2010.

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:

Kentucky Republicans react to Andy Barr’s win

Here are some reactions to Andy Barr’s win in the 6th District congressional race over incumbent Ben Chandler.

State Rep. Stan Lee, 45th Dist.

“I’m excited for this district. I’m excited for Andy. He’s worked hard for four years. Representative Chandler has served long enough, and the people made a clear decision. It wasn’t even close this time.

“I think, as much as anything, it’s a repudiation of the president and the president’s policies. Rep. Chandler agreed with the president way too much and the people here didn’t care for it. That’s the bottom line.”

Asked what keys to Barr’s victory were, Lee said, “He worked hard, and I know some people will find this hard to believe, but he ran a more positive campaign. Andy embraced the energy issue, which was very important.”

Chandler adviser predicts early night

Unlike many folks at the party for Rep. Ben Chandler at Busters in Lexington, Geoff Reed, Chandler’s senior advisor, said he thought Chandler would have a decisive victory early in the night.

“I think we’ll know something in an hour or so,” Reed said at 8 p.m. “The process seems to be going well.”

Reed said the campaign was pleased by Chandler’s margin of victory in Fayette County.

“We thought we’d win by two or three points, and we’re winning by five or six,” he said.

Although some news outlets were reporting Barr ahead in the district, Reed said they would wait to see results from the important counties of Franklin and Madison, with strong Democratic populations.

Chandler, meanwhile, was watching returns at home in Versailles, and Reed said he would not show up at Busters until the race was decided.

Photos: Andy Barr and Ben Chandler cast their votes #kyelect

Get comprehensive election coverage today on Kentucky.com, including up-to-the-minute vote results starting at 6 p.m.