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/2012/05/09/challenger-questions-conservatism-of-thayer-in-state-senate-primary-election/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2012/05/09/challenger-questions-conservatism-of-thayer-in-state-senate-primary-election/#comments Wed, 09 May 2012 21:06:27 +0000 Accountability Editor http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=21683 By John Cheves jcheves@herald-leader.com Editor's note: This is one in a series of stories previewing Kentucky's May 22 primary election. Ricky Hostetler is trying to squeeze to the political right of state Sen. Damon Thayer, one of the General Assembly's most vocal conservatives. Hostetler is challenging Thayer in the May 22 Republican primary for the 17th Senate district, which represents Scott, Owen and Grant counties and part of Kenton County. The winner will face Democrat David Holcomb on Nov. 6. All three men live in Georgetown. Hostetler says Thayer — who is seeking a fourth term — has become part of the Frankfort political establishment that drives up government spending while enjoying public pensions and cozy relationships with lobbyists. Hostetler pledges to limit himself to two terms, which he said he would use to slash taxes and regulations, giving the private sector the freedom it needs to grow. "Just take a look at the numbers. In the last 10 to 12 years, our state's debt has increased ten-fold to about $40 billion, if you count the state pension system liability," Hostetler, a 53-year-old electrical contractor, said in an interview. "Senator Thayer has been there most of that time. I think he has to accept some of the responsibility." Thayer, 44, responds by calling Hostetler "a little desperate." Thayer touts his conservative support from U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., the National Rifle Association, the pro-business Kentucky Club for Growth (which ranks him best among 38 state senators) and the anti-abortion Kentucky Right to Life.]]> http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2012/05/09/challenger-questions-conservatism-of-thayer-in-state-senate-primary-election/feed/ 1 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2012/04/10/nj-gov-chris-christie-to-headline-gop-lincoln-day-dinner/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2012/04/10/nj-gov-chris-christie-to-headline-gop-lincoln-day-dinner/#comments Tue, 10 Apr 2012 18:54:10 +0000 Beth Musgrave http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=21467 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2012/04/10/nj-gov-chris-christie-to-headline-gop-lincoln-day-dinner/feed/ 5 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2012/01/05/plan-would-put-hal-rogers%e2%80%99-home-county-in-two-congressional-districts/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2012/01/05/plan-would-put-hal-rogers%e2%80%99-home-county-in-two-congressional-districts/#comments Thu, 05 Jan 2012 23:42:31 +0000 Accountability Editor http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=20032 PDF: House plan for congressional districts By Jack Brammer jbrammer@herald-leader.com FRANKFORT — A state House committee voted along party lines Thursday to split the home county of Republican U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers of Somerset into two congressional districts as it redraws the boundaries of Kentucky’s six districts. The plan contained in House Bill 2 also moves Boyle, Garrard and part of Jessamine counties from Central Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District to south-central Kentucky’s 2nd District. It also makes Northern Kentucky’s 4th District a more urban district and moves Daviess County from the 2nd District to the 1st District. House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, acknowledged after the House State Government Committee approved the bill that it is likely to change before becoming law. “I assume it will go through some vigorous debate and likely transformation,” he said.]]> http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2012/01/05/plan-would-put-hal-rogers%e2%80%99-home-county-in-two-congressional-districts/feed/ 0 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/12/15/david-williams-will-remain-kentucky-senate-president-in-2012/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/12/15/david-williams-will-remain-kentucky-senate-president-in-2012/#comments Thu, 15 Dec 2011 23:41:07 +0000 Accountability Editor http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=19914 By Jack Brammer jbrammer@herald-leader.com FRANKFORT — Senate President David Williams, who lost a bid for governor this year, will keep his leadership position in the legislature. Williams, a Burkesville Republican who has headed the Senate since 2000, said after a retreat Thursday for Senate Republicans that there will be no leadership changes in the Senate. He said no Republican leader faced a challenge.]]> http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/12/15/david-williams-will-remain-kentucky-senate-president-in-2012/feed/ 0 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/12/01/tea-party-candidate-says-he-will-run-against-thayer/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/12/01/tea-party-candidate-says-he-will-run-against-thayer/#comments Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:24:16 +0000 Beth Musgrave http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=19843 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/12/01/tea-party-candidate-says-he-will-run-against-thayer/feed/ 0 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/11/11/after-dud-election-tea-party-activists-want-more-influence-in-kentucky-gop/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/11/11/after-dud-election-tea-party-activists-want-more-influence-in-kentucky-gop/#comments Fri, 11 Nov 2011 22:09:09 +0000 Accountability Editor http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=19717 By Jack Brammer jbrammer@herald-leader.com FRANKFORT — Loyalists in Kentucky's Tea Party movement who helped propel Republican Rand Paul to the U.S. Senate last year say they share no blame for the GOP's poor showing in Tuesday's state elections, especially in the race for governor. Instead, they point to the Republican Party establishment, which they say too often backs and fields candidates who don't adhere to their call for limited government and fiscal responsibility. "I'm a registered Republican but my reasoning for Tuesday's loss is that we saw an establishment candidate, Republican David Williams, get rejected by the Tea Party," said Lexington conservative radio talk show host Leland Conway. "The establishment part of the Republican Party of Kentucky needs to learn that its candidates have to be true conservatives for the Tea Party to line up behind them and to win." Such comments reflect the Tea Party movement's continuing efforts to gain influence in the Grand Old Party, which dominates the state's delegation in Washington D.C. but has won Kentucky's governor's office only twice since World War II.]]> http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/11/11/after-dud-election-tea-party-activists-want-more-influence-in-kentucky-gop/feed/ 0 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/11/08/election-night-coverage-kyelect/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/11/08/election-night-coverage-kyelect/#comments Tue, 08 Nov 2011 22:34:14 +0000 Accountability Editor http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=19672 We'll have up-to-the-minute vote results starting at 6 p.m. on Kentucky.com. Also, reporter Rich Copley will be filing reports on this blog from the Democratic Party rally in Frankfort tonight. Reporter Greg Kocher will have the latest from the Republican Party rally in Lexington. Rich, Greg and the entire Bluegrass Politics team will be tweeting at @bgpolitics. Have a great evening. Commenting on Bluegrass Politics has been temporarily disabled due to technical difficulties, but you can still sound off on this story on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/bluegrasspolitics.]]> http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/11/08/election-night-coverage-kyelect/feed/ 0 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/10/20/attack-ads-against-beshear-will-be-back-on-the-air/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/10/20/attack-ads-against-beshear-will-be-back-on-the-air/#comments Thu, 20 Oct 2011 19:55:16 +0000 Beth Musgrave http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=19444 By Jack Brammer and Beth Musgrave jbrammer@herald-leader.com and bmusgrave@herald-leader.com FRANKFORT — A Kentucky judge agreed on Thursday to lift a restraining order that barred an outside political group from running campaign advertisements in the state. At a hearing Thursday, Franklin Circuit Court Judge Thomas Wingate agreed to lift his restraining order against Restoring America after the group disclosed that its sole donor was the father-in-law of Republican gubernatorial candidate David Williams. The group has spent more than $1.3 million to air television ads critical of Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear and complimentary of Williams. Restoring America filed an amended 32-day pre-election campaign finance report late Wednesday showing that Terry Stephens, a Russell County businessman, was the sole contributor of $1.365 million to Restoring America Inc., which was originally listed as Restoring America’s sole donor. Stephens has given more than $2.3 million to groups pushing his son-in-law for governor. ]]> http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/10/20/attack-ads-against-beshear-will-be-back-on-the-air/feed/ 0 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/10/18/richie-farmer-determined-to-bounce-back-after-tough-year/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/10/18/richie-farmer-determined-to-bounce-back-after-tough-year/#comments Tue, 18 Oct 2011 20:21:03 +0000 Accountability Editor http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=19395 By Jack Brammer jbrammer@herald-leader.com Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series of stories about candidates for lieutenant governor. FRANKFORT — Of all his 42 years, this one has been the toughest for Richie Farmer. “I’d be lying if I said anything different,” said the Kentucky basketball icon who is about to wrap up eight years as state agriculture commissioner and is hoping to become Kentucky’s next lieutenant governor. Farmer has endured personal upheaval and public pillorying while running on a ticket this year with Republican gubernatorial nominee David Williams. As his wife of 13 years filed for divorce this spring, the media and Democrats dogged Farmer with questions about spending in his state office. The controversial purchases range from refrigerators and televisions to hotel stays and conference trips. He claims all of them were appropriate to his job. While his office’s signature program, Kentucky Proud, has been praised for dramatically increasing the visibility of Kentucky-grown farm products, political opponents say the program spent too much money promoting Farmer.]]> http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/10/18/richie-farmer-determined-to-bounce-back-after-tough-year/feed/ 0 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/10/17/beshear-says-no-effort-to-force-state-employees-to-give/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/10/17/beshear-says-no-effort-to-force-state-employees-to-give/#comments Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:41:10 +0000 Beth Musgrave http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=19364 By Beth Musgrave bmusgrave@herald-leader.com FRANKFORT -- Gov. Steve Beshear said Monday that there has been no effort by his re-election campaign to coerce state employees to give to his campaign. "We have over 12,000 people now who have contributed to our campaign," Beshear said in a Monday interview with the Herald-Leader editorial board. "There is not a soul who gets a job because he gives us money and there's nobody who loses a job because he doesn't give us money. We don't operate like that, we've never had and we're not going to. It's that simple." The Democratic governor said he believes state employees have given to his campaign because they support his administration and do not like his chief opponent, Republican Senate President David Williams. "We have state employees that are contributing to us because I think they like what we've done," Beshear said. "Senator Williams, time and again, has said what he thinks about state employees. It's no secret that he's not a favorite of state employees because of his statements and his actions."]]> http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/10/17/beshear-says-no-effort-to-force-state-employees-to-give/feed/ 0