Kentucky Political Updates

Lot's of political news around the Commonwealth, today. Let's get to it:

1. It looks like several Republicans are planning to challenge my wonderful Congressional Representative, John Yarmuth (D-KY) of KY's 3rd District, for reelection. Bush/McConnell hatchet woman, Anne Northup, whom Yarmuth defeated in '06 and who then proceeded to lose a primary challenge to scandal-ridden Gov. Ernie Fletcher (R-KY) last year (before Fletcher himself went down in the Gen. Elect last November), is considering a rematch with Yarmuth. Well, Northup's a strong campaigner and kept her Congressional seat for 10 years in a district far more liberal than she is by playing pork politics extremely well. And, since every time a Congressional district changes parties, the next 2 year election is when it is MOST vulnerable to switching back, a Northup challenge would be something to take very seriously--especially since Yarmuth beat her by less than 6,000 votes. But Yarmuth has been given one of the highest ratings of any frosh Representative. And he was elected on the promise to stand up to the Bush admin and has done so with remarkable consistency. Plus, since he, like Northup, is personally wealthy, he has kept a campaign promise to donate his entire Congressional salary to charity. So, I am confident that Yarmuth could withstand an assault by Northup. But, now, there are other GOP contenders: Bob Devore, Jr. of Fern Creek, an unknown GOP candidate has filed to run. Real estate developer Chris Thieneman, who successfully campaigned to kill a tax referendum that would have allowed our public libraries to improve and expand (Thieneman claimed we could do this without a tax, simply by issuing a bond--but the economy won't grow to support that!) announced that he will file even if Queen Anne does, too. And, Todd Lally, a pilot for UPS, is considering a run. Any more? The way I see it, a crowded primary for the GOP does nothing but help Yarmuth! Heck, let's have a brawl between Northup and Thieneman as we saw between Northup and Fletcher last year--with the same result, both lose!
2. Why will Yarmuth win? Because he's smart and knows what the Commonwealth and the nation needs. In the face of the looming recession, Yarmuth is not content with playing around with tax rebates or lowering interest rates. No, he's going to the heart of the matter and helping small businesses--which create 50% of all new jobs in the U.S. Yarmuth introduced legislation yesterday, co-sponsored by Rep. Melissa Bean (D-IL) and Paul Hodes (D-NH), to allow small businesses losing money this year to spread their losses over five years. The legislation would also allow small business owners to write off up to $250,000 of their business expenses, instead of the currently allowed $125,000. Now, by itself, this legislation will hardly prevent the economic recession that may have already begun--but it has to help. And, it's targeted correctly--not at global corporations which can absorb the losses, but at the small businesses that help all of middle America. Yarmuth is also proposing separate legislation that will add $300 to the earned income child deduction for individual taxation, bringing that to $1,300--which will help struggling families. This the kind of leadership we NEVER got from Northup and which we certainly won't see from Mr. "I Hate Libraries." So, keep it up, John. You are the best Rep. this district has had since Romano Mazzoli (D-KY) retired. We've waited a long time for this kind of voice in Washington and now that we have it, we'll sure fight to keep it!
3. Advocates for the disabled rallied in Frankfort to keep Gov. Beshear from cutting services in the face of our huge budget problems. Beshear said he would "try" not to cut services. But he refuses to consider raising our cigarette tax (3rd lowest in the nation) and is putting all his hopes for new revenue on casino gambling--even though there is little guarantee that an amendment to the state constitution will pass allowing such gaming--and there are plenty of reasons to vote against it. 29% of Kentuckians smoke, we have one of the highest teen smoking rates and 1 out of 4 pregnant women in this state smoke. Raise the cigarette tax by $.30--the Commonwealth needs the revenue and we need incentives that prevent teens from starting to smoke and encourage others to quit! The Fletcher admin has left the state broke just as the economy is taking a dive. Risking all our progress in education, etc. through slash-and-burn budgets, or risking all new revenue on casino gambling (with its attendent social problems!) is foolish. Wise up, Governor.
4. NAACP gives "Fs" to Kentuckiana GOP lawmakers
   The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has released its latest "Civil Rights Federal Legislative Report Card," and it gives failing grades to all the Kentuckiana Republicans in Congress.The NAACP's ratings, based on 15 votes in the Senate and 25 votes in the House last year, are based on whether lawmakers voted with or against the positions of the civil rights group on legislation it considered of special interest to African Americans and supporters of civil rights.Anything below 59 percent was rated an "F." The Democrats landed either an "A" (90-100 percent) or "B" (80-89 percent).Here are the ratings:Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.: 27 percent. (More reason to Ditch Mitch in '08. Give now to the campaign of Andrew Horne!)Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky.: 13 percent. (Good grief!) Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind.: 47 percent. Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind.: 93 percent. Rep. Ed Whitfield, R-1st District: 52 percent. Rep. Ron Lewis, R-2nd District: 28 percent. (Do we have a good challenger to Lewis this year?0 Rep. John Yarmuth, D-3rd District: 96 percent. (Wow!) Rep. Geoff Davis, R-4th District: 36 percent .Rep. Hal Rogers, R-5th District: 40 percent.Rep. Ben Chandler, D-6th District: 92 percent. Rep. Baron Hill, D-9th District: 88 percent