Phillip M. Bailey, WFPL News

Green Party VP Candidate Visits Kentucky

Phillip M. Bailey, WFPL News — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 17:08:24 +0000

Green Party vice presidential candidate Cheri Honkala has been touring Kentucky this week to draw attention to issues that are not being discussed in the campaign as well as speak out against the debate at Centre College. Several demonstrations were held before the debate in Danville, Ky. on Thursday, including rallies to draw attention to access while others addressed issues of poverty and austerity measures. The Presidential Debate Commission barred Honkala and other third party candidates from participating alongside Vice President Joe Biden and Republican Congressman Paul Ryan.

David Williams Interested in Judicial Appointment

Kenny Colston, KPR-Frankfort and Phillip M. Bailey, WFPL News — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 20:32:38 +0000

Kentucky Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, would consider a judicial appointment if Governor Steve Beshear offered the position, a spokesperson confirmed. Rumors have been swirling in Frankfort that Beshear is planning to offer his bitter rival Williams, who is a trial lawyer, the open circuit court seat in his southern Kentucky district. The seat was left vacant due to the death of Judge Eddie Lovelace last month.

High Anticipation for First Presidential Debate

Phillip M. Bailey, WFPL News — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 18:49:47 +0000

President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney are preparing for their first debate this week, and observers are eager to see if it will impact the race. Both campaigns have been complimentary of each other and are trying to lower expectations before the televised debate in Denver, Colorado on Wednesday in order to gain an advantage going in. But experts agree that stakes are higher for Romney , who trails the president according to most polls in battleground states.

McConnell Reaches Out To Tea Party Supporters

Phillip M. Bailey, WFPL News — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 13:20:06 +0000

Here are two absolutes about politics in Kentucky: The state is reliably Republican, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is a political heavyweight in his home state. But until Tuesday, he had never attended a Tea Party rally. Since some of McConnell's hand-picked candidates have been beaten easily in recent elections, he's reaching out to his entire party. Phillip Bailey reports from member station WFPL in Louisville.

McConnell Highlights Tough Job Market for Grads

Phillip M. Bailey, WFPL News — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 18:37:13 +0000

In a push to younger voters, President Barack Obama is touring college campuses this week to discuss the problems of student loan debt. But Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is blaming the president for the poor job market that college graduates enter. Interest rates for subsidized Stafford Loans are set to double this summer, going from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent. The White House projects more than 7.5 million students will face steeper debt if lawmakers don’t act to freeze the interest rate.

New Online Portal to Report Abuse

Phillip M. Bailey, WFPL News — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 10:12:51 +0000

Kentucky State Auditor Adam Edelen is marking his first 100 days in office with the unveiling of a new online resource to allow the public to anonymously report suspected fraud and waste. SAFE-house is a new feature that gives citizens the ability to provide the auditor’s office with information and submit documents electronically. State inspectors already provide the public with a telephone hotline to report allegations of misuse of taxpayer dollars, but the office has lacked several updated technologies.

Governors Receive Honorary Degrees

Phillip M. Bailey, WFPL News — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 18:35:33 +0000

Bellarmine University will bestow honorary degrees to Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear and Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels at their spring commencement ceremony. The school is recognizing the two governors for their regional partnership and bipartisan cooperation, specifically citing their work on the $2.6 billion Ohio River Bridges.

Changes to Bridges Project Expected

Phillip M. Bailey, WFPL News — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 21:07:18 +0000

In a letter to U.S. Representatives John Yarmuth, D-Ky., and Todd Young, R-In., the Federal Highway Administration says it expects to approve a new environmental study for the $2.6 billion Ohio River Bridges Project, which is required for the project to move forward. The Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement was initiated after Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer revised the plan and introduced several measures to reduce the cost for building two new bridges across the Ohio River and reconfiguring Spaghetti Junction.

Beshear Honors Inductees in KY Women Exhibit

Phillip M. Bailey, WFPL News — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 19:20:50 +0000

Joining the Kentucky Commission on Women, Gov. Steve Beshear honored three distinguished women on Tuesday for their illustrious careers and significant contributions to the commonwealth. The governor announced that Willa Beatrice Brown, Joan Riehm and Crit Luallen were inducted into the “Kentucky Women Remembered” exhibit to mark Women’s History Month. As part of the honor, their portraits will be displayed alongside past inductees in the state Capitol.

House Panel Could Hold Fairness Hearing

Phillip M. Bailey, WFPL News — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 18:22:54 +0000

The House Judiciary Committee has posted a bill that would create a statewide fairness law to its schedule, which means the anti-discrimination legislation may receive its first ever hearing in the General Assembly as early as next week. Gay rights advocates have been lobbying state lawmakers for over a decade to bar discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Grimes Visits Counties Hit by Tornadoes

Phillip M. Bailey, WFPL News — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 15:07:12 +0000

Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes is traveling to through counties in eastern Kentucky hit by severe weather to deliver supplies and assist with the relief effort. Grimes is being accompanied by a group that includes the director of the state board of elections and business filings, who are meeting with county clerks and business owners to assess damage and formulate a plan to help in the long-term recovery.

Paul Opposes Federal Tornado Relief

Phillip M. Bailey, WFPL News — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 22:13:33 +0000

Standing by his libertarian principles, Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul reiterated his opposition to the Federal Emergency Management Agency when he said victims of the deadly tornadoes that hit Kentucky should not receive federal aid. Last week, a series of storms across the South and Midwest caused injury, property damage and killed dozens, including small towns in Kentucky and southern Indiana.

Leaders Support Disaster Declaration

Phillip M. Bailey, WFPL News — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 17:40:52 +0000

In a joint letter sent to the White House Monday morning, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and U.S. Sen. Rand Paul urged President Obama to support a request for a major disaster declaration for Kentucky after a number of deadly tornadoes struck the commonwealth. Last week, an outbreak of storms caused damage to several towns, including West Liberty, Piner and Salyersville, killing 21 residents and injuring hundreds more.

Fairness Leaders Back Anti-Bullying Bill

Phillip M. Bailey, WFPL News — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:22:21 +0000

Gay rights leaders from across Kentucky are supporting a bill that would strengthen the state’s current anti-bullying laws.The legislation was introduced by state Rep. Mary Lou Marzian, D-Louisville, and would create or improve protections against discrimination based upon students’ race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or learning disabilities.

Yarmuth Supports Disclosure Act

Phillip M. Bailey, WFPL News — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:00:33 +0000

Continuing his crusade against the U.S. Supreme Court’s controversial Citizens United case, U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Ky., has co-sponsored legislation that requires full disclosure of corporate and special-interest money in elections. The high court’s decision allows corporations to spend unlimited funds either directly or through third parties and political action committees to influence elections.

Kentucky's Third Party Remembers Galbraith

Phillip M. Bailey, WFPL News — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:32:14 +0000

Kentucky independents and third party advocates are reflecting on the death of perennial candidate Gatewood Galbraith, who brought attention to candidates outside the two main political parties. Since the early 1980s, Galbraith has been seeking public office and has run for governor, attorney general and agriculture commissioner. He ran several times as a Democrat, but his most successful bid came in 1999. That year, Galbraith ran as a member of the Reform Party and garnered 15 percent of the vote in the gubernatorial race.

Beshear Reacts to Galbraith Death

Phillip M. Bailey, WFPL News — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:46:04 +0000

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear praised perennial candidate Gatewood Galbraith as an outspoken advocate following the announcement of the Lexington attorney’s death. During the 2011 gubernatorial campaign, Galbraith challenged Behsear on several issues and called the governor’s Fancy Farm speech the worst in the picnic’s history.

Yarmuth Introduces Constitutional Amendment

Phillip M. Bailey, WFPL News — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:56:50 +0000

Seeking to overturn the Citizens United case, U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Ky., filed a bill Tuesday that would amend the U.S. Constitution to get money out of politics by toppling key provisions of the Supreme Court’s controversial decision. The bipartisan legislation was introduced alongside U.S. Rep. Walter Jones, R-Nc., and establishes that financial expenditures and in-kind contributions do not qualify as protected free speech under the First Amendment. It also makes Election Day a legal holiday and enables Congress to establish a public financing system that would serve as the sole source of funding for federal elections.

Democrats Drop Proposal to Tax Wealthy

Phillip M. Bailey, WFPL News — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 20:02:34 +0000

With time running out before the expiration of the payroll tax cuts, Democrats are dropping their proposal to tax the wealthiest Americans to pay for the relief as a way to compromise with their Republican counterparts. The legislation to extend the cuts passed the House earlier this week, but not without contention or the remaining partisan dispute over how to pay for them. However, it appears the Democrats have blinked first.

Senate Blocks Balanced Budget Amendment

Phillip M. Bailey, WFPL News — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:14:54 +0000

The Senate rejected an attempt to amend the U.S. Constitution to require a balanced budget in an effort to reduce the deficit on Wednesday. The Balanced Budget Amendment has been heralded by Republican lawmakers such as U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., as a way to control federal spending and reduce the country’s $15 trillion debt, but it failed in a 53-to-47 vote along strict party lines.

Cuts to State Spending

Phillip M. Bailey, WFPL News — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 22:05:49 +0000

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear is ordering most state agencies to cut their budgets by two percent for the current fiscal year, but that will not be enough to close a $190 million budget shortfall. The decision was announced by State Budget Director Mary Lassiter at a joint budget committee meeting Tuesday. The plan will not include furloughs for state employees as the governor previously ordered, but it could mean agencies deciding to laying off workers.

KY Health Officials Prepare for World AIDS Day

Phillip M. Bailey, WFPL News — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 19:55:50 +0000

The Kentucky Department for Public Health is working to promote World AIDS Day on December 1 and unite people across the commonwealth in the fight against HIV. The theme for this year’s observance is “Getting to Zero” with a push to get to zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS related deaths. Despite increased understanding of HIV and AIDS, state officials say the annual event is still needed as a reminder that the disease still impacts millions of people worldwide.

Analysis Predicts ‘Historic Loss’ for Williams

Phillip M. Bailey, WFPL News — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 20:26:45 +0000

A review of past Kentucky elections shows Republican gubernatorial candidate David Williams is headed towards one of the worst defeats since the Reconstruction era in 1870, according to Smart Politics. With Williams trailing Democratic incumbent Steve Beshear by 31-points in the polls two weeks before Election Day, national observers are paying attention to what could be a historic landslide.

Rand Paul Endorses Kemper

Phillip M. Bailey, WFPL News — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 20:08:30 +0000

In the race for Kentucky’s chief financial watchdog, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., endorsed Republican John Kemper, calling the Lexington developer a “constant thorn in the side” of the political establishment. Kemper is running against Democrat Adam Edelen in a race to succeed Crit Luallen, who cannot seek a third term. Edelen is the former chief of staff for Governor Steve Beshear, who released an blistering ad against the GOP contender this week for having personal financial woes.

Williams Campaign Disputes cn|2 Poll

Phillip M. Bailey, WFPL News — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 17:55:43 +0000

Responding to a poll that showed them trailing significantly, the campaign for Republican gubernatorial candidate David Williams is disputing the numbers in the race against Democratic incumbent Steve Beshear. The Williams campaign released a memorandum Thursday night, criticizing the cn|2 Pure Politics poll conducted by the Illinois-based Braun Research Group as inaccurate. Polling numbers showed Beshear holding a strong 21-point lead over Williams.