The Bridge

Obama,ClintonFocusonPennsylvaniaPrimary

ByJimMalone,VoiceofAmericaNews

Forthenextsixweeks,theDemocraticpresidentialracebetweenSenatorsBarackObamaandHillaryClintonwillfocusonthestateofPennsylvania. ThenortheasternstateholdsitspresidentialprimaryonApril22,andVOANationalCorrespondentJimMalonehasalookatthestrategyforbothcampaignsfromWashington.

BarackObamacontinuestoleadinthedelegatecountfortheDemocraticnomination,butHillaryClinton'svictoriesinthelargestatesofTexasandOhiohavepropelledherbackintotherace.

ClintonhashadsomesuccessinraisingquestionsaboutObama'sreadinesstobepresidentandcommanderandchief,anditislikelyshewillcontinuethatlineofattackintheweekstocome.

"SenatorMcCainwillbringalifetimeofexperiencetothecampaign,"Clintonsaid."Iwillbringalifetimeofexperience,andSenatorObamawillbringaspeechthathegavein2002. Ithinkthatisasignificantdifference."

Public-opinionpollsgiveClintontheedgeinPennsylvania,thoughrecentsurveysshowObamacuttingintoheradvantage.

PennsylvaniaissimilartoOhioinitsdemographicmakeup,withlotsofworkingclassvotersandwomenwhohavetendedtosupportClintonoverObamainmostoftheotherDemocraticcaucusesandprimaries.

StuartRothenbergpublishesapoliticalnewsletterinWashingtonandwasaguestonVOA'sEncounterprogram:

"YouhavetounderstandthatSenatorClintonhasbeenperformingmuchbetteramongcertainkindsofvoters,Latinovoters,oldervoters,womenvotersanddownscalevoters,thatisverypartisanDemocratswhohavecomefromlessaffluentfamiliesandhavelessformaleducation. SenatorObamahasbeendoingverywellwithindependents,withyoungervoters,with,ofcourse,African-Americansandwithupscalevoters,higheducation,highincomevoters,"Rothenbergsaid.

ClintonhopestoraiseenoughquestionsaboutObamaandhisexperiencethateventhoughheleadsinthedelegatecount,someoftheso-calledsuperdelegatesmaybedrawntosupportherattheDemocrat'snationalnominatingconventioninAugust.

SuperdelegatesarepartyactivistsandelectedDemocraticofficialswhoattendtheconventionasuncommitteddelegates,andcandecidetosupportwhomevertheywant.

Inrecentdays,ObamahasfiredbackatClinton'sclaimsabouthisexperience,andcontinuestociteherinitialsupportoftheIraqwarasakeypointofdifferencebetweenthetwoofthem.

"IbelieveIofferacleanbreakfromthepoliciesofGeorgeBush,becauseSenatorClintonwentalongwithGeorgeBushonthewarinIraq,"Obamasaid."SenatorClintonwentalongwithGeorgeBushonherwillingnesstotrytosaber-rattlewhenitcametoIran."

Obamawillbetargetingsuperdelegatesinhisstrategyaswell. ObamaisexpectedtomaintainhisleadinthedelegatecountthroughtheendoftheprimaryseasoninJune. Buthewillneedhelpfromsomeofthesuperdelegatesattheconventiontogivehimenoughadditionalvotestosecurethepartynomination.

PoliticalexpertJohnFortieroftheAmericanEnterpriseInstituteiskeepingacloseeyeonthebattleforuncommittedsuperdelegates.

"Ifthesuperdelegatesprovidealittlebitextramarginneededtogetoverthetop,Idonotthinkthatiscontroversialinitself,andithashappenedinthepast,"Fortiersaid."Thecontroversialscenarioisthatthecandidatesarerelativelycloseandthecandidatewhoisbehindinpledgeddelegatesgetsmoresuperdelegatesandthrowshimorherselfoverthetop. AndthatisthescenariosomepeoplespeculateforHillaryClinton." WhileClintonhasre-energizedhercampaigninrecentweeks,manyexpertsnotepublic-opinionpollsthatsuggestObamawouldbethestrongergeneralelectioncandidateagainstRepublicanJohnMcCain.

AnalystStuartRothenbergexpectsObamatoemphasizethispointintheweeksahead.  

"IdidwanttoraiseoneproblemthatIthinkshehasinPennsylvaniaandfromnowon,whichisthisissueofelectability,"Rothenbergsaid."Ifyoulookatallthenationalpolls,shedoesnotrunaswellagainstSenatorMcCainasBarackObamadoes."

UncommittedsuperdelegateslikeSenatorBobCaseyofPennsylvaniawillbewatchingthecampaignunfoldintheweekstocome. CaseytoldMSNBCtelevisionthatheisconcernedaboutpullingtheDemocraticPartytogetheroncethebruisingnominationbattlebetweenObamaandClintonissettled.

"Ithinkournomineehasachancenotjusttowin,buttowinwithamandate,"Caseysaid."Butyoucannotwinwithamandateifyoudonotbringthesidestogether. Sowearelookingforwardtoacontinuingvigorousdebate,butIthinkwearegoingtohavetoworkhardonunity."

DemocratswillnothavemuchtimetounifythepartyaftertheirnationalconventioninlateAugust. Incontrast,thepresumptiveRepublicannominee,JohnMcCain,hasbegunthattaskwithmonthstogountiltheRepublicansformallyratifyhimastheircandidateattheirnationalconventioninearlySeptember. 

--VoiceofAmericanNews;courtesyofFrankLeidermann,ActingEditor

ObamaWinsMississippiPrimary,ExtendsDelegateLeadOverClinton

ByVoiceofAmericaNews:

IllinoisSenatorBarackObamahaswontheDemocraticParty'spresidentialprimaryin(thesouthernstateMississippi,extendinghisleadoverhisrival-NewYorkSenatorHillaryClinton-andsettingupnextmonth'scrucialprimaryinthedelegate-richstateofPennsylvania.

Mississippi's33delegatesareawardedproportionallybasedonthenumberofvotesthecandidatesreceive.Thatmeansbothcandidatesarelikelytowindelegates,butObamawillwinthemajorityofthem.Withalmost40percentofthevotescountedinMississippi,ObamaleadsClintonby12percentagepoints.

ObamatoldcablenewsnetworkCNNinaninterviewTuesdaythatheexpectstheDemocratswillrallyagainstpresumptiveRepublicannomineeSenatorJohnMcCain,whoObamasaidwillcontinuethepoliciesofPresidentBush.

ThenextbigcontestisonApril22inPennsylvania,whichhas158delegatesatstake.RecentpollsshowClintonwithanedgeinthestate.

ObamawonlastSaturdayintheWyomingcaucusesandleadsClintonbyabout100delegates.AndalthoughClintonwonlastTuesday'simportantTexasprimary,ObamaisleadingintheTexascaucusesthatwereheldlaterthatevening,thoughafinaltallyhasyettobemadepublic.

IntheRepublicanfield,formerMassachusettsGovernorMittRomneysaidTuesdayhewouldconsiderthevicepresidencyifaskedbySenatorMcCain.

InaninterviewonacablenewsprogramRomneysaidhewouldbehonoredtorunwithMcCain.

RomneyalsopredictedSenatorObamawouldwintheDemocraticParty'snomination.

--VoiceofAmericaNews;courtesyofFrankLeidermann,ActingEditor

ObamaWinsMississippiPrimary

Sen.BarackObamaistheprojectedwinnerofTuesday'sDemocraticprimaryinMississippi,astatehewasexpectedtowinhandily.InkeepingwiththepatternofpastcontestsObamawontheblackvoteoverwhelminglyoverSen.HillaryClinton,butwonjustathirdofwhitevotersaccordingtoexitpolls.

THEBRIDGEINREVIEWbyActingEditor,FrankLeidermann

BeSuretoChecktoSeeWhatYouMissedLastWeekinTheDailyPostingsToTheBridge.

ThinkProgress:McCainCourtsSecretRadicalReligiousConservativeGroupForSupportInPresidentialBid MeetGregFischer,DemocraticCandidateforU.S.Senator MIKECASSAROSPEAKINGOUTONTHECHALLENGESCONFRONTINGKENTUCKY CourierJournalEditorial:Stalwartsandwimps HowClintonWoninOhio StatementbyAFL-CIOPresidentJohnSweeneyonSen.McCain'sEmbraceofFailedBushSocialSecurityPlan Newsmax:Obama,HillaryinCivilWar ThinkProgress:Wilkerson:McCainis‘arrogant,’hisadvisers’scareme.’ KDPChairJenniferMooreSaysSenateRepublicanleaderDavidWilliams'badjudgmenthasreareditsuglyheadagain EnergybillsailsthroughKentuckyHousecommittee SenatorNeal'sCriminalcodestudyadvances SB2passesKentuckyHouseEducationCommittee MikeCassaro,M.D.,Bio,FromCassaroforU.S.SenateCampaign: DecisiveVictoriesForHillaryClinton ObamaStillLeadingInDelegateCount;ClintonClosesGapABit ClintonWinsCriticalVictoriesinOhio,TexasandRhodeIsland ClintonVowstoContinueDemocraticPresidentialRaceAgainstObamaAfterOhioVictory

Importantpoliticalcommentaryandstoriesareposteddaily,sodon’tforgettogotoTheBridgeforthedailypostings.

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STATESENATORDENISEHARPERANGEL’SLEGISLATIVEACCOMPLISHMENTSINTHE2008GENERALASSEMBLY

ThefollowingisalistoflegislationthatSenatorHarperAngelhasfiledastheprimarysponsor:

·      SB116-AnActrelatingtotrafficregulations.(Texting)

·      SB121-AnActrelatingtohealthfacilitypatient'svisitationrights.

·      SB125-AnActrelatingtoimpairedadults.(GoldenAlert)

·      SB211-AnActrelatingtorestaurantdisplayofcaloricandnutritioninformation.

·      SB252-AnActrelatingtomentalhealth.(TaxCheckOff)

·      SB253-AnActrelatingtoenergyefficiencyinprojectsreceivingstatefunding.

·      SJR76-DirecttheEnvironmentalandPublicProtectionCabinettosubmitareporttotheLegislativeResearchCommissionrelatingtoelectronicwastedisposalandrecycling.

·      SJR169-DirecttheAlzheimer'sDiseaseandRelatedDisordersAdvisoryCouncilandtheOfficeonAlzheimer'sDiseaseandRelatedDisorderstotakeactionontherecommendationscontainedinthe2008Alzheimer'sdiseasestateplan.

THESTATEBUDGETANDOTHERMATTERSOFSTATEfromStateRepresentativeReginaldMeeks

FRANKFORT--TheofficialwordisthatweareanticipatingavoteincommitteeandinthefullHouseearlynextweekonastateExecutiveBranchbudgetthatwilloutlineapproximately$18billioninspendingonstateprogramsthrough2010. Oddsarethatthiswillhappenlaterintheweek,ifithappensatall. TheFirst:(Executive)FloorandtheThird(Legislative)FlooroftheCapitolcontinuetolearntoplaytogetherasateam...andtobereminded"thereisno'i'inteam". Theproceduralhandlingofthebudgetwillrevealhowwelleachhaslearneditslessons.

The"mortgagemeltdown"iscausingrealfinancialheartacheforthousandsofKentuckyfamilies. WepassedHB552toprotectKentuckyhomebuyersbyexpandingandclarifyingmortgageterminology,reducingtheamountofpossibleprepaymentpenalties,andprohibitingprepaymentpenaltiesonrefinancingwiththeoriginalmortgageloancompany.ItcreatedtheMortgageFraudAct,designedtoestablishharsherpenaltiesandfinesformortgagefraudandtomakeiteasierforthestatetoprosecutethem.ThebillisnowattheSenatewaitingconsideration.

HouseBill186 waspassedanditrequireschildrentovisitadentistbeforestartingHeadStart,pre-school,orfirstgrade,beginningwiththe2010-2011schoolyear. Childrenagedthreetosixwouldberequiredtohaveadentalhealthcertificatebeforetheycouldstartpublicschool. Thebill'sgoalistogetchildreninthehabitofgoingtothedentistatanearlyage,topreventlosingteethtopoordentalhygieneasadults.

AnotherkidssafebillisHouseBill125 anditprohibitsteenagersdrivingonaninstructionpermitfromusingacellphonewhiledriving,exceptinthecaseofemergencies. Ifcaughtusingacellphoneforpurposesotherthananemergency,theteenagerwouldreceiveaviolation,butnocourtcostsorfineswouldbeimposed. Theonlypenaltywouldbetoincreasethedaysbeforetheteenagercouldreceivetheirfulldrivingprivileges.

TheHouseEducationCommittee,ofwhichIamamember,largelyagreedtoSenatelanguageinaneducationbillthisweekwhenitpassedSenateBill2,ameasurethatwouldofferseveralincentivestoincreasethenumberofstudentstakingadvancedmathandsciencecoursesinKentucky.  Highschoolsmayusegrantstopayforcollegetrainingofadvancedmathandscienceteachers;thestateDept.ofEducationwillberequiredtoprovideACTprepprogramstoallhighschooljuniorsandmiddleschoolsmusthaveapolicyformovingstudentsthatmeetcertainrequirementsintoadvancedalgebraandchemistryclasses.

STREAMSAVERBILLHEARDINHOUSEA&RCOMMITTEEfromtheKentuckiansfortheCommonwealth

iTherewasagreathearingTuesdayon“streamsaver”legislationtostopthedumpingofminingwastesinKentuckystreams.VerycompellingandpowerfultestimonywasprovidedbyRep.DonPasley,Dr.AliceJonesofEasternKentuckyUniversity,Dr.NathanielHittofVirginiaTechandTomFitzGeraldoftheKentuckyResourcesCounciltomembersoftheHouseAppropriationsandRevenueCommittee(whichdecidedtohearthebillsincetheNaturalResourcesCommitteehasrefusedto).

Rep.Pasleyintroducedthebillandtoldwhyitisnecessaryforupstreamanddownstreamcommunities.Drs.JonesandHittprovidedthoroughdocumentationoftheadverseimpactsofvalleyfillsonstreamhealth,especiallyasitnegativelyimpactsdownstreamcommunities.Fitztoldhowthelawsdesignedtoprotectstreamshaveerodedtothepointwheretheynolongerprotectourwater.

Therewerelotsofquestionsanddiscussion,forandagainst.Thebestargumentsthecoallegislatorsonthecommitteecouldmusterwasthatweoughttoworktocontrolpollutionfromallsources,suchasagricultureandurbansprawl,andnotjustpickoncoalcompanies.However,theyhadnoevidencetorefutethescientificdatathatshowsthesevereconsequencesofburyingstreamsandfillingvalleyswithminingwastes.Reps.KeithHall,RickNelsonandJohnWillStacytooktheleadintryingtodiverttheissue.

Butasthetestifierspointedout,thereareprogramsandpracticesinplacetocontrolwaterpollutionfromtheseactivities.Andastreamcan’tbecleanedupifitnolongerexists.

Thetestimonyanddiscussionwiththepresenterswentforaboutanhourandahalf.TheKentuckyCoalAssociationandKFTCdidnothaveachancetotestify.SothecommitteewillcontinueitsmeetingonWednesdayafternoon(uponadjournment,we’reexpectingabout4p.m.,everyonewelcome).

Nodoubt,thecoalindustryisgoingtoapplyheavypressuretomembersofthecommitteeinthenext24hours.WeneedtoalsomakesurethatmembersoftheHouseAppropriationsandRevenueCommitteehearfromhundredsofKFTCmembersbeforeaskingthemtosupportthiscriticallyimportantbill.

ACTION:

PleasecalltheLegislativeMessageLine(800-372-7181)andleaveamessageforallmembersoftheHouseAppropriationsandRevenueCommittee.Youcanleaveamessageforallcommitteememberswithonephonecall.Themessagelineisopenfrom7a.m.until11p.m.Pleasetrytocallbefore9:30a.m.onTuesday

STATESENATEPASSESANTI-GAYMEASUREfromtheKentuckyAlliance

TheKentuckystatesenatevoted30-5toapproveabillthatforbidsKentuckypublicuniversitiesandotherstateagenciesfromofferinghealthbenefitstogayandlesbianpartnersofemployees.TheUniversityofLouisvilleandUniversityofKentuckyextendhealthbenefitstosuchpartners,asdonearly300universitiesacrossthecountryandoverhalfoftheFortune500companies.AmongthosevotingagainsttheprohibitionweresenatorsScorsoneofLexingtonandsenatorsNealandHarper-AngelofLouisville.UKmaycontinuetooffersuchbenefitstothepetsofemployees,butnottotheirhumancompanions

CALLTHELEGISLATIVEHOTLINETOSUPPORTHB298:ANACTRELATINGTOEYEWITNESSIDENTIFICATIONfromReverendPatrickDelahanty

ThebillbelowisontheagendafortheHouseJudiciaryCommitteeonWednesdayMarch12.Pleasecall18003727181andleaveamessageforALLHouseJudiciaryCommitteemembers:PleasesupportHB298andvoteYESincommitteetosendittotheHouseFloor.

Eyewitnessidentificationoftenleadstofalseaccusationsandisoneofthechiefreasonsmenandwomenendupondeathrowandarelaterreleasedbecausetheyareinnocent.ForthisreasontheKentuckyCoalitiontoAbolishtheDeathPenaltyissupportingHB298.

HB298/:ANACTrelatingtoeyewitnessidentification. Rep.K.Stein,Rep.R.Webb.

      CreatenewsectionsofKRSChapter421,relatingtowitnesses,toregulatetheconductoflineupsbylawenforcementagencies;provideinstructionsforwitnesses;provideforsuppressionofevidenceincasesinwhichthepoliciesareviolated;EFFECTIVEJanuary1,2009.

LOBBYINFRANKFORTWITHFAIRNESSfromtheFairnessCampaign

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CallFairnessCampaignat502.893.0788forinformationandtosignupforalobbyday