The Political Bridge

OHIO ABOUT TO HAVE SLOTS AT ITS HORSE RACETRACKS

(In another possible blow to Kentucky’s economy, Ohio lawmakers are about to authorize slots at the state’s horse racetracks. Last month, the Kentucky General Assembly failed to pass a similar bill for Kentucky racetracks.)

By Julie Carr Smyth - Associated Press

Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland will sign an executive order to authorize racetrack slots as part of a compromise with legislative leaders to break a budget stalemate, officials said Friday.

The legalization of racetrack slots in Ohio is something that Kentucky horse industry leaders say they have feared for some time because slots would give Ohio tracks an advantage in attracting customers...

KENTUCKY POLITICAL WATCH: PRESIDENT OF THE STATE'S AFL-CIO URGES GOV BESHEAR NOT TO PICK MAYOR ABRAMSON AS RUNNING MATE IN 2011

From the Kentucky Herald-Leader

"FRANKFORT — A key state union leader has asked Gov. Steve Beshear not to pick Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson as his running mate in a 2011 re-election bid.

Bill Londrigan, president of the Kentucky State AFL-CIO, hand-delivered a letter to the Democratic governor’s office Friday that said Abramson “has established a long record of antipathy towards organized labor” in his 20 years as mayor of the state’s largest city.
He urged Beshear to pick someone else in coming weeks...."

KENTUCKY ATTORNEY GENERAL JACK CONWAY DOES IT AGAIN: MAKES DRUG MANUFACTURERS PAY

Business First

Kentucky attorney general Jack Conway has agreed to a $4.5 million settlement with Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim Roxane Inc., Roxane Laboratories Inc. and Ben Venue Laboratories Inc., all subsidiaries of German drugmaker Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH.

They are the latest in a number of settlements in average wholesale price lawsuits filed by Conway’s office against 47 drug manufacturers...

ILLINOIS SENATOR ROLAND W. BURRIS WILL NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION IN 2010

From CQ Politics

Burris’ Senate office said there would be an unspecified “major announcement” in Chicago.

Though he has yet to make his decision official, it was widely expected that Burris will announce his intention of not running for U.S. Senate in 2010. He has  only raised $845 for his campaign in the first three months of this year — an absurdly small sum for Senate run.

IS OBAMA BECOMING TOO TIMID ON REFORMING HEALTH CARE AND CONTROLLING GLOBAL WARMING?

By Clive Crook of the Financial Times  

 ...."Mr Obama aims to keep his promises(on health care reform and controlling global warning), which is admirable. Unfortunately, there is a problem. The problem is that the bills emerging from Congress are bad and Mr Obama does not seem to mind.

The cap-and-trade bill is a travesty. Its net effect on short- to medium-term carbon emissions will be small to none. This is by design: a law that really made a difference would make energy dearer, hurt consumers and force an economic restructuring that would be painful for many industries and their workers..."

THE COURIER-JOURNAL, LOUISVILLE'S DAILY NEWSPAPER, MAKES MORE STAFF CUTS

From Business First

 

The Courier-Journal, Louisville's daily newspaper, reported Thursday night on its Web site that it has eliminated 44 jobs, or about 7 percent of its work force.

In its story, the Courier-Journal did not specify where the cuts would come from. Employees who were let go will receive severance pay based on years of service, the paper reported.

In December, the Courier-Journal eliminated 51 jobs, including 17 through the voluntary severance program.

ON REGULATING WALL STREET, OBAMA IS NO FDR

President Obama proposed last month (what he called) “a sweeping overhaul” of the financial regulatory system. However, New York Times business columnist Joe Nocera claimed that the potential impact of these proposed reforms (though impressive in number) will be modest (at best).    As stated by Nocera, “it’s (the Obama proposed regulations) are not even close to what Roosevelt accomplished during the Great Depression.”  Roosevelt changed America’s financial culture through creating (during his first term) a financial system of checks-and-balances that lasted for nearly sixty years.  Nocera, seemingly, has doubts about the lasting power of Obama's proposed changes to America's financial industry.

To read Nocera's column click NY Times.

2010 U.S. SENATE WATCH IN KENTUCKY: THE MONGIARDO(D) CAMPAIGN RESPONDS TO THE CONWAY(D) CAMPAIGN'S FUNDRAISING TOTALS

CONTACT:  KIM GEVEDEN    (502) 682-2010
KGEVEDEN@DRDAN2010.COM

FRANKFORT--- In response to Conway’s fundraising totals released today, Mongiardo campaign advisor Kim Geveden stated, “As the candidate of Louisville’s east-end establishment, New York and Los Angeles, it is no surprise Jack Conway was able to raise a lot of money. What is surprising is that Jack raised more money in Louisville than in the rest of Kentucky combined. In contrast, Daniel Mongiardo has never been the establishment candidate, but has broad statewide support because he is the one candidate in this race who has stood up for working families.”

“The Mongiardo campaign is about fighting for hard-working Kentucky families in every region of the Commonwealth, whether from working class sections of our urban cities or from rural communities too often ignored. Conway’s report begs the question – does Jack Conway really have statewide appeal in Kentucky or is he just a regional, one town candidate who can raise money in New York and Los Angeles?” asked Geveden.
   
 “Daniel has never been the candidate of insiders. In 2000, Daniel won his first State Senate race by beating an entrenched Democratic incumbent. In 2004, when many insiders sat idly on the sidelines, Daniel stood up for Kentucky’s working families and took on the failed policies of Jim Bunning and George Bush. In 2010, Daniel Mongiardo is determined to finish the job he started in 2004 against Jim Bunning and give Kentucky working families a Senator who will fight for them every day,” said Geveden.

MAYOR JERRY ABRAMSON OF LOUISVILLE WILL MAKE IT OFFICIAL ON....

July 21 that he is leaving the mayor’s office to run for Lt. Governor of Kentucky.

2010 U.S. SENATE WATCH: KENTUCKY ATTORNEY GENERAL JACK CONWAY(DEM CANDIDATE IN KY)RAISES OVER $1.3 MILLION FOR SENATE RACE

July 08, 2009 12:38 EDT

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) -- Democrat Jack Conway has raised more than $1.3 million for his U.S. Senate race, eclipsing the second-quarter totals of other potential candidates who have released fundraising figures.

Conway, the state's attorney general, released his fundraising total on Wednesday.

He is one of two major Democrats vying for the party's nomination to run for the seat currently held by Republican Jim Bunning.

The other, Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo, hasn't yet released his second quarter fundraising totals.