The Political Bridge

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IsGovFletcherTrappingDemocrats(fromMarkHebert'sblogcourtesyofFrankC.Leidermann)

(ThissoundslikeatrapforDemocrats;notethereferencetothedomesticpartnershipbill.Democratshelpdefeatthebillthatwouldhaddisalloweddomesticpartnershipstatusforinsurancepurposes,etc.,atstateentities. ItdiedinRep.TomBurch'sHouseHealthandWelfareCommitteeduringthe
2007sessionoftheKentuckyGeneralAssembly.)

GovernorFletchertoldWHAS11Newstodaythathewouldissuethecallforaspeciallegislativesession"inadayortwo." 

FletcheralsotriedtoputanendtospeculationthatthesessionmightbepushedbacktoAugustsaying"it'sgonnabeJuly5th."Fletchersaysthesession's"mainfocuswillbeenergy"sayingheandlawmakershave"prettywellagreed"onwhatwillbeintheenergybillthat'sdesignedtolureconstructionofcoaltogasplantsinKentucky.Buthealsoindicatedthatheplanstoincludealloftheuniversityprojectsthat
weren'tapprovedinthe2007sessionaspartofthecall.Fletchersayshehasn'tdecidedwhethertoincludeaproposedbanondomesticpartnerhealthbenefitsforstateanduniversityemployeesontheagenda.

Fletchersaysiflawmakerswillcooperate,thespecialsessioncouldbeaquickone,likethefivedaysessionthatwasheldin2006. Herejectedtheideathathemighttaketheblameifthelegislature
staysinFrankfortforafewweeksatacostof$60,000/day.

Postedbymark.hebertonJune28,200705:46PM

TalkingaboutthePoweroftheIncumbencyinanElectionYear:GovernorFletcherAnnouncesIncentivePackageApprovedforFordMotorCompanyinLouisville

PressReleaseDate: 

Thursday,June28,2007 

ContactInformation: 

JodiWhitaker
502-564-2611

MandyLambert
502-564-7670 

FRANKFORT,Ky.–GovernorErnieFletcherandEconomicDevelopmentCabinetSecretaryJohnHindmantodayannouncedtheapprovaloftaxincentivesforFordMotorCompanyundertheKentuckyJobsRetentionAct(KJRA). TheKentuckyEconomicDevelopmentFinanceAuthority(KEDFA)preliminarilyapprovedtheprojectforupto$66millionovera10-yearperiodatitsmeetingearliertoday.

ApprovaloftheKJRAincentivesisintendedtohelpsupporttheretentionof5,117jobsandapayrollofdirectandindirectjobsofmorethan$4billioninthestate. Aspartofthecompany’s“WayForward”plan,FordisproposingtoinvestinitsKentuckyTruckPlanttoincreaseflexibility,efficiencyandreliabilityatthefacility.

“Today’sactionbytheKEDFABoardshowsKentucky’scommitmenttokeepingFordMotorCompanyinKentucky,aswellasprotectingitsemployees,”saidGovernorFletcher. “FordMotorCompanyisadrivingforceofourstate’seconomyandweintendtoensureitsviabilityandcontinuityinLouisville.”

Ford’sproposedinvestmentisestimatedtototal$105million. Itwillincludefundsforequipmentandfacilityupgrades,technologyupgradesandthepurchaseofnewmachineryandequipment. Itwillalsoincludeengineeringcostsnecessarytoimplementthemodernizationupgrades. 

“Fordisfacingunprecedentedcompetitivechallengesandthistypeofpartnershipsupportenhancesourabilitytoworktogethercloselytosetthestageforadditionalopportunitiesinthefuture,”saidCurtMagleby,directorofStateandLocalGovernmentandCommunityRelations.

TheKentuckyJobsRetentionActisanewincentiveprogramresultingfromHouseBill536,whichwasadoptedbythe2007GeneralAssemblyandsignedintolawbyGovernorFletcheronMarch23. Theprogramisdesignedtoencourageexistingautomotivemanufacturerstomodernizetheirfacilitiesandretainexistingjobs. 

“ItisimportantthatKentuckyremaincompetitiveandproveitsabilitytoadjusttoarapidlyevolvingbusinessclimate,”saidSecretaryHindman. “ThisincentivepackageisamajorstepinsecuringthefutureofFordMotorCompanyrighthereinKentucky.”

MayorAbramsonapplaudedGovernorFletcherandEconomicDevelopmentofficialsforworkingtoprovideFordwiththeseincentives.

“TheFordplantsaremajoremployersandimportantcorporatecitizensinLouisville—andtheseincentiveswillgofarinkeepingtheautomakerinourcity,”saidLouisvilleMayorJerryAbramson.

“TheFordMotorCompanyisalong-timeemployerandtremendousassettoourcommunity,”saidJoeReagan,presidentandCEO,GreaterLouisvilleInc.–TheMetroChamberofCommerce.“Buildingonourtraditionalstrengthsintheautomotiveindustryisonepartofourregion'seconomicdevelopmentstrategy. WeproudlysupportFordastheyaddressthechallengesofthisincreasinglycompetitiveglobaleconomy.”

TheKentuckyEconomicDevelopmentFinanceAuthority,establishedwithintheCabinetforEconomicDevelopmenttoencourageeconomicdevelopment,businessexpansion,andjobcreation,providesfinancialsupportthroughanarrayoffinancialassistanceandtaxcreditprograms.KEDFAapprovalisrequiredforparticipationintheloanandtaxincentiveprograms,excepttheSkillsTrainingInvestmentcredits,whichareapprovedbytheBluegrassStateSkillsCorporation(BSSC).

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JustIn:ImmigationBillDefeated;KYSenatorsVoteNayonEndingClosure

McConnellandBunningVotedNayonendingclosure

CHARLESBABINGTON,AssociatedPressWriter7minutesago

WASHINGTON-TheSenatedroveastakeThursdaythroughPresidentBush'splantolegalizemillionsofunlawfulimmigrants,likelypostponingmajoractiononimmigrationuntilafterthe2008elections.

Afterthestingingpoliticalsetback,Bushsoundedresignedtodefeat.

"LegalimmigrationisoneofthetopconcernsoftheAmericanpeople,andCongress'failuretoactonitisadisappointment,"hesaidafteranappearanceinNewport,R.I."Alotofusworkedhardtoseeifwecouldn'tfindcommonground.Itdidn'twork."

Thebill'sSenatesupportersfell14votesshortofthe60neededtolimitdebateandclearthewayforfinalpassageofthelegislation,whichcriticsassailedasofferingamnestytoillegalimmigrants.Thevotewas46to53infavoroflimitingthedebate.

SomesenatorsinbothpartiessaidtheissueissovolatilethatCongressisunlikelytorevisititthisfallornextyear,whenthepresidentialelectionwillincreasinglydominateAmericanpolitics.t

Bushappearedglumashespoke.Hisnegotiatorshadexpressedoptimismthevotewouldgotheirway—or,atleastbecloser.

"CongressreallyneedstoprovetotheAmericanpeoplethatitcancometogetheronhardissues,"Bushsaid.HeturnedattentiontootherhisothergoalsinCongressthisyear,includingenergy,healthcareandbalanced-budgetinitiatives.

LastyearasimilarimmigrationeffortcollapsedinCongress,andtheHousehasnotbotheredwithanimmigrationbillthisyear,awaitingSenateaction.

ThevotewasadefeatforabipartisangroupoflawmakerswhoadvocatedthebillasanimperfectbutnecessaryfixofcurrentimmigrationpracticesinwhichmanyillegalimmigrantsuseforgeddocumentsorlapsedvisastoliveandworkintheUnitedStates.

ItwasavictoryforRepublicanconservativeswhostronglycriticizedthebill'sprovisionsthatwouldhaveestablishedpathwaystolawfulstatusformanyoftheestimated12millionillegalimmigrants.TheywereaidedbytalkradioandTVhostswhorepeatedlyattackedthebillandurgedlistenerstofloodCongresswithcalls,faxesande-mails.

Votingtoallowthebilltoproceedbyendingdebatewere33Democrats,12RepublicansandindependentJoeLieberman,Conn.Votingtoblockthebillbynotlimitingdebatewere37Republicans,15DemocratsandindependentBernardSanders,Vt.TimJohnson,D-S.D.,didnotvote.

Thebillwouldhavetoughenedbordersecurityandinstitutedanewsystemforweedingoutillegalimmigrantsfromworkplaces.Itwouldhavecreatedanewguestworkerprogramandallowedmillionsofillegalimmigrantstoobtainlegalstatusiftheybrieflyreturnedhome.

Bush,makingalast-ditchbidtosalvagethebill,calledsenatorsearlyThursdaymorningtourgetheirsupport.HomelandSecuritySecretaryMichaelChertoffandCommerceSecretaryCarlosGutierrezapproachedsenatorsastheyenteredandleftthechambershortlybeforethevote.

ButconservativesfromBush'sownpartyledtheopposition.Theyrepeatedlysaidthegovernmentmustsecurethebordersbeforeallowingmillionsofillegalaliensapathtolegalstatus.

Sen.ElizabethH.Dole,R-N.C.,saidmanyAmericans"don'thaveconfidence"thatborders,especiallywithMexico,willbesignificantlytightened."It'snotjustpromisesbutproofthattheAmericanpeoplewant,"Dolesaid.

Butthebill'sbackerssaidbordersecurityandaccommodationstoillegalimmigrantsmustgohandinhand.

"Yearafteryear,we'vehadthebrokenborders,"saidSen.EdwardKennedy,D-Mass."Yearafteryear,we'veseentheexploitationofworkers."

Afterthevote,hesaid:"Itisnowclearthatwearenotgoingtocompleteourworkonimmigrationreform.ThatisenormouslydisappointingforCongressandforthecountry."Kennedy,achiefproponentofthebill,said,"wewillbeback.Thisissueisnotgoingaway."

Butbeforethevote,Sen.DianneFeinstein,D-Calif.,toldcolleaguesthepoliticalclimatealmostsurelywouldnotallowaseriousreconsiderationuntil2009orlater.Itwouldbehighlyunlikely,shesaid,"inthenextfewyearstofixtheexistingsystem....Wearesoclose."

Fromthebeginning,thebill'smostforcefulopponentsweresouthernRepublicans.GOPSens.DavidVitterofLouisiana,JimDeMintofSouthCarolinaandJeffSessionsofAlabamaledthecharge,oftenbackedbyTexanJohnCornyn.

TwosouthernRepublicans—LindseyGraham,S.C.,andMelMartinez,Fla.,whowasborninCuba—supportedit.

Alsocrucialtothebill'sdemisewasoppositionfromthreeDemocratsrecentlyelectedfromGOP-leaningstates:JonTesterofMontana,ClaireMcCaskillofMissouriandJimWebbofVirginia.

AlltheDemocraticpresidentialcandidatesintheSenatevotedtoenddebateandadvancethebill.AmongtheRepublicancandidates,onlySen.JohnMcCainofArizonavotedtokeepthemeasurealive.Sen.SamBrownback,R-Kan.,atfirstvotedwithMcCain,butswitchedhisvotewhenitwasclearthebidtoenddebatewouldfail.

SessionssaidontheSenatefloorafterthevotethatAmericans"arenotmean-spirited,buttheyareconcernedaboutalawfulsystemofimmigration."

DeMinttoldreporters,"IthinktheonlyvictoryhereisfortheAmericanpeopleand,symbolically,agovernmentofthepeopleandforthepeople.Thepeoplerespondedtothisissueinaveryemotionalandjustaveryengagedway,whichchangedthemindsofmanypeoplehereintheSenate."

DeMintsaidhehoped"we'llproceedwiththesecurityandenforcementaspectsofthisbill,andthatwillpavethewayofhowwesolvesomeoftheotherproblems."

___

ThebillisS1639.

FletcherCampaigningforRe-ElectionbyDolingOuttheMoney:$825,716ApprovedfortheKentuckyPoultryFederation

PressReleaseDate: 

Friday,June15,2007 

ContactInformation: 

AngelaG.Blank,DirectorofCommunications
(502)564-4627
[email protected] 

(Frankfort,KY).-TheKentuckyAgriculturalDevelopmentBoardapprovedtheKentuckyPoultryFederationfor$825,716instatefunds.Thisproposalwasoneoftheseventy-sixprojects,totaling$4,931,814approvedattheJuneKentuckyAgriculturalDevelopmentBoardMeeting.

TheKentuckyPoultryFederationwillusethesefundsforatwocomponentprojectincludingStatewideEducationalProgrammingandaPoultryHouseEvaluationProject.

Theeducationalneedsofproducersvarybylocationandintegrator;therefore,theeducationalcomponenthasbeendesignedaroundeachoftheintegrators.ThethreemechanismsthatmakeuptheeducationalcomponentsoftheproposalareStatewideEducationalProgramming,theformationofsixIntegratorEducationalAdvisoryCommittees,andthedevelopmentanddisseminationof800poultrymanagementmanuals.

PoultryHouseEvaluatorswillevaluatetheenergyuseofpoultrybuildingsforthePoultryHouseevaluationcomponentoftheproject.Thepoultryproducerwillultimatelyreceiveareportthatincludesrecommendationsonhowtoimproveenergyefficiencyandproductivity.

GovernorFletcherandtheKentuckyLegislaturecontinuetomakegreatstridestowardlessening

Kentucky’sdependenceontobaccoproductionwhilerevitalizingthefarmeconomybyinvesting50percentofKentucky'sMasterSettlementAgreementintotheKentuckyAgriculturalDevelopmentFund. Todate,Kentuckyhasinvestedmorethan$244milliontoanarrayofcounty,regionalandstateprojectsdesignedtoincreasenetfarmincomeandcreatesustainablenewfarm-basedbusinessenterprises.Thediversificationprogramsrepresentmorethan2,972projectsthathavebeenfundedthroughAgriculturalDevelopmentFund,sincetheinceptionoftheprograminJanuary2001.

FormoreinformationonthisprojectcontactMelissaMillerwiththeKentuckyPoultryFederation,at(859)373-0761.Tolearnmoreaboutcost-sharegrantandloanprogramsavailablethoughtheAgriculturalDevelopmentFundcontacttheGovernor’sOfficeofAgriculturalPolicyat(502)564-4627

AnEveningwithElizabethEdwardsinLexington,KY

ElizabethEdwardswillbeinLexingtontomorrowandIhopeyouwilljoinmeinwelcominghertotheBluegrassStateandlistentowhatshehastosayaboutthecampaign.

Fletcher'sStockSlightlyLowerintheInTradePredictionMarket

KentuckyGovernerRace KY.GOV.07.DEM
DemocraticPartyCandidatetoWin M 55.0 - - 0 0 KY.GOV.07.REP
RepublicanPartyCandidatetoWin M 40.0 45.0 42.5 0 0 KY.GOV.07.FIELD
Field(anyothercandidate)toWin M - -

Rep.JohnYarmuthHostsRunawayandHomelessYouthForumonJune30thinLouisville,KY

Kentucky'sdisconnectedyouthareaconstantreminderthathomelessnessisamyriadofhumanstories,notjustacollectionofsociologicalandeconomicdata-asitsometimesendsupbeingviewedinthehallsofCongress.I,likeyou,haveahighlevelofinterestinyouthwhoaredetachedfromfamily,school,work,andanysortofpermanency,andIamexcitedabouttheopportunitytoengagethecommunityinadiscussionabouthomelessyouth.

Accordingly,Iwouldliketoinviteyoutoparticipateina RunawayandHomelessYouthForuminLouisville,KentuckyonJune30^that10:00a.m.ThegoalofthisforumistogatherinputandfeedbackfromthecommunityonwaystoimprovetheRunawayandHomelessYouthAct--themainsourceoffederalfundingfordisconnectedyouthoutsideofthefostercareandjuvenilejusticesystem. IwashonoredtobeaskedbytheChairmanofHouseEducationandLaborCommitteetoleadtheeffortstoreauthorizethislegislation,whichwilltakeplaceoverthecomingmonths. Iknowyourcommitmenttothisissue,andhopeIcancountonthebenefitofyourguidanceandexperienceaswedevelopthislegislation. 

Over50organizationsandindividualshavebeeninvitedincludingrepresentativesfromlocalandnationalorganizations. IamexcitedtobeginworkonthereauthorizationandwanttoensurethatthislegislationisnotwritteninWashington,butistrulycraftedbythepeoplewhoaredirectlyservingournation'sdisconnectedyouthon-the-ground.YouarecriticalintheseeffortsandIwouldbethrilledifyoucouldattendthisevent.

Date:       June30,2007

Time:       Registrationbeginsat10:00a.m.
          10:30-11:30Presentations
          11:30-12:30Discussion

Location:    YMCASafePlaceServices

2400CrittendenDrive
Louisville,KY40217

AllEyesonSenatorMcConnellinLightofSenatorLugar'sSpeech

FromBradWoodhouse,President,AmericansUnitedforChange

“SenatorLugar’sspeechrenderstheSeptemberreportsfromGeneralDavidPetraeusandAmbassadorRyanCrockerirrelevant.” 

BrianKatulis,CenterforAmericanProgressActionFund

    Washington–AretiredBrigadierGeneralwithextensiveexperienceincounterinsurgencyoperations,aveteranoftheIraqwar,aleadingnationalsecurityanalystandrepresentativesfromgroupsleadingtheefforttobringaresponsibleendtothewarinIraq,heldapressconferencecallwithnationalreporterstodaytoreacttothecommentsbyU.S.SenatorsRichardLugar(R-IN,SeniorRankingRepublican,SenateForeignRelationsCommittee)andGeorgeVoinovich(R-OH,Member,SenateForeignRelationsCommittee)thisweekcallingPresidentBush’spolicyinIraqafailureandcallingonthePresidenttowithdrawaltroopsfromIraq. 

Alltheparticipantsintoday’scallwelcomedthenewfoundpositionsofSens.LugarandVoinovichinfavorofwithdrawingtroopsfromIraq,calledonthemtomatchtheirwordswithactionswhenkeyvotesonthefutureofIraqpolicyarecastontheflooroftheSenate,saidtheSeptembertimeframeforassessingthepolicyinIraqisnowmootandthateyesarenowonthepositionofU.S.SenatorJohnWarner(R-VA),theseniorrankingRepublicanontheSenateArmedServicesCommitteewhoisscheduledtovisitIraqnextweek. 

ParticipantsalsosaidotherGOPSenatorswillfeeltheheattoreevaluatetheirpositionsinlightofthisweeksevents,includingSens.CollinsandSnoweofMaine,SpecterofPennsylvania,McConnellofKentucky,theSenateMinorityLeader,ColemanofMinnesota,SununuandGreggofNewHampshire,DomeniciofNewMexico,andGrassleyofIowa.

BrigadierGeneralJohnJohns,(USA,ret),whohasextensiveexperienceincounterinsurgencydoctrinefrom26yearsintheArmyincludingserviceinVietnam,saidthePresident’sescalationstrategywasdoomedtofailurefromtheoutsetandthatwedidnotneeduntilSeptembertoreachthatconclusion.

"IamhappytoseemoreRepublicansstandinguptothePresidentandIamwaitingformysenator,SenatorWarner,tojoinwiththeseothersenators,"saidJohns. "TheremustbecontinuouspressureonthePresidenttostopthisill-fatedadventure."

BrainKatulis,anationalsecurityexpertwiththeCenterforAmericanProgressActionFundcalledSenatorLugar’sspeechthisweekhistoricandsaidthatithadimmediatelyreorderedthedebateoverthefutureofIraqpolicy.

“SenatorLugar’sspeechrenderstheSeptemberreportsfromGeneralDavidPetraeusandAmbassadorRyanCrockerirrelevant,”saidKatulis. “SenatorsLugarandVoinovicharejoiningprogressivesandagrowingconsensusofAmericanswhorecognizeIraq’sgrimrealitiesandthefactthatU.S.militaryactioncannotsettleIraq’smultipleinternalconflicts.”

JonSoltz,anIraqwarveteranandfounderofVoteVets.orgoffered: "Whatishappeningiswhattroopsandveteranshavebeenaskingfor,foralongtime-formembersofthePresident'sownpartytostarttospeakhonestlyaboutwhatthesituationisinIraqandwhatneedstochange. Whilewe'regrateful,we'renotsatisfiedyet. TheseSenatorsandtheotherstocomemustbacktheirwordsupwithaction. Theymustvotetherightway,orthey'lljustbepayinglipservicetotheneedsofthosewhoareriskingtheirlivesinservicetoAmerica."

        TomMatzzie,theWashingtonDirectorofMoveOn.orgPoliticalActionandtheCampaignManagerforAmericansAgainstEscalationinIraq(AAEI)saidthatLugarandVoinovich’scallsforwithdrawingtroops,combinedwiththeactivityofAAEI’sIraqSummerefforttargeting40membersin15stateswillincreaseheatonRepublicanMembersofCongresstoabandonBushonthewar.

"Weareturningthevoicesof2/3oftheAmericanpublicintoanorganizingmachinetopressuremembersofcongresswhocanmakeadifferenceonthewar,”saidMatzzie. “Weareusingablendof:cuttingedgeonlineorganizing,paidandearnedmedia,oldschoolgrassrootsorganizing,volunteeroperations,signwavingandbird-dogging togivemembersofCongressachoice:votetoendthewarorfacepoliticalextinction."

"IfSenatorLugar'snewfoundpositiononthewarwasatsunamiwashingovertheIraqdebate,SenatorVoinovich'scallforwithdrawingU.S.troopsfromIraqwasanearthquakeofseismicproportionsshakingtheveryfoundationsofPresidentBush’sfailedpolicyinIraq,"saidBradWoodhouse,PresidentofAmericansUnitedforChange. "Inlessthan24hourstwoofthemostrespectedRepublicansontheSenateForeignRelationsCommittee,andtwoofPresidentBush'sbiggestbackersinCongress,havedeclaredhisIraqpolicyanabysmalfailureandhavesaidresponsiblywithdrawingU.S.troopsistheonlyviablealternativeleft. PresidentBush’ssupportforhisfailedwarpoliciesinIraqareinfreefallonCapitolHill. Now,alleyesareonSenatorWarnerandotherkeyRepublicansintheSenateandintheHouseto,asSenatorsLugarandVoinovichhavebeguntodo,puttherealityonthegroundinIraqaheadofloyaltytoPresidentBushandcallfortheresponsibleredeploymentofourfightingmenandwomenoutoffharm’sway.”

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JustInfromYahooNews:SenatorMcConnellHelpsBlockanImportantUnionBill

WASHINGTON-SenateRepublicansonTuesdayblockedabillthatwouldallowlaborunionstoorganizeworkplaceswithoutasecretballotelection.