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While Senate and House leaders acknowledge that they will have to draw new legislative district lines in a special session this fall, State Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, said the House needs to stick to its own map and butt out of the Senate’s business. Two federal court challenges have been filed to force lawmakers to act on redistricting. This week, House Speaker Greg Stumbo responded to the federal lawsuit and included a suggested Senate map . However, Thayer said Stumbo’s suggested... Read more 

Kentucky U.S. Sen. Rand Paul stands with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in a new online campaign video touting a legislative victory in the U.S. Senate while also making a point about the “nanny state” of federal government over regulating. The new web video, first reported on by The Hill , shows McConnell and Paul at the Freedom to Fish rally held in April near the dams calling the decision to keep boaters away an over reach by the federal government.... Read more 

After Gov. Steve Beshear announced his decision to expand Medicaid in Kentucky on May 9, the group Kentucky Voices for Health ran online ads thanking him. Earlier that week, the super PAC Kentucky Opportunity Coaltion made a six-figure ad buy criticizing Obamacare — the legislation that made that expansion possible. Both groups use the same public relations firm, the relatively new RunSwitch Public Relations firm that officially launched in February and already has become a force in influencing policy... Read more 

Kentucky U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell said Sunday on Meet the Press with David Gregory that he was wrong earlier in his career to be suspicious of not-for-profit groups with political operations like those targeted by the IRS. And when asked whether or not there was any fact to back up claims that President Obama was leading a “culture of intimidation” especially in light of the IRS scandal, McConnell acknowleged that Congress and the public don’t have all the facts yet. In a... Read more 

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul announced Friday that he promoted William Henderson to be his new chief of staff, replacing Doug Stafford, who moved to Paul’s political operation. Henderson had served as Paul’s deputy chief of staff and legislative director since Paul joined the U.S. Senate in January 2011. Previously, Henderson worked as legislative director for Paul’s predecessor in the Senate, Jim Bunning, for nearly 12 years. “William is an incredible asset to our team and I am excited that he will... Read more 

Former IRS Commissioner Steven Miller is scheduled to testify at a House Ways and Means Committee hearing on the IRS scandal Friday morning after his resignation, but some in Kentucky’s delegation say that wont be enough. While there is already talk of a successor after the resignation of Miller, many in Congress have said that would be premature until a full investigation has taken place. Some are even threatening to put a hold on a nomination if the administration does not... Read more 

Next up in Kentucky’s implementation of the Affordable Care Act is to let uninsured Kentuckians know about the health exchange that can match them up with insurance. And Gov. Steve Beshear announced that outreach effort on Wednesday. The new public education initiative — called kynect—will be overseen by the Kentucky Office of the Health Benefit Exchange within the Cabinet of Health and Family services. Kynect allows Kentuckians to discover what kind of health coverage they are eligible for through the website, a... Read more 

Kentucky Congressman Andy Barr says Congress needs to fully investigate troubling trends in the Obama administration that led to the IRS targeting tea party groups and the U.S. Justice Department collecting phone data of Associated Press reporters. But he said he needs to see more facts before calling for any resignations. “People are tired of politics, frankly, the election is over,” Barr said (at 8:45 in the interview). “The American people deserve a government that treats all people fairly, treats all American... Read more 

U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie praised Agriculture Commissioner James Comer for his trip to D.C. last week, which he said may have gone a long way toward getting passed federal legislation to allow the growing of industrial hemp. “Because of his visit I picked up two more cosponsors on my bill that would legalize industrial hemp,” said Massie, who represents Kentucky’s 4th congressional district in Northern Kentucky. “We are trying a two pronged approach to provide jobs for farmers in Kentucky and... Read more 

U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell encouraged Murray State University students to value other people’s opinions as a group of students at the university protested the Senate Republican leader being the keynote speaker at Saturday’s commencement. A group of graduates turned their backs to McConnell when he was introduced. Some students opposed the choice to have McConnell as their speaker because of what they say is lack of support for educational issues by the senator. And a few recorded a song opposing... Read more