CN|2 Politics

Kentucky Democrats are doing plenty of thinking and talking and diligence doing, but not a whole lot of running yet when it comes to the 2014 U.S. Senate race against Republican U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell. Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes is still gathering information from national Democrats about how to take on the Senate Republican leader, who will have as much as $25 million in his campaign account. She told reporters Wednesday morning that she was still undecided and... Read more 

Speaking to a familiar crowd at the Woodford County Farm Bureau on Tuesday night, independent candidate in the 56th House race John Mark Hack showed off his agriculture policy experience but also his opposition to a key initiative for many horse owners in that district. The forum was the first time Hack, Democratic nominee James Kay and Republican nominee Lyen Crews met to face voters in the special election race to represent voters from Woodford County, western Lexington, and eastern... Read more 

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 

Child advocates and day care center owners said at a public hearing in Frankfort Tuesday that the state is making a catastrophic decision to cuts to the child care assistance program, which provides day care assistance for low income parents, and the Kinship Care program. The Kinship Care program provides a $300 monthly stipend to family members who serve as guardians for abused and neglected children. It’s projected that the cuts will help the Cabinet for Health and Family Services... Read more 

Former Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo, a physician, said the governor was wrong to veto a bill aimed at better regulating Medicaid managed care, which Mongiardo said is a “an absolute financial scam.” Mongiardo told Pure Politics that the Health and Family Services Cabinet shouldn’t be the arbitrator of billing disputes between managed care companies the state hired to hold down Medicaid costs and the doctors, hospitals and other providers who treat the poor and disabled who rely on Medicaid. Mongiardo said... 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 

UPDATED: Legislative leaders pledged in their filings in federal court Monday to move forward with new district maps while the Democratic House Speaker also released his suggestion for Republican-controlled Senate districts. The General Assembly leaders had to respond Monday to a federal lawsuit brought by a group of Northern Kentuckians led by Boone County Clerk Kenny Brown. The citizens are trying to push the General Assembly to approve new maps using 2010 Census data as soon as possible so that... Read more