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|Kentucky State AFL-CIO
By LUKE BRINKER, Salon
As he seeks to fend off a challenge from Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes, Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell has taken to accusing Grimes of perpetrating fraud on Kentucky voters, with the Republican authorizing mailers that warn voters they "are at risk of acting on fraudulent information."
Mailed in envelopes that blare "ELECTION VIOLATION NOTICE" and state "You are at risk of acting on fraudulent information," the Kentucky Republican Party issued a letter that accuses Grimes of "blatant lies" about McConnell's advocacy for a local coal plant and his support from "anti-coal activists like Michael Bloomberg." The letter also takes Grimes to task for her support among "anti-coal and anti-gun" Hollywood celebrities and accuses her of hypocrisy in her call for an increased minimum wage because a restaurant owned by her family pays employees less than the minimum.
"This document serves as a notification to you, as a resident of Kentucky and a registered voter in the aforementioned Commonwealth, of fraudulent information that is being deliberately spread to voters in your area," the mailer reads.
"This information is provided as a public service," the letter concludes.
LOUISVILLE – After a full week of taking heat for stonewalling his agenda to privatize Social Security, Mitch McConnell remains on defense on the issue in the final four days of the campaign. And now, McConnell has been caught looking directly to the camera and lying to Kentucky voters about his long-held support for privatizing Social Security.
Again yesterday, Mitch offered up a bald-faced lie on his plans – his worst yet – saying: "Nobody wants to privatize Social Security. It's such a phony allegation that makes you want to almost gag."
EDITOR'S NOTE: The poll had McConnell ahead 48-43. His lead is only .9 beyond the margin of error.
LOUISVILLE – Today, Alison for Kentucky campaign manager Jonathan Hurst issued the following statement on the latest Bluegrass poll:
By MARK BLUMENTHAL and ARIEL EDWARDS-LEVY, Huffington Post
With the most crucial Senate races remaining close, we look at how the polling might be disproved on Election Day. National polls show little consensus on which way the political environment is moving. And campaign robocalls may be on the downturn. This is HuffPollster for Wednesday, October 29, 2014.
HOW POLLS COULD ERR - With less than a week remaining before Election Day, HuffPost's poll tracking model continues to report roughly the same forecast for control of the U.S. Senate as it has for the past two weeks: The polling averages show Republicans leading at least nominally in enough states to gain a 53-seat majority. The margins remain close enough, however, that the overall probability of a Republican majority is just 63 percent as of this writing. In other words, polling shows the Senate battle leaning Republican, but there is still a real potential that Democrats could hang on due to late shifts or polling errors. So how could these polling averages be wrong?
Randomness in the closest races - Combining polls, whether in a simple average or in a more complex tracking model, helps reduce the purely random variation inherent in all sample surveys, but doesn't eliminate it completely. That random noise comes not just from the number of interviews completed for each poll but also the myriad of design choices made by pollsters and modelers in combining the polls. RealClear Politics' Sean Trende examined polls back to 1998 in the FiveThirtyEight database and found that when the leader in simple polling averages was ahead by 2 percentage points or less in the final week of the campaign, they won only slightly more often not. As should be obvious, when the win probabilities produced by the HuffPost Pollster model stand near 50 percent, it means there's a close to 50-50 chance that the leader will lose.
By JASON CHERKIS and ZACH CARTER, Huffington Post
WASHINGTON -- With Alison Lundergan Grimes down in almost every poll in a tight race against Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, her success may hinge on whether she can bring Paducah, a small city more than three hours west of Louisville, into her camp.
Paducah has long been a lynchpin in McConnell's simple but effective "west of Interstate 65" strategy. McConnell, who started his career as a political moderate, has pursued a campaign strategy that depends on winning over the counties west of I-65, the highway that bisects Kentucky from Louisville in the north to the Tennessee border in the south. McCracken County, which covers Paducah, didn't swing McConnell's way when he was first elected to the Senate in 1984. But the county soon fell into McConnell's column and has remained there ever since.
McConnell has relied on a Cold War-era uranium facility for the core of his support. The plant helped put Paducah on the map, and the town's identity has long been tied to it. Paducah called itself "The Atomic City" during the postwar years, and murals celebrating its 1950s heyday still line the town's floodwall along the Ohio River. By the mid-1980s, however, the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant had become a relic. As similar facilities were shuttered in other states, McConnell pitched himself as the one man who could work the Senate to keep the plant open.
PIKEVILLE, Ky. (WYMT) - It has been one of the most talked about endorsements in the U.S. Senate race, especially in our region. The United Mine Workers of America is backing democratic candidate, Alison Lundergan Grimes.
On Wednesday, with less than a week to go until Election Day they held a rally for Grimes in Pikeville.
Members of the union alongside their president, Cecil Roberts, lead a high spirited rally in the heart of coal country.
Roberts told the crowd, "This election is not really about Mitch McConnell or Alison. This election come Tuesday of next week, is about us and what kind of life we choose to have."
LOUISVILLE – Last night, another disastrous day on the campaign trail for Mitch McConnell's fading re-election bid closed with a "rally" that was sparsely attended and widely panned by reporters in attendance as boring and entirely bereft of energy. McConnell spent the evening sitting next to fellow Social Security privatization champion Bobby Jindal, after being peppered earlier in the day with questions and lying about his agenda to privatize Social Security.
LOUISVILLE – On Thursday Alison for Kentucky is proud to welcome President Bill Clinton back to Kentucky to campaign with Alison Lundergan Grimes in Louisville and Ashland. The events will be free and open to the public.
WHAT: Louisville rally with President Clinton
WHEN: Thursday, October 30 – Doors open at 9:00 AM ET
WHERE: Muhammad Ali Center, 144 N 6th St, Louisville, KY 40202
WHEN: Thursday, October 30 – Gates open at 12:00 PM ET
WHERE: Veteran's Riverfront Park, 15th St and Front St, Ashland, KY 41101
By JED LEWISON, Daily Kos
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell last Thursday, boasting about having worked with George W. Bush in a failed effort to create private Social Security accounts—and complaining that Democrats refused to help:
"After Bush was re-elected in 2004 he wanted us to try to fix Social Security," said McConnell. "I spent a year trying to get any Democrat in the Senate — even those most reasonable Democrat of all, Joe Lieberman – to help us."
"That's just one of the many fictions the Grimes campaign has been spinning. Obviously, preserving and protecting Social Security is the most important thing any of us can do," said McConnell.
LOUISVILLE – As heat continues to build on Mitch McConnell for tone deaf and politically damaging remarks made last week that he had pushed Social Security privatization in 2005 as hard as he could – including subsequent stonewalling and dishonesty when facing follow-up questions – he's chosen a particularly ironic, ill-advised time to bring Gov. Bobby Jindal to the Commonwealth to campaign for him. Why?
LOUISVILLE – Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-North Dakota) was to join Alison Lundergan Grimes for a series of events today.
The women of the Senate are rallying behind Alison, and together, they will continue forging the kind of solutions this country needs. Alison looks forward to joining the women of the Senate to fight on behalf of Kentucky.
By IRIN CARMON, MSNBC
In his hotly contested race to keep his Kentucky Senate seat, Republican Mitch McConnell has found himself in some unusual positions recently. He's depicted himself, a 30-year veteran of the Senate, as an ordinary guy at the deli counter; he's moderated his language on the Affordable Care Act; and, perhaps most awkward of all, has cast himself as a champion of women. That message was recently delivered in a television ad by several young women, who claimed McConnell was the real pro-woman candidate, not his Democratic opponent Alison Lundergan Grimes.
By STEVE BENEN, MSNBC
A variety of adjectives come to mind when describing Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), but "undisciplined" isn't one of them. It's why it came as something of a surprise last week when the longtime incumbent, unprompted, reminded voters of his support for George W. Bush's plan to privatize Social Security out of existence.
LOUISVILLE – Today, Alison for Kentucky releases a new web video featuring Coach Joe B. Hall – title-winning University of Kentucky basketball coach and player – who encourages all Kentuckians to join him in support of Alison Lundergan Grimes.
Hall recognizes what is at stake in this campaign and knows that Alison has a proven record of working for the people of Kentucky. Alison remains the only candidate in this race with the action plan needed to grow Kentucky's middle class. Coach Hall agrees with Kentuckians in all 120 counties that 30 years of Mitch McConnell is long enough.
By BERRY CRAIG
LOUISVILLE – Mitch McConnell can see the writing on the wall. With his struggling campaign and his 30-year record of failure in Washington nearing its end – and with heat turning up on McConnell for stonewalling his agenda to privatize Social Security – Mitch finally answered a question on the issue last night in Bowling Green.
Both local and national reporters have pointed out McConnell's refusal to discuss Social Security after a bizarre statement last week in which he boasted of how hard he pushed to pass it in 2005, with some speculating that last minute campaigning by Mitch on such an unpopular issue could ultimately cost McConnell the election.
Unfortunately for the voters of Kentucky, Mitch offered up a bald-faced lie, both refusing to reveal his agenda to privatize Social Security, and offering the meaningless statement that: "preserving and protecting Social Security is the most important thing any of us can do." That's just one of the fictions McConnell is clutching onto in the final six days of this campaign. Indeed, his record suggests that this very answer is an admission that he will aggressively pursue privatization of Social Security if re-elected. In fact in 2005 when he was pushing privatization as hard has he could, McConnell used the exact same phraseology – calling privatization the "way we can strengthen and save Social Security."
By ADAM BEAM, Associated Press
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren brought her brand of populist politics back to Kentucky on Tuesday to campaign for Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes one week before voters go to the polls in one of the country's most closely watched Senate races.
Warren, making her second trip to Kentucky this election season, jumped between full throated attack mode against Republican policies and soft stories of how her janitor father helped her family "make it into a middle class that America's labor unions built."
By GREG SARGENT, Washington Post
The other day, the Dem-aligned Senate Majority PAC made a splash by going up in Kentucky with a very harsh ad hitting Mitch McConnell over his previous support for Social Security privatization. The ad linked that stance to an assertion that McConnell had "rearranged his portfolio" after private calls with a top Treasury Department official, implicitly suggesting McConnell had milked inside connections to bolster his own retirement security while gambling with that of others.
Thanks to our brother Jay Dennis of Teamsters Local 89, our firm reviewed our members' election rights under KRS 118.035. What we found is incredible! KRS 118.035 gives our members to request a minimum of four hours unpaid leave to vote early (absentee) or to vote on election day. The only way our member is protected from reprisal if they request time off to vote is TO VOTE!!! That means for members whose facilities, work sites etc. are outside of the counties where they live, they have the right to request and take not less than four (4) hours off this week TO VOTE! Again, they have to VOTE! For members who live in the county where they work, they can request not less than (4) hours unpaid leave on election day TO VOTE!!!
Attached is our legal memorandum and proposed sign up sheets for both types of employees (those that have to vote on election day and those who can vote early). Hopefully you see the powerful GOTV tool that we see.
Let's bring this home!!!
In solidarity,
By LAURA BARRON LOPEZ
EDITOR'S NOTE: Labor Secretary Liz Shuler was also expected to appear at the Madisonville Rally, set for 10 a.m. (CDT) at the Rizpah Temple. Grimes and Roberts will appear Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. (EDT) at the Pikeville University gym.
The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) is holding two rallies this week to encourage pro-coal voters to come out in support of Democratic Senate candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes on Election Day.
The two events will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday in Madisonville, and Pikeville, Ky., according to the UMWA.
"Alison Grimes doesn't just care about coal, she is the only candidate in this race who cares about coal miners," Cecil Roberts, international president of UMWA, said in a statement.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Kentucky State AFL-CIO President Bill Londrigan says "thanks to allThanks to all those that attended today's "Put the Middle Class First" Bus Tour event in Louisville and Lexington.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) - Putting the middle class first is the message being spread by Americans United for Change.
The "Put the Middle Class First" bus tour is making its way through Kentucky to encourage voters on November 4 to vote for Alison Lundergan Grimes, who has campaigned for raising the minimum wage.
The group came to Louisville's Metro Hall on Monday.
Americans United for Change is urging voters to support candidates who are for raising the minimum wage.
The group also says they want to ensure that women receive equal pay.
"This is about equity, it's about fairness, mostly about respect, but it's because it's in everybody's interest to make sure that everyone earns a living wage for honest work and that's what this is all about," said Congressman John Yarmuth.
Congressman Yarmuth says the minimum wage is 30 percent lower than it was four decades ago and that it's time to give middle class families a relief.
Executive Summary: After 30 years in Washington, Mitch McConnell is as out of touch with reality as he is with the people of Kentucky if he expects people to believe his "all is well" narrative. The truth is, the wheels have come off his campaign in the final weeks, as undecided voters break towards Alison and she rallies large, enthusiastic crowds in every corner of the Commonwealth.
Simply put, people who believe their (historically inaccurate) internal pollster's data showing them leading comfortably don't write themselves $1.8 million checks in the final days of a campaign. Candidates who are truly connecting with Kentucky voters don't have to pay people to show up and act enthusiastic at their campaign events. McConnell may insist to the media he remains confident and holds a healthy lead, but his actions are those of a man who sees the writing on the wall as his 30-year record of failure in Washington comes to a close.
By ROBERT CREAMER, The Huffington Post
It's lucky for the Republicans that most general elections fall so close to Halloween. That gives them an excuse for their great bi-annual GOP Halloween Masquerade Ball.
This year the Republicans are doing their very best to prevent the voters from remembering who they really are and what they really stand for. They're putting on their "moderate masks" and the costumes of ordinary middle class Americans.
Why do they have to pretend to be something their not? Their problem is that most Americans disagree with their positions on just about every economic and social issue of the day. Voters disagree with Republicans on economic issues like:
By STEVE BENEN, MSNBC
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), in the midst of the toughest race of his career, still isn't quite sure how he wants to present himself to voters. On the one hand, the longtime Republican senator is proud to be the nation's top obstructionist, helping create the most dysfunctional Congress in modern history. On the other hand, McConnell wants the public to see him as the consummate dealmaker.
Though he hasn't mentioned it much on the campaign trail over the past year, McConnell specifically touted his effort to push President George W. Bush's plans to reform Social Security in 2005, which would have set up private accounts for retirees.
By SHANNON McMURRAY, special to the Louisville Courier-Journal
In the hit series "The West Wing," a character mistakenly refers to Kentucky as a right-to-work state. In defense of the show's writers, you can understand their confusion. Kentucky remains the only state in the South not to pass one of these laws, which shows our political independence and common sense. But Republicans in Frankfort, Sen. Mitch McConnell, and a group of out-of-state, big-moneyed special interests are doing everything in their power to change that.
I strongly oppose right-to-work legislation because I love Kentucky and want a bright future for our children and grandchildren. Right to work is a sham. It is, as Martin Luther King Jr. said, "a false slogan" which will "rob us of our civil rights and job rights."
Slogans are catchy. They are designed to get a quick emotional reaction rather than a detailed understanding. That is why I believe some polls show support for these laws. No one opposes the right of Kentuckians to go to work and earn a living. But slogans are also misleading. They do not tell the full story. A majority of Kentuckians also support collective bargaining and higher wages, both of which are under attack as a result of right to work. As people learn more about who is behind right to work and the harm it causes working families, opposition is going to grow substantially.
By BERRY CRAIG
By SCOTTY PULLIAM
Looking forward to November 4th, there are a few things we need to bear in mind that were pivotal in the June take-down of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor. You remember Cantor, right? Second-in-command of Republicans in the House of Representatives; heir apparent to John Boehner for the speaker-ship.
Going into the Republican primary in Virginia, Cantor looked virtually unbeatable. He was up by double digits in the polls over his relatively unknown opponent, an economics professor at Randolph-Macon College with tea party ties. When the polls closed and the votes were counted, underdog extraordinaire Dave Brat had reversed the numbers and won going away by a 12-point margin.
So the first thing we want to remember is this: Forget the polls. In the case of Mr. Cantor, his assumption of a big lead gave him a false sense of security which, in turn, led to complacency. Yes, the big lead became a big head and caused a big fall. Conversely, facing an almost certain shellacking, the victorious Brat ignored the polls and pulled out the biggest upset in recent political history. Polls are okay to give you an idea how your candidate is being perceived by the public but they are totally useless if voter turnout doesn't reflect those people surveyed.
The second thing to take away from Cantor's collapse is that no matter how much more money is spent on behalf of one candidate over the other, the one with the most votes wins. Cantor outspent Brat 40-to-1 and still got swamped. Why? Because dollars don't vote; people do. Citizens United gives incumbents an unfair advantage and is a lousy law but it doesn't guarantee victory. More votes does guarantee victory.
By now, it's fairly obvious where I'm going with this. It all boils down to voter turnout. If we get out the vote, we win. It's as simple as that. What's not so simple is getting it done. We have 13 days to call, walk, persuade, plead, cajole, cheer-lead or do whatever else it may take to convince our members and families of the importance of VOTING and voting for our labor-endorsed candidates. We have the numbers to win and less than two weeks to turn those numbers into victory. Let's GET OUT THE VOTE!
LOUISVILLE – Usually it takes a secret recording of Mitch McConnell hanging out with his millionaire and billionaire backers to hear him tell the truth. But in a rare moment of candor before the Louisville Rotary Club late last week, McConnell proudly boasted about how hard he worked to privatize Social Security in 2005.
After the electoral drubbing Republicans took for pushing Social Security privatization and the precarious state of his reeling campaign, it's hardly surprising that Mitch McConnell refused to elaborate or answer any further questions about Social Security privatization from reporters after the event. As reported by WLEX-18 News:
But in addition to his recent bragging, Mitch McConnell's record shows he would clearly be an advocate for Social Security privatization if he became Majority Leader in 2015. In fact, Social Security has been a recurring element of McConnell's 30-year record of failure in Washington. Back in the 1990's, McConnell cast crucial votes in favor of early privatization schemes, and while campaigning for privatization in 2005, called the idea an "extraordinarily good investment" and the "way we can strengthen and save Social Security."
By BERRY CRAIG
By ANNA BRAND, MSNBC
In a new ad from Kentucky Senate candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes, a handful of women from the Bluegrass state stare straight into the camera and blast Republican incumbent Mitch McConnell for his shameful 30-year record on women.
"Shame on you Mitch McConnell," an African-American woman says, arms crossed.
With a recent Bluegrass poll released on October 20 finding the candidates in a dead heat without a gender gap in either direction, both candidates are fighting aggressively over the women vote with the little time left until the midterm election on November 4.
By LAWRENCE LEWIS, Daily Kos
Have you had enough? Are you tired of being played? Have you figured out that the members of the major media are not your friends, and that they exist to mesmerize and manipulate so that you can serve their owners' ends? When was the last time a major news story made you feel better? How long did it last? Do the major media ever go 24/7 with something inspiring, or is it easier to suck you in by playing on your fears?
This is what the major media so often do: terrify and terrorize. That's what Republicans always try to do: prey on people's deepest fears. And never mind that no American who wasn't traveling to Iraq or Syria ever was in any danger from ISIS, and never mind that Ebola is so difficult to transmit that not even one person who flew on a transcontinental plane or even lived in a small apartment with the one man in the United States who subsequently died from it ever came down with it. The major media held people enthralled, the Republicans sought to blame it all on President Obama and the Democrats, and in neither case was the general public ever at any risk.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The Louisville Courier-Journal and the Lexington Herald-Leader are Kentucky's two premier newspapers. The C-J, the state's largest paper, has earned 10 Pulitzer Prizes. The H-L, the second largest paper, has earned three Pulitzers.
The Lexington Herald-Leader and the Louisville Courier-Journal have endorsed Alison Lundergan Grimes for the U.S. Senate. The editorials are in today's editions of the two papers.
Lexington Herald-Leader editorial
As targets of probably the costliest U.S. Senate race ever, Kentuckians should do themselves — and the country — a favor by electing Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes.
LOUISVILLE – Over the last week, Mitch McConnell confirmed to Kentuckians that he's an out-of-touch DC insider who stands with the billionaires who are trying to buy his way back to Washington for another six years of gridlock and dysfunction.
McConnell sees the writing on the wall, and is starting to crack under the mounting pressure of the impending end to his 30-year career in Washington. He's hit rock bottom, resorting strictly to deceptions and absurdly false attacks against Alison. This past week:
McConnell's latest disingenuous ad targeting women was thoroughly discredited, featuring a woman from Pennsylvania and airbrushing over his anti-women record;
By BERRY CRAIG
By TRIP GABRIEL, The New York Times
In the tug-of-war for women's votes in Kentucky, Senator Mitch McConnell has released a new ad starring four "young Kentucky women'' criticizing his Democratic opponent, Alison Lundergan Grimes. But one of the women appears to be registered to vote in Pennsylvania, not Kentucky.
Yarmuth, Jensen will join Bluegrass State stops on the national 'Put the Middle Class First' bus tour
Washington DC – Americans United for Change has hit the road with the national "Put the Middle Class First" bus tour to help drive home the clear choice before voters on November 4 between having a Democratic Congress that works for them or a Tea Party Congress that works for corporate special interests like the Koch brothers. NEXT STOP: Kentucky on Monday, October 27th, 2014, first in Louisville at 10:00 a.m. ET, followed Lexington at 2 p.m. ET. (SEE DETAILS BELOW.)
With the backdrop of the 45' long 'fair shot advocate on wheels', Americans United will be joined by Congressman John Yarmuth, Elisabeth Jensen, Candidate for Kentucky's 6th Congressional district, local state representatives, candidates, paycheck fairness and seniors' advocates who agree that a strong economy can only be built to last from the middle-out.
LOUISVILLE – As public and internal polling confirm that undecided voters are breaking Alison Lundergan Grimes's way, there is no question that Kentucky is on track to make history in just 11 days' time.
EDITOR'S NOTE: More photos of the rally can be viewed by clicking on "Photo Albums" on the site's home page.
By BERRY CRAIG
GRAYSON – Never mind the people of Kentucky – whose interests Mitch McConnell long ago abandoned during his 30-year career in Washington – does Mitch McConnell even know what's going on within his own campaign?
After multiple news reports showing that McConnell has been paying "volunteers" to generate "enthusiasm" at bus tour events across Kentucky – in the form of warm bodies to fill his campaign events – the Senator was finally asked why he would need to do such a thing unless he'd truly lost touch with Kentuckians in the communities he was visiting.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was posted on the Forbes website on Dec. 11, 2012. It is still timely, especially in Kentucky where the Republican Party is pushing a right to work law.
By RICK UNGER
They decidedly do not.
While—as we will see—the misnomer has nothing whatsoever to do with granting anyone a right to get work or protecting those who have a job from losing it, this "misunderstanding-by-design" has not prevented the Michigan legislature from sending two bills to the desk of Governor Rick Snyder.—legislation that, upon execution, will turn Michigan into the 24th state to adopt right-to-work laws.
Let's begin by noting that many Americans continue to believe that unionism is based around the concept of the 'closed shop' —an agreement between an employer and the union representing the employer's workers requiring that the employer hire only labor union members or, if nonmembers are employed, they must become a member of the union within a stated period of time or lose their job.
Not true.
By STEVE BENEN, MSNBC
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) knows the value of a strong closing message. The incumbent senator is in the midst of the toughest race of his lengthy career – polls show him clinging to a tiny lead over Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes (D) – and with very little time remaining, McConnell wants to sprint to the finish line with his strongest message.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Jeanie Embry of Paducah, our friend at the Bluegrass Rural PAC bluegrass-rural.com sent us this musing.
LOUISVILLE – Today, Grimes campaign manager Jonathan Hurst released the following statement on the increasingly desperate McConnell campaign's shoddy internal polling:
"We knew the McConnell camp was scared, but the timing of this release -- with public polls showing the wind at our back and undecideds breaking our way, huge grassroots momentum across the entire Commonwealth, and an enormous amount of energy following statewide events with both Clintons -- couldn't be more transparent. Mitch McConnell can sense his 30 years in Washington are dangerously close to an end, and a two-paragraph memo from a pollster with a terrible track record only shows how terrified they've truly become."
By DAVID NIR, Daily Kos Elections
KY-Sen: Mitch McConnell did not like that new PPP poll very much-the one showing Democrat Alison Grimes leading him 48-46-so he's fighting back with his own internal from Voter/Consumer Research that has him up 49-42. Of course, that flies in the face of just about every legitimate poll of this heavily polled race, but there's also the fact that, like so many Republican pollsters, VCR is pathetic.
By BILL LONDRIGAN
By BERRY CRAIG
By ALEXANDRA JAFFE, The Hill
EDITOR'S NOTE: This old newspaper feature writer and columnist can confirm Jaffe's story. Long ago, I was on assignment at a Fancy Farm picnic when this busload of McConnell supporters rolled up, from Louisville, I think. I asked a passenger, a guy in his late teens or early 20s, why he was for McConnell. He said he wasn't all that into politics. He said the McConnell campaign paid him to come to Fancy Farm and root for the senator.
The Kentucky Republican Party is offering volunteers all-expenses-paid trips to join Sen. Mitch McConnell's (R-Ky.) campaign bus tour and "contribute to an enthusiastic atmosphere" at his events.
"Senator McConnell is seeking volunteers to join him on a 3-day campaign bus tour around the state on October 20-22 to show our support for Kentucky coal. You would join local supporters in contributing to an enthusiastic atmosphere at each of his events," she wrote.
LOUISVILLE – After repeatedly stonewalling questions about what he knew regarding campaign manager Jesse Benton's role in a federal bribery-for-endorsement scandal—a scandal that saw Benton resign in disgrace—McConnell insisted "we're moving on" in an interview on September 2nd. Apparently McConnell and his campaign were not quite done "moving on," as new FEC records show an additional $5,000 payment to Benton the next day.
Benton was subpoenaed in July, more than a month before his resignation, and evidence shows his deputy Dimitri Kesari made cash payments of which Benton had explicit knowledge regarding negotiations in what federal investigators are calling the "focus of the probe."
By SCOTTY PULLIAM
EDITOR'S NOTE: The Louisville Courier-Journal, Kentucky's largest newspaper, said self-promotion was the theme of McConnell's speech at this year's Fancy Farm political picnic, the largest event of its kind the state, and maybe the country:
"Mr. McConnell…listed as his top priority…himself.
"'There's only one way to begin to go in a different direction,' he thundered in the closing line to a speech that lasted under six minutes. 'That's to change the Senate and make me the leader of the new majority and take America in a different direction.'
"While identifying his personal advancement to Senate majority leader as an overriding goal, Mr. McConnell gave scant attention to the more than 4 million Kentuckians he represents in Washington….So it appears that after five terms and 30 years in the U.S. Senate, for Mr. McConnell, it's all about me."
LOUISVILLE – This weekend, Mitch McConnell finally acknowledged what Kentuckians have known all along: that his desire to return to Washington is "obviously…self-serving:"
EDITOR'S NOTE: This essay by Edwin Lyngar that appeared in Salon on July 16, 2014. It as timely as ever as election day draws nigh.
By BERRY CRAIG
EDITOR'S NOTE: We enjoy hearing from our readers. Tell us what's on your mind. Make it short, or go long. We want to hear from you.
By CHUCK STINNETT, The Gleaner
HENDERSON, Ky. - The Tri-county Council of Labor expressed its gratitude to United Mine Workers of America International President Cecil Roberts in Henderson on Saturday night for fighting for Peabody Coal Co. and Patriot Coal Corp. retirees whose promised lifetime health benefits were threatened.
Kentucky State AFL-CIO President Bill Londrigan presented the council's Platinum Award Community Service Award to Cecil at its 18th annual Awards Banquet.
"It is, it is said, easy to sit up and take notice," labor council President John Coomes declared. "What is difficult is standing up and taking action. Tonight we are celebrating the fact that someone stood up and took that action. Tonight we are celebrating the leadership, enthusiasm, commitment and sheer hard work of International President of the United Mineworkers of America Cecil Roberts."
By JOSEPH GERTH, Louisville Courier-Journal
Sen. Mitch McConnell is fond of drawing a connection between Alison Lundergan Grimes and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, of Nevada, and suggesting that she will do his bidding for him if she gets to the U.S. Senate.
And while Reid's Senate Majority PAC has spent nearly $2.4 million on television ads propping up Grimes, it might not be to Reid whom she owes her biggest debt in Washington if she can upset McConnell, the Senate's minority leader.
By LARRY DALE KEELING in the Lexington Herald Leader
FRANKFORT — What a kerfuffle over nothing.
Folks at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee opted not to make another television ad buy (at this time) in support of Alison Lundergan Grimes' bid to oust Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and state and national media went all atwitter about the DSCC writing off her campaign.
Maybe the media pack shouldn't have jumped to a conclusion quite so fast. It appears the DSCC was simply shifting from an "air war" to a "ground war" in its effort to retire McConnell. The day after opting out of another ad buy, it contributed $300,000 to Grimes' "get out the vote" efforts in Kentucky. If the DSCC is writing Grimes' campaign off, it's doing so in a darned expensive manner.
By BERRY CRAIG
LOUISVILLE – Today, Alison for Kentucky begins airing a new 30-second television ad entitled, "Feel Safe." The ad features a testimonial from Markas Brunson, a son of a domestic violence victim, and highlights Alison's dedication to protecting victims of domestic violence and her commitment to putting politics aside to get Washington working for Kentucky.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Bill Clinton made campaign stops in Paducah the night before election day in 1992 and on Aug. 30, 1996.
LOUISVILLE – Alison for Kentucky is proud to welcome President Bill Clinton back to Kentucky in support of Alison Lundergan Grimes.
By ANDY KROLL, Mother Jones
Many Ebola experts think that banning travel to the US from West Africa, where an outbreak of the deadly virus has killed thousands of people, would do more harm than good. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agree. But Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) can't seem to settle on a position. On Wednesday, he stumped both for a ban and for letting the experts decide—a same-day flip-flop.
By BERRY CRAIG
In their debate the other night, Sen. Mitch McConnell took umbrage at challenger Alison Lundergan Grimes's suggestion that he's gotten cashing in on his job.
LOUISVILLE – Yesterday, 4,500 grassroots supporters in Louisville and over 17,000 more via live webcast joined Hillary Rodham Clinton and Alison Lundergan Grimes for an energetic and electrifying rally with less than 3 weeks until Election Day.
Special from Jonathan Hurst, Grimes for senate campaign manager
Executive Summary: The 15-month campaign plan we've put together and ridden to a statistical tie entering the final 20-day stretch of the election remains in place—and we're confident Kentucky voters will choose a fresh, independent voice to represent them in Washington over the embodiment of Washington gridlock and dysfunction. Recent process stories and pundit hyperventilating have focused on issues proven to have no impact on the fundamentals of this race – and ignore key factors and data that will determine the actual outcome.
A new Public Policy Polling survey of voters in Kentucky finds strong support for increasing the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, and that Mitch McConnell- and Republicans more generally- could face backlash for their opposition to the raise.
Key findings from the survey include:
-56% of Kentuckians support increasing the minimum wage to $10.10, compared to only 35% who are opposed. In addition to 70% of Democrats, 62% of independents and even 36% of Republican voters support the increase.
-Mitch McConnell's opposition to increasing the minimum wage makes voters less likely to support him- and that could make the difference in what's shaping up to be a very tight race. 39% of voters say McConnell's stance makes them less likely to vote for him, compared to just 31% who say it makes them more likely to support him. McConnell's postion has the potential to particularly hurt him with critical independent voters- 48% say it makes them less likely to vote for him, to only 27% who say more likely. Right now the Huffpost Pollster average shows McConnell and Alison Lundergan Grimes within 4 points of each other, so a position that voters say makes them less likely to vote for McConnell by a 8 point margin could really hurt him.
By JAMES R. CARROLL, The Louisville Courier-Journal
WASHINGTON – Late one night earlier this year, Michigan Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow was shopping in a grocery store when her cell phone rang.
By BERRY CRAIG
By ROBERT FARLEY, FactCheck.org
Sen. Mitch McConnell claims in a TV ad to have "shocking" video evidence from Alison Lundergan Grimes' "own staff" to prove "Grimes is lying" about her support for coal. He doesn't.
By JEANIE EMBRY
Greetings from Western Kentucky.
I'm wearing my Bluegrass Rural hat at this moment and wanted to update you all on what we've been up to with this project.
Bluegrass Rural is a 527 'independent expenditure' committee -- a 'Super' PAC -- w hose mission is focused on voter education in rural Kentucky, and specifically, exposing Mitch McConnell's record to the voters in the rural parts of the state.
Forty-five percent of Kentucky residents are classified as rural, The Bluegrass State is the nation's ninth most-rural state. Of the 120 counties, 85 are rural.
Rural voters are going to make or break this election for Alison Grimes.
LOUISVILLE – Today, Alison for Kentucky is proud to announce our campaign has raised nearly $4.9 million for the final 21 day stretch. The campaign has nearly $4.4 million cash on hand – more than any Democrat in a competitive US Senate race.
COVINGTON – Today, Alison joined Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) for a joint press conference in Covington to underscore the urgent need for Kentucky to have a Senator committed to creating jobs, and improving infrastructure and public safety.
"We have to have a Senator that has a plan…not one that drives by, waves and says it's not his problem," said Alison. "This is a project that matters to Kentucky, to Ohio, to this nation and we have to build coalitions necessary to make sure it becomes a reality."
CINCINNATI – Today, Alison Lundergan Grimes met with the Kentucky Enquirer editorial board as Kentuckians across the state tuned in via live webcast.
Alison demonstrated her strong understanding of the issues that matter most to Kentuckians as she outlined her commonsense, bipartisan action plan that will create jobs, grow our economy for the middle class, end tax breaks that ship jobs overseas and enforce equal pay for equal work.
LEXINGTON – Last night, Alison Lundergan Grimes' energy and passion dominated the debate – striking a clear contrast with a "testy" and uncomfortable Mitch McConnell, who could only offer more of the same tired, old solutions to problems facing the Commonwealth.
Alison continued to put forward her commonsense, bipartisan action plan that will create jobs, grow our economy, raise the minimum wage, end tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas and enforce equal pay for equal work.
Forced to answer to Kentuckians, Senator Gridlock couldn't duck behind the millionaires and billionaires who bankroll his campaign. With Kentuckians watching, McConnell predictably had no explanation for his 17 votes against raising the minimum wage or his belief that equal pay for equal work is "preferential treatment."
LEXINGTON – In an attempt to distract from his own 30-year record of Washington gridlock, Mitch McConnell continues to present a misleading caricature of Alison Lundergan Grimes. His very first words were an angry and shrill attack on Alison as a "partisan Democrat." Contrary to McConnell's false, elementary criticisms, Alison will be a strong, independent and effective leader for the Commonwealth. Kentuckians deserve a Senator who will put them first, not one who prides themselves on the problems and dysfunction they create.
LEXINGTON – In last night's debate, Mitch McConnell attempted to obscure his record on improving the working lives of Kentucky women, falsely and deceptively asserting that equal pay is already the law of the land and a reality in our current economy. What he didn't mention is that he has habitually blocked legislation to end pay discrimination and has even gone as far as to claim that attempts to give women equal pay amount to "preferential treatment."
By LAURA GOLDMAN, Huffington Post
Recent polls suggest Kentucky Democratic Senatorial Candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes, a 35-year-old Southern woman with the shoot from the hip style of former Texas Governor Ann Richards, is beating Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. The key to Grimes' victory over a 30-year incumbent might be her hard and consistent attacks on McConnell's record on women's issues. He has repeatedly voted against both the Paycheck Fairness Act and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act despite the fact that women in Kentucky earn 76 cents per dollar a man makes.
By BILL LONDRIGAN, Kentucky State AFL-CIO president
It is my sad duty to inform you of the passing of the wife (Paula Kay Thacker) of National Conference of Firemen & Oilers (NCFO/SEIU) President John Thacker. Please keep John and his family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. The obituary for Paula Kay Thacker is below. Sincerely, Bill.
LEXINGTON – In last night's debate, Mitch McConnell did what he's done on coal for his entire career: he neglected the hard working Kentuckians who put their lives on the line to keep the lights on. McConnell saying that, "my job is to look out for Kentucky's coal miners," is simply laughable. McConnell's Senate tenure is defined by a consistently unacceptable record on mine safety.
McConnell has repeatedly voted to gut protections for Kentucky's mine workers, cutting funding for inspections just after major disasters like those at Sago and Upper Big Branch.
What's more – even as reports emerge about black lung's increased danger, McConnell has refused to acknowledge the problem and won't support legislation to help miners and their families get the health care and benefits they are due and deserve.
By BERRY CRAIG
By JONATHAN HURST, campaign manager
Tonight, Alison Lundergan Grimes and Mitch McConnell meet at KET Studios in Lexington. Alison looks forward to the opportunity to hold Mitch McConnell accountable for his failed 30-year Washington record. It is not surprising that McConnell has repeatedly refused any joint appearances or debates with Alison throughout this race.
LOUISVILLE – Today, Alison for Kentucky releases a new 30-second television ad entitled, "Wendell." The statewide ad features Senator Wendell Ford's strong endorsement of Alison Lundergan Grimes and her commitment to working across the aisle to put Kentucky first, just as Ford admirably did throughout his career.
Ford, who understood as a legislator that finding common ground and compromise were signs of strength, not weakness, has been a model for Alison in her career. A welcome departure from Mitch McConnell's petty partisanship, Alison will be a Ford-style Senator – independent-minded, results-oriented and unquestionably loyal to Kentucky.
By MATT L. BARRON, contributor
In the Bluegrass State, Alison Lundergan Grimes has emerged as a good fundraiser and excellent retail campaigner, proving she really is like the "Kentucky Woman" that Neil Diamond sang about, as she tries to deny Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) a sixth term. Grimes needs to pull a huge vote out of the Louisville and Lexington areas as well as college towns like Bowling Green, but keeping McConnell's vote down in the rural counties is essential if she is to win.
In the state's eastern coalfields, McConnell has used the "war on coal" as a cultural weapon to tie Grimes to the unpopular current occupant of the White House. "Everybody just hates Obama and I don't know what you can do to turn that around. I don't know why, it's like they're brainwashed," says longtime Democratic activist Linwood Hardy of Cadiz, Ky.
By BERRY CRAIG
By MATT L. BARRON, contributor
But all that progress seems like a distant memory today. With Senate control hinging on the outcome of races in four of the nation's 10 most rural states (West Virginia, Arkansas, South Dakota and Montana), Democrats have allowed what little rural electoral and policy infrastructure they once had to wither away and atrophy.
With the exception of a Native American outreach effort, the national party committees have no rural vote components anymore. When the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) announced its community outreach chairs in March 2013, labor, LGBT, New Americas, defense and tribal panels were named to accompany the women and Latino councils that were previously appointed. The councils are designed to keep the DCCC connected with various communities supportive of Democrats. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has no rural desk.
By BERRY CRAIG
By BERRY CRAIG
By BRUCE SCHREINER, The Associated Press
LOUISVILLE, KY. — U.S. Senate candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes is getting help from another Clinton — this time from Hillary Rodham Clinton.
LOUISVILLE – With less than 25 days left until Election Day, Mitch McConnell spent the week pumping the brakes on his already dithering campaign. McConnell's ugly week was marked by the latest Bluegrass Poll, showing Alison Lundergan Grimes ahead of the 30-year incumbent and a majority of Kentuckians declaring that it is time for McConnell to go.
By JOE BRENNAN, Kentucky Labor Institute
"Cuantos anos tienes? Como doce", was the reply. This child of twelve was sweating with the rest of her family in a Kentucky tobacco field. Yes, we still grow tobacco in Kentucky, burley tobacco, I am told. The harvest size has been reduced, farmers pressured to grow other crops, still there is a market both nationally and internationally for tobacco products. And there is a need for laborers, mostly Latino to harvest the crop. We all know about Cesar Chavez, but has anyone heard about FLOC, the Farm Labor Organizing Committee AFL-CIO? Most likely not. FLOC is just now starting to organize here in Kentucky. In any case, Maria is too young to join.
That doesn't mean that she is too young to work twelve hours in the fields. Child labor is cheaper than even the miserable pay her parents receive. Labor laws seem to have overlooked the hard manual labor performed by her and her parents. The Labor Relations Act of 1935, specifically excluded agricultural and domestic workers, and it still does. The fact that most of the adults working with Maria, some 90 percent, do not have proper immigration papers, only puts her family one phone call away from the Migra, Immigration. Tobacco helped make Kentucky what it is. It also helped poison many of the workers who harvested the then valuable leaves.
NEWPORT – Last night, Alison Lundergan Grimes joined several hundred enthusiastic supporters for a rally in Northern Kentucky.
Yesterday's spirited event outshined Mitch McConnell's recent forays into Northern Kentucky during which he reminded area residents of his blatant disregard for the top issues facing the region, including rebuilding the vital Brent Spence Bridge and combating the heroin epidemic.
LOUISVILLE – Today, Mitch McConnell continues to take heat from media, pundits, Big Blue Nation, and Kentuckians across the Commonwealth alike for his "unnecessarily combative" and thoroughly embarrassing interview on Kentucky Sports Radio, the state's most popular radio show. McConnell may try to dodge questions, feign affinity for UK and refuse debate invitations, but the people of Kentucky demand and deserve better.
KSR Host Matt Jones On MSNBC: McConnell "Came On And Punched Me In The Face To Start With." [MSNBC, 10/8/14]
McConnell Refuses Yet Another Debate During Disastrous KSR Interview. "McConnell's Democratic challenger Alison Grimes was on the show in September. She agreed to a KSR debate. Here's McConnell's answer to that challenge: The only scheduled debate between the candidates is coming up Monday night on KET." [WHAS, 10/8/14]
By BERRY CRAIG
By CURTIS ELLIS and HARRY WU
By SAHIL KAPUR
Talking Points Memo
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) had an unusually confrontational interview on Wednesday with Kentucky Sports Radio host Matt Jones, who later described him as "needlessly angry" and "the consummate politician."
Early in the interview, McConnell emphasized that he supports sports teams from both the University of Louisville and University of Kentucky, telling Jones that that's "probably not acceptable to you, as an Obama enthusiast." He defended his fandom by pointing out that he'd attended both institutions, Louisville for his undergraduate degree and Kentucky for law school.
At another point, quizzed on the impacts of repealing Obamacare on Kentuckians, where the law has been wildly successful, McConnell interrupted and said, "Yeah, can I finish my answer?"
By BERRY CRAIG
By ALEXANDRA BOLTON
The Hill
If Republicans fall short of expectations this fall, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) could face a leadership challenge.
Republican senators say there is much riding on the Nov. 4 elections for McConnell, who is gunning to become majority leader while also attempting to defeat a well-funded Democratic opponent.
Talk about birds of a feather.
By JOSEPH BRENNAN, D.S.W., M.Div.
LOUISVILLE – Today, Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) host Matt Jones blasted Mitch McConnell for going back on his word to do an interview on one of the state's most popular radio shows.
As McConnell loses ground in the polls, his behavior begs the question: why is Mitch running scared from Kentucky voters and media?
By BERRY CRAIG
LOUISVILLE – With 28 days until Election Day, the latest Bluegrass Poll confirms that Alison Lundergan Grimes is firmly in the lead.
Furthermore, the new Bluegrass Poll underscores the fact that a majority of Kentuckians believe it is time for McConnell to be replaced:
By BERRY CRAIG
LOUISVILLE – Political pundits and journalists predict that the hotly contested Kentucky Senate race between Alison Lundergan Grimes and Mitch McConnell will go down to the wire.
LOUISVILLE – Today, Alison for Kentucky campaign manager Jonathan Hurst released the following statement on the Bluegrass Poll results showing Alison Lundergan Grimes leading Mitch McConnell, 46-44:
LOUISVILLE – With just 30 days to go until Election Day, Mitch McConnell is struggling to keep the one job he cares about: his own. Over the last week, Mitch McConnell was up to his old, tired tricks: dodging questions about his work to shut down a coal plant, failing to provide plans for Northern Kentucky, chumming around with outsourcing pioneers, and contradicting himself on the minimum wage. It was a lot of hot air from Mitch to reach the same-old conclusion: Mitch McConnell is more interested in a self-promotion than creating good jobs for Kentuckians.
LEBURN – This weekend, Alison Lundergan Grimes visited six Eastern Kentucky counties and challenged Mitch McConnell to finally answer to the people of Kentucky.
By BERRY CRAIG
MOREHEAD – This evening, Alison Lundergan Grimes challenged Mitch McConnell to stop hiding behind his millionaire and billionaire cronies and finally answer to the people of Kentucky. On issue after issue, McConnell owes Kentuckians answers as to why he chooses Washington gridlock and obstruction over the interests of the Commonwealth's hardworking families.
Editor's note: Alison Lundergan Grimes, the Kentucky State AFL-CIO-endorsed Democratic U.S. senate candidate, visited the picket line Thursday.
By BERRY CRAIG
LOUISVILLE – Today, Alison for Kentucky releases a new web video featuring Congressman John Yarmuth (KY-3) on why #AlisonCares. Rep. Yarmuth is voting for Alison because "she wants to create an economy that works for everybody."
By RONNIE ELLIS
U.S. Senate candidate Alison Grimes got a boost from a social justice group Thursday as she tries to turn her campaign message to economic issues.
LOUISVILLE – Today, Alison for Kentucky releases a new web video, "Rich McConnell," spotlighting Mitch McConnell's insatiable pursuit of the billionaires and millionaires who bankroll his campaign: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-X7vPU8ge3w.
Rather than work for the people of Kentucky, McConnell banks more money from lobbyists and Wall Street than any other elected official, and spends time courting the Koch Brothers, Donald Trump, Karl Rove and Mitt Romney. It's no wonder that Mitch only manages to attend seven percent of his Senate committee meetings on issues important for Kentucky.
LOUISVILLE – Today, Mitch McConnell visited Northern Kentucky with his same tired excuses and no plans for the future. Appearing at the Kentucky Enquirer editorial board meeting this morning, McConnell reminded area residents of his abject failure on the issues important to them.
@Joe_Gerth: .@Team_Mitch making his final pitch. "I'm powerful. Elect me," sums it up. [10/2/14]
By FRANK BOYETT
The Henderson Gleaner
HENDERSON, KY - "We are where we are today with campaign finance thanks to Mitch McConnell," according to the U.S. senator's Democratic opponent Alison Lundergan Grimes who was drawing clear-cut lines Wednesday between herself and the Senate minority leader.
Nov. 4 is creeping up fast, and working people are knocking on doors, making phone calls and making sure their friends and neighbors are registered to vote so we're electing the kind of candidates who speak for us, not CEOs and corporations. You can make a big difference this election. It's as easy as picking up the phone and telling people who matter to you what's at stake this November. Make a call today, we're counting on you! Read more >>>
LOUISVILLE – Today, Alison for Kentucky releases a new 30-second television ad entitled "President Clinton." The statewide ad highlights President Bill Clinton's strong support for Alison Lundergan Grimes and their shared commitment to standing up for the middle class.
By JOE BRENNAN
Kentucky Labor Institute
Union origin began with tomato field workers in Ohio and Campbell Soup - identifying farms that sold directly to Campbell, the "supply chain search" was an initial problem Efforts were directed at suppliers not packers ending in an 8 year strike when C was convinced to bring farm owners to negotiate together as one body with FLOC, and raise pay levels to prevailing wage. C. fortified contract by agreeing to supplement agreement with its own health ins.
FLOC extended coverage to other tomato companies and the pickle industry covering the crossover of field workers. The Keystone Group chaired by Dr. Dunlap, Dept. of Labor, and two reps. each from workers and owners entered into negotiations. An Accretion Clause, the equivalent of the card check, was included to cover the rest of the workers. Since 1935, agriculture workers have been excluded from the Labor Relations Act.
By BILL LONDRIGAN
President, Kentucky State AFL-CIO
Please join us as we welcome the "Nuns on the Bus" tour for economic justice and voter empowerment, which will be rolling through Kentucky Oct. 1 and 2. Check out the schedule below.
By ALISON LUNDERGAN GRIMES
Louisville Courier-Journal op-ed
When Mitch McConnell speaks to the Koch brothers and the other billionaires who bankroll his campaign, he pledges to them what he will NOT do. He will not permit votes, or even debate, on raising the minimum wage. He will not permit votes, or even debate, on extending unemployment insurance. He will not permit votes, or even debate, on easing student loan debt.
I prefer to tell Kentuckians what I WILL do.
I will fight for you every day that I am in the United States Senate. I will put benefits for Kentucky ahead of partisan gain. And I will hit the ground running on Day One.
I pledge that I will tackle these six issues as soon as I take office:
A tentative agreement that would have allowed a single employee to operate a train on the BNSF Railway has been voted down by the membership of SMART union GO-001.
Of those eligible to vote, nearly 70 percent cast a ballot. And of those voting, 623 were in favor while 3,056 were opposed or roughly 5-to-1 voting against the contract.
"The trainmen on the BNSF have spoken loud and clear", according to J.P. Wright, co-chair of Railroad Workers United (RWU). "They have
By AMELIA HOLLIDAY
Hazard Herald
LOUISVILLE—The incumbent to the U.S. Senate seat for the Commonwealth in this year's general election may have taken issue with the construction of a coal processing plant while he was seated as Jefferson County Judge-Executive—well before his pro-coal stance had become such a concrete part of his political career.
The Courier-Journal reported in July 1984 that Louisiana Dock, a subsidiary of American Commercial Lines, and Convenient Energy were in the planning stages of building a coal-crushing plant and converting an old dock into a coal dock on the Louisville riverfront. The plant would receive coal from barges at the dock and would crush and dry it to sell to small industries that were at the time using oil or natural gas.
According to documents from the Louisville Metro Archives, then Jefferson County Judge-Executive Mitch McConnell received notice for the proposed construction in May, and responded.
By JAMES HOHMANN
Alison Lundergan Grimes' internal polling continues to show her keeping pace with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in Kentucky, leading by 2 points in the latest survey, conducted for her campaign through this weekend by Democratic pollster Mark Mellman.
LOUISVILLE – After getting caught behind closed doors telling his billionaire backers that he would not allow a vote on raising the minimum wage, Mitch McConnell is unmistakably trying to backpedal at home. Which McConnell will Kentuckians believe?
McConnell in June to the Koch Brothers: "McConnell himself seems quite proud of this legislative record, at least in front of an audience comprised of wealthy donors … 'And we're not going to be debating all these gosh darn proposals. That's all we do in the Senate is vote on things like raising the minimum wage.'" [The Nation, 8/26/14]
LOUISVILLE – Today, Alison for Kentucky launches #AlisonCares, a campaign initiative that will continue the campaign's overwhelming online engagement with grassroots supporters across the Commonwealth.
Kentucky community leaders and supporters of all political affiliations will share their story and highlight why Alison Cares about Kentucky. To kick things off, Andrew Grimes – Alison's husband and best friend who knows her better than anyone – is detailing why #AlisonCares:
LOUISVILLE – This past week, Mitch McConnell writhed through yet another horrific week, as he continued to dodge debates, fundraised with millionaires and billionaires and reminded Kentuckians just how far removed from reality he is.
By BERRY CRAIG
LOUISVILLE – According to new reports, Alison Lundergan Grimes is under attack from billionaires across the country.
Raising the minimum wage
By DAVE JOHNSON
Campaign for America's Future
Politicians need to know that the public "gets it." So-called "trade" deals that were sold with a promise to increase jobs and prosperity have instead sent jobs out of the country and forced wages down. People get it.
Ask people what they think of NAFTA and you'll learn that people get it. "NAFTA" is a catch-all phrase for these deals, like opening up trade with China in 2000, the recent Korea deal and the upcoming Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). All of these deals were and are designed to give the owners of giant corporations more power over the ability of We the People to demand fair pay, safe and reasonable working conditions and a clean environment.
People absolutely hate "NAFTA-style" trade deals. People are voting based on this — when given the chance. For example, the Senate Majority PAC is running an ad targeting Mitch McConnell for his support of "free trade" agreements that send jobs out of the country and force down the wages of the jobs that are still here.
By LANA BELLAMY
The Independent
If there is an issue in this year's U.S. Senate race that can resonate with northeastern Kentuckians it is legislative efforts to combat the state's illegal drug use, which seems to have reached near epidemic proportions in recent years.
By BERRY CRAIG
By DAVE JAMIESON
The Huffington Post
WASHINGTON -- The campaign of Democratic Senate candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes has ripped her opponent, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), for siding with the coal industry over miners on issues of mine safety. But now the Grimes camp is extending that attack to McConnell's wife, Elaine Chao, the former secretary of labor under George W. Bush.
LOUISVILLE – Here they go again.
In a new web ad out today, the Grimes campaign highlights that McConnell will say anything to get a self-promotion:
While volunteers around the country are on street corners, outside of groceries stores, at bus and subway stops and elsewhere to help people register to vote, you can get started right now, right here with just one click. If we're going to beat back the attack on working families by the likes of Mitch McConnell, Scott Walker, the Koch brothers and other extremists, all of us—you and your family and friends—must be registered to vote. Read more >>>
LOUISVILLE – Today, the Grimes campaign is proud to launch "Kentucky Women for Alison," a campaign initiative aimed at mobilizing women and highlighting Alison's strong leadership on issues important to Kentucky women and their families. Governor Martha Layne Collins, a Kentucky governor known for creating jobs, will serve as the official chair of "Kentucky Women for Alison."
By BERRY CRAIG
By KENDALL BREITMAN
If you live in Kentucky or New Hampshire, that next phone call could be from Donald Trump.
Trump told Fox News' "Fox and Friends" on Monday he might be making house calls this election cycle for Republicans such as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, and former Sen. Scott Brown, who's running in New Hampshire.
By BERRY CRAIG
By LEO W. GERARD
By Joseph Brennan, D.S.W., M.Div.
By BERRY CRAIG
By DERRICK GRAHAM
Op-ed in The State Journal
Providing our children with the best education and opportunities early in life is more than just an investment in the future — it is an obligation.
Kentucky suffers from one of the highest unemployment rates in the United States. Our economy is struggling, and has been for a long time. Tough times make for tough choices, and too many working parents are simply unable to provide their children the opportunities they need and deserve. We cannot give up. Investing in our children and ensuring that they have access to a world-class education is key to revitalizing our economy.
Early investments in children are not only critical to strengthening our children's future, but also the future of the Commonwealth. Many studies show that the attention and education children receive in their early years is pivotal to helping them unlock their full potential later on in life. Early childhood education sets children on the road to success early, so that they can learn, grow and become productive members of society down the road.
By BERRY CRAIG
By RUSS CASSADY
Appalachian News-Express
Grimes announced late Tuesday that she was agreeable to appearing in a late October debate with McConnell proposed by the News-Express, making her the first to, according to News-Express Publisher Jeff Vanderbeck, "formally commit to all the parameters previously discussed to bring a calm and sober debate to Pikeville.
By KEVIN WILLIS
WKU Public Radio
The Kentucky AFL-CIO is launching a mail campaign against Senator Mitch McConnell that the group says is part of a "massive political mobilization" that will also include knocking on doors, worksite fliers, and phone banking.
The labor group is coming to the aid of McConnell's Democratic challenger, Alison Lundergan Grimes.
The state AFL-CIO says it will distribute over 70,000 mailers in the coming days attacking Sen. McConnell, saying the Louisville Republican has "been in Washington too long, and he's lost his way." The labor group blasts the incumbent for voting against bills that would increase the minimum wage and black lung benefits for miners.
By BERRY CRAIG
By BRAD BOWMAN
The State Journal
Words like "fair wage," "forgotten veterans" and "support for working-class families" were repeated often during a Ditch Mitch Rally at the Capitol on Thursday, hosted by the Kentucky American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations.
Former 6th Congressional District House of Representatives Democratic primary candidate Geoff Young, retired veterans, and Bill Londrigan, Kentucky president of the AFL-CIO, spoke to about 20 attendees who shouted "ditch Mitch" during talking points Thursday.
Derek Pugh, a campaign consultant from the People For The American Way (an advocacy group founded by television producer Norman Lear), spoke and said one of the group's biggest concerns was money.
LOUISVILLE – Mitch McConnell has revealed his true loyalties yet again: he has a specific agenda for millionaires and billionaires, and offers nothing for the hardworking people of Kentucky.
By JASON EASLEY
By BERRY CRAIG
By GABE LaMONICA
LOUISVILLE – Today, Senator Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia) released the following statement on Alison Lundergan Grimes' strong commitment to coal country:
Alison has the courage to stand up to those in her party who try to deny that coal will be a vital part of our energy for decades to come, and I know that Alison will fight against the War on Coal right beside me in Washington.
LOUISVILLE – Today, Mitch McConnell is up with another intentionally misleading and brazenly hypocritical attack on Alison Lundergan Grimes and coal. It is Mitch McConnell and his wife Elaine Chao who have personally profited from the decimation of the coal industry:
HEADLINE: Mitch McConnell's Wife Sits On The Board Of A Group Working To Kill The Coal Industry [Yahoo News, 8/8/14]
LOUISVILLE – Late yesterday, after months of discussion and meeting in-person to discuss debate terms, Mitch McConnell snubbed coal country and rejected a serious debate in Pikeville.
Publisher of the Appalachian News-Express Jeff Vanderbeck affirms that all of McConnell's parameters were met.
By GLENN KESSLER
Washington Post
–text of a new ad sponsored by the Kentucky Opportunity Coalition
By BERRY CRAIG
LOUISVILLE – Today, the Grimes campaign is thrilled to announce that Alison Lundergan Grimes has formally accepted an invitation to attend the Appalachian News-Express' U.S. Senate Debate at the University of Pikeville.
Secretary Grimes has accepted the following proposed dates. It is the Grimes campaign's hope that Sen. Mitch McConnell will join Alison on either evening:
Alison looks forward to the debate this fall and appreciates the University of Pikeville hosting this important event in the heart of coal country.
LOUISVILLE – In the latest ad from the Karl Rove-front group Kentucky Opportunity Coalition, Mitch McConnell's allies continue to spread "intentionally misleading" attacks regarding Alison Lundergan Grimes' stance on immigration.
The millions crossing our border illegally is a major, systemic problem that extends from the border to our backyards in Kentucky. This cannot be solved through a band-aid, piecemeal approach. Rather, we must deal with the problem in a way that is advantageous to our economic future.
In the U.S. Senate, Alison Lundergan Grimes has made clear that she will work with Republicans and Democrats to:
Today's desperate attack is just another example of how far removed Mitch McConnell is from reality and how out of touch he is with Kentuckians. As our next U.S. Senator, Alison will be an independent problem-solver who will reach across the aisle to create jobs and always do what's best for the Commonwealth.
LOUISVILLE – Today, Alison for Kentucky campaign manager Jonathan Hurst released the following statement on Mitch McConnell's latest desperate lie:
LOUISVILLE – Today, Alison for Kentucky spokeswoman Charly Norton issued the following statement on Mitch McConnell's vote against equal pay legislation:
By BERRY CRAIG
LOUISVILLE – Yesterday, President Clinton lambasted Mitch McConnell for selling Kentuckians out to the Koch brothers.
As Mitch McConnell and the Koch brothers try to buy Kentucky's Senate seat, the people of Kentucky deserve a Senator who puts them first – not one more concerned with a self-promotion.
By JAMES CARROLL
The Courier-Journal
WASHINGTON - Former President Bill Clinton just made an ad for Alison Lundergan Grimes.
Well, not really, but it sure sounded like the kind of attack that would make Democratic ad copy against Grimes' opponent, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who is seeking election to a sixth term.
By BERRY CRAIG
LOUISVILLE – Twenty years ago today, President Bill Clinton signed the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) into law – a piece of bipartisan, commonsense legislation providing much-needed resources for the investigation and prosecution of violent crimes.
By BERRY CRAIG
LOUISVILLE – Today, Alison Lundergan Grimes released the below statement following Mitch McConnell blocking a constitutional amendment to rein in unlimited campaign spending:
September 10th, Frankfort –Kentucky State AFL-CIO President Bill Londrigan responds to Courier-Journal article "Ky. House GOP takes cue from Ala. Handshake"
"I made a statement last week telling you that I thought the Kentucky Republican Leadership's Handshake with Kentucky could not be any worse. I stand corrected. Today it was reported by the Courier- Journal that the Kentucky Republican Leadership "borrowed" heavily from the Alabama Republicans to draft their plan. Let that sink in for a moment. They presented Kentuckians with old failed promises that will only benefit the rich and powerful. If Kentucky were Alabama or Texas, it would be all right for Kentuckian Republicans to borrow political solutions, some verbatim, from those states. However, Kentucky is not Alabama or Texas. Kentucky faces a unique set of challenges that require Kentuckian solutions. We need for our politicians to be capable of generating new ideas that address the specific conditions we face in the boundaries of our state. We don't need outside solutions; we are capable of making our own! We also need political representatives who are able to produce original ideas, not just cut and paste the ideas others and claim they are solutions for Kentucky. Remember what our teachers called this form of "original" work? We need hard working representatives who are willing to closely study the economic and political challenges that Kentuckians face. The importation of ideas from outside of our state will only increase the exporting our jobs and futures outside the state by Kentucky's Republican Leadership."
By ALEX JAFFE
The Hill
A prominent Kentucky businessman contributed $10,200 to Sen. Mitch McConnell's campaign four days after the Republican leader appointed him to a government commission tasked with tackling hunger.
LOUISVILLE – Earlier today, Alison for Kentucky hosted a press conference call for reporters to hear from Mark Mellman of The Mellman Group on his new poll, which shows Alison Lundergan Grimes ahead of Mitch McConnell, 43-42.
Nate Silver rated The Mellman Group the most accurate campaign pollster in the country.
From Mark Mellman:
By JAMES HOHMAN
The Kentucky Senate race remains very much in play, according to a new internal poll conducted for Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes' campaign.
LOUISVILLE – Tonight, Mitch McConnell is hosting a Washington fundraiser for businessman and notorious outsourcer, David Perdue. As a candidate for U.S. Senate in Georgia, Perdue has been on the hot seat for a business career in which he "closed down factory lines in America and outsourced production overseas."
"Mitch McConnell's record of protecting tax breaks for corporations that ship good-paying Kentucky jobs overseas will be on stark display this evening in Washington. Instead of fighting to save 600 Kentucky jobs being shipped to Honduras, McConnell is doling out financial aid to a man who led an effort to ship American jobs overseas. Clearly, he would rather rub shoulders with outsourcing champions than the hardworking people of the Commonwealth."
LOUISVILLE – After running from scandal after scandal over the August recess, Mitch McConnell is now back in Washington siding with the millionaires and billionaires attempting to buy his sixth term.
If Mitch McConnell had been listening to Kentuckians while he was home instead of trying to deceive them for political gain, he would have heard them demand he get his priorities in order.
HOPKINSVILLE – Yesterday, Alison visited West Kentucky to launch "Veterans and Military Families for Alison," a campaign initiative to mobilize veterans and families across Kentucky. On Monday, Alison met with veterans and military families to discuss their experiences as well as her comprehensive plan to get Washington working again for Kentucky.
Two likely voters in November — a 17-year-old who turns 18 a month before the election and a local woman whose 101st birthday is just weeks away — came out Monday in support of Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes' bid to unseat U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
LOUISVILLE – New information raises new questions of why Mitch McConnell paid Jesse Benton's former deputy Dimitri Kesari – a central figure in the federal criminal investigation – over $70,000 to the same P.O. Box that funneled bribe money in Benton's past campaign.
Additionally, the McConnell campaign's explanation of the work Kesari did matches the project description used to cover up potentially illegal activity in Iowa.
And the Paul campaign stated bribery payment to the shared P.O. Box was for "voter file lists."
McConnell campaign said payments to Kesari's P.O. Box were for "voter history research." Kentuckians deserve an explanation as to why Mitch McConnell is funneling money for what appears to be the same type of "project" through the same post office box used in the federal bribery scandal.
HOPKINSVILLE – Today, the Grimes campaign is proud to launch "Veterans and Military Families for Alison," a campaign initiative to mobilize veterans and families across Kentucky.
In a new web video released Monday, Roger Frazier of Muhlenberg County and Chase Williams of Marshall County detail the stark contrast in this race on issues important to Kentucky's veterans and military families.
Just as she has throughout her career, Alison Lundergan Grimes will make Kentucky's veterans and active duty service members a top priority in the U.S. Senate. Alison led the way as among the first to call for General Shinseki's resignation, standing up to her own party on behalf of the Commonwealth's veterans.
By Sam Youngman
As U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell returns to Washington after the August recess, a union working overtime to deny
McConnell a sixth term is trying to bring some heat to him back home in Kentucky.
The AFL-CIO will unveil a new ad, part of its "Koch sisters" campaign, in the Lexington market beginning Monday just as McConnell and the rest of the Senate return for an abbreviated session in which Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is expected to introduce a measure that would raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour.
By JOSEPH BRENNAN, D.S.W., M.Div.
By BERRY CRAIG
'Follow the money,' say ads funded by big-money groups
"Follow the money" is perhaps the most-cited phrase from the Watergate affair, though the source called Deep Throat never actually said that to Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward. Instead, it was a line written by screenwriter William Goldman for his Oscar-winning screenplay of "All the President's Men" (1976), based on the book by Woodward and co-author Carl Bernstein.
By DAVID NIR
MCCONNELL'S TWO VERY DIFFERENT ANSWERS ON THE MINIMUM WAGE One Answer To Billionaires; Another To Kentuckians
LOUISVILLE – Last week, Mitch McConnell was under fire for secret comments at a shadowy Koch brothers' conference before millionaires and billionaires. The tape revealed McConnell's willingness to sacrifice the interests of Kentuckians in pursuit of his own personal agenda.
BEFORE BILLIONAIRES (AUDIO): "And we're not going to be debating all these gosh darn proposals. That's all we do in the Senate is vote on things like raising the minimum wage."
IN KENTUCKY (VIDEO): "There are circumstances under which, when you have a better economy, raising the minimum wage might make sense."
Kentuckians cannot trust Mitch McConnell and his support for the Koch brothers' agenda – 30 years is long enough.
From the Lexington Herald-Leader: Kentucky voices: Labor movement the foundation of the U.S. middle class
By ELIZABETH JENSEN
New National TV Ad: https://www.youtube.com/user/KochSisters
LOUISVILLE – Mitch McConnell's campaign manager Jesse Benton resigned late last week under a cloud of suspicion for his ties to an ongoing federal investigation into public corruption. The relationship between McConnell and the man he entrusted to run his reelection campaign raises serious questions for the Senator.
Senator McConnell:
By BILL ESTEP
Lexington Herald-Leader editorial
There are billionaires and then there are billionaires.
September 2nd, Frankfort –Kentucky AFL-CIO President Bill Londrigan responded to the Kentucky Republican House Leaders' "Handshake with Kentucky" agenda:
"I have been in politics a long time but this beats all. Kentucky Republican House Leaders are asking for voters' support to decrease wages, lower median household income, increased poverty, and undermine workplace safety, the true aims of the misnamed "Right to Work" legislation. The Handshake Platform is not a legislative agenda but a Bad Faith deal for Kentucky and a boondoggle for corporate interests looking to take advantage of hard working Kentuckians. The cynical Republican Leadership want to decrease our employment rights while they support the outsourcing of American shipbuilding jobs to China. The handshake platform is anti-growth!
Some states have been so-called "right to work" states for 67-years, and have yet to demonstrate any benefits for right to work legislation. The evidence is clear that right to work is neither a job creator or would improve the lives of working families in Kentucky. Right to work states suffer from lower incomes, education levels, social well-being and so many other key measures. Since 1947, certain Republicans have been selling right to work as a panacea for economic distress; it is not. Kentucky Republican House Leaders are not offering new policy solutions to create jobs and improve the state economy; they are dusting off old failed promises that benefit the rich and powerful. The voters of Kentucky need to refuse the bad faith handshake and the ruined economy that goes with it!"
By BERRY CRAIG
As we spend time with our families today, we also have an opportunity to reflect on the profound contributions of labor to our national life.
The determined, principled efforts of organized labor achieved the five-day work week, an end to child labor, fair wage-and-hour practices, health care and retirement benefits. These accomplishments, and many more, built stronger families and laid the foundation for the greatest expansion of the middle class in history.
But today our middle class is under siege. Unemployment in Kentucky is 7.4 percent, well above the national rate of 6.2 percent, which itself is much too high. Wages, adjusted for inflation, have fallen.
By BILL LONDRIGAN
By BERRY CRAIG
By JOSEPH W. BRENNAN, D.S.W., M.Div.
Much is said today about the quality of life. Victor Frankel found meaning in life even in a Nazi prison camp. Millions continue to survive despite starvation, war, and violence. But isn't life more than mere survival, more than a temporal passage until death? Life's value comes from our commitment to improve the human condition for ourselves, and for others.
The Minimum Wage and Social Security are not just social programs, they are a moral commitment to preserve "The Right to Life". Conceived by America's first woman Cabinet Secretary Frances Perkins, both programs envisioned the preservation of the dignity of life during all its phases, to ensure "The Right to Life", from the indignities of poverty, sickness, starvation, and an unseemly death.
Today, some deride such programs subsidies for the indolent. They maintain that strong individualism, personal initiative, and financial planning would eliminate such dependency on government. Why should anyone subsidize those hands seeking a stipend? Aren't there churches, organizations, and family members to assume these responsibilities?
By BERRY CRAIG
AFT Local 1360
"Why is the media so anti-union?" Many are the times this old reporter-turned-history-teacher could retire if he had a dime for every time he's heard a union brother or sister ask that question out of deep frustration.
They mostly mean Fox News and local newspapers and radio and TV stations.
"Fair and balanced" is the network's motto, but I'll believe that when hogs fly and kids don't shoot hoops in my native Kentucky any more. Nah – I won't believe it even then.
By THOMAS E. PEREZ
Special to the Louisville Courier-Journal
It used to be that you could support a family on a minimum wage salary. Today, a minimum wage worker has to make a choice every day: Buy a gallon of milk for the kids, or buy a gallon of gas to get to work.
The current national minimum wage, frozen at $7.25 per hour since 2009, simply hasn't kept up with inflation. As a matter of fact, its purchasing power has declined by one-third since the 1960s, and it's worth less today than it was in 1981. Bus fare has certainly gone up since 1981. Same with the price of a dozen eggs, or a week of child care. Landlords aren't sending out rent decreases. And yet the value of the minimum wage is eroding.
It's time to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour, which would make a difference in the lives of 28 million people, including 497,500 Kentucky residents.
Frankfort –Kentucky AFL-CIO President Bill Londrigan made the following statement in response to news that Sen. Mitch McConnell's campaign manager, Jesse Benton resigned: "Mitch's campaign is in shambles. The McConnell campaign is self-destructing from within.
"McConnell's gambit to appeal to tea partiers by hiring Jesse Benton, Ron Paul's former campaign manager, was a serious error. Knowledge of Benton's potential legal and ethical breaches were well known and McConnell's hiring of Benton reveals a serious lack of due diligence. Benton's involvement in illegal campaign activities in Iowa is just the tip of the iceberg for McConnell's campaign. McConnell owes the voters of Kentucky an explanation for hiring Benton and paying him hundreds of thousands of dollars while knowing about his tainted past."
By BERRY CRAIG
By JOSEPH GERTH
By JOAN McCARTER
Daily Kos
The audio tape release of Mitch McConnell cozying up to the Kochs is raising some eyebrows back home in Kentucky. Particularly that part where he tells the billionaires gathered at the Koch retreat that the "the worst day of my political life" was when the campaign spending limits in McCain-Feingold passed. So the Courier-Journal decided to take a look at the financial relationship between McConnell and the Kochs.
My research finds $40,800 in contributions from the Koch family and PAC to McConnell's re-election campaign. But the PAC of Koch Industries has also given $25,000 this election cycle to McConnell's own PAC, Bluegrass Committee.
By U.S REP. JOHN YARMUTH, D-LOUISVILLE
By BILL LONDRIGAN
President, Kentucky State AFL-CIO
Remember the last government shutdown? The one that led to delays in Social Security benefits for Kentucky seniors, layoffs at the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training and that held up benefits for veterans in Kentucky? That government shutdown harmed tens of thousands of Kentuckians.
Sen. Mitch McConnell was a key player in the last shutdown that hurt working families in Kentucky—and, last week, he hinted that he might push for another one if he doesn't get his way in Congress after the November elections. Can you believe that? Another government shutdown?!
Watch our video calling out Sen. McConnell for his shutdown-style talk, then share it with your friends.
LOUISVILLE – Yesterday, a secret audio recording surfaced of Mitch McConnell selling out hardworking Kentuckians and siding with millionaire and billionaire donors. At a closed-door conference hosted by the shadowy Koch brothers, McConnell shamefully assured the crowd that if they help give him a self-promotion, they could count on him to stand in the way of proposals that help Kentucky families.
LOUISVILLE – Yesterday, leaked secret audio revealed Mitch McConnell's willingness to sacrifice the interests of Kentuckians' in pursuit of his own agenda – pandering to wealthy donors to boost his own national party.
Support Mission
Transport Workers (TWU) Local 527 provides support services for U.S. troops as they train and learn signal command at the Fort Gordon military base in Augusta, Ga. TWU members do everything from issuing and repairing equipment and vehicles to making sure the well water is safe to drink and the facilities are heating and cooling properly. Read the full article>>>
By BILL LONDRIGAN
By JOSEPH GERTH
The Louisville Courier-Journal
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell told a conference of rich, politically active conservatives in June that he wouldn't allow votes on the minimum wage and extending unemployment if he becomes majority leader, according to a leaked audio recording.
McConnell's campaign didn't deny the recording was accurate and, in fact, said it shows that he is "committed to fighting President Obama's liberal, anti-coal agenda."
Grimes Campaign Statement On McConnell's Anti-Kentucky Promises To Millionaire And Billionaire Donors
LOUISVILLE – Today, Grimes spokeswoman Charly Norton released the following statement on the new secret recording obtained by The Nation, revealing the lengths Mitch McConnell will go to please his deep-pocketed donors:
By JOSH ISRAEL
LOUISVILLE – According to a new secret recording obtained by The Nation, Mitch McConnell revealed his true quest for power. In the secretive closed-door meeting with wealthy special interest backers, he outlined how he plans to hurt Kentucky families and pander to millionaires and billionaires. On issues like raising the minimum wage, extending unemployment insurance and helping Kentuckians with college affordability, McConnell promised his party's rich backers that he stands with them, no matter the cost to Kentuckians and this nation.
By BERRY CRAIG
Please join the West Louisville Urban Coalition, Moveon.Org, organized labor and allies and supporters for a "Ditch Mitch" rally Thursday at 12:30 p.m. (EDT) in front the Federal Building, Sixth and Broadway.
"Join us to let the public and voters know what Mitch has been doing for them since 1985 – nothing! Let's tell the voters that Mitch has voted against seniors, veterans, children, workers, unions and the poor and it is time for him to be replaced on November 4th!," said Bill Londrigan, Kentucky State AFL-CIO president.
For additional information please contact Janice Rucker, West Louisville Urban Coalition, at 510-364-4914.
By ALISON LUNDERGAN GRIMES
Today on Women's Equality Day, we commemorate the passage of women's right to vote -- celebrating how far we have come, but also recognizing the work that remains.
LOUISVILLE – As we celebrate Women's Equality Day, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright – one of the United States' most distinguished foreign policy leaders and the first woman to serve as Secretary of State – has formally endorsed Alison Lundergan Grimes' campaign for U.S. Senate.
LOUISVILLE – As Mitch McConnell promises to shut down the government again, Kentuckians remember all too well the staggering impact of McConnell's reckless 2013 shutdown.
Small businesses help create jobs and foster economic growth in communities across the Commonwealth. And yet, Kentucky's senior senator stands in the way in an attempt to score cheap political points.
Kentucky deserves better – 30 years is long enough.
LOUISVILLE – Today, Alison for Kentucky releases a new web ad highlighting Mitch McConnell's promise to shut down the government if re-elected.
By BERRY CRAIG
USW Next Generation: Making History, Making Progress
The resolution lays out a path forward for the Next Generation program and can be read on the convention Website. Also Thursday, the union's first-ever Next Generation district coordinators were recognized with a standing ovation as USW celebrated the progress it's made in formalizing the program over the past three years.
By BERRY CRAIG
LOUISVILLE – This week, Kentuckians were reminded of something they've known for years: Mitch McConnell cares more about himself than the hardworking families he is supposed to represent.
When asked, McConnell claimed that the donor was a "friend" – but evidently it didn't cross Mitch's mind to use the relationship to help Kentuckians.
Historian to visit Falls City to talk about 'a groundbreaking Louisville union dedicated to the anti-racist struggle'
Labor historian Toni Gilpin will be in Louisville on Sept. 16 to speak on the city's historic Farm Equipment Workers Local 236, which has been called "a groundbreaking Louisville union dedicated to the anti-racist struggle."
By GENE NETTLES
By SHANE GOLDMACHER
Veteran Kentucky labor Jeff Wiggins will receive the 2014 W.C. Young Award Saturday at the annual presentation dinner in Paducah.
From the USW
Adjunct professors at Point Park University and Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA., recognized they shared common interests and common workplace challenges when their employers tried to reduce their wages and hours.
The United Steelworkers were there to provide the needed support to assist them in forming a union. Without the strength of an established union, their employers would have taken advantage of the workers.
In Toronto, Canada, a group of taxi cab drivers were struggling to make a living wage working seven days a week. The system was so terribly broken and the workers were being inhumanley exploited. The drivers realized they needed the support of a powerful union to partner with and that is why they chose the United Steelworkers.
From the USW
The Rev. William J. Barber II ignited the United Steelworkers on the first day of their recent convention, urging some 5,000 delegates and guests to forget about geographic, racial, age, gender or other lines and come together to build an all-inclusive movement to "save the soul of this democracy."
Barber, president of the North Carolina NAACP, has already started the movement, known as the Moral Monday Movement, uniting people of faith, students, workers, unions and others.
By ADAM BEAM and BRUCE SCHREINER
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kentucky's U.S. Senate candidates had a hard time talking about farming without slinging mud.
LOUISVILLE – Today, Mitch McConnell's performance at the Kentucky Farm Bureau forum fell flat. Here are Senator McConnell's top three gaffes from this afternoon's candidate forum:
McConnell said he doesn't have time to show up at committee meetings because he's busy looking after national party priorities instead of Kentuckians. McConnell said, "Harry actually resigned from all of his committees because you don't have time...Because you don't have time to do justice to committee work if you're one of the party leaders, you're involved in other issues, honestly, much more consequential issues than being there for particular hearings on a subject that may or may not be relevant to what's going on."
LOUISVILLE – At this afternoon's Kentucky Farm Bureau candidate forum, Alison Lundergan Grimes held Mitch McConnell accountable for his failed record and proved that she is the only U.S. Senate candidate who will fight for Kentucky agriculture.
LOUISVILLE – As both Kentucky Senate candidates head to the Kentucky Farm Bureau candidates forum today, Mitch McConnell is under fire for skipping Senate Agriculture Committee hearings "to make time" for "issues far removed from Kentucky's farmers."
Today, the Grimes campaign releases a new web ad and the following statement from campaign manager Jonathan Hurst on Mitch McConnell's inexcusable absence from the Agriculture Committee:
By ALEXANDRA JAFFE
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has touted his work for Kentucky farmers on the campaign trail, but back in Washington has a trend of skipping out on Senate Agriculture Committee hearings for events unrelated to his home state.
He's already been hit by Democratic opponent Alison Lundergan Grimes for missing every Agriculture Committee hearing since 2009. However, it's not uncommon for lawmakers to miss the occasional hearing — particularly members of leadership, who have varied demands that take them away from their committee duties.
But a review of committee hearings and McConnell's public schedule reveals many times when he's missed hearings, he's still managed to make time for media appearances or meetings on issues far removed from Kentucky's farmers.
By BERRY CRAIG
By ERIKA EICHELBERGER
By BERRY CRAIG
"We rate the claim Mostly False."
Sen. Mitch McConnell enlisted the help of his wife, former Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, to push back against claims from Democratic challenger Alison Lundergan Grimes that the Kentucky Republican is anti-women.
By BERRY CRAIG
A Labor 2014 Political Action meeting is set for 10 a.m. (EDT) Monday at the UAW Local 862 hall, 3000 Fern Valley Rd., in Louisville. "Please make every effort to attend this important meeting to discuss our labor political action program and what we will need to make it a success," said Bill Londrigan, Kentucky State AFL-CIO president. "Please let me know if you have any questions."
By LANA BELLAMY
Ashland Independent
Eight state leaders signed their names to a letter to Kentucky Coal Association President Bill Bissett asking for him and the association to join them in demanding Elaine Chao, former U.S. Labor Secretary and wife of U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, resign from Bloomberg Philanthropies' board of directors.
Action from these leaders, all Democrats from coal-producing regions of eastern and western Kentucky, was fueled by a Yahoo! News report on Friday that detailed Chao's involvement with the board that had invested $50 million in the Sierra Club's "Beyond Coal" initiative.
Names attached to the letter included: Speaker of the House Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg; House Majority Leader Rocky Adkins, D-Sandy Hook; Sen. Johnny Ray Turner, D-Prestonsburg; Rep. Leslie Combs, D-Pikeville; Rep. John Short, D-Mallie; Rep. John Will Stacy, D-West Liberty; Rep. Brent Yonts, D-Greenville; and Magistrate Chris Harris of Pikeville.
LOUISVILLE – Today, Mitch McConnell will prove once again that he says one thing in Kentucky and does another in Washington. Instead of standing up for the women of Kentucky, McConnell would rather run from his disastrous record of opposition and obstruction.
In fact, when asked by a Kentucky reporter specifically about women's issues, he ignored the question – just as he has Kentucky women and families for 30 years.
With less than three months until the election, Mitch McConnell owes the women of Kentucky an explanation for his track record on key issues, including his active efforts to block a spending bill that contains $41 million in grants for reducing the rape kit testing backlog:
By BERRY CRAIG
By CHRIS MOODY
By BERRY CRAIG
LOUISVILLE – Coming on the heels of Alison Lundergan Grimes' historic Hazard rally with President Bill Clinton, today, the McConnell campaign attempted to play catch-up with an underwhelming 'Not My Job' bus tour in Eastern Kentucky.
Taking all of their stops today together, Mitch McConnell could not match the sheer number of people Alison Lundergan Grimes drew to one event yesterday in the same region.
By MIKE WYNN
The United Mine Workers of America endorsed Grimes over the weekend and is planning an undisclosed amount of advertising this fall in Eastern Kentucky, where animosity runs high toward President Barack Obama and his policies on coal.
Union leaders, who declined to back Obama in 2012, are also pulling together two busloads of miners from the western portion of the state and urging hundreds of miners from the eastern region to turn out when Clinton stumps for Grimes in Hazard, Ky.
It's pretty frustrating seeing all the headlines that claim the economy is alive and kicking. Sure, there is economic growth and a steady increase in jobs, but what kind of jobs are we talking about exactly? Well, they aren't the kind of jobs we think of first when it comes to steady, middle-class jobs. No big surprise here, low-wage service sector jobs like those in the fast-food industry are seeing the biggest gains. Bryce Covert at The New Republic has a nice summary of what America's workers are up against when it comes to wages. Read more >>>
When President Barack Obama first announced his candidacy for president, he said: "I am running in this race because of what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called 'the fierce urgency of now.' Because I believe that there's such a thing as being too late. And that hour is almost upon us." Like Dr. King, our president was calling on America to make real the promises of our democracy. That fierce urgency of now is here for thousands of refugee children from Central America. I know many of these kids' stories because it is my story, too. Read more >>>
"Simply saying, 'I'm married to a woman' doesn't speak loud enough. Your actions and record over 30 years in Washington indicate where and how you will stand up for women."
By BERRY CRAIG
Louisville Courier-Journal Editorial
LOUISVILLE – On Saturday afternoon, Alison for Kentucky clearly dominated the McConnell campaign at the most important Kentucky political event of the year: the 134th Fancy Farm Picnic. With the eyes of Kentucky and the nation upon her, Alison's performance surpassed even the highest expectations and changed the dynamics of the race.
Alison for Kentucky supporters outnumbered and were far more energized.
U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Louisville, has scheduled a press conference for 10 a.m. (EDT) today in Louisville to talk about the need for raising the federal minimum wage.
Democratic senate hopeful Alison Lundergan Grimes is expected to be the featured speaker at Friday's annual pre-Fancy Farm picnic labor luncheon at Paducah's Walker Hall, 229 Madison St.
McConnell, senate Republicans stall bill to trim tax breaks for companies shifting operations out of the country
Minority leader Mitch McConnell and senate Republicans have killed the Bring Jobs Home Act, a measure that would limit tax breaks for American companies that send operations overseas.
The Kentucky UAW State CAP is sponsoring a bus to Fancy Farm on Saturday.
"Seating is available to the first 55 union members or supporters interested in going to this year's Fancy Farm event," said Bill Londrigan, Kentucky State AFL-CIO president.
Added Londrigan: "This promises to be one of the most exciting Fancy Farm events in a long time with labor-endorsed U.S. Senate candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes going toe-to-toe with obstructionist-in-chief Mitch McConnell."
To reserve your seat call the Kentucky Truck Plant UAW union hall in Louisville: (502) 241-9491.
By BERRY CRAIG
WHAS-TV (Louisville ABC affiliate): Grimes made hard-hitting comments on Kentucky jobs and minimum wage issues
Associated Press: HEADLINE: Grimes focusing on jobs, pay equity
Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes on Thursday night portrayed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell as being out of touch with the struggles of Kentuckians, and said his partisanship has hurt the state.
By DAVE JAMIESON
LOUISVILLE – Boasting over 40,000 active and retired members in Kentucky, United Auto Workers (UAW) formally endorse Alison Lundergan Grimes' campaign today.
Beattyville Enterprise / Staff
An April article in The Beattyville Enterprise continues to be the basis of political discourse in the race for the U. S. Senate between Sen. Mitch McConnell and his Democratic opponent Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes.
McConnell told the Enterprise in a short interview that job development is a state issue; it is not his job.
Jeff Wiggins will receive this year's W.C. Young Labor Award at the annual W.C. Young Award reception and dinner in Paducah on Aug. 23.
EDITOR'S NOTE FROM KENTUCKY STATE AFL-CIO PRESIDENT BILL LONDRIGAN: "All: The teachers of the Jefferson County Teachers Association and classified employees of JCAESP-AFSCME Local 4011 are under attack and would like you to help them bring attention to their situation. So check out the flyer below for all of the details and a link to RSVP for this planned action on Monday, July 28th at 7:00 p.m. and plan to show up and bring some friends and fellow trade unionists. I hope to see you there! Bill.
By BERRY CRAIG
FRANKFORT – As Alison Lundergan Grimes' overwhelming grassroots support smashed fundraising records this week, Mitch McConnell proved himself once again to be wildly out-of-touch with Kentucky women, students and working families. On Tuesday, Alison announced that she outraised McConnell by nearly $1-million, breaking Kentucky fundraising records and bringing in more than any U.S. Senate candidate nationwide.
By BERRY CRAIG
By TIM KOECHLIN
Across the country, Republican legislatures -- encouraged and financed, as usual, by corporate money and right wing think tanks -- have undertaken a stunning array of initiatives designed to weaken unions and otherwise undermine American workers. Scott Walker of Wisconsin, along with several other Republican governors, has moved aggressively and conspicuously to disempower public sector unions. Nikki Haley, the Republican Governor of South Carolina, recently declared that unionized businesses are not welcome in South Carolina.
Republicans tell a tired, cynical story about all of this, insisting that union busting is, somehow, good for the economy and good for workers. It's the same old trickle down nonsense.
Democrats, on the other hand, have done too little to defend unions and worker rights.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Kentucky State AFL-CIO President Bill Londrigan shared this AlterNet article with us. He included a sobering warning: "The outcome of November's elections will determine what Kentucky and America will look like for decades to come. It is that serious. Getting back what is lost is much more difficult than holding onto what you have. We can hold onto what our forbearers built over a century of struggle or we can become the prey for the masters of mankind. You must choose whether you can see a future for your children and grandchildren that offers hope, kindness, peace, equality, justice and love, or a world that is just a living hell for all but a few among a wealthy elite."
Tennessee: Ayn Rand's vision of paradise
By LES LEOPOLD
The southern state ranks dead last in per capita tax revenue, and its low-income families are paying the price
If you're worried about where America is heading, look no further than Tennessee. Its lush mountains and verdant rolling countryside belie a mean-spirited public policy that only makes sense if you believe deeply in the anti-collectivist, anti-altruist philosophy of Ayn Rand. It's what you get when you combine hatred for government with disgust for poor people.
Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes recently lit up a crowd of more than 2,000 firefighters gathered at the International Association of Fire Fighters' national convention in Cincinnati.
By BERRY CRAIG
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Over the last week, Mitch McConnell's rusted Washington campaign has been stymied as the central attacks against Alison Lundergan Grimes backfired. The shocking exposure was severe:
By LANA BELLAMY
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Over the weekend, the Alison for Kentucky Jobs Bus Tour rolled into the second and third days of its extensive 10-day, 50-county cross-Kentucky trip. From Todd County to Daviess County on Saturday and in Jefferson County on Sunday, Alison Lundergan Grimes discussed her forward-looking jobs plan, underscoring the stark contrast between her vision to strengthen Kentucky's middle class and Mitch McConnell's lack of a plan for the future.
Hundreds of enthusiastic Kentuckians gathered over the weekend to hear about Alison's plan. As Mitch McConnell's Washington grows ever more paralyzed, Kentuckians are increasingly ready to send a commonsense, problem solver to the U.S. Senate.
By MARK E. ANDERSON
I get a lot of press releases about labor issues. Most of them are mass mailings trying to get coverage in an ever-crowded media market that is more concerned with the flavor of the week instead of news that actually impacts the average American.
Every once in a while one of these press releases catches my eye. This week I received a a press release about SEIU pushing for phony protests; however, I think they sent this press release to the wrong guy.
This was sent out by "Worker Center Watch," a group that according to their website: "aims to preserve the balance that has effectively governed workplace relations for many decades by exposing the direct operational linkages and funding between unions and worker centers, and by highlighting the worker center tactics that push the bounds of legality."
HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. – Alison Lundergan Grimes kicked off the campaign's extensive 10-day, 50-county jobs bus tour Friday in West Kentucky.
From McCracken County to Christian County, Grimes discussed her forward-looking jobs plan, underscoring the stark contrast between Alison's vision to strengthen Kentucky's middle class and McConnell's lack of a plan for the future.
Are You Ready to 'Stamp Out Hunger'? Tomorrow, you can help "Stamp Out Hunger" by joining with the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) and USPS for the 22nd annual food drive—the largest one-day food drive in the nation. Letter Carriers collected more than 74.4 million pounds of food last year, bringing the 21-year total to 1.3 billion pounds. All you need to do is collect canned goods and dry food, such as tuna, canned meat, soups, pasta, rice and cereal, and leave them in a bag or box by your mailbox. Your letter carriers will pick them up as they deliver your mail.
On Friday, Alison for Kentucky will launch an extensive, statewide 50-county jobs bus tour in Western Kentucky. Over the course of the tour, Alison Lundergan Grimes will discuss her forward-looking jobs plan for Kentucky.
By BERRY CRAIG
By BERRY CRAIG
By BERRY CRAIG
DATE: May 2, 2014
U.S. Senate
U.S. Congress:
Mitch McConnell Took Thousands Of Dollars From Head Of Company At Center Of Federal Sex Discrimination Suit
By HUNTER WALKER
The University of Kentucky chapter of United Students Against Sweatshops is sponsoring a May Day rally on campus at 6:30 p.m.
By BERRY CRAIG
By BONIFACO ALEMAN
By BERRY CRAIG
By BERRY CRAIG
By BERRY CRAIG
AFT Local 1360
Early in the Great Depression, a lot of jobless Americans concluded that President Herbert Hoover didn't care about their plight, or he was just clueless.
Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt defeated Hoover, a Republican, in a landslide in 1932.
So, what are Kentuckians, unemployed or otherwise, to make of Sen. Mitch McConnell's comment to Beattyville Enterprise editor Edmund Shelby that it is "not my job" to bring jobs to the Bluegrass State?
McConnell sounds Hooveresque to me. Read more >>>
Report from the Road: Kentucky AFL-CIO's Life in Rand Paul's Radical World Tour Hits Western Kentucky
Now at the end of its second full day on the road, the Life in Rand Paul's Radical World Tour has already covered hundreds of miles and hit 8 stops. We're currently winding our way south from Metropolis, IL, but more on that later. On our way west, we hit worksites in Owensboro and Madisonville, Wickliffe and Paducah.
If you're reading this post, you likely know that in his quest to reach the U.S. Senate, Rand Paul has waged an all out war on the Kentucky worker.
Fact: Rand Paul wants a $2,000 deductible for Medicare
For many, the back and forth of political campaigns is annoying at best. For most, it's enough for them to throw up their hands in despair.
But with the stakes as high as they are, we cannot afford to let dangerous ideas float past unaccounted for. Now, more than ever, the candidates running for Senate need to be taken to task for the positions they've adopted.
On Sunday, during the first debate of the general election, Rand Paul said that his statements on Medicare had been taken out of context. This, brothers and sisters, is a lie. On no less than SEVEN occassions, Rand Paul has said that he believes the solution to the Medicare "problem" is a $2,000 deductible. And we have the video to prove it: http://bit.ly/aaMqQl
Join The Bloodhound Brigade Today!
One thing is clear: we need to get some straight answers from Rand Paul. But to do that, we need to know where he's going to be! That's why we've started this new group.
At a public meet and greet in Pineville today, Rand Paul once again refused to discuss Social Security and Medicare with working Kentuckians. Right before closing his car door in our brother's face, Paul even said: "Hell No" he wasn't going to answer any questions. How's that for respect?
Important news from this weekend: a new Courier-Journal/WHAS11 Bluegrass Poll shows that the U.S. Senate race, featuring our AFL-CIO endorsed candidate Jack Conway, is all tied-up! This comes after Rand Paul and his George W. Bush-era friends in Washington, D.C. have opened up their coffers to attack Jack in television ads that are filled with misinformation and outright lies. But Kentucky voters are beginning to understand just how radical Rand Paul really is. The Bluegrass Poll shows the Conway campaign absolutely surging, having made up more than ten points in three weeks. Click here to read more...
This week, the Kentucky AFL-CIO is releasing a hard-hitting piece of mail that doesn't editorialize - it just let's Rand speak for himself.
Yesterday, Rand Paul, candidate for U.S. Senate, came to Louisville for a "meet and greet" with voters. Over three dozen union members from across Kentucky attended the public forum to ask Paul about his policies. Unfortunately though, Paul forgot to meet or greet anyone in attendance. After speaking for no more than 15 minutes, Paul quickly turned on his heels and headed for the door. Once outside, he immediately jumped into a waiting car, locked his door, and drove away.
Click here to watch the video, and here to read more
One of the most important issues for the working men and women of Kentucky, especially those that have already retired, is that of social security. The Kentucky State AFL-CIO sat down with two retired Steelworkers to discuss social security and why union members can't to have Rand Paul as their next U.S. Senator. Click here to read more; click here to watch the video.
Union members and pro-Labor candidates mobilized today at the Ford Louisville Assembly Plant in support of candidates who understand the importance of the working class in Kentucky. Close to 20 members worked the afternoon shift change, handing out literature focused on: Jack Conway's U.S. Senate race, Congressman John Yarmuth's re-election race, the Louisville Mayoral contest involving Greg Fischer, and Marty Meyer's 38th State Senate District race. Roughly 1,000 Ford employees received information and committed to campaign for pro-Labor candidates over the next 54 days. Click here to learn more...
With only 54 short days to go before Election Day, member action has kicked into high gear here in Kentucky. Two polls launched late yesterday show a statistical tie between the candidates for the open U.S. Senate seat and, riding the momentum built during Labor Day, Jack Conway has begun to raise serious money from the informed voters of the Commonwealth. Additionally, both Kentucky candidates have launched their first advertisements of the general election cycle (so too has one ultra-conservative special interest group run by George Bush's former advisor Karl Rove). As you can imagine, both media and voter interest in this most important of races has begun to rise in earnest. Click here to learn more...
New Video of Louisville Labor Day!!!
New video from Louisville Labor Day Now LIVE!
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