This morning, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) released its third annual report on the most corrupt members of Congress. Making their report of "The 22 Most Corrupt Members of Congress" are Kentucky's very own Senator McConnell (R) and U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers (R).
Lucky us.
Okay, let's get down to business and start peeling the rotten onion that Governor Fletcher (R) is trying to pass-off as his campaign platform.
This is pretty pathetic. As I said in my earlier post, an incumbent governor nearly four years into his failed term doesn't get to campaign on platitudes and his latest vision rooted firmly into yet another painful flip-flop. No, an incumbent governor has to run on his record. Fletcher would rather run from it and instead is trying to deceive the public on issues where he had a rather sudden (and shameless) metamorphosis just a few months ago: domestic partner benefits and gambling.
Let's leave the domestic partner flip-flop for another time. Instead, let's talk about gaming for a minute, and hope that the media in Kentucky consider asking Fletcher & Crooks to explain the disturbingly hypocritical facts behind their latest dishonest propaganda.
One of the latest babbling talking points coming from Fletcher, his Mini-Me (Robbie Rudolph) and the man hoping to be the state's first theocratic attorney general (Stan Lee) is that somehow Democrats are in the pockets of gaming industry. According to Fletcher:
Fletcher claimed Beshear, a Lexington attorney and former lieutenant governor, "would buy his way to get casinos in the state."
Asked after his speech what he meant by that, Fletcher said, "He will bring in a bunch of casino money.
"He has said he has to get it passed ... He will have the resources from Vegas to get it done."
Then lunatic Lee blasted Jack Conway (D) for taking a contribution from Harrah's in 2002:
Even though Harrah's Entertainment Inc, a Las Vegas, Nevada based corporation that owns Caesars Indiana, gave $1,000 to Jack Conway's 2002 Congressional campaign, I am now calling on him to do the right thing, and stand with me in opposition to Steve Beshear and his misguided plan to make Kentucky the next Nevada."
Tisk, tisk. So much for the 9th commandment about bearing false witness.
First, let's take a look at who else Harrah's has contributed money to in the past few years:
HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT IMPACTS PUBLIC POLICY
- Republican Party of Kentucky -- $2,500 (2006)
- Kentucky Republican State Senate Caucus -- $2,500 (2006)
- Rogers for Congress -- $1,000 (2006)
- Bluegrass Committee (McConnell) -- $1,000 (2004)
- Fletcher/Pence Inaugural Committee -- $5,000 (2004)
- HALPAC (H. Rogers) -- $5,000 (2004)
- Bunning for Senate -- $2,000 (2004)
- Whitfield for Congress -- $1,000 (2000)
- Northup for Congress -- $1,000 (2000)
- Whitfield for Congress -- $5,000 (1998)
- Northup for Congress -- $7,500 (1998)
- Bunning for Senate -- $7,000 (1998)
Got that? Harrah's may have given Conway $1,000 in 2002, but they gave Kentucky Republicans -- including Fletcher's own inaugural committee -- more than $40,000, much of it a lot more recently than 2002. (Note -- the Harrah's link above only lists federal contributions. Click here and here for the state contributions to RPK, Fletcher, and the KYGOP Senate Caucus).
Also, maybe someone should ask the RPK about its June 2005 expenditures for a trip Las Vegas (when they stayed at Wynn Las Vegas Resort), right at the same time the RPK and the Republican Senate Caucus scored $5,000 from Harrah's. Isn't that worth asking, seeing that Fletcher and Lee think casino contributions are so important. Who went to Vegas at RPK expense?
And that's just Harrah's. See below for the rest of the big gaming PACs (and I deliberately left-off Churchill Downs, to be generous to the GOP). The gaming PACs just love those Kentucky Republicans...
Also, aside from the tens of thousands in casino cash that Fletcher, Pence, RPK, David Williams Senate Caucus, McConnell, Bunning, Northup, and Whitfield have taken over the years...let's not forget the lobbyists for the interests that want casinos in Kentucky and who are paid to lobby the legislative and executive branches of Kentucky government:
CHURCHILL DOWNS: Among its lobbyists are John McCarthy (former Republican Party chairman), Jeff Speaks (former top Hal Rogers staffer), Amy Wickliffe (former Chief of Staff to First Lady Glenna Fletcher), and Jason Bentley (former director of Fletcher Energy Policy office);
TURFWAY PARK: Its sole paid lobbyist is Ellen Williams (former Republican party chair and former director of Fletcher's GOLD office);
ELLIS PARK: Its sole paid lobbyist is Kelley Abell (former executive director of the Republican Party).
In each case, the primary mission of these race track lobbyists was expanded gaming. In fact, check out this old post about a fundraising that U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz) hosted last year for the Republican State Senate Caucus and all of their names show up on the host committee. How perfect.
Of course, none of this includes the massive amounts of money that Fletcher and his Republican hypocrites have taken from Kentucky's top casino backers such as Jerry Carroll, Bob Elliston, Bill Yung, Bill Butler. Apparently, they don't count.
And beyond the aggressive efforts of current Lt. Governor Steve Pence (R), who traveled the Commonwealth (before he dropped off the ticket) evangelizing how important casinos were to Kentucky, was this little morsel that is the cherry on top of this sundae. It comes from a September 1999 story in the Las Vegas Review-Journal about all the fundraising invites that the American Gaming Association (see their KY GOP contributions below) had received from members of Congress that week:
Las Vegas Review-Journal (NV)
September 27, 1999
Edition: FINAL EDITION
Pols reach out and put touch on gaming association
Author: Dave Berns
It was an average wave of solicitation cards and faxes that were received at American Gaming Association headquarters this past week in Washington, D.C.
Everyone from Rep. Steve Largent, R-Okla., an outspoken conservative who is close with gambling opponent James Dobson, to House Majority Whip Tom DeLay, R-Texas, who has ties to Venetian boss Sheldon Adelson, sought political donations from the casino industry's national lobbying arm. There were 25 invites in all.
For example:
-Donors giving $ 500 to $ 2,000 apiece were invited to an afternoon of 'tennis and camaraderie' with Largent, a rising star on the Republican right.
'Proceeds benefit Leadership for America's Future PAC (LEADPAC), a leadership PAC chaired by Congressman Steve Largent,' read a single-page invite. 'Contributions can be federal hard, nonfederal soft or individual.'
-Rep. Floyd Spence, R-S.C., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, invited potential $ 500 donors to his annual South Carolina barbecue at the Capitol Hill Club.
If you're unable to attend just check the box reading, 'I'm sorry. I will be unable to attend but am enclosing my check in the amount of $ '
-Rep. Ernie Fletcher, R-Kent., sent invites for a $ 1,000-a-person golfing fund raiser at the Peninsula Golf Resort in Lancaster, Ky.
Prizes were to be presented for a hole-in-one contest, the longest drive, coming closest to the pin.
No mention was made as to whether any specialized legislation would be a part of the prize package.
According to his federal campaign reports, it seems that Congressman Fletcher never did get any of the gaming money he sought with his fundraising invitation. But bless his little heart for trying.
We can disagree with whether casinos are good or not for the state. That's a legitimate debate. But we don't need a lecture about casino contributions from such a pack of shameless hypocritical Republicans who plainly see that their days in office are numbered. There is so much more to the gaming hypocrisy (including interesting tidbits about the casino preferences of high-rolling blow-hards like Senate President David Williams (R)), but I'll save those for another time.
Meanwhile, enjoy the list of all the Kentucky Republicans who have happily bathed in casino contributions over the years...
HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT IMPACTS PUBLIC POLICY
P.S. -- It's good to be back...
In light of today's earlier post on the CREW report of money flowing from congressional campaigns to family members, comes this interesting, and possibly related, development:
Recall this from a May 2006 front-page New York Times story on all the national security money that made its way to supporters and relatives of U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers (R):
Now, Senture would land even more department work, as BearingPoint, a Virginia company hired in 2004 to test prototype transportation worker cards, selected Senture to set up a call center for the test. About the time that contract was first advertised, but before it was awarded, John Rogers, the congressman's son, was hired by Senture as a computer systems administrator.
"It has nothing to do with who my father is," John Rogers said in a telephone interview. "It has everything to do with my qualifications." He said he had worked in data management and technology for 13 years.
...And this from the most recent issue of Governing.com:
Under a three-year, $18 million contract with the Kentucky Retirement Systems, Bearingpoint will integrate its pension-administration system with imaging and workflow technologies from FileNet.
A coincidence, I'm sure...
Though, it's hard not to remember that Rogers stayed with Governor Fletcher (R) during his primary fight with Anne Northup (R) and Billy Harper (R). Some have speculated it wasn't because Fletcher and Rogers were actually close or chummy, but after losing the majority in the House, Rogers' gravy train had run off the tracks and he wanted to make sure he could continue to deliver in his district, so he courted Fletcher. And obviously it worked. Recall the non-stop handing out of over-sized checks that Fletcher handed out in Republican counties within Rogers' district earlier this year.
Today, the watchdog group CREW (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington) released its "first-ever analysis of the misuse of power by the chairmen and ranking members of all House of Representative committees and subcommittees, as well as top leadership positions, to financially benefit their family members. The new report names 96 members from 33 states: 44 Democrats and 53 Republicans."
Among those are our own U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers (R) and U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield (R).
From its report on Rogers:
HAROLD ROGERS (R-KY): Ranking member of the Subcommittee on Homeland Security of the House Committee on Appropriations.
Rep. Harold Rogers’ campaign committee, Hal Rogers for Congress, has paid a family member and has paid fees to a company that employs his wife. Additionally, Rep. Rogers appears to have used his influence to steer federal contracts to a company that employs his son.
Cynthia Doyle Rogers (wife):
• In his 2005 personal financial disclosure statement, Rep. Rogers reported that his wife, Cynthia Doyle Rogers, is employed by The Levatino Group. In the 2006 election cycle, Rep. Rogers’ campaign committee paid The Levatino Group $16,892 for fundraising.
Tracy Rogers (daughter-in-law):
• In the 2006 election cycle, Rep. Rogers’ campaign committee paid his daughter-in-law, Tracy Rogers, $24,000 for database management.
• In the 2004 election cycle, the campaign committee paid Ms. Rogers $24,000 for contract labor.
• In the 2002 election cycle, the campaign committee paid Ms. Rogers $24,000 for contract labor.
John Rogers (son):
• In 2002, Rep. Rogers intervened in a proposed plan to create new transportation worker identification cards by inserting language into appropriations bills that pushed the government to use the existing card type and to produce the cards in Corbin, Kentucky. In 2003, Rep. Rogers again intervened adding language that required a $4 million test of both card types; the test later showed the new cards were superior. The test was conducted by a Virginia based company, which shared its business with three companies in Corbin including Senture, a call center services company. In 2004, Senture won a contract to set up a call center for testing the identification cards. John Rogers was hired by Senture about the same time the contract was advertised, but before it was awarded.
• In 2004, Rep. Rogers arranged a $4 million Homeland Security contract for Senture to field calls from truckers.
• In 2004, Rep. Rogers steered a $2.9 million no-bid contract to a tourism group that then awarded a $1.2 million sub-contract to Senture.
From its report on Whitfield:
EDWARD WHITFIELD (R-KY): Ranking member of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Rep. Whitfield’s campaign committee, Whitfield for Congress, has paid his daughter.
Kate Wilson (daughter):
• In the 2002 election cycle, the campaign committee paid his daughter, Kate Wilson, $500 in consulting fees.
Noteworthy is that this report doesn't look into the millions of dollars that flowed out of Rogers' leadership PAC (HALPAC) which contained considerable more money to his family members than did his congressional campaign account -- particularly to the fundraising firm (The Levantino Group) which employs his wife.
Also, since the report only looks at leadership-level members, so it omitted the $50,000 per year that U.S. Rep. Ron Lewis (R) has been paying his wife from his campaign account.
And there's the never fully-explored situation of the $69,000 in mostly generic "travel reimbursements" that U.S. Rep. Geoff Davis (R) had paid himself over the past five years, which happens be 11 times greater than the average of all other Kentucky congressmen during the same time frame. Of course, unlike the Rogers, Whitfield, Lewis payments, those by Davis might be illegal...
If you're interested in knowing how Kentucky's federal delegation gets its bread buttered, MAPLight.org has an update on the campaign finance breakdown for each of our state's members for the most recently completed cycle.
[organizations]
RETIRED $250,047
ATTORNEY $122,100
PHYSICIAN $91,801
FARMER $74,860
KINDRED HEALTHCARE $62,700
SELF-EMPLOYED $42,850
BROWN-FORMAN CORP $41,250
HUMANA INC $38,877
GRIFFIN INDUSTRIES $38,800
PEABODY ENERGY $35,000[interests]
Attorneys & law firms $390,848
Retired $242,047
Security brokers & investment companies $234,949
Pro-Israel $173,735
Commercial banks & bank holding companies $168,550
Lobbyists & public relations $147,295
Farmers, in general $121,160
Hospitals $121,100
Physicians $115,177
Coal mining $108,600
[organizations]
RETIRED $184,175
ATTORNEY $62,770
PHYSICIAN $58,750
KINDRED HEALTHCARE $21,100
FIDELITY INVESTMENTS $20,000
BROWN-FORMAN CORP $17,050
ASHLAND INC $16,250
PAIN MANAGEMENT CENTER OF PADUCAH $15,000
FARMER $13,750
RJ REYNOLDS TOBACCO $13,500[interests]
Attorneys & law firms $191,984
Retired $188,875
Insurance agencies, brokers & agents $164,199
Security brokers & investment companies $130,243
Other physician specialists $125,800
Commercial banks & bank holding companies $117,949
Lobbyists & public relations $94,516
Physicians $81,750
Pro-Israel $64,900
Life insurance $61,083
[organizations]
ATTORNEY $18,000
ADDINGTON ENTERPRISES $17,800
RETIRED $17,450
BEECHFORK PROCESSING $16,000
CONSULTANT $13,850
FIRST NATIONAL BANK $12,000
NATIONAL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ASSN $10,000
GEO GROUP $10,000
GENERAL ELECTRIC $10,000
LOCKHEED MARTIN $10,000[interests]
Attorneys & law firms $40,700
Engineers - type unknown $28,900
Lobbyists & public relations $25,400
Business services $25,050
Commercial banks & bank holding companies $21,000
Defense areospace contractors $21,000
Civil servant/public employee $20,750
Mining $20,000
Vegetables, fruits & tree nuts $18,900
Retired $17,450
[organizations]
RETIRED $191,705
SELF-EMPLOYED $22,882
ATTORNEY $18,900
EMERALD COAL $16,500
INVESTOR $15,050
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSN $15,000
UNITED PARCEL SERVICE $14,100
CNG FINANCIAL $12,700
CINTAS CORP $11,600
DRS TECHNOLOGIES $11,200[interests]
Retired $191,705
Commercial banks & bank holding companies $91,727
Attorneys & law firms $85,900
Insurance agencies, brokers & agents $70,550
Credit agencies & finance companies $53,550
Lobbyists & public relations $52,603
Security brokers & investment companies $49,432
Residential construction $41,800
Coal mining $39,050
Mortgage bankers & brokers $37,550
[organizations]
SELF-EMPLOYED $52,607
RETIRED $38,010
PHYSICIAN $24,060
KINDRED HEALTHCARE $21,350
ATTORNEY $14,800
BROWN-FORMAN CORP $14,499
UNITED PARCEL SERVICE $10,250
AMERICAN PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSN $10,000
AMERICAN HOSPITAL ASSN $10,000
PINKERTON TOBACCO $10,000[interests]
General commerce $57,707
Tobacco & tobacco products $46,850
Physicians $41,060
Retired $38,010
Hospitals $36,600
Other physician specialists $33,450
Attorneys & law firms $31,150
Wine & distilled spirits manufacturing $28,077
Lobbyists & public relations $27,494
Accident & health insurance $21,500
U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY1)
[organizations]
RETIRED $33,350
PAIN MANAGEMENT CENTER OF PADUCAH $21,250
PHYSICIAN $21,200
AMERISOURCEBERGEN CORP $12,250
NATIONAL CABLE & TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSN $11,000
AT&T INC $10,000
UNION PACIFIC CORP $10,000
PFIZER INC $10,000
WINE & SPIRITS WHOLESALERS OF AMERICA $10,000
BELLSOUTH CORP $10,000[interests]
Other physician specialists $76,785
Pharmaceutical manufacturing $38,752
Telephone utilities $35,000
Retired $33,350
Physicians $33,200
Attorneys & law firms $32,100
Railroads $25,600
Tobacco & tobacco products $23,500
Pharmaceutical wholesale $21,250
Liquor wholesalers $20,500
U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler (R-KY6)
[organizations]
RETIRED $37,600
ATTORNEY $19,300
BELLSOUTH CORP $10,500
INTL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS $10,000
NATIONAL ASSN OF REALTORS $10,000
NATIONAL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ASSN $10,000
NATIONAL AUTO DEALERS ASSN $10,000
IRONWORKERS UNION $10,000
TEAMSTERS UNION $10,000
FARM CREDIT COUNCIL $10,000[interests]
Attorneys & law firms $69,924
Construction unions $49,000
Retired $37,600
Manufacturing unions $30,000
Air transport unions $18,700
Farmers, in general $18,550
Express delivery services $15,499
Restaurants & drinking establishments $15,450
Liquor wholesalers $15,000
Banks & lending institutions $14,900
U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY3)
No data yet
Last week, we learned that Senator McConnell (R) has raised nearly $6 million for his 2008 re-election.
So, I thought I'd take a look at our other federal officials.
Senator Bunning (R) raised $45,445 during the 1st quarter of 2007, leaving him with a cash balance of $113,607. So far, he's raised $256,527 toward his 2010 re-election.
Here's how the state's U.S. House members are doing:
| Member | Q1 2007 Raised | Q1 2007 Spent | Cash-On-Hand |
| Davis (R-KY4) | $317,479 | $144,531 | $239,720 |
| Yarmuth (D-KY3) | $303,892 | $37,249 | $292,695 |
| Chandler (D-KY6) | $140,221 | $21,686 | $708,648 |
| Lewis (R-KY2) | $110,040 | $14,530 | $153,072 |
| Whitfield (R-KY1) | $56,950 | $52,840 | $692,987 |
| Rogers (R-KY5) | $16,000 | $46,923 | $988,196 |
Both Davis and Yarmuth are aggressively raising funds for their 2008 re-election, though Davis' campaign finance reports shows he spent about $90,000 in various "Direct Mail Expenses." I'm a little surprised by Lewis' paltry showing given that he should expect another serious challenge next year.
By the way for comparison, here's where things stood two years ago after the 1st quarter of 2005 filing:
| Member | Q1 2005 Raised | Q1 2005 Spent | Cash-On-Hand |
| Northup (R-KY3) | $385,506 | $37,375 | $390,321 |
| Davis (R-KY4) | $274,067 | $102,895 | $283,809 |
| Chandler(D-KY6) | $123,888 | $55,160 | $240,021 |
| Whitfield (R-KY1) | $96,396 | $40,696 | $751,123 |
| Lewis (R-KY2) | $16,468 | $29,109 | $314,770 |
| Rogers (R-KY5) | $11,000 | $55,490 | $896,489 |
Need an example of how out-of-touch some of our Kentucky Republican congressmen really are?
Well, recall that nearly two months ago, Reps. Ron Lewis (R), Hal Rogers (R) and Ed Whitfield (R) publicly endorsed former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney (R) for president. At the time, most of the polls showed Romney with about 10% in the polls, narrowly behind former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R) for third place.
Yesterday, the latest USA Today/Gallup poll came out and Romney has fallen to 3%, tied with Sen. Sam Brownback (R) for fifth place. The poll was taken March 23-25 of 429 Republicans and Republican leaners nationwide (Mar 2-4 results):
Giuliani 31 (44)
McCain 22 (20)
F. Thompson 12 (--)
Gingrich 8 (9)
Brownback 3 (1)
Romney 3 (8)
Not exactly trend-setters, are they?
Congress.org just released its 2007 Congressional Power Rankings and Rep. Ben Chandler's (D) move to a majority member of the Appropriations Committee has landed him at the top spot among Kentucky's six House members, even leaping ahead of Rep. Hal Rogers (R):
UPDATE: Just found the previous years' rankings in their respect chambers:
2007 ranking (2006 ranking) (2005 ranking)
McConnell 5 (4)(7)
Bunning 64 (69) (63)Chandler -- 143 (381) (413)
Rogers -- 194 (14) (20)
Whitfield -- 281 (252) (190)
Yarmuth -- 316 (no previous ranking)
Lewis -- 332 (202) (235)
Davis -- 397 (100) (168)
National Journal just released the 2006 liberal-conservative vote ratings of each member of the U.S. House and Senate.
In Kentucky (2005 rating in italics):
Sen. McConnell (R): 84.3% conservative/15.7% liberal (84.8-15.2)
Sen. Bunning (R): 91.8% conservative/8.2% liberal (89.2-10.8)Rep. Lewis (R): 87.3% conservative/12.7% liberal (91.2-8.8)
Rep. Whitfield (R): 80.2% conservative/19.8% liberal (73.0-27.0)
Rep. Rogers (R): 79.2% conservative/20.8% liberal (81.8-18.2)
Rep. Davis (R): 76.7% conservative/23/3% liberal (80.7-19.3)
Rep. Northup (R): 72.2% conservative/27.8% liberal (74.7-25.3)
Rep. Chandler (D): 40.7% conservative/59.3% liberal (42.3-57.7)
Noteworthy is that Bunning re-defines wing-nut ranking as the second most conservative Senator, trailing only Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) who scored a 92.5%. In contrast, Orrin Natch (R-UT) scored a 73%, and both Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Rick Santorum (R-PA) a 70.3%. McConnell was the 12th most conservative of his chamber.
On the House side, Chandler was more conservative than 178 members of his caucus and more liberal than just 23 of them. Notably, Chandler was more conservative than Jack Murtha (D-PA)(40%), Harold Ford, Jr. (D-TN)(33.7%), and now Ohio Governor Ted Strickland (D-OH)(30.2%).
Finally, Whitfield turned hard wing-nut in 2006, going from 73% conservative in 2005 to 80%.
Here's the current scorecard of where the top Kentucky Republican leaders stand as far as their support in the gubernatorial primary between Governor Fletcher (R) and former U.S. Rep. Anne Northup (R):
Not good news for Fletcher. Here's what he had to offer yesterday:
Fletcher said he still has the backing of a large number of supporters, including 24 county judge-executives, most Republicans in the state Senate and a number of Republican mayors.
Considering that Fletcher was the first Republican governor in 32 years, that's about as weak a group of endorsements for a sitting incumbent governor as one could imagine. It's laughable considering what Northup has already obtained in the month she's been in the race.
U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers (R) told WYMT television that he will not run for governor this year and that he will not be endorsing anyone in the Republican gubernatorial primary.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe any member of Kentucky's federal delegation is supporting our incumbent governor in his primary. None of them. Truly a remarkable development given how hard they all worked to elect him three years ago as the first Republican governor in 32 years.
The House has easily passed, by a 299-128 margin, legislation to implement the 9/11 Commission Recommendations. It was the first vote on the Democratic majority's 100-hour program.
While both U.S. Reps. Ben Chandler (D) and John Yarmuth (D) voted for the resolution, the other four (Republican) members of the Kentucky House delegation voted against it.
It's shameful how truly out-of-touch Hal Rogers, Geoff Davis, Ed Whitfield and Ron Lewis are with their rank partisanship and their votes against implementing the bi-partisan 9/11 Commission. Absurd.
By the way, I'm certain these Bluegrass wingnuts will be happily supporting the Bush Administration's call for an additional 21,500 troops to go into Iraq (17,500 for Baghdad and 4,000 for Anbar Province).
The Courier-Journal submitted written questions to our congressional delegation on the Iraq Study Group report, asking them where they stand on a couple of issues.
What is noteworthy is how Senator Bunning (R) and Rep. Geoff Davis (R) show themselves to be disturbingly out of sync with the rest of the Kentucky delegation over the question: "Should the United States engage in negotiations with Iran and Syria to find ways to stop sectarian violence in Iraq, and why or why not?"
U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield, R-Ky.
"Yes, any new diplomatic offensive cannot be successful unless it includes the active participation of all countries that have a critical stake in preventing Iraq from falling into chaos. For different reasons those countries would be Iran and Syria, as well as Turkey, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan."U.S. Rep. Harold “Hal” Rogers, R-Ky.
"The people of Iraq — as well as its neighbors in the Middle East — have an interest in a peaceful, stable Iraq. Diplomatic and political approaches can assist in bringing about a united and stable Iraq."U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler, D-Ky.
"Considering the instability and dangerous circumstances that our troops are facing every day in Iraq, I see no reason why the United States should not explore every option for finding potential solutions to this ongoing war."If we can persuade countries neighboring Iraq to be helpful in our efforts rather than harmful, then that would certainly be to our advantage."
U.S. Rep.-elect John Yarmuth, D-Ky.
"They (Iran and Syria) are critical figures in backing a lot of the insurgency and therefore there’s no reason we wouldn’t want to try to engage them to see if they can help stop it."U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky.
"I do not support engaging in negotiations with rogue nations such as Iran and Syria that are known sponsors of terrorist groups in Iraq, Lebanon, the West Bank and Gaza."I do not believe that we should give terrorists a seat at the negotiating table. Such a shift in our nation’s foreign policy could have grave consequences for our national security."
U.S. Rep. Geoff Davis, R-Ky.
"It is important to the stability of the Middle East to increase the diplomatic dialogue between all of Iraq’s neighbors. The United States will not negotiate with Iran and Syria regarding Iraq’s future — that is for the Iraqis to determine."
(Note that neither Senator McConnell nor Congressman Lewis responded directly to the questions.)
Tough time taking this too seriously:
GOP Senator Considering Gubernatorial Run
By JOE BIESK
Associated Press Writer
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) -- A Louisville Republican who helped shift the balance in the state Senate when he left the Democratic Party in 1999 is considering a run for governor next year, he said Wednesday.
Sen. Dan Seum, R-Louisville, said a "considerable amount of people" have contacted him about possibly challenging Gov. Ernie Fletcher in next year's governor's race. And, he's in the "very early stages" of consideration, Seum said.
"There are people in the commonwealth that are looking for a true Republican conservative that understands that government should be about helping the working men and women of the commonwealth," Seum said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.
[...]
Seum said he did not want to criticize Fletcher, and that his intentions were to "do a reality check" on whether he should challenge Fletcher. Seum acknowledged that Fletcher already had a substantial lead in fundraising, making a gubernatorial run against him more challenging.
"I think there's a whole lot of disappointed Republicans in the state and they're just looking for somebody to be up front and tell it like it is," Seum said.
Maybe the most interesting noise on the Republican side is coming from some of Rep. Hal Rogers' (R) people. That's one place I'm watching closely. Someone mentioned to me this afternoon the rumor of a Rogers-Northup ticket.
I think the Courier-Journal is right on with its editorial today on the disturbing earmarks that Rep. Hal Rogers (R) continues to route to the company which employs his son...
Another Earmark, Another Fix
Courier-Journal Editorial
...This isn't about law-breaking. It's about coziness, of the kind that makes ordinary folks -- who have to find their own ways to help their kids, without proceeds from non-bid contracts -- cynical about government.
[...]
Mr. Rogers says he's proud of this deal.
The rat is always proud to have lugged the cheese into his hole. But did he have to be disingenuous about it, too?
He said, "From what I understand, this arrangement was adequately agreed upon and reviewed…" as if he had received the news from outer space.
The fact is, you don't become one of the Capitol's most successful pork barrel politicians by standing off at a distance and watching others make arrangements and do deals.
You become a Hal Rogers by knowing where the money is and how to move it from there to where you are.
One of the easiest ways is by "earmarking" it for your own purposes. And having your own staff explain the "congressional intent."
Anyone else getting the same impression as me that Rep. Hal Rogers (R) is as big of a crook as those in Congress now under investigation but that things either haven't yet floated to the surface -- or the feds aren't letting it be known...yet? I've had this feeling for a long time...
Here's another reason to be suspicious:
Rogers' Role In Tourism Contract Draws Scrutiny
Association sent money to firm employing son
By Deborah Yetter, The Courier-Journal
U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers' office steered $2.9 million in federal money through the state to a nonprofit tourism group in his district, which then sent part of it to a company that employs the Kentucky congressman's son.
One of Rogers' staff members is board vice president of the nonprofit group, according to a new state audit, which detailed the transaction.
The 2004 contract — awarded through the state Transportation Cabinet — did not appear to violate any Kentucky laws, according to a 100-page report that state Auditor Crit Luallen released yesterday.
But in an interview with The Courier-Journal, Luallen said the transaction stood out among the 57 sample contracts her office reviewed.
"This one pointed out some unique problems we didn't see elsewhere," Luallen said.
[...]
Steve Ellis, an official with Taxpayers for Common Sense, a nonpartisan watchdog group in Washington, said the contract reflects "shady dealings going on here that certainly deserve more scrutiny."
Ellis said he's concerned that Rogers had a staff member on the board of the group that received the money and part of it ended up with a company that employs Rogers' son.
[...]
State awards no-bid contract
In 2004, the Transportation Cabinet entered a "sole source" contract with the tourism group, meaning it did not seek bids because it had determined the work was specialized and another vendor would not be able to do it.
State contract documents said the sole source contract was necessary because the tourism group was already operating the center, and another group could not open a similar one without significant start-up costs, Luallen's audit said.
Once the $2.9million was awarded to the tourism group, it awarded a $1.2million subcontract to Senture, a London, Ky., call center company, to operate the information system, according to the audit and Luallen's staff. The company employs Rogers' son, John Rogers, as a computer systems administrator.
John Rogers could not be reached for comment yesterday. Senture officials did not return a call seeking comment.
[...]
The New York Times reported in May that Rogers helped arrange a $4million contract in 2004 with Senture. Rogers' son told the newspaper, "It had nothing to do with who my father is."
Luallen says the contract did NOT violate any state law, but it's whether Rogers' used his position of power on the Appropriations Committee to steer money to his son's company that is the potential problem here...
UPDATE: I mistakenly left out the crucial word "NOT" in the paragraph above when I first posted. It was a sloppy oversight. I knew that when I wrote this but omitted the word. Sorry.
Let me post the sole news coming out of Fancy Farm today before commenting on it:
Grayson Says He Is Considering A Run For Governor
ROGER ALFORD
Associated Press
FANCY FARM, Ky. - Secretary of State Trey Grayson said Saturday he is considering challenging Gov. Ernie Fletcher for the Republican gubernatorial nomination next year.
Heralded as a rising star in the state GOP, Grayson was the only Republican statewide officeholder to speak at the St. Jerome Parish picnic in Fancy Farm, Kentucky's most storied political event.
Grayson said he is concerned about Fletcher's chances for re-election. He is the fourth Republican leader to publicly raise doubts about Fletcher's ability to win a second term.
Grayson said Republican party leaders have encouraged him to run for either governor or lieutenant governor.
"I've jumped off the high board," Grayson told reporters after his speech. "I hope there's water in the pool."
[...]
Meanwhile, Grayson chided Republicans during his speech for not following through on campaign promises to clean up the mess in Frankfort.
"We didn't mean justifying questionable behavior because the other guy did it too," he said. "At least that's not what I meant. When I said let's clean up the mess in Frankfort, I meant that we needed to change the whole culture in Frankfort, because state government was broken."
Grayson said the comment was directed at Fletcher, whose defense attorneys last month asked a judge to dismiss the charges, saying previous governors had engaged in similar behavior without being criminally prosecuted.
Fletcher's chief of staff, Stan Cave, said Saturday that Grayson got "carried away" in his comments about Fletcher.
"Many a young person has gotten carried away at Fancy Farm," Cave said. "Perhaps he and Lonnie Napier have something in the works," referring to the Republican state representative from Lancaster who has also been mentioned as a possible candidate for governor.
[...]
House Speaker Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green, called Grayson's announcement "a huge development."
"It seems to me, as an outsider looking in, that there's sort of a determined strategy every week or so for some other Republican leader to say that the governor has problems with his re-electability," Richards told reporters.
I haven't had a chance to fully think through this move, but let me give you my initial gut reaction.
First of all, anyone with a political education above a 3rd grade level knows what this is about. It's Senator McConnell (R) sending a much clearer message to indicted (and still clueless) Governor Fletcher (R) that it's time to pack his bags. Grayson is also the first McConnell devotee who has suggested a challenge to Fletcher next year, and he essentially owned-up to it in the story.
But I don't believe for a moment that the McConnell clan really believes Grayson is ready for prime time next year. Three years as Secretary of State won't cut it after two successive administrations of scandal, unless Democrats offer a truly unelectable nominee. The voters are going to demand an ethical governor, who's an adult, and who can lead.
While Grayson is straight-laced, he is foremost a McConnell loyalist in this context, and this shot is unmistakable. I think Speaker Richards (D) has it right in his remarks above. Republicans are turning up the heat on their boy, Ernie. From John David Dyche to Steve Pence to David Williams to Jeff Hoover to Jack Richardson to Trey Grayson -- it's clear to me what's going on. They are saying that the gig is up.
However, there is no doubt that Grayson is the GOP's minor league star that they are slowly and patiently grooming to be their major league franchise player. My sense is that McConnell wants to get him in position for 2010 when Senator Bunning's (R) term is up, or maybe 2008 to run against soon-to-be Rep. Ken Lucas (D) during a presidential year, particularly if Senator Hillary Clinton (D) is the Democratic presidential nominee.
Grayson may very well end up on the 2007 ticket, but I'd bet my money that they see him as their #2, but must wait until November's elections shake-out to determine who might serve in the top spot -- but they couldn't wait until November to start offering a glimpse of what a McConnell-backed alternative might look like.
If Democrats take back the House, I could imagine a Hal Rogers-Trey Grayson ticket. If Democrats don't take back the House, but Rep. Ben Chandler (D) opts against a run, I can see a Jeff Hoover-Trey Grayson ticket. But Grayson at the top seems a bit far-fetched in this climate.
Having said that, I like Trey. He's a decent and honorable guy in a profession where those characteristics are too often lacking. He and I have a good relationship and I respect him very much. He doesn't come across as an out-of-touch ideologue or even a -- dare I be so kind -- wing-nut. The Democratic Party screwed up when they failed to cultivate him when he was in his 20s and instead left for the Republican Party who saw his talent.
However, I find it hard to believe that the elixir to the problems facing the commonwealth can be found in a candidate who is presently 34 and whose political experience is limited to one term in the not-so-challenging job of Secretary of State. The voters are tired of the direction the Republican Party is taking the country. They are tired of the absurd amount of time the GOP navigates the narrow waters of wedge issues instead of solving problems, particularly on a national level where they control all three branches of government. A Grayson candidacy isn't going to address those concerns unless the Democrats lose their minds in 2007 when selecting their nominee (albeit, an entirely plausible scenario).
But this is yet another dagger in Fletcher's heart. Chief of Staff Stan Cave's reaction was as typical as it was oblivious to the current political climate.
I was thinking this afternoon about Fletcher's comment at the GOP reception last night when he uttered:
“Without an opponent, I don’t think it’s critical that I be at Fancy Farm this year.”
Sadly, what Fletcher doesn't realize is that beside Cave, Rudolph, Deckard and his wife, Glenna, pretty much everyone else has become his opponent. He's only one that appears not to know that.
The Grayson utterance is very significant, as it deepens the coup that is happening before our eyes. But I don't think it's much more than that. At least on first blush. Let's see if I have a change-of-heart after a good night of sleep.
My two cents.
The Courier-Journal this morning ran summaries of the personal financial disclosures that each member of Congress is required to file annually.
Here are excerpts for a few of our delegation, along with some thoughts on each:
Rep. Geoff Davis, R-4th District
Earned income: $162,100.
Major assets: A jointly held consulting firm and savings accounts, together worth $67,004-$180,000.
Major sources of unearned income: None.
Major liabilities: Campaign loan, $100,001-$250,000.
COMMENT: I've always wondered why the media hasn't done some minimal digging on the campaign loan that Davis took out several years ago from the bank of a top contributor but still has not paid back. Given Davis' scant personal assets, how did he even qualify for such a loan? Word is that it was originally an unsecured loan and only recently was revised to make it secured. Raises a lot of concerns.
It also puts into context the very questionable $70,000 of campaign money that Davis personally reimbursed himself for vaguely worded "travel expenses" or "mileage" or "miscellaneous expenses" or "meals" over the past few years.
Rep. Hal Rogers, R-5th District
Earned income: $162,100
Major assets: $1 million-$5 million in Citizens Bancshares Inc. Rogers did not summarize various additional assets on his disclosure form, but instead submitted hundreds of pages of documents detailing all of his investments, income and transactions during 2005. Spokeswoman Leslie Cupp said the congressman submitted more information than was required.
Major sources of unearned income: $100,001-$1 million from Citizen Bancshares. Rogers submitted the hundreds of pages of documents mentioned above in place of summarizing other unearned income.
Major liabilities: None.
Gifts/travel: Travel, lodging and food for three trips to Hawaii, San Francisco and Dublin, Ireland, all paid for by the American Association of Airport Executives; travel, food and lodging for a trip to White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., paid by CSX, Inc.; and travel, food and lodging for a visit to Orlando, Fla., paid by the Association of American Railroads. The value of the trips was not stated.
COMMENT: That Rogers' buried the regulators in hundreds of pages of paper, rather than itemize certainly suggests a very close look at those documents are in order, particularly in light of the current FBI investigation into the finances of Rogers' senior brethren on the Appropriations Committee, Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA) and the recent Sunday New York Times story about Rogers' own dealings with homeland security appropriations.
Rep. Ed Whitfield, R-1st District
Earned income: $162,100 from the House; $16,000 retirement pay from CSX Corp.
Major assets: Three IRAs worth $450,003-$1 million; five investments worth $500,005-$1.25 million; numerous additional stocks and funds worth $235,011-$650,000; a condominium in Newport Beach, Calif., valued at $100,001-$250,000; commercial real estate in Huntington Beach, Calif., valued at $100,001-$250,000; a vacant lot at the Greenbriar Sporting Club in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., valued at $100,001-$250,000; a lot in Madisonville, Ky., valued at $1,001-$15,000.
Major sources of unearned income: $15,001-$50,000 in rent from the Newport Beach condo, $5,001-$15,000 in rent from the Huntington Beach property; $15,009-$32,500 from investments.
Major liabilities: A mortgage of $100,001-$250,000 on the Greenbriar property.
COMMENT: Interesting that Whitfield owns a Newport Beach, California condo but in Kentucky only owns "a lot in Madisonville" worth between $1,000 and $15,000 and nothing more.
This is an excellent example of why the stubbornness of Republicans have caused them to lose the faith of the general public that they can govern.
There's a story out today about the 23,000 privately-paid trips that Congressional lawmakers and staff have taken over the past five years, including 327 by Kentucky's delegation alone. Among the more expensive trips was one taken in 2004 by Rep. Ben Chandler (D) at the expense of the Australian government.
Following that trip, the public began raising questions about the appropriateness of permitting these trips, which had
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