President Barack Obama

Trey Grayson Appointed to Presidential Election Commission

Phillip M. Bailey — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:12:54 +0000

Former Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson has been appointed to President Obama's commission to improve U.S. elections, which was first introduced at this year's State of the Union address.

During the 2012 elections, voters across the country complained of long lines and confusion at the polls, and many have called for reforms to the system since the 2000 presidential race.

Congressman John Yarmuth Troubled by White House's String of Controversies

Phillip M. Bailey — Wed, 15 May 2013 20:27:56 +0000

Democratic Congressman John Yarmuth says the Internal Revenue Service should examine the tax-exempt status of non-profit groups, but the agency failed to apply the policy evenly.

The IRS has been scolded over flagging conservative organizations with "tea party" and "patriot" in their name.

Reports found that at least 300 such groups were put into a "bucket " that received extra scrutiny, which held up applications for months.

Agency leaders have blamed the additional views on two "rogue" employees in their Cincinnati offices.

Yarmuth says the IRS scandal undermines good government and cannot be excused, but argues looking at those groups should be a role the agency fulfills.

"That behavior on the part of IRS is totally intolerable and while I actually think the kind of scrutiny that was applied to these groups is appropriate it should be applied to every 501(c)4. The law has to be enforced evenly and fairly, and the IRS has not done that," he says.

Senator Dan Coats Joins Effort to End So-Called 'Obama Phones' Program

Phillip M. Bailey — Wed, 08 May 2013 19:06:23 +0000

U.S. Sen. Dan Coats, R-In., is joining an effort to cut funding for a program aimed at expanding telephone service for the poor, which was attacked as the "Obama phones" program during the 2012 elections.

The Lifeline Program provides discounts on monthly telephone services for low-income consumers in order to ensure they have access to things such as 911 emergency services.

During last year's presidential campaign, however, conservatives pounced on the program after a supporter falsely claimed the Obama campaign was passing out free cell phones.

The "Obama phones" meme gained a foothold in search engines and political narratives despite the fact it was created in 1984 under President Ronald Reagan.

Still, lawmakers are taking aim at the program in a bill being sponsored by Republican Senators David Vitter of Louisiana and Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma.

Coats says the program has ballooned under President Obama took office, expanding to include wireless service providers and spending increases from $143 million 2008 to $2.2 billion in 2012.

"Too often, Washington creates a program that may be well-intended, but ends up costing taxpayers more money because of poor implementation and a lack of oversight," Coats said in a news release. "As many Hoosiers and middle class Americans continue to struggle in this economy, they shouldn’t have to pay for a program littered with fraud that subsidizes free cell phones. I will continue to push Congress and the administration to examine every federal program to find ways we can be more efficient and save taxpayer dollars."

Obama: Use Of Chemical Weapons In Syria Is 'Game Changer,' But More Evidence Is Needed

Mark Memmott — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:43:37 +0000

(We updated the top of this post with a recap at 11:45 a.m.

BuzzFeed Ranks Jack Conway Second 'Hottest' Attorney General

Phillip M. Bailey — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 23:26:40 +0000

Kentucky Democrat Jack Conway is the second hottest attorney general in the country, according to BuzzFeed.

How did this arbitrary and ~~meaningless~~ satirical list even come up, one may ask.

Well The Washington Post reported on Thursday President Obama diverged from his prepared remarks at fundraiser to praise California Attorney General Kamala Harris.

The president said: "She’s brilliant and she’s dedicated, she’s tough. She also happens to be, by far, the best looking attorney general."

"It’s true! C’mon," Obama added.

Not so, says the online news outlet that is known for viral cat videos as much as political reporting.

Rand Paul Old-School Filibusters Nomination of CIA Director for 13 Hours

Phillip M. Bailey — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 20:48:29 +0000

Speaking on the Senate floor, Republican Rand Paul is actively filibustering the nomination of John Brennan as director of the CIA, citing concerns over President Obama's policy on drones and civil liberties.

Earlier this week, Kentucky's junior senator received a controversial response from Attorney General Eric Holder about the administration’s use of unmanned aircrafts.

Holder told Paul the president could theoretically authorize deadly force to be used against a citizen on U.S. soil without due process.

Since Wednesday morning, Paul has been delaying Brennan's nomination and pledged to talk until he couldn't anymore.

Paul says the White House is continuing the controversial policies of former President George W. Bush, which candidate Obama spoke out against in 2007.

"We had a president who ran for office saying your phone shouldn’t be tapped without a warrant. I happened to agree with candidate Obama. But what happened to candidate Obama who wanted to protect the right to privacy of your who doesn’t care much about your right not to be killed by a drone without any kind of judicial proceeding," he says.

Kentucky Head Start, Child Care and Education Programs Facing Sequester Cuts, White House says

Joseph Lord — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 18:24:34 +0000

The automatic federal spending cuts set to take effect on Friday would pare several Kentucky programs that help families, including a child-care subsidy program that state officials have already cut back, says a state-by-state study from the White House.

Kentucky Inmate Charged With Threatening President, First Family

Associated Press and Rick Howlett — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 20:26:48 +0000

A Kentucky inmate has been charged with threatening the life of President Barack Obama, the first lady and their two daughters.

A grand jury in Louisville today charged Kentucky State Penitentiary inmate Anthony D. Holliman with threatening the president and a second count of threatening the president's family.

The indictment says Holliman, who’s serving decades in prison for rape and other convictions, wrote a threatening letter addressed to Obama in May. It says Holliman used racial epithets in the letter.

Paul's Tea Party State of the Union Rebuttal Will Focus on Federal Debt

Kenny Colston — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 21:29:29 +0000

U.S. Sen.Rand Paul will be one of two GOP senators providing a rebuttal to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address on Tuesday.

Paul is providing the tea party response to the annual address, while U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida will provide the Republican Party's official response.

Fischer Backs President Obama's Gun Control Measures, but State Law Hampers City Efforts

Phillip M. Bailey — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer says President Obama's proposal for gun control laws are rational and that he'd like to see new legislation passed.

But those comments are in stark contrast to a state law that is forcing changes to the city's definition of deadly weapons and now allow firearms to be carried in city-owned buildings.