Politics

Louisville Metro Councilwoman Marilyn Parker, R-18, is urging fellow Tea Party activists to think twice before taking on Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell in 2014.

McConnell opened his re-election headquarters in Louisville over the weekend, and promised a vigorous campaign. In recent weeks, more than a dozen Tea Party groups from around the state have warned they are lining up an opponent to take on the GOP leader.

Parker attend the opening and told WFPL many in the Tea Party are upset with McConnell's leadership, particularly when it comes to federal spending.

But the East End Republican says McConnell’s position is too important to risk, and that he has stood up against President Obama's agenda in Washington.

"I think we are at a very tenuous time in the country, and it’s important that’s not jeopardized at this time,” she says.

A proposal to amend Indiana’s constitution to guarantee residents the right to hunt, fish and farm has cleared a legislative committee.

The Senate Agriculture Committee voted 7-0 today to advance the measure, which now goes to the full Senate.

The proposal is sponsored by Republican Sen. Brent Steele, who says hunting and farming are being threatened by animal-rights activists and other groups.

Kentucky Senate Republicans are rallying around a bill to allow a Christian health-sharing organization to continue operating in Kentucky.

Christian Care Medi-share collects dues from members, then uses those funds to pay other members' health bills. Last year, the Department of Insurance successfully argued in court that  Medi-share should be regulated like other insurance companies.  The decision effectively ended the program in Kentucky.

A campaign TV ad aired by Indiana Ninth District Congressman Todd Young won the Reed Award for Best Republican Congressional Candidate Ad during the 2012 election cycle.

From Young's office:

The ad, titled "Not All", focused on the successful efforts of Rep. Young's office to get the name of David "Larry" Deckard inscribed on the Vietnam Memorial Wall.

The ad and background story can be seen at http://toddyoungforcongress.com/deckard.

Congressman John Yarmuth, D-Ky., has introduced a bill that seeks to diminish the influence of special interest groups.

The Fair Elections Now Act—or FENA —would create a public financing system for congressional races by providing a 5-to-1 federal match of contributions smaller than $100. In order to qualify, candidates would have to raise $50,000 through those small, in-state contributions.

Yarmuth says the legislation would enable more diverse candidates who are funded by small donations to compete in federal elections.

"The American people have ample evidence of the unfortunate influence of money on politics and policy. And FENA is an attempt to allow people to run for office and not be dependent upon big donors and therefore be primarily answerable to citizens and not to special interests," he says.