Tell Congress to Pass Green Jobs Energy Bill

Here's a great new ad from Americans United for Change:

Legislating from the bench

NBC's Chuck Todd points out that Republicans have no problem when conservative judges "legislate from the bench":

Obama's approval rating still high

CNN is reporting that President Obama's approval rating remains high:

WASHINGTON (CNN) – A new national poll indicates that President Barack Obama's approval rating among Americans remains steady.

Sixty-one percent of people questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Monday say they approve of how Obama's handling his duties as president. Thirty-seven percent disapprove.

Mitch McConnell wishes he had poll numbers this good. The latest poll shows that only 24 percent of Americans have a favorable view of him.

Editorial comic roundup

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President Obama's weekly address

The President praises historic energy legislation passed by the House of Representatives. The legislation will help America create green jobs, ensure clean air for our children, move towards energy independence and combat climate change.

Governor Beshear's weekly address

Click here for a version of this video with closed captioning for the hearing impaired.

Obama on ABC News' health care special

President Obama appeared on last night's health care special on ABC. If you missed it, you can view it by clicking here.

Faces of Health Care Reform

Here's one story -- out of hundreds of thousands -- that demonstrates why health care reform is needed so badly:

President Obama's Press Conference

Obama on 'The Early Show'

President Obama appeared on CBS's The Early Show this morning. If you weren't able to watch, here's the video:

Market won’t fix Rx care

Today's column by Cynthia Tucker is great. Here's an excerpt:

President Barack Obama has proposed pouring funds into studies to determine which procedures and medicines actually make patients better. The medical establishment would then be expected to use only those treatments.

But three senators — Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Pat Roberts (R-Kan.,) — have introduced a bill to oppose using that research in calculating payments to Medicare and Medicaid. In other words, they want taxpayers to pay for treatments that don’t work. Unbelievable.

A research-based approach is much more likely to yield savings in the long run than expecting individual consumers to figure out which tests they should pay for — and how much they should cost. The unregulated marketplace is pretty good at adjusting prices on houses, cars, shoes and hotel rooms. Medical care? Not so much.

President Obama's weekly address

Governor Beshear's weekly address

Click here for a version of this video with closed captioning for the hearing impaired.

The Republican Health Care Horror Show

Check out this great new ad from Americans United for Change:

Deficits matter!*

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Hard habits to break

Markos Moulitsas has a great column in The Hill. Here's an excerpt:

The Republican belief system, at its core, sanctifies the individual, elevating personal success and accomplishment over the well-being of society at large. It’s a selfish outlook, one proudly and openly hostile to empathy as a valid political value. One doesn’t have to look very far to see this hostility in action — witness the conservative talking points against the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court.

Yet young voters, like most human beings, wholeheartedly embrace empathy. When Daily Kos commissioned Research 2000 to ask adults nationwide whether “empathy” was a value they wanted to see in a Supreme Court justice, 18-to-29-year-olds responded in the affirmative by a stunning 63-17 margin. Even baby boomers lagged behind, at 55-26. Gen Xers, or (roughly) 30-to-44-year-olds, were the most hostile to empathy, clocking in at 47-34 — still a substantial majority.

It’s surely no coincidence that Millennials, the most wired generation in world history, cherish connectedness. MTV beamed music and culture to the entire cohort during their adolescence, while Bravo, BET and other networks created popular shows featuring gays and ethnic minorities, demystifying long-marginalized demographics. The Internet has erased geographic boundaries, and many youngsters have made “friends” across the globe on popular social nets like Facebook and Twitter. It’s no wonder they refuse to demonize entire countries when they’ve long maintained friendships with students in so many nations. And while Republicans rage against engagement with Iran or Democrats or any of their enemies du jour, young adults have a strong faith in the power of dialogue.

Gov. Beshear's address to the special session

Governor Steve Beshear addressed the General Assembly last night. If you missed the live broadcast, you can view the speech on KET.org by clicking here.

Also, here's a press release that Governor Beshear issued regarding the special session:

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Against the backdrop of a troubling national recession, Gov. Steve Beshear tonight called upon legislators to come together to plug a $1 billion budget hole and pass legislation that would create jobs and invest hundreds of millions of dollars into the Commonwealth’s economy.

“In these stark economic times, those two goals – short-term assistance and long-term investment – must define our every decision,” Gov. Beshear told lawmakers gathered for the start of the Special Session. “The four issues on the agenda of this special session... epitomize those goals.”

Those issues, which Gov. Beshear discussed in a speech before a joint session of the General Assembly, include:

• A plan to close a $1 billion shortfall in the Fiscal Year 2010 budget without raising taxes while maintaining current investments in the SEEK formula and postsecondary education and critical areas of health care, public safety and economic development;


• An initiative to modernize the state’s economic development incentives by fostering more investment in state businesses, luring a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race to Kentucky and helping attract a proposed advanced battery manufacturing facility to Hardin County;


• A proposal to create financing authorities to ensure construction of mega-transportation projects like the proposed Louisville bridges and other projects within Kentucky.


• Legislation to allow Video Lottery Terminals at Kentucky’s racetracks to boost purses and breeder incentives as part of an effort to save one of the Commonwealth’s signature industries, worth some $4 billion in investment.

On the budget, Gov. Beshear said his proposal would cut some $200 million in spending from the enacted 2010 budget, which is in addition to some $600 million in cuts since taking office 18 months ago. In addition, it would utilize roughly $740 million federal stimulus dollars to help ensure funding for education and mitigate deep cuts to state services.

Most other state agencies would receive cuts of 2.6 percent from current spending levels for the coming year – on top of cuts made the past two years.

Gov. Beshear said that despite the continued cutting, it is critically important not to raise taxes on working families at this time, but also work to ensure that funding for vital services continues as much as possible. Calling for responsible, prudent planning, the Governor also pointed to the next two years when the economy is expected to experience slow growth with the potential for large continued shortfalls.

“We must manage this shortfall in a way that does not move us significantly backward,” he said. “And we must do so in a way that doesn’t jeopardize the next two years.”

But even as the state is responsibly managing a tough budget, Gov. Beshear said Kentucky’s policy-makers must continue to look for ways to invest for the future. To that end, he said the Commonwealth should modernize its economic incentives to better compete with surrounding states.

“Our current economic tools are rusty. They’re dull,” he said. “They’re missing parts. And they’re old fashioned. We’re using hand tools in a power tool world and we’re being left behind.”

Similarly, Gov. Beshear called on legislators to pass an initiative that would create financing authorities with the ability to help ensure funding for mega-transportation projects, such as the Louisville bridges and other proposals in the future.

“We need this legislation to create momentum on these important projects,” he said. “We need action to foster continued federal investment and safeguard the existing state investment.”

Both the economic incentives’ proposal and bridges’ legislation passed both chambers during the last regular session with only minor variations. Now, Gov. Beshear said, it is time to iron out any differences and move forward to create jobs and investment in the state.

Finally, Gov. Beshear said now also is the time to act, once and for all, on an initiative designed to aid Kentucky’s ailing horse industry, which means some 100,000 jobs and $4 billion in investment for the state. After years of debate, Gov. Beshear said a proposal to allow limited expanded gaming at the state’s racetracks needs an up-or-down vote.

“Our racetracks face declining status and even the certainty of closure – if we don’t act now,” the Governor said. “But this isn’t just about racetracks. It’s about the many thousands of working-class Kentuckians whose skills and sweat support those tracks, the people who without fame or fanfare muck stalls, exercise horses, truck hay and paint those hallowed rows of fences on our beautiful farms.

“We can no more stand to lose the equine industry’s 100,000 jobs and $4 billion economic impact than we can stand to surrender our title as the Horse Capital of the World.”

In total, these initiatives, the Governor said, represent a “common-sense approach” to dealing with critical issues confronting the Commonwealth during a time of deep economic challenge – a challenge paralyzing many states across the country.

“It’s time for us to lead … shared misery is no reason for us to hide, no excuse to be paralyzed by fear and no justification for surrender. Kentuckians do not surrender,” Gov. Beshear said. “We cannot control the global economy, or hold off the financial pressures that are squeezing us. But we can control the manner in which we respond.”

Biden's 'Meet the Press' interview

If you missed Vice President Joe Biden on Meet the Press yesterday, here's the video:

GOP blew up budget themselves

Today's column by Cynthia Tucker is a must-read:

It would be easier to take Republicans seriously on government spending now if they’d ever complained about spending during the tenure of President George W. Bush — especially during the six years when they controlled government and could have cut spending dramatically. They could have fought the Pentagon on expensive and unnecessary weapons, eliminated farm subsidies to wealthy growers and pared back Medicare.

Instead, they did just the opposite. They slashed taxes and substantially increased government spending, burning through the estimated $800 billion annual surplus the federal government had accumulated under Bill Clinton. The Republican-dominated Congress even passed a huge entitlement, the fiscally foolish prescription drug plan for the elderly.

...with Republicans trying to reclaim the mantle of fiscal conservatism, they ought to have something important to contribute to the debate. They don’t. The plan introduced by House Republicans, which they claim would save $75 billion a year, has specific spending cuts amounting to only about $5 billion. During the March budget debate, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) slammed “earmarks,” but Republicans grabbed a substantial portion of them for their districts.

Editorial comic roundup

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Beshear on point with gaming bill

There's a good editorial about Kentucky's horse industry in today's Courier-Journal:

There is nothing Kentucky can do about the competition that other states have mounted except compete, and that means expanded gaming, with proceeds used, at least in part, to help prop up the state's battered tracks, the racing circuit they provide and the broad infrastructure on which the horse business depends.

Gov. Steve Beshear has exercised leadership by putting his proposal out there. It would have been better had he won agreement from legislative leaders beforehand, but, in the absence of that, he had to take the point. Those who had no better ideas to offer (including the unrealistic, unpassable suggestions circulated by Senate President David Williams) have no standing to criticize.

...The Governor is hostage to the legislative process, and there's a high potential for rejection of his plan. But he had to submit it. If the worst happens, with the predictable consequences for Kentucky families and the state's economy, he can say he tried.

President Obama's weekly address

Biden to appear on 'Meet the Press' this Sunday

Vice President Joe Biden is scheduled to appear on NBC's Meet the Press this Sunday, June 14. Locally, the show can be seen on Channel 5 at 10:00 am. Please tune in!

Governor Beshear's weekly address

Click here for a version of this video with closed captioning for the hearing impaired.

More evidence Obama's doing a good job

Yesterday we told you about a new Diagio/Hotline poll which shows that Americans approve of the job Obama's doing.

If that wasn't convincing, consider this: even Fox News says that Americans approve of Obama's performance.

Do you approve or disapprove of the job Barack Obama is doing as president?

Approve 62%
Disapprove 31%
Don't Know 8%

This Time, We Won’t Scare

Today's column by Nicholas Kristof is a must-read:

No doubt there are some genuine horror stories in Canada, as there are here in the United States.

But the bottom line is that America’s health care system spends nearly twice as much per person as Canada’s (building the wealth of hospital tycoons like Mr. Scott). Yet our infant mortality rate is 40 percent higher than Canada’s, and American mothers are 57 percent more likely to die in childbirth than Canadian ones.

In 1993, the “Harry and Louise” commercials frightened Americans into abandoning health reform. Let’s ensure those scare tactics don’t work this time.

Americans approve of Obama's performance

A new Diagio/Hotline poll shows that Americans approve of the job Obama's doing:

In general, do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as president?

Approve 65%
Disapprove 31%
Don't Know/Refused 4%

Also note the favorability ratings for the de facto leaders of the Republican party, Rush Limbaugh and Dick Cheney. The majority of Americans have unfavorable opinions of those guys.

The truth about Mitch's 'clout'

Remember last fall when McConnell was running for re-election? The main reason he thought we should vote for him was because he had "clout" in Washington.

Today, Jim Carroll of the Courier-Journal exposes how phony Mitch's claim is:

A USA Today/Gallup Poll published today found that 52 percent of those surveyed came up blank when asked to name "the main person" who speaks for Republicans today.

...We examined all 1,015 responses in the poll. Seven people either mentioned McConnell by name or by his position. One person responded: "Mitch McConnell or Dick Cheney," so we counted that. Yet another said: "Mitch McConnell of Texas." Texas?! We counted that one anyway.

Seven out of 1,015 answers comes out to, rounded upwards, .007 percent.

Wow, Mitch. That sure is a lot of "clout."

C-J on McConnell's and Bunning's hypocrisy

There's an excellent editorial in today's Courier-Journal:

Color us pink, as in tickled, to discover this late into their tough, anti-big government talking political careers that both Sen. Jim Bunning and Sen. Mitch McConnell believe that there are some things that the people can't live without, that no one but government ought to do, and that they support the dreaded and libeled budget earmarks to deliver those services to their constituents.

After all the bellicosity of election season and since, where accusations of "socialism" were and are swatted about like badminton birdies by so-called budget hawks, you can also color us kind of surprised that Kentucky's senators seem to have become true believers in the practice: Mr. McConnell has requested $658 million for projects in the fiscal 2010 appropriations bills before Congress; Mr. Bunning — astonishingly, given his comfort level in assigning the "s" word to others — has asked for more than that, $730 million all told, but then he is ostensibly running for re-election.

...Let's just say that in the hypocrisy sweepstakes Kentucky's junior senator has edged out his senior counterpart. During his most recent campaign, Sen. McConnell did bank on votes for all the pork he brought home to every corner and holler of the commonwealth, even as the other side of his mouth staked out his territory as a fiscal watchdog. Sen. Bunning, however, has more of a time squaring his cascade of requests against his national rep as a "socialism" parrot.

Rachel Maddow on Steele's hat metaphor

This is hilarious... Michael Steele once again trots out his "hat as political party" metaphor, only this time he drags it out to excruciating lengths. MSNBC's Rachel Maddow does a great job pointing out the absurdity of it all.

Gov. Beshear debuts official blog

Governor Beshear made this announcement today:

FRANKFORT, Ky. - In an effort to keep Kentuckians more informed about the latest happenings in Frankfort and across the state, Gov. Steve Beshear today launched his official blog.

With the upcoming special legislative session, it is more important now than ever for Kentuckians to have a complete and clear understanding of what the Governor is doing to increase economic development statewide, save Kentucky’s equine industry and fix the state’s $996 million budgetary shortfall. The blog will provide a medium through which Gov. Beshear can elaborate on policy positions, provide real-time updates and gain feedback from readers across the state.

“Given the importance of the moment, this is the ideal time to unveil my blog,” said Gov. Beshear. “With three big press conferences in three days last week, I hope my blog entries will be able to provide answers and be an engaging, thoughtful resource for readers.”

The kick-off of today’s blog demonstrates how Gov. Beshear is embracing new media technologies to increase communication and facilitate discussions across the Commonwealth. In addition to the blog, Gov. Beshear operates a Twitter account and uses YouTube to deliver weekly messages on pertinent and pressing issues.

To read the first blog entry, visit: http://blog.governor.ky.gov/ or to become a follower of the Governor on Twitter, visit http://twitter.com/govstevebeshear.

More Republican hypocrisy

Today's Courier-Journal points out the glaring hypocrisy of Mitch McConnell and Jim Bunning:

Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., each has openly criticized President Barack Obama's spending policies, but they have requested $658 million and $730 million, respectively, in earmarks in the fiscal 2010 appropriations bills now under consideration by Congress.

...[Sen. Bunning] called for lawmakers to remove all earmarks from [an earlier appropriations] bill -- including his own projects. At the time, he criticized Congress for asking for 9,000 earmarks. Thirteen were his.

This time, the senator has requested 100 earmarks, according to his Web site.

President Obama's weekly address

Governor Beshear's weekly address

Click here for a version of this video with closed captioning for the hearing impaired.

Gaming necessary to help save horse industry

From the office of Governor Beshear:

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Saying Kentucky’s horse industry is threatened with extinction, Gov. Steve Beshear today added a proposal to this month’s special legislative session to allow expanded gaming at the state’s racetracks to increase purses and breeder incentives.

“Kentucky’s horse industry – a living, breathing part of our cultural heritage and one of our strongest, most precious commodities abroad – is in a state of crisis,” Gov. Beshear told reporters today in announcing his proposal. “Some even say it’s dying.”

Gov. Beshear said the proposal – which would limit Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs) to approved racetracks – would level the playing field for Kentucky’s horse industry, which has faced increasing competition from states that have increased race purses and breeder incentives from expanded gaming proceeds.

The result, he said, is that Kentucky is losing race dates at Churchill Downs; other tracks are facing closure and owners, breeders and jockeys are going elsewhere to board and race horses. About 100,000 jobs are connected with the horse industry in Kentucky, which translates into a $4 billion economic impact.

“Kentucky is, and remains, the horse capital of the world,” Gov. Beshear said. “But if we do not act, if we refuse to stand up for our signature industry, that title could be changed to Former Horse Capital of the World.

“As Governor, I cannot – and I will not – stand idly by and let that happen. Not without a fight. This proposal would allow thousands of working-class Kentuckians to continue to provide their families with a roof over their heads, food on their tables and the ability to send their kids to school.”

The Governor said his administration is continuing to work on draft legislation, which he hopes will be finalized in the coming days. He said it would contain details of how VLTs, which would be run through the Kentucky Lottery Corporation, would be taxed and generate revenue for both the state and industry.

Gov. Beshear said that while expanded gaming at the tracks would not impact the upcoming year’s budget, it would create recurring net revenues, which could help close the gap created when federal stimulus dollars are no longer available in two years. Such revenues would, undoubtedly, help with funding for schools, health care and public safety. Moreover, Gov. Beshear said, he believes the legislature can move forward with this proposal without a Constitutional amendment.

“The legislature, in our judgment, has the authority,” he said. “Now, we must determine if we have the will.”

Finally, Gov. Beshear said, that while he is willing to consider other ideas for helping one of Kentucky’s signature industries, it is time to make a decision on gaming, which has been the subject of intense debate for many years.

“Time is of the essence, and right now, this idea is the only one on the table,” he said. “It’s time to vote on it – up or down, with full knowledge of what is at stake and what is at risk … Political machinations and calculations are, frankly, not a part of my reasoning today. The unknown cannot be an excuse for timidity or inaction.

“Today, I am calling on legislators and the people of Kentucky to come forward and save the horse industry... before it is too late.”

Governor Beshear unveils budget plan

Earlier today, Governor Beshear issued this press release:

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Faced with the largest shortfall in modern Kentucky history, Gov. Steve Beshear today unveiled a proposed budget for next year that does not raise taxes on working families and businesses while preserving basic funding for classroom instruction, health care programs for the most vulnerable and key areas of public safety.

Gov. Beshear told reporters this afternoon that he is formally calling the legislature into a special session, starting June 15, to address a projected $1 billion shortfall in the legislatively enacted budget for the new year, which begins July 1. The coming budget year is also the third consecutive year that the state has had fewer dollars in revenue than projected and budgeted expenses – an unprecedented occurrence.

“My plan protects our families and businesses in this vulnerable time; preserves investments in critical priorities like education, health care and public safety,” the Governor said, “and recognizes the economy will take years to recover.”

In short, the proposed plan will be paid for by making an additional $200 million in cuts from enacted levels and utilizing more than $740 million in federal stimulus dollars, the bulk of which would go toward education and Medicaid as prescribed by law.

“Given the challenges that we will face in the next biennium, as predicted by the Consensus Forecasting Group, it is prudent that we reserve some of the stimulus money to help us address next year’s budget,” said Gov. Beshear.

“Without this money, the pain we are experiencing would be magnified many times over,” the Governor said. “We must realize, however, that this is one-time money. We cannot and should not use it to create new programs we would be unable to sustain in future years.”

Highlights of the Governor’s proposed budget plan include:

• Preserving the same amount in the coming year as last year in per pupil spending in classrooms across the state – the basic formula known as SEEK -- and funding for higher education at the same levels as the 2009 budget. “I’ll say it again and again – we cannot move forward if we take significant steps backward in spending in our classrooms,” Gov. Beshear said of his proposal.



• Fully funding Kentucky’s Medicaid program, which until recently had operated with a deficit of more than $280 million.



• Preserving funding for mental health services at current levels.



• Preserving funding for state police and support for local jails as well as increasing funding for prosecutors, public defenders and corrections.



• Maintaining current funding for economic development efforts, veteran’s programs and increasing resources in the Department of Revenue to enhance tax collection efforts. Also, increasing funding for state parks to ensure that the system can meet its obligations in the coming year.



• Cutting most other areas of state government by an additional 2.6 percent in the coming year from current year levels. These latest proposed cuts would be in addition to nearly $600 million in cuts to state government since Gov. Beshear took office 18 months ago, including some $150 million in the 2009 budget. “This will not be easy to implement,” he said. “Many of our departments and agencies have had their spending cut in the current and previous budget cycle, so many are already operating in a lean manner. They will have to cut even more. How they do that will be an ongoing process.”



• Eliminating three paid holidays for state employees making under $50,000 annually and five holidays for those making $50,000 or more. This move, Gov. Beshear said, will not disrupt basic services as state government is closed on holidays in any event and will avert mass layoffs.



• Continuing the budget reduction plan in the Transportation Cabinet to deal with a projected $239 million shortfall in the state’s Road Fund.

Despite the pain that additional spending reductions and program cuts will foster, Gov. Beshear said Kentucky is much more fortunate than most states, many of which have implemented lay offs for scores of police officers, teachers, state and university employees, while also eliminating or reducing basic and human services programs.

“Here in Kentucky, we have avoided such devastating actions by carefully and decisively managing the state budget over the last couple of years,” Gov. Beshear said. “We have acted to preserve priorities in education, health care and public safety and I am proposing to do so again.

“This is a tough time for many people in Kentucky... But we cannot lose hope. We must not lose faith. And we will not lose confidence. We will survive this. And if we work together, if we act boldly, yet responsibly, we can emerge stronger than before.”

NPR interviews President Obama

President Obama was recently interviewed by NPR on the subject of Mideast policy:

President Obama, just days before traveling to the Middle East to deliver a key speech on U.S.-Muslim relations, on Monday reasserted U.S. support for Israel. But in an interview with NPR, the president also said he will continue to push for a Palestinian state and for a freeze on Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

"I don't think we have to change strong support for Israel," Obama said during an interview with NPR hosts Michele Norris of All Things Considered and Steve Inskeep of Morning Edition.

"We do have to retain a constant belief in the possibilities of negotiations that will lead to peace," Obama said. "And that's going to require, from my view, a two-state solution."

You can listen to the entire interview by clicking here, or read the full transcript here.

New ad from the Coalition for Constitutional Values

Reagan Did It

Nobel-winning economist Paul Krugman does a great job showing why Ronald Reagan is largely to blame for today's economic turmoil:

Reagan-era legislative changes essentially ended New Deal restrictions on mortgage lending — restrictions that, in particular, limited the ability of families to buy homes without putting a significant amount of money down.

These restrictions were put in place in the 1930s by political leaders who had just experienced a terrible financial crisis, and were trying to prevent another. But by 1980 the memory of the Depression had faded. Government, declared Reagan, is the problem, not the solution; the magic of the marketplace must be set free. And so the precautionary rules were scrapped.

...There’s plenty of blame to go around these days. But the prime villains behind the mess we’re in were Reagan and his circle of advisers — men who forgot the lessons of America’s last great financial crisis, and condemned the rest of us to repeat it.