President Obama's weekly address

The President discusses the benefits of health reform that Americans will receive in the first year, and how reform will help build a new foundation for American families.

Geoff Davis donor gets $3.9 million earmark

The Lexington Herald-Leader has the story:

U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning and U.S. Rep. Geoff Davis earmarked $3.92 million in the defense spending bill signed into law Dec. 19 for American Freedom Fuels, a Lexington company owned by Robert Addington, who is also a major campaign donor.

Addington, who with his brothers founded and ran several large coal companies, has given about $35,000 in combined political donations since 2005 to Bunning and Davis, both Kentucky Republicans.

..."If he can't get enough money in the private sector for his companies, it shouldn't be up to the members of Congress to step in and pick winners and losers using money that isn't theirs," [spokeswoman for Citizens Against Government Waste Leslie] Paige said. "That's why we have a free market, to decide which ideas will get capital."

Governor Beshear's weekly address

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

Republicans: Not Ready to Lead

Governor Touts Job Creation, Education

Governor Steve Beshear just issued this press release:

FRANKFORT, Ky. – In his third State of the Commonwealth address, Gov. Steve Beshear reminded legislators of their bipartisan successes in job creation, education and budget balancing -- despite a plodding economy and dismal budget outlook. He asked legislators to come together again to solve the state’s worst budget forecast in generations.

“With a mindset of cooperation, we’ve made government work again for the people,” said Gov. Beshear. “I pledge to Kentuckians from west to east that I will continue to operate with this spirit of cooperation.”

Gov. Beshear pointed to the successful overhaul of the economic incentives program, changes to the pension system, and the protection of the main K-12 education funding formula (SEEK) as examples of what state government can accomplish when leaders set aside political differences.

“In these troubled times, Kentuckians need hope, and they need help,” Gov. Beshear said. “I refuse to use this recession as an excuse not to move forward.”

The governor outlined four goals to help the state survive the recession and position it for future success: creating and maintaining jobs, supporting families through the recession, attacking systemic problems hindering state progress, and making state government more efficient and transparent.

• Create and maintain jobs
  Gov. Beshear touted the success of the bipartisan overhaul of the state’s tax incentive programs, which streamlined and modernized business development incentives. The new program, Incentives for a New Kentucky, allows existing businesses to take advantage of tax incentives to reinvest and create new jobs. In November alone, businesses applied for incentives that would create 1,100 jobs and maintain another 1,400. Strategic application of federal stimulus dollars saved another 4,200 jobs in the state.


• Support families through recession
  Gov. Beshear worked to secure expanded unemployment insurance benefits for those out of work, used federal stimulus funds to fully fund healthcare benefits for the most vulnerable in the Medicaid program and began a $2.9 million overhaul of the food stamp program to get aid to families more quickly. An initiative to register more children for health insurance led to health coverage for 36,000 children through the Kentucky’s Children Health Insurance Program (KCHIP). And he helped needy Kentuckians secure $17 million worth of prescription drugs by improving access to low-cost or free drug programs.


• Attack systemic problems hindering state progress
  The Governor said that protecting the SEEK formula, the main funding mechanism for K-12 education, has been one of his proudest achievements to date. Gov. Beshear said he plans to do “everything humanly possible” to protect education funding. He also outlined several legislative priorities to attack systemic long-term problems facing Kentucky, including:
  
  • raising the allowable high school dropout age;
  • simplifying the transfer of credits among community colleges and four-year institutions;
  • increasing funds for smoking cessation; and
  • increasing accessibility to KCHIP, the health insurance program for children.


• Make government lean, efficient and open
  Gov. Beshear thanked legislators for their assistance in continuing to balance the state budget while preserving key areas of education, health care and public safety. Since taking office, Gov. Beshear has cut the budget six times, reducing spending by approximately $900 million and shrinking the executive branch to its smallest size in two decades. Next week, the Governor will unveil a new series of efficiency measures designed to continue ensuring every tax dollar is wisely spent.

“We are living in historic times, and this recession has shaken the confidence of many,” Gov. Beshear said. “But out of adversity can come opportunity, and that opportunity is ours to seize.”

Steele Suggests GOP Isn't Ready to Take Over

RNC chairman Michael Steele continues his streak of gaffes. The Wall Street Journal has more:

An interview with Michael Steele on a conservative program seemed like the perfect venue for the Republican National Committee chairman to hawk his new book. But Steele also offered up new ammunition to Democratic opponents when he questioned whether the GOP was ready to lead on the chance Republicans win a House majority in the 2010 midterm elections.

...[Conservative pundit Sean] Hannity urged the chairman to “answer your own question” on the GOP’s ability to lead. Steele’s response? “I don’t know, and that’s what I’m assessing and evaluating right now.”

...“Admitting that Republicans aren’t ready to lead is the most honest thing Michael Steele has said in his life,” tooted Democratic National Committee spokesman Hari Sevugan.

Rush's 'Dandy' Health Care from Union Nurses

Think Progress makes a great catch:

Last week, Rush Limbaugh was rushed to a hospital while vacationing in Hawaii after complaining of chest pains. Shortly after being released from Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu, Limbaugh said his doctors didn’t know what caused his symptoms, and he praised the U.S. health care system based on his experience at the hospital.

...Queen’s Medical Center’s nursing staff are represented by the Hawaii Nurses’ Association union and that “Hawaii has one of the greatest percentages of organized workers of any state and also had the highest percentage of organized RNs.”

...While Limbaugh has repeatedly attacked Democrats’ efforts at health care reform, he also regularly vilifies unions, calling them “thugs.” “Find a business in trouble,” Limbaugh has said, “and you will find a union involved.” Apparently, this isn’t so for Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu.

Cheney claim on Obama earns Pants on Fire

The nonpartisan fact-checking website PolitiFact has looked into Dick Cheney's claim that "President Obama is trying to pretend we are not at war":

In his latest attack on President Barack Obama, former Vice President Dick Cheney seized on the attempted bombing of a Detroit-bound jetliner to suggest that Obama is weak on terrorism.

"As I’ve watched the events of the last few days it is clear once again that President Obama is trying to pretend we are not at war," Cheney said.

...even a cursory examination of Obama's statements shows this one is preposterous. Obama has often said the United States is at war against terrorist organizations -- and has ordered a massive increase in U.S. troops in Afghanistan to fight that war. So Cheney's comment isn't just False, it's ridiculously so. Pants on Fire!

President Obama's weekly address

The President discusses the recent attempted act of terrorism on the Christmas day flight to Detroit, and his broader strategy to fight Al Qaeda.

We're on the verge of historic reform

Here's a great new ad from Health Care For America Now: