Insurance: A pocketbook issue in coming elections (Dem / union demagoguery)

The Courier Press ^ | September 14, 2004 | Charles Wolfe, AP

[Republican Wildcat]

FRANKFORT -- Larry Belcher, a retired teacher from Bullitt County, was at the Capitol last week and made a stop in the House chamber where he served two terms as a state representative and hopes to return.

Belcher was not merely being nostalgic. He was part of a backdrop, one of about 30 Democratic legislators and candidates standing behind Speaker Jody Richards in the House chamber as Richards lambasted the state health insurance plan being implemented by Gov. Ernie Fletcher's administration.

The plan will entail some significant cost increases for 229,000 school and state government employees, retirees and dependents. The Jefferson County Teachers Association, part of the Kentucky Education Association, was already up in arms, calling for a statewide strike.

Republicans said they suspected collusion between the union and Democrats. True or not, Belcher afforded a glimpse at how a Democratic legislative candidate can be expected to use the issue from now till November.

Belcher noted that the legislator who holds his old seat, Republican Rep. Mary Harper of Shepherdsville, voted with everyone else in the House's Republican minority against the House's version of a budget bill.

"Mrs. Harper voted against the House plan," Belcher said. With 1,400 school employees, "it does become an issue in our county."

Had that budget been enacted, Democrats say, it would have provided more money for salaries and health insurance for teachers and state employees.

Richards said House Democrats were "doing everything we can to make sure that our teachers and state employees receive the compensation they deserve for their hard work."

Hogwash, Republicans said. State GOP Chairman John McCarthy said Democrats were trying to "score cheap political points" and galvanize teachers for November.

State Budget Director Brad Cowgill called Richards' speech "demagoguery" and said the Democrats' budget "would not have offered a single dollar more than the governor has made available."

Harper, who like Belcher is a retired teacher, said she expected her opponent to use the health insurance issue. Her antidote? She said she also regretted that the new health insurance plan "didn't do a little more for teachers" but that she tells people "the health plan was the best we could get at this place in time."

She said she also reminds constituents that Democrats blocked legislation aimed at limiting medical malpractice damages.

"I think you can't run on one issue alone," Harper said. "I think I'll be re-elected. I'm sure it will be a close race."

[Republican Wildcat]

Belcher noted that the legislator who holds his old seat, Republican Rep. Mary Harper of Shepherdsville, voted with everyone else in the House's Republican minority against the House's version of a budget bill.

"Mrs. Harper voted against the House plan," Belcher said. With 1,400 school employees, "it does become an issue in our county."

Here we go again--there's more than one item in a budget and this guy knows this, but hopes the voters in that district are too stupid to know better. No effort to solve the root of the problem so the Democrats can campaign on this every few election cycles when they want to shift the burden to the taxpayers and spend, spend, spend.

By the way, here's that lady's website this AP article is essentially a hit-piece on:

Representative Mary Harper

[RonPaulLives]

KENTUCKY PING

If you want on or off the Kentucky PING list, or there are duplicates in the list, please kindly remind me; I am trying to re-build the lost KY PING List. If FR would allow the screen names on the state pages (as it once did), this would be easier.

[Bluegrass Conservative]

The Democrats are going to try to make state worker and teacher health insurance into the main issue this fall in the hopes of not losing legislative seats. The simple truth is that it is not that big of an issue. Sure it is with the folks it affects, but most of them were voting Democrat already.

End result is that the State Senate is going to stay about the same (my prediction is that Jack Westwood-R loses, but every other seat stays with the party it's with right now). And the House Republican Caucus is going to pick up 8-10 seats, putting it at 44-46 Republican members. NO House Republican incumbents (including Mary Harper) are going to lose.

[Republican Wildcat]

Do you think Trace Chesser will defeat Larry Clark?

[Bluegrass Conservative]

I believe there is a very good chance. From what I understand, Trace Chesser is being well-financed by big name Republicans from across the state and is working harder than any candidate in our past history!

If Trace comes up a bit short, expect Larry Clark to decide not to run again in '06. Trace would probably beat him with a second try. (Please note I'm not saying he's going to lose this time. I think he has an awesome opportunity to knock off one of the top Dems, not to mention the most annoying one!)

[Republican Wildcat]

If the State Party has any money for advertising, they should air Larry Clark's rant attacking Christians and depict it as the Democrats who are setting the agenda--which is true, since Clark is the Speaker Pro Tem selected by the Dems to lead them.
If you haven't see it, it is at Trace Chesser's website:

http://www.tracechesser.com

[Bluegrass Conservative]

I have no idea regarding the finances of the state party, however I agree with you wholeheartedly! I was there the day that Larry Clark went off on his rant about "the Christians". Clark is a meglomaniac that needs to be taught a lesson. For such a small guy, he's a heck of a bully!

[Republican Wildcat]

Well, we have our answer -- I just saw an ad being aired by the RPK where they are playing the Clark clip.