Free Republic

FRANKFORT — The top Republican in the Kentucky House wants Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear to halt an expansion of Medicaid, the federal-state health insurance program for the poor and disabled. The expansion of Medicaid is a central plank in President Barack Obama’s Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which says the federal government will pay 100 percent of the costs to add certain people to the program in 2014. After three years, the states must pick up some of the costs of the expansion, which Kentucky can’t afford, said House Minority Leader Jeff Hoover. Typically, the federal government pays 70...

I can't seem to find the results of yesterday's RNC election for Co-Chair. I know Steele was elected Chairman. Anyone know who his female counterpart is? Thanks!

Majority of House GOP endorse Thompson for president Twenty of the 37 state House Republicans today will announce they are endorsing former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson in the GOP presidential primary. "I am proud to lend my support to Senator Thompson in this campaign," said Republican Floor Leader Jeff Hoover of Jamestown. "Kentuckians can rest assured that this is a man who shares our Kentucky values and will take them to Washington as he leads our nation in these turbulent times." Rep. James Comer of Tompkinsville added in a statement that Thompson "has a history of being a strong proponent...

The newly elected (convervative Republican) Mayor of Georgetown, Kentucky caused a rude awakening among Georgetown Democrats this week . . . they no longer rule the town. Mayor Tingle-Sames fired four VERY partisan Democrats who were on the city's payroll. These were "at-will" positions, so she had every legal right to do this. Despite that fact, the local Democrats are up in arms and trying to swing a poll the local newspaper is running in their direction. Please take the time to visit www.news-graphic.com, scroll to the bottom left corner and vote that you approve of Mayor Tingle-Sames' decision. Feel...

I was just watching Fox News. Carl Cameron mentioned that Ken Mehlman will most likely step down as RNC Chair this January. Among potential replacements, he mentioned Bill Owen (Governor of Colorado) and Michael Steele (Lt. Governor and 2006 Senate nominee from Maryland). At first glance, I really like the idea of Steele leading the party. He has both elected and party experience. Your thoughts?

A true conservative and non-activist judge (who has strong support from FREEPERS in this area) from Kentucky needs your help. Rob Johnson is running for Circuit Judge. He was appointed to this position last year and the Democrats have brought out a retired judge who has publicly said he's running because "I don't want a Republican holding that office." We've found out that the Democrats are soliciting people outside the county to vote in this poll, so I'm asking you all to counter that. Please take 10 seconds to go to www.news-graphic.com , scroll down the left side and vote...

A true social and fiscal conservative (who has strong support from FREEPERS in this area) from Kentucky needs your help. Charles "Chuck" Bradley is running for State Representative. He ran in 2004 against a pro-union, pro-same sex marriage 8 year incumbent and received 45% of the vote. He's running again this year and it is a VERY competitive race. We've found out that the Democrats are soliciting people outside the county to vote in this poll, so I'm asking you all to counter that. Please take 10 seconds to go to www.news-graphic.com , scroll down the left side and vote...

A true conservative (and FREEPER) from Kentucky needs your help. Tony Hampton is running for sheriff in Scott County. He ran in 2002 against a well-funded incumbent and received 45% of the vote. He's running again this year and it is a VERY competitive race. We've found out that his opponent is soliciting people outside the county to vote in this poll, so I'm asking you all to counter that. Please take 10 seconds to go to www.news-graphic.com , scroll down the left side and vote for Tony Hampton. Thanks!

Democrat in Kentucky House switching to GOP RYAN LENZ Associated Press HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. - State Rep. James Carr of Hopkinsville, elected last year as a Democrat, announced Monday he was switching to the Republican Party. With Carr's defection, Democrats now hold a 56-44 advantage in the House. "The leadership of the Kentucky Democratic Party is out of step with many rank-and-file Kentucky Democrat voters who hold issues such as gun control, abortion and the military close to their hearts," Carr said at a news conference. He was accompanied by U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell and U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield. Carr, 41,...

Fletcher sacks administration members over personnel problems MARK R. CHELLGREN Associated Press FRANKFORT, Ky. - Gov. Ernie Fletcher Wednesday sacked nine members of his administration, including one of his closest advisers, for what he said he now believes were violations of state merit system personnel laws. Among those to be sacked are Richard Murgatroyd, Fletcher's deputy chief of staff and close friend. Fletcher said he would also ask the state Republican Party to oust Darrell Brock as its chairman. Brock used to be head of Fletcher's local development office. In a prepared statement, Fletcher apologized to people hurt by hiring...

Alleged Chicken-For-Sex Offer Lands Meat Man In Jail KEENE, N.H. -- A door-to-door meat salesman from Maine is accused of assaulting a potential customer after she turned down his offer of chicken in exchange for sex. Ryan Park, 22, of Waterboro, Maine, is accused of grabbing the woman in Stoddard, N.H., and forcefully kissing her after she rejected his offer last month. Park has been charged with assault and is due in Keene District Court on June 28.

Ex-roomie's arrest well-urned By Shelly Whitehead Post staff reporter Today's criminal justice stumper comes from Covington, where this week police arrested a 36-year-old man for allegedly swiping the ashes of his ex- lover's dead brother, then refusing to return the cremation urn because, as he told officers, "He wanted it to sit and fill with water." So, the question is, with what was James W. Skean charged? If you guessed something like, desecration of a grave site, kidnapping or even attempted reconstitution of a human, go back to law school. As morbidly offbeat as the plunder in this case was,...

Mexican TV Actress Dies After Seeing Gun MEXICO CITY - A Mexican television actress died on Friday of a heart attack after a man armed with a pistol approached her vehicle on a Mexico City street, officials said. Mariana Levy, 39, featured on the "Nuestra Casa" show on the Televisa network, developed labored breathing after seeing the weapon, said prosecutor Carlos Gurrea. Her husband, Jose Maria Fernandez Jr., drove her to a nearby clinic where she died, Gurrea said, quoting Fernandez. A man was arrested and later identified by Levy's husband as the man who approached the vehicle, in which...

I was working on this for a project and just thought it was interesting information. This is the demoninational makeup of the current United States Senate. 24 Catholic (10 GOP, 14 DEM) 14 Presbyterian (11 GOP, 3 DEM) 13 Methodist (8 GOP, 5 DEM) 11 Jewish (2 GOP, 9 DEM) 9 Episcopalian (7 GOP, 2 DEM) 7 Baptist (6 GOP, 1 DEM) 5 Mormon (3 GOP, 2 DEM) 3 Lutheran (1 GOP, 2 DEM) 3 Congregationalist (1 GOP, 1 DEM, 1 IND) 3 Christian (2 GOP, 1 DEM) 2 Protestant (2 GOP, 0 DEM) 2 Eastern Orthodox (1 GOP, 1...

Consider yourself "April Fooled"! :-)

Patrick Kennedy Will Not Run for Senate By LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON - Rep. Patrick Kennedy (news, bio, voting record), D-R.I., on Wednesday ruled out a run for the Senate in 2006, saying he could better serve his constituents by staying in the House and serving on the Appropriations Committee. Kennedy has been in Boston caring for his mother, Joan Kennedy, who was hospitalized with a concussion and a broken shoulder after a passer-by found her lying in a street Tuesday. In a statement, Kennedy did not cite family responsibilities as a reason for his decision, but...

House measure on living wills stalled in panel Measure spurred by Schiavo case By Tom Loftus tloftus@courier-journal.com The Courier-Journal FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Kentucky lawmakers had a chance this past session to change the law on living wills so people without one would be kept alive by a feeding tube if necessary. But the bill stalled in a House committee because lawmakers ran out of time in the push to pass budget legislation, the chairman said. "I don't think we need those kind of issues cluttering up the legislative time," said Rep. Tom Burch, D-Louisville and chairman of the House Health...

Jerry Falwell in Critical Condition U.S. National - AP By BOB LOWRY, Associated Press Writer LYNCHBURG, Va. - The Rev. Jerry Falwell was hospitalized in critical condition Tuesday, battling his second case of viral pneumonia in just five weeks, hospital and church officials said. Falwell, 71, was admitted to Lynchburg General Hospital shortly before midnight Monday suffering from "respiratory arrest," the hospital said in a statement. He was put on a ventilator and stabilized but remained in critical condition, the hospital said. "He's resting comfortably and in stable condition," said Ron Godwin, Falwell's executive assistant. "It's a recurrence of the...

U.S. oversteps in Schiavo case By Merlene Davis HERALD-LEADER COLUMNIST Just let me die. If for any reason I cannot eat, drink, speak or go to the bathroom on my own for 15 years, please have compassion and let me die. If my sister and brother fight my husband's attempts to remove my feeding tubes, just know that my siblings are sick with grief and are not thinking straight. Tell them to let me go. The Terri Schiavo case,-involving a 41-year-old woman in Florida whose heart stopped beating briefly in 1990, leaving her brain damaged, has gotten this country's priorities...

The people of Kyrgyzstan have spoken—and acted. On Thursday, they stormed presidential headquarters and government buildings in the capital Bishkek in response to rigged parliamentary elections, and the government appears to be losing its grip on power. The Supreme Court has since annulled the elections, and the country is likely to return to the polls shortly. Still, Kyrgyzstan may face the prospects of civil war and possible disintegration if President Askar Akaev does not resign. In turn, turmoil in Kyrgyzstan could bring inter-ethnic and political violence to its larger neighbors, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, and lead to their destabilization. To prevent...