Pol Watchers

Bunning lost bet to McConnell on 2007 elections

U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning told 400 Northern Kentucky Republicans Saturday night that he recently had to pay up to U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell on a friendly bet wagered over the 2007 election in Kentucky.

Bunning bet that if Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher lost re-election by more than 150,000 votes that none of the other GOP candidates on the ballot -- including incumbent Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer and Secretary of State Trey Grayson -- could win.

"Trey is a great candidate, but he can't overcome that kind of vote at the top of the ticket," Bunning said he recalled arguing to McConnell.

Fletcher got trounced by Democrat Steve Beshear 619,552 votes to 435,773, a margin of 183,779. But Grayson and Farmer easily cruised to second terms.

"I lost a dinner bet," Bunning said at the 4th Congressional District Lincoln Day Dinner at the Airport Marriott in Hebron. "I was so happy to pay. Not only did one win, but two won. It just shows that people will vote for good people no matter what party they're running under."

Bunning and his wife Mary covered dinners for McConnell and his wife, U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, at one of Washington's premier steakhouses.

- Ryan Alessi

Kentucky GOP accuses Bluegrass Freedom Fund

The Republican Party of Kentucky filed a complaint to the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance raising questions about whether the Bluegrass Freedom Fund went out of bounds with its ads in last year's governor's race.

To view the complaint, click here.

Steve Robertson, the Kentucky GOP chairman, said recent comments in the press by representatives of the Democratic Governors Association and casino company owner Bill Yung -- both of whom donated to the Bluegrass Freedom Fund -- indicate that the group's purpose was to help Democrat Steve Beshear get elected.

"They made it clear that they were giving big money to this fund to help Steve Beshear get elected," Robertson said in an interview. "Last time I checked they weren't saying they were giving to improve ethics in Kentucky."

The Bluegrass Freedom Fund ran several TV ads during the governor's race that touted ethics reform in Kentucky government. All of the spots focused on ethics problems that dogged former Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher, whom Beshear soundly beat in the November election.

UPDATE 7:34 p.m.: Jim Lamb, a Washington-based attorney for the Bluegrass Freedom Fund, charged that the Republican party's complaint "misstates the law and is factually wrong."

Lamb said the issue ads calling for ethics reforms were consistent with a June 2007 U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Here's part of his statement:

The BFF acted completely independently of any campaign. And while we appreciated the support of our donors, they played no role in the independent decision making of our organization. RPK's complaint is legally and factually wrong.

In contrast, Gov. Fletcher was a member of and personally raised money for the Republican Governors Association, which then ran character attack ads against Steve Beshear last year.  A complaint was filed against the RGA in the Fall of 2007.

The RPK's facts about BFF are wrong, but if their legal argument is correct, then they just indicted the RGA and their member, Gov. Fletcher.

The Bluegrass Freedom Fund was set up under Section 527 under the IRS code that allows groups to advocate on behalf of issues but forbids coordination with candidates or campaigns.

Both Brian Namey, spokesman for the DGA, and Yung have been quoted as saying they supported Beshear's efforts to get elected. Namey said in August the group was "doing everything we can to support Steve Beshear." And Yung told the Associated Press last month that he exercised his First Amendment right to give money to support Beshear. Neither explicitly said contributions to the Bluegrass Freedom Fund was their main avenue of support.

Robertson said even though the complaint comes months after the governor's race results, he said the Republican Party wants to ensure that future 527 groups are more tightly regulated.

Republican Sen. Damon Thayer of Georgetown, has sponsored a bill that would require certain 527 groups weighing in on constitutional amendment issues to reveal their donors to the Registry of Election Finance frequently. Currently, 527 groups that operate in Kentucky only have to file annually with the IRS.

"We've got to send a message to groups like this that if they're going to participate in elections in Kentucky, they need to participate the right way," Robertson said.

- Ryan Alessi

House bill would curtail election year road spending

A group of 10 Democrats and one Republican have sponsored a bill that would limit an administration to spending only up to half of the highway construction contingency fund during a year with a governor's race.

The bill, H.B. 446, was introduced Feb. 1 by Rep. Keith Hall, D-Pikeville and has attracted Democratic co-sponsors from Eastern Kentucky as well as Owensboro Democrat Tommy Thompson and Republican Rep. Jim Stewart III of Flat Lick.

This comes after outgoing Gov. Ernie Fletcher's administration depleted the fund last summer and fall to just $650,000, which must last through June 30.

- Ryan Alessi

Casino, horsy set gave heavily

By Janet Patton And Ryan Alessi
JPATTON@HERALD-LEADER.COM

• Read the full list of donors

Donors from the horse and casino industries -- including the co-owners of the Island View Casino of Gulfport, Miss. -- pumped about a half-million dollars into a little-known Democratic Party fund-raising committee last fall.

Nearly 40 people connected to those interests accounted for about 28 percent of the money raised by the Kentucky Victory 2007 committee. The Democratic National Committee set up that fund-raising entity with the Kentucky Democratic Party in June.

Federal Election Commission reports show that $117,000 of the Victory Committee's money went directly to the Kentucky Democratic Party, which was supporting Gov. Steve Beshear's campaign in the 2007 election.

Throughout last fall, casino, racetrack officials and horse owners and breeders gave heavily, shelling out at least $489,500 to the Kentucky Victory Committee, according to a Herald-Leader analysis.

CONTINUE READING STORY

Bluegrass Freedom Fund resurfaces

A political group that urged changes to Kentucky's ethics laws during the 2007 gubernatorial campaign resurfaced Thursday with a news release calling on Kentuckians to pressure lawmakers for change during the upcoming legislative session.

The Bluegrass Freedom Fund's re-emergence comes days after the Herald-Leader reported that Gov. Steve Beshear may not propose a constitutional amendment limiting a governor's pardoning powers during the session of the General Assembly that begins Tuesday.

Beshear said he still supports such a measure, but may wait until 2009 to push the proposal.

During the gubernatorial campaign, Beshear pledged to lead an effort to pass and put on the ballot a constitutional amendment that would prohibit governors from pardoning individuals who haven't yet been convicted of a crime.

The Bluegrass Freedom Fund ran at least $3 million worth of television ads last fall pounding former Gov. Ernie Fletcher for pardoning members of his administration and invoking his constitutional protection against self-incrimination during an investigation of state hiring practices.

Fletcher issued a blanket pardon for his entire administration, even though no one had been convicted of a crime.

The Bluegrass Freedom Fund's news release called on lawmakers to take six actions:

• "end pardon abuse"
• "protect whistleblowers"
• "reduce delays in releasing government records"
• "increase penalties for elected officials, staff and appointees who abuse the merit system"
• "increase penalties for violating the code of ethics"
• "make the Executive Branch Ethics Commission independent and non-partisan"

Beshear pledged support for most of those proposals during the campaign and plans to push for some of them during the upcoming legislative session.

The Bluegrass Freedom Fund is an independent political organization formed under rule 527 of the Internal Revenue Code.

UPDATE 5:31 p.m.: Achim Bergmann, a consultant for the Bluegrass Freedom Fund, said some of the organization's founders, whom he wouldn't name, haven't yet decided what different approaches the fund would take to continue pushing the reforms during the General Assembly session.

Bergmann said the group isn't disappointed with the Beshear administration's lukewarm enthusiasm for some of the reforms, such as curbing pardon power.

"Gov. Beshear set the right tone during his inaugural address," Bergmann said, referring to Beshear's Dec. 11 pledge that an executive ethics proposal will be among his first suggested bills. "We hope the budget mess doesn’t sideline the ethics reform or any other meaningful legislation."

- John Stamper

Fletcher raised $4 million

Former Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher reported today raising $4.07 million for his failed re-election bid, well below the $7 million raised by Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear.

Fletcher has raised $345,456.19 since Oct. 23, according to his report to the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance.

He spent a total of $3.934 million during the general election, leaving his campaign account with a balance of $136,113.02.

- John Stamper

Inauguration Day is always special

By Jack Brammer
HERALD-LEADER FRANKFORT BUREAU

• Schedule of events

FRANKFORT -- "Yes sir, Inauguration Day is always special in Kentucky."

That's what the 91-year-old woman Kentuckians endearingly knew as "Mama Chandler" said 16 years ago to reporters on the day Brereton Jones was sworn in as the state's chief executive.

Mildred Chandler, the wife of A.B. "Happy" Chandler, who was governor in the 1930s and 1950s, was right. Inauguration Day, with its pomp, pageantry and surprises, is special in Kentucky.

On this day when Steve Beshear becomes the 61st governor in the Commonwealth's history and gives Democrats control again of the executive branch, the Capital City will gussy up and try to behave as if royalty were coming to visit.

In a parade this morning up Capital Avenue, the state's royal couple of the day -- Beshear and his wife, Jane -- will ride in a green-and-gold carriage.

After his swearing-in ceremony and inaugural address this afternoon, three balls free to the public tonight on the Capitol grounds will usher in the new administration with song and dance. A fireworks display later will put an exclamation point on the busy day.

The festive day means about $2 million for Frankfort's economy, says Carl West, editor of The State Journal, who remembers bigger crowds on inauguration days when patronage ran unchecked in Kentucky politics and "everyone was looking for a state job."

Besides the history and the hoopla, the day is special because of the surprises.

No red-blooded Kentucky man will forget Gov. John Y. Brown Jr.'s 1979 inauguration with the presence of the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders in their skimpy uniforms. Celebrities Andy Williams, Muhammad Ali, Lee Majors and Foster Brooks also showed up but didn't get as much attention.

Brown said yesterday the cheerleaders "must have been Phyllis' doing," referring to his former celebrity wife, Phyllis George.

"I had a lot on my mind that day," said Brown. "Two hours before my speech and after watching the parade, I had a splitting headache. Steve Wilson, an aide, brought me over to the Mansion to get a shot of whiskey or bourbon and it got rid of my headache. That's never been reported.

"Dr. Thomas Clark and other historians said it was one of the best inaugural speeches ever."

When Brown's term ended in 1983, he left a personal note taped to the door of the governor's office for his successor, Martha Layne Collins. It said, "Everything was working when I left. JYB."

Beshear sets gubernatorial fund-raising records

Democrat Steve Beshear collected a whopping $7 million during his winning campaign for governor, setting the record for the most money raised from others by a gubernatorial candidate.

Beshear’s financial success — largely  due to the Democratic candidate’s relentless fund-raising pace that took him to more than 200 events across the state — was a final touch on his successful run that resurrected his political career after losing that race in the 1987 Democratic primary.

Beshear finished the election with $250,927 left over, according to his campaign finance report filed with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance late yesterday.

Beshear’s total could end up nearly doubling what Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher brought in. Fletcher, who trailed Beshear badly in money for the entire general election, hasn’t yet filed his latest report. They are due by Dec. 12, the day after Beshear is inaugurated.

The $7 million Beshear raised in the general election broke Fletcher’s record of $5.6 million collected in 2003. Beshear’s total of $9.5 million also shattered the overall record of $8 million worth of donations in the primary and general elections combined.

That record was held by Beshear’s friend and supporter, Brereton Jones, who was governor from 1991 to 1995.

Beshear spent $1 million down the stretch and spent $1.3 million in the final week to seal his 17-point win over Fletcher.

Overall, Beshear spent $6.8 million this fall mostly on campaign ads, voter turnout efforts and his staff. He also received nearly $1.4 million worth of in-kind contributions from the Democratic Party.

On top of that, the Bluegrass Freedom Fund, a so-called 527 organization, added at least $3 million worth of commercials against Fletcher. That group, which was largely funded by the Democratic Governors Association, hasn’t reported its final numbers to the IRS.

As he did during most of the general election, Beshear collected money from a wide swath of people from across Kentucky. Among those who gave in the final week of the campaign and the month since were attorneys, engineers and contractors, coal company employees, farmers and horse owners and local elected officials.

Beshear received a late boost from about 100 state workers who gave a total of nearly $40,000 during this reporting period, according to a Herald-Leader analysis.

The most prominent state official was John Clay, whom Fletcher appointed to the Public Service Commission in October 2006 and elevated to vice chairman in August 2007. He gave Beshear’s campaign $500 four days before the election. Another former Fletcher supporter, Kentucky Motor Speedway owner Jerry Carroll, kicked in $1,000.

Also giving to Beshear at the last minute were several Democrats who are now considering seeking new offices: former Congressman Carroll Hubbard, who gave $1,000 and is running for state Senate; Daviess County Judge Executive Reid Haire, who gave $500 and is considering a bid for Congress; and Louisville businessman Greg Fischer, who contributed $1,000 and is weighing a U.S. Senate run.

Also, Beshear received a half-dozen donations from employees of Jefferson County Attorney Irv Maze. Maze ran with state treasurer Jonathan Miller against Beshear in the Democratic primary, then dropped out and threw their support behind Beshear's ticket.

- Ryan Alessi

Beshear-Mongiardo campaign raised more than $7 million

FRANKFORT -- Gov.-elect Steve Beshear's campaign today reported that it raised nearly $7.07 million for last month's election.

In documents filed with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance, the Democratic campaign of Beshear and his running mate, Daniel Mongiardo, showed a balance of $250,927.

It raised $7,068,663 and reported no debts.

Beshear and Mongiardo are to be sworn into office Tuesday.  They defeated Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher and his running mate, Robbie Rudolph.

--Jack Brammer

Fletchers and Beshears stay mum about meeting

The day after incoming Gov. Steve Beshear and wife Jane had dinner with outgoing Gov. Ernie Fletcher and first lady Glenna, the camps of both couples are keeping details about the evening close to the vest.

"Governor-Elect Beshear and Jane spent a very pleasant evening with the Fletchers," said Vicki Glass, spokeswoman for Beshear. "They say the Fletchers could not have been more gracious hosts."

Glass said the Fletchers gave the Beshears a tour of the recently-renovated first floor of the mansion. "It's very attractive and decorated beautifully for the holidays," Glass said the Beshears reported.

But she said they didn't tour the upper floor, which is where the first family lives. That part hasn't been renovated, but Glenna Fletcher said Thursday she planned to encourage the Beshears to consider updating that floor.

"The Govenor-elect has no immediate plans for further renovation," Glass said.

Jodi Whitaker, spokeswoman for Fletcher, was able to say even less about the meeting.

She said Fletcher reported back only that "Glenna and I enjoyed our time welcoming Steve and Jane to their new home. And we wish them the very best."

In other governor-transition related news, Beshear's inauguration committee announced that the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History in Frankfort will feature special programming during the Dec. 11 inauguration day festivities. Gallery tours, children's programs and performances dealing with famous Kentuckians will start at noon that day.

- Ryan Alessi