Pol Watchers

'Mr. No Bailout' getting noticed

By Halimah Abdullah
HABDULLAH@HERALD-LEADER.COM

WASHINGTON -- It's no secret that Sen. Jim Bunning is deeply critical of how the Federal Reserve is run. The Kentucky Republican isn't exactly mum during his weekly teleconferences with reporters on how underwhelmed he is by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's job performance.

But the nation's mortgage meltdown, Senate passage of a recent housing bill laden with tax breaks for home builders, and the rescue of Bear Stearns by the Federal Reserve have Bunning practically fuming.

"How big do you have to be to be too big to fail?" Bunning asked during a recent Senate Banking Committee hearing on the Bear Stearns buyout. "Who let our entire financial system become so fragile that one failure jeopardizes the health of the entire system?"

Last week, national and international news media keyed in on the Hall of Fame pitcher-turned-lawmaker from the Bluegrass State.

Take for example this snippet from a Los Angeles Times blog, which dubbed Bunning "Mr. No Bailout" for his harsh criticism and vote against the Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008, a measure that industry analysts say does more to help home builders than homeowners.

One blogger, Firesale, wrote: "I guess that solves it. BUNNING FOR PRESIDENT!"

CONTINUE READING STORY

Republicans talk about Iraq, Obama at N. Ky. dinner

UPDATE 6 P.M. 4/14/08: CLICK HERE FOR AUDIO OF REMARKS BY U.S. REP. GEOFF DAVIS

Republican U.S. Sens. Mitch McConnell and Jim Bunning laid out their case for Republicans keeping control of the White House in the 2008 election during Northern Kentucky's 4th Congressional District Lincoln Day Dinner Saturday night.

McConnell, who is also up for re-election in November, defended the Bush administration's decision "to go on offense" by invading Iraq. And he said presumptive GOP presidential nominee, U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona, has the right perspective on what must be done in the Middle East, as opposed to the two Democratic candidates who favor removing U.S. troops as soon as possible.

"We'd be kidding ourselves," McConnell said. "This is a different kind of war. The enemy is not a country, it's a movement ... There's nobody to negotiate with."

Bunning used an even harsher description.

"The people we're fighting against now are worse than Adolf Hitler and Nazis. And we don't know where they live, half of them," Bunning said.

The Republicans specifically skewered Democratic presidential candidate and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, perhaps as a signal that they expect -- or hope -- that he is that party's nominee against McCain.

"I fear the two Democrats, one in particular, is incredibly naive," McConnell said, adding that five years ago when the U.S. Senate voted to go to war in Iraq, Obama was in the Illinois state senate. "This is the big leagues now. At what point do you turn off the demagoguery and become a serious, responsible leader?"

U.S. Rep. Geoff Davis, a Hebron Republican, compared Obama and his message for change similar to a "snake oil salesman."

He said in his remarks at the GOP dinner that he also recently participated in a "highly classified, national security simulation" with Obama.

"I'm going to tell you something: That boy's finger does not need to be on the button," Davis said. "He could not make a decision in that simulation that related to a nuclear threat to this country."

As for Obama's Democratic rival, McConnell said U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York seems to be "teetering on the brink."

"I hear she hasn't been this worried since a new Hooters opened" near her home with former President Bill Clinton, McConnell said, prompting laughs from the 400 Northern Kentucky Republicans.

 

- Ryan Alessi

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Bunning used campaign money to pay daughter

By Halimah Abdullah
HABDULLAH@MCCLATCHYDC.COM

WASHINGTON -- Over the past seven years, Sen. Jim Bunning has used campaign money to pay his daughter, Amy Towles, more than $138,000 to keep track of his elections' financial paperwork.

That's more than any other senator paid family members for similar work, according to a new report by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a liberal government watchdog group.

While paying family members for such work is not illegal, watchdog groups say such practices should face tighter scrutiny.

"This at least raises questions about whether she is the most qualified person for the job," said Melanie Sloan, executive director of the group. "People should ask themselves, 'When you give money to Jim Bunning, is that what you're giving it to, so he can pay his family?'"

The Kentucky Republican's staffers said Monday they aren't sure how much corporate experience Towles has in handling finances.

Towles began helping her father with federal campaign-related filings 14 years ago.

In 2001 she went on the payroll and received a $19,589.10 salary. Since then her salary has increased to roughly $25,000. Towles files her father's campaign finance paperwork with the Federal Election Commission, keeps track of financial records and has also served as a financial consultant for Bunning's political action committee, the Political Hall of Fame.

"There's nothing wrong or illegal being done here. This is perfectly legitimate," said Bunning spokesman Mike Reynard. "You want to have someone you trust to do the job right."

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Bunning makes pitch for 2010 re-election

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning sought to put to rest rumors that the he plans on retiring soon to make way for Secretary of State Trey Grayson when that position is up for re-election in 2010.

“I said it the day after 2004, so can we put it to bed today? I’m going to be a candidate in 2010. If I could throw a little harder I might even come back and try to pitch,” Bunning said.

Bunning, Kentucky's junior U.S. Senator, told reporters Tuesday on a conference call that he met with Grayson recently to discuss the younger man’s political aspirations after Grayson handily won re-election despite a loss at the top of the ticket by fellow Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher.

“The meeting I had with Trey Grayson was to congratulate him,” Bunning said. “I asked him what his intentions were, whether they were local or national. From the meeting I had, Trey seemed focused on local (politics) and wanted to do some good things in KY.”

- Halimah Abdullah

Bunning says he advised Fletcher to support casino vote

The Associated Press has a story today about a rift over expanded gambling between Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher and U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky.

By Bruce Schreiner
Associated Press Writer

LOUISVILLE -- U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning said Thursday that he urged fellow Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher to support putting the expanded gambling issue on the ballot.

Fletcher, who is running for re-election in a race centered on the gambling issue, has taken an opposite approach.

Bunning also told The Associated Press that he worries Fletcher's anti-casino gambling position could cut into the governor's support in Republican-heavy northern Kentucky.

"I advised him to allow it to be put on the ballot," Bunning said in an interview before the annual country ham breakfast at the Kentucky State Fair. "I guess my word didn't get through."

Bunning said he gave the advice to a Fletcher staffer, whom he wouldn't identify, the day after the May 22 primary.

"There are an awful lot of Republicans that think that's the way it should be handled," Bunning said.

Bunning had endorsed Fletcher's chief rival, former U.S. Rep Anne Northup, in the GOP primary, but promptly endorsed Fletcher after the governor won renomination.

Not long after the primary, Fletcher came out strongly opposed to putting the expanded gambling issue on the ballot in Kentucky. Before then, the governor said he was personally opposed to casino gambling but would leave the issue up to the voters if a gambling referendum made it on the ballot.

Asked to respond to Bunning's comment, Fletcher said Thursday that Bunning hadn't offered that advice to him personally.

Fletcher, Bunning and Republican U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell spoke to the gathering of more than 1,600 at the country ham breakfast, an event sponsored by the Kentucky Farm Bureau.

Daily Postscript: Shots taken at Lincoln Dinner

One final note from Saturday's Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner in Louisville:

Traditionally, the Lincoln Day Dinner has been about uniting the party and gearing up for the next election -- a kind of formal pep rally, if you will. Saturday night's statewide dinner, however, contained its share of tense moments that revealed fissures in the Kentucky GOP, which by the admission of its leaders is still coming to terms with its new-found powers.

Two of the biggest names in Kentucky Republican politics artfully dodged the controversy swirling around the increasingly competitive and contentious primary for governor between Gov. Ernie Fletcher, former congresswoman Anne Northup and Paducah businessman Billy Harper.

Sen. Mitch McConnell, who has remained publicly neutral, said he knew a lot of people wanted to hear which one he was supporting. "So ladies and gentlemen it’s going to be the Indianapolis Colts," he said, referring to the Super Bowl.

And at the start of the program, U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers of Somerset, remarked about the size of the crowd showing up because "there must be an election coming ... Like they say, when cats fight, you get a lot more kittens," he added. "Welcome kittens."

But it wasn't all pleasantries. U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning, Kentucky's junior senator, addressed the governor's race head on, saying that although Fletcher and Harper were both "good friends," he was supporting Northup. "I think Anne Northup is the best suited to lead our party," he said, sparking applause from Northup supporters, who mostly were congregated at tables in the back of the room. A visible tension fell over the large hall at Louisville's International Convention Center.

Still, Bunning ended his remarks on a unity note: "The next time someone suggests that the party is divided, remind them that the Democrats are two players short of fielding a baseball team," Bunning, the Hall of Fame pitcher, said of the seven Democratic candidates in that party's primary.

Later in the night, Fletcher took a jab at his lieutenant governor, Steve Pence, who dropped off the re-election ticket last summer, as well as Hunter Bates, who took himself off of Fletcher's 2003 slate after questions arose about whether he met the state's residency requirements to be lieutenant governor.

"Granted, I've gone through a few lieutenant governors, but I've got the right one now," Fletcher said in introducing his current running mate, Robbie Rudolph of Murray.

And ending the night's speeches was Northup, who was speaking in her hometown. While she spent most of her remarks on her own background, she did touch on the central argument so far in her campaign: that Fletcher's political baggage makes him a mortally-wounded candidate. "It will make little sense to choose a nominee who has virtually no chance to win in the fall," she said.

After the event, state Rep. Bill Farmer, a Lexington Republican who is backing Northup, said he was surprised by the number of shots taken throughout the night. "This should have been a positive event for everyone," he observed. "There shouldn't have been any negative statements made."

- Ryan Alessi

Bunning endorses Northup

By Drew Brown
HERALD-LEADER WASHINGTON BUREAU

U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning on Monday endorsed Anne Northup rather than GOP incumbent Ernie Fletcher in the Republican contest for Kentucky governor.

Speaking at the annual Kentucky Right to Life breakfast, Bunning said Northup “would be the best Republican pro-life candidate to move Kentucky forward.” Fletcher has described himself as pro-life as well.

Bunning said he rarely gets involved in state political races, but he decided this time that it’s “important for Kentucky to have a strong Republican that shares our values leading the commonwealth in Frankfort.”

Bunning promised to hold a news conference in Washington on Tuesday to elaborate on his reasons for endorsing Northup. Asked by reporters afterward why he decided to get involved in the race, Bunning suggested Northup stood a better chance of winning in November than Fletcher.

“I want to make sure that we nominate someone who can win in November,” he said. “That’s basic.”

COMPLETE STORY

Bunning not ready to endorse Fletcher

UPDATES BELOW, INCLUDING AUDIO

This today from the Associated Press.

U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning said he's not ready to support Gov. Ernie Fletcher's re-election bid because "not all the players are in the game."

Bunning, R-Ky., said Republicans need the best candidate to hold on to the governor's mansion and it may not be Fletcher. Instead, Bunning said, he's waiting for decisions by some members of Kentucky's congressional delegation.

"I want the best person that's available to win the governor's race. Until I know who all the players are I won't know who the best person is," Bunning said. "I'm not going to support an incumbent Republican governor unless I know whether Anne Northup might run or Hal Rogers might run."

Northup, of Louisville, lost her re-election bid last month. Rogers represents much of eastern Kentucky. Neither has said if they will run for governor. [...]

Bunning said he's talked with Fletcher about the race.

"He's not happy with me, but I didn't expect he would be," Bunning said.

COMPLETE STORY

This follows a non-endorsement of Fletcher by U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell last week and this comment from Republican political consultant Ted Jackson over the weekend:

"Ernie Fletcher is the David Koresh of Kentucky Republican politics," Jackson said. "He's boarded the windows and locked the doors and said, 'Take it from us, we'll burn it to the ground.'"

UPDATE: Listen to an excerpt of U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning's conference call with reporters earlier today. This audio was acquired from Bunning's Web site earlier today. The version now on his Web site no longer contains his comments regarding Gov. Ernie Fletcher.

UPDATE 2: This is what Bunning had to say about U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler's decision to stay in Congress and avoid the governor's race:

If he thinks he's going to advance the cause of Kentucky more by being a congressman from the 6th District than he could by being the governor of the Commonwealth, that's different from 99 and 9/10ths of the people who might want to be governor. They think they can do more by being governor and making executive decisions rather than being one of 435. His statement was kind of different than I'd ever seen a statement from a sitting congressman.

Here's what Bunning, who is 75, said about possibly running for governor himself:

Give me 20 years less and I would have jumped in and became governor of the Commonwealth, but I can't do that anymore. That's for other people.

UPDATE 3: Here's Bunning's take on some potential Democratic candidates for governor:

So far from the candidates that I have heard from the other side, I think it's an open shot for anybody to be elected right now. ... The former Lt. Gov. (Steve Henry)? My goodness, he's got more problems than Ernie Fletcher. The former Governor (Brereton Jones), who put in a health care system that drove health care out of Kentucky. My goodness. And on down the line. An Attorney General (Greg Stumbo) that I'd rather not talk about. ... What about Jody Richards? Wasn't he a candidate last time? And I don't hear anybody mentioning his name this time. ... How about (former Lt. Gov.) Steve Beshear, one of the biggest lobbyists in Kentucky running for governor.

UPDATE 4: Finally, Bunning had this to say about his personal and professional relationship with Fletcher:

I've had a good relationship before he became governor and then it became strained because of his Chief of Staff (Daniel Groves, who later resigned). We couldn't get access. We couldn't even get an official letter on official stationary acknowledged by the Governor of the Commonwealth. Somehow, the staff stopped our correspondence.

When Jim Host (former Commerce Secretary) got there, I had direct access through Jim Host to the governor. That's the only way I had direct access and then when he left I had no direct access. ... I don't think his first chief of staff served him well. But that's water over the dam. That's looking back. Let's look forward. ...

My personal relationship with Ernie Fletcher has been good from the very beginning and still remains that way. (Professionally) It's been difficult. That's as nice as we can put it. ...

There's some making up to get done. There's no bridges burnt, but they're severely jarred.

UPDATE 5: Fletcher's press secretary, Jodi Whitaker, just released this statement regarding Bunning's comments:

Mary and Jim have been supportive of us in the past and I hope that when the time is right they will be supportive again.

UPDATE 6: One last nugget from Bunning regarding his thoughts on Fletcher's re-election:

My senior senator (Mitch McConnell) said it better than anyone else. He said he isn't going to support him either. Didn't he?

UPDATE 7: U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers' new communication's director, Jim Pettit, is remaining mum about the Somerset Republican's gubernatorial ambitions. "We're just not talking about it," Pettit said. "We're just not weighing in on that."

UPDATE 8: Daniel Groves, Fletcher's former Chief of Staff, responds to Bunning's assertions:

It's categorically false. There's never been a time that I've prevented Sen. Bunning or a member of his staff from communicating with the governor.

Groves said he had "no clue" about what document Bunning was referring to. "I did not and would not have prevented he and the governor from communicating."

UPDATE 9: Western Kentucky University political science professor Scott Lasley, a registered Republican, says Fletcher must bring his approval ratings, which have hovered near 30 percent for some time, into the 40 to 45 percent range if he hopes to withstand a serious challenge from within his own party.

He has to start mending these bridges at some point. ... I think if Northup runs, she wins, both in the primary and the general election. I would think she would be the optimal candidate.

Read more on this story in Thursday's Herald-Leader.

- John Stamper

Will Kentucky's influence wash away with the Democratic tide?

Last month, Kentucky was the 11th most influential state in the nation's capitol, according to one group of independent analysts. Now the state’s power may be washed away by the Democratic tide.

“What this means for Kentucky is that the jury is completely out. It completely depends on what happens in the Senate,” said Brad Fitch, CEO of Knowlegis, which runs Congress.org. “If the Senate stays Republican, Kentucky reaps the benefits.”

In October, Congress.org released their 2006 Power Rankings, which weigh such factors as influence on fellow members of Congress, committee assignments, tenure, legislative activity and media attention. The researchers also calculated potential positions if the Republicans lost their majorities.

According to the website’s analysis, GOP Majority Whip Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Louisville, had the state’s top power score and ranked as the fourth most powerful person in the Senate.

A shift in that chamber would push him down the list to an estimated 14^th. McConnell had been set to move up to majority leader. “Even if he’s minority leader, you will still have a very powerful legislator in Senator McConnell,” Fitch said.

Sen. Jim Bunning, who has seats on three influential committees, likewise would slip from 69^th to 87^th.

Kentucky will lose some power in the newly Democratic House, Fitch said. Kentucky’s top member of the House, Rep. Hal Rogers, drops from 14^th most influential to 30^th.

Although Rogers will no longer be a “cardinal” of the heavy-weight House Appropriations Committee, he will still be ranking member of a subcommittee that controls billions in Homeland Security money. He will still have some flexibility to “earmark” funds, a method he’s used to ship pork-barrel projects to his Somerset district.

Kentucky's other Republicans suffer as well, with Rep. Geoff Davis of Hebron dropping from 100 to 267; Rep. Ron Lewis of Cecilia from 202 to 336; and Rep. Ed Whitfield of Hopkinsville from 252 to 369. All are senior enough that they will likely maintain their seats on some very powerful committees, but now as less influential minority members.

The most dramatic change could be that of Rep. Ben Chandler, D-Versailles, who had been ranked a lowly 381 out of 436. As the delegation’s only Democratic incumbent, his power ranking floats up 206 points to 175^th.

As a junior minority congressman, Chandler had seats on the House Agriculture, International Relations, and Transportation & Infrastructure committees. But he will likely be jockeying for a better position, possibly on Appropriations.

“He might have a shot,” Fitch said, simply because the majority party gets a lot more seats on the committee.

- Janet Patton