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Second Thoughts on Citizens United Decision

Posted by: Dave Newton on May 31, 2012

Stevens: Second thoughts likely in Citizens United

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens has said he expects the court has already had second thoughts about parts of its controversial Citizens United ruling that eased restrictions on corporate spending in political campaigns.

The sharply divided court ruled that independent spending by corporations does "not give rise to corruption or the appearance of corruption." Stevens, who dissented from that 2010 decision, said that at some point the court will have to issue an opinion "explicitly crafting an exception that will create a crack in the foundation" of that ruling.

Upcoming Northern Kentucky Events!

Posted by: Joe Gallenstein on May 31, 2012

Pike Street Lounge Flyer

A week from Saturday the Northern Kentucky chapter of Kentuckians for the Commonwealth plan on holding a unique fundraiser that should have something for everybody. Whether you enjoy testing your knowledge, dance parties, costume contests, or just good drinks and good company there will something for you! 

Many voices needed to support Clean Water Act enforcement

Posted by: Jerry Hardt on May 30, 2012

 

gIMG_8090Right now is a critical time for Kentuckians to stand up for clean water and for honest, effective enforcement of the laws that are supposed to protect our health and environment from corporate polluters.

Please join KFTC members and other Kentuckians in telling the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to stand strong for our health and water! Governor Beshear and the Kentucky Division of Water have systematically failed to enforce the Clean Water Act. The EPA must hold the line and do its job.

American Electric Power sees the light

Posted by: Lisa Abbott on May 29, 2012

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American Electric Power made big news today about what to do with its Big Sandy coal-burning power plant located in Louisa, Kentucky. 

This morning, the New York Times published a front page article about the debate over the future of that plant. By late this afternoon, AEP announced that it will scrap plans to sink about $1 billion into the pollution control equipment necessary to keep operating that plant.

2012 Primary Election "by the numbers"

Posted by: Dave Newton on May 22, 2012

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GOTV in Whitesburg Office

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For a primary, yesterday and the weeks leading up to it were a pretty wild ride.  Here's the day "by the numbers"

2,980,009 - Current registered Voters in Kentucky

411,947 - Ballots cast in the Primary*

13.82% - Voter Turnout*

56,236 - Ballots cast in excess of the maximum (12%) turnout predicted by the KY Secretary of State's office.*

56 - Candidates responding to our candidate survey including 13 of 18 Congressional candidates

32 - Calls to that Attorney General's election fraud hotline

196 - Voters registered by KFTC earlier this year while we were mostly focused on citizen lobbying in the General Assembly.

23,513 - Page views on KentuckyElection.org in the month leading to the primary - a record that surpasses our traffic during even the busiest general election from past years. 

17,162 - Voter Guides distributed through mail or at community events in recent weeks. 

1.7 million - Times our voter mobilization advertisement was shown on Facebook to Kentuckians

5,200 - estimated number of KFTC voter mobilization calls to members and friends conducted at phone banks across the state. 

* Based on Unofficial State Board Results

Of course these numbers are skewed towards things that are easy to count and quantify.   There have been so many intangible, powerful results to our work in this primary that aren't nearly so easy enumerate - like leadership development, conversations with neighbors, the power of a former felon telling their story for the first time or a student casting their first ballot. 

It was a tough primary to organize around - with low turnout and a maze of many hundreds of candidates and different election protocols across the state, but KFTC members did a great job!

This election we did an especially good job of integrating strategies and campaigns with our voter work - scheduling events to hit multiple kinds of goals, and leveraging our electoral work more directly to win campaigns.

For all of the results tangible and intangible, thank you to those who made it all possible!

 

*Numbers updated on June 1st to reflect more complete election results from the State Board of Elections. 

Help decide the future of Kentucky's tax system

Posted by: Erik Hungerbuhler on May 21, 2012

Last Chance sign.jpgKentuckians deserve investments in good jobs, clean air and water, quality educations, and healthy, vibrant communities. This Kentucky is possible, but we need to reform our state tax system.

And this summer may well be our best opportunity in the last decade to push forward tax reforms that improve our quality of life. Right now, Kentucky's Blue Ribbon Commission on Tax Reform is getting ready to hold Public Meetings across the state. Everyday Kentuckians are invited to share their best ideas about needed state tax reforms--ideas that will shape the Commission's recommendations for the 2013 General Assembly. The first of these meetings is in Paducah on May 29.

Election Day - Polls are now open!

Posted by: Dave Newton on May 21, 2012

gIMG_5047It's 6 a.m. and polls are now open in the Kentucky Primary.

So get out there and Vote!

As always, www.KentuckyElection.org has key information about candidate stances, voting locations, links to what your ballot will look like today, and other important information.  Use it to cast an informed vote today and share it with friends!

Election Day is TOMORROW! - KentuckyElection.org, plus

Posted by: Dave Newton on May 20, 2012

gIMG_5289Kentucky's Primary Election is tomorrow, Tuesday, May 22nd and polls are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Please take some time today to visit www.KentuckyElection.org to help make a plan to vote tomorrow. 

There, you can find information about your voting location, candidate stances on important issues, and links to external resources.  

Gov. Beshear's Special Guests

Posted by: Jerry Hardt on May 20, 2012

Gov. Steve Beshear has been cozying up with big coal executives even more than usual in the last year.

A story this morning by Tom Loftus in The Courier-Journal revealed that Don Blankenship, the former CEO of Massey Energy who was in charge when 29 miners were killed at the Upper Big Branch Mine in 2010, was was part of the governor's Derby Day entourage this year.

Georgetown NAACP Banquet

Posted by: Dave Newton on May 19, 2012

gIMG_5414Our friends at the Scott County/ Georgetown chapter of the NAACP held their annual banquet last night, bringing out many great friends of social justice organizing and local politicians including Charlie Hoffman and Congressman Ben Chandler.

Over 100 people participated overall and proceeds of the event went to the local NAACP scholarship fund.

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