Federal Judge William Bertelsman has sent to the chief district judge the request for three-judge panel that could draw the political boundaries if lawmakers cannot.

All states must do redistricting every 10 years so political boundaries match population shifts reflected in the U.S. Census, and Kentucky is one of only two states–the other being Maine–that doesn’t have an approved map for its state legislative districts.

Calls for the General Assembly to complete redistricting

Article source: http://cincinnati.com/blogs/nkypolitics/2013/05/24/lawsuit-gets-lawmakers-moving-on-redistricting/

The Quinnipiac University poll of 1,411 Iowans released Friday showed between Rubio and Paul, Paul would fare best against Clinton, losing by a 46 percent to 42 percent margin. Clinton would beat Rubio 48 percent to 37 percent, the poll shows.

Both Paul and Rubio would beat Vice President Joe Biden

Article source: http://cincinnati.com/blogs/nkypolitics/2013/05/24/iowa-poll-shows-paul-ahead-in-gop-but-trailing-clinton/

By Jack Brammer
jbrammer@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT — House Speaker Greg Stumbo said Monday he would ask Gov. Steve Beshear to call an immediate special legislative session on redistricting if the Senate offered a valid plan.

Stumbo’s comments came in response to a federal lawsuit filed April 26 by several Northern Kentucky officials and residents who want the court to force lawmakers to draw new legislative districts or allow a federal court to draw the boundaries.

“No one wants to preserve legislative independence more than I do,” said Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg. “That’s why the House passed a

Article source: http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2013/05/20/stumbo-responds-to-redistricting-lawsuit/

Joining host Ferrell Wellman will be Jacqueline Pitts, reporter and producer for “Pure Politics on CN/2,” Laura Ungar, health reporter for The Courier-Journal; and Jack Brammer, political writer for the Lexington Herald-Leader.

The show will air live at 8 p.m. Friday on KET and will be repeated several times throughout the weekend.

On the Monday, May 27 edition of “Kentucky Tonight” at 8 p.m.on KET and at www.ket.org/live, host Bill Goodman and guests will

Article source: http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2013/05/23/comment-will-discuss-u-s-senate-race-health-issues-ky-tonight-to-take-up-foreign-policy/

Dozens of Northern Kentuckians Wednesday night at Dixie Heights High School told Grimes what they like and dislike about Kentucky’s voting laws. Grimes vistied Northern Kentucky as part of five town halls she will conduct around the state this year to get input on voting laws.

Many wore stickers made by advocacy organization Kentuckians for the Commonwealth that read “I voted but 243,842 Kentuckians could not. Restore voting rights to former felons.�

A majority of the

Article source: http://cincinnati.com/blogs/nkypolitics/2013/05/23/nkyians-debate-restoring-felons-right-to-vote/

HERALD-LEADER FRANKFORT BUREAU

FRANKFORT — Tourism and marketing veteran Bob Stewart will be the new state secretary of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, Gov. Steve Beshear said Tuesday.

Stewart, who has been an aide for three former governors, will start his new role in the $137,865-a-year post on June 1. He will replace Marcheta Sparrow, who announced her retirement last week after serving more than five years as tourism secretary for Beshear.

“Bob brings a wealth of experience not only in tourism and the arts but in how to be

Article source: http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2013/05/21/beshear-appoints-bob-stewart-to-head-tourism-cabinet/

By Jack Brammer
jbrammer@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT — Recent interest by some well-known Democrats in possibly running for U.S. Senate shows Kentucky Democrats will be united in their efforts to oust Republican incumbent Mitch McConnell next year, Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes said Wednesday.

Grimes, who is often mentioned as many Democrats’ favorite to make the race, said she still is weighing whether to run. She revealed no timetable when her decision will be made.

“I’m continuing to give it due diligence,” she said.

Grimes’ comments to reporters came after she participated in a Capitol

Article source: http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2013/05/22/grimes-says-democrats-are-united-in-u-s-senate-race-but-does-not-reveal-her-plans/

The super political action committee Kentuckians for Strong Leadership took out a full page ad in Tuesday’s Kentucky Enquirer attacking Grimes ahead of her appearance Wednesday night in Crestview Hills.

The ad references Grimes’ town hall “listening� sessions she’s holding around the state and asks, “Who is she listening to?� It then ties her with the “Obama-Pelosi agenda.�

Grimes has not declared whether she will run against McConnell in 2014.

Former president of Karl Rove’s American Crossroads

Article source: http://cincinnati.com/blogs/nkypolitics/2013/05/22/attack-ad-hits-grimes-before-nky-appearance/

Trey Grayson, Kentucky’s secretary of state and Republican U.S. Senate candidate. Photo by Pablo Alcala.

FRANKFORT – Former Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson, who now is director of the Institute of Politics at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, is one of 10 members of President Barack Obama’s Commission on Election Administration.

Obama launched the panel this week to identify non-partisan ways to shorten lines at polling places, promote efficient conduct of elections and

Article source: http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2013/05/22/grayson-named-to-presidential-commission-to-improve-elections/

FRANKFORT — Rhonda K. Monroe, a sister of former Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer, has resigned from her $77,391-a-year post as assistant executive director of the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance.

Monroe was placed on special leave with pay in March for a period not to exceed 60 working days while the registry cooperated with investigative authorities looking at allegations that she and Farmer violated state ethics laws.

Farmer is facing an Oct. 22 trial in federal court on four counts of misappropriating state funds and one count of soliciting a bribe. He has pleaded not guilty.

Farmer and

Article source: http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2013/05/21/richie-farmers-sister-resigns-state-job/