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| OWEN DOMINATES LT. GOVERNOR'S DEBATE Fletcher Internal Poll Shows Support for Expanded Gaming at 2 to 1 Congratulations to Charlie Owen for thoroughly dismantling Steve Pence in the Lt. Governor's debate recently on KET. Owen exposed Fletcher-Pence for having no plan to pay for improvements in education, revealed the Fletcher-Pence prescription drug plan as a hollow promise, and showed us how lucky we are to have a real businessman on the Democratic ticket to oversee Kentucky's economic development in the future. In a surprising turn of events, it would appear that Ernie Fletcher is not only losing ground in the race for governor, but also in his campaign's internal debate over whether or not to support expanded gaming. After watching the Lieutenant Governor's debate on KET last night it would appear that Flip Flop Fletcher's flip-flopping tendencies have rubbed off on his running mate. During a forum in Mt. Sterling on August 10, Ernie Fletcher said, "I don't see a scenario where I can get out and actively support that." Yet during the debate Pence stated that he supported the Chandler-Owen plan for funding education through revenue generated from the gaming industry. "And the gaming issue, quite honestly, is something that we [Pence and Fletcher] are in a little bit of disagreement about," said Pence. Fletcher's campaign manager Danny Groves expressed similar sentiment in August when he told the Courier Journal, "We're still evaluating the issue (expanded gaming)." So which is it? Is the Flip Flop Fletcher campaign for expanded gaming or against it? If they are indeed against slots at racetracks, how do they plan on funding education in Kentucky? Hopefully in the next 35 days the Fletcher campaign will come clean and give a solid answer on one of the most pertinent questions facing Kentuckians, but don't bet on it.� - Is the latest Fletcher camp's flip-flop a result of yesterday's bluegrass poll on expanded gaming? � - Is Steve Pence prepared to endorse the Chandler-Owen ticket? - Will Steve Pence indeed meet the same fate as his predecessor Hunter Bates?� - Will KET allot the time for a debate between Ernie Fletcher and Steve Pence? Call Ernie Fletcher, ask him for a straight answer! While Charlie Owen was winning on KET, Ben Chandler gave a great performance on WHAS the other night On Yarmuth and Ziegler, Ben did so well that his hosts praised him on the air:Ziegler: "I actually thought AG Ben Chandler did a very good job of answering some tough questions."Yarmuth: "Ben on many issues was much more specific�much more decisive�I didn't get any specifics out of Ernie Fletcher." |
| Why Ernie Fletcher is Bad for Kentucky's Economy � 67,000 jobs lost since January 2001 (Lexington Herald Leader) � $480 billion projected deficit, the largest in U.S. history � Highest KY unemployment in 18 months; highest national unemployment in nine years (over 3 million jobs lost) � This is a national problem, not a local problem. 37 out of 50 states have lost jobs since Bush took office, including most of Kentucky's neighbors. � Fletcher voted to relocate jobs overseas to Chile, Singapore, China, Vietnam, etc. � Fletcher voted to reduce funding for skills training � Fletcher voted against worker safety measures � Fletcher missed votes on overtime pay and coal miner safety � The Fletcher-Bush tax cut returns nothing to over 150,000 KY families � More jobs were lost in Fletcher's congressional district than all others in the state. Every county in his district lost jobs. Why Fletcher's Prescription Drug Plan is Bad for Kentucky Seniors � His plan uses tax dollars to subsidize private plans, whereas Ben's plan employs bulk purchasing to make drugs cheaper. Ernie wants the people to make the sacrifice. Ben wants the drug companies to make the sacrifice. � Fletcher plan does not deliver any help until 2006. We need help now! � Fletcher voted against allowing Americans to buy cheaper drugs from overseas. � Fletcher voted for an exemption from this new plan for federal employees. Apparently, what's supposedly good enough for Kentuckians is not good enough for Fletcher himself. � Fletcher is a tool of the industry. In just four years in D.C. Fletcher received over $190,000 from health insurance, HMO's, and pharmaceutical companies. In total, he raked in over $690,000 from health related groups, and in his last congressional race was boosted by a staggering $538,000 worth of TV commercials paid for by drug companies. Why Fletcher is Bad for Educating Kentucky's Children � Chandler proposes to create a "dedicated trust fund for Kentucky classrooms funded by expanded gaming at horseracing tracks. These funds will be used for classroom needs only, particularly "raising teacher salaries to attract the best teachers." Chandler is the only candidate in this race proposing a solid revenue source to improve education for our children. � Conversely, Fletcher has proposed no supplementary revenue to pay for his plan. His record on fiscal responsibility is terrible, and he has plagued Kentucky with un-funded mandates. He and his Party have given us a $480 billion deficit, the worst in U.S. history. In July, Fletcher was the deciding vote on a bill that slashed funding for Head Start [House Roll Call Vote 444]. In March he voted against fully funding No Child Left Behind [H.Con.Res. 353]. The bottom line is that Fletcher gets a failing grade on education, and his record suggests that he has no plan to pay for his false promises. � Chandler made it clear that he "opposes private school voucher schemes that siphon funds from our public schools." � Fletcher, on the other hand, voted for a voucher program in 1999 [Roll Call Vote #521 on Amdt. 536 to HR 2], and then did so again in 2001 [HR 1, Amdt. 57, House Roll Call Vote #135]. Finally, this month he cast the deciding vote to invoke the first ever federally funded voucher scheme in D.C. Make no mistake - vouchers would be a disaster for Kentucky's children. Nearly 90% of Kentucky's children attend public schools. Over 65% of Kentucky counties have no certified privates schools at all. Under a Fletcher voucher plan, where are our children supposed to go to school? Chandler wants to give our public schools more resources and make them the finest in the nation. Fletcher wants to take money away. � Fletcher is a party functionary. He votes with his party over 97% of the time. Does KY want to be governed from the State House, or the White House? � Ernie Fletcher has missed over 50 votes since the primary, and even missed votes to attend fundraisers. Fletcher and his party also presided over the worst deficit in our nation's history. "Flip-Flop" Fletcher has flipped on key issues, including vouchers and gambling. Do we really want to bring Fletcher's irresponsible governance to Frankfort? Basic Info on Ben Chandler � Chandler served two terms as KY Attorney General and one term as State Auditor. He lives in Versailles, is married and has two children. His grandfather was an extraordinarily popular governor, as well as MLB Commissioner. � Chandler won passage of Kentucky's telemarketing "No Call" list, the nation's toughest law aimed at protecting Kentucky seniors and families from the annoying and often fraudulent calls of telemarketers. � Chandler recovered $45 million in charitable funds once belonging to the former Kentucky Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance Company, placing the funds in a foundation to benefit the health care of all Kentuckians. � He has taken action to protect Kentucky seniors, winning the largest criminal penalty for patient neglect and abuse against a nursing home corporation in American history. � Chandler established a program dedicated solely to helping senior citizens protect themselves from crime, fraud, and abuse. � He launched one of the nation's first efforts towards investigating the rapidly increasing crime of financial identity theft. � He also created a public corruption unit in his office, comprised of former FBI agents and state police detectives, to specialize in uncovering government corruption. � Chandler fought successfully for the passage of Kentucky's "Megan's Law" to protect women and children from sexual offenders, as well as legislation to increase the amount of restitution that all criminals must pay to the victims of their crimes. � He also worked to strengthen Kentucky's laws against consumer scams, prescription drug abuse, and offenses against the elderly. � Chandler has released comprehensive plans on government ethics, prescription drugs, education, and economic development. For more, check out www.chandlerowen2003.com |
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