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CONGRESSMAN GEOFF DAVIS WILL NOT SEEK REELECTION
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| Geoff Davis stands to the right of Rep. Eric Cantor after the REINS Act passed |
The immediate responses describe this as a "surprise" announcement. In fact, Davis is the first Republican member of the House to announce that he will not run in 2012. This is strange timing considering that just last week Davis passed his first significant piece of legislation in the House (the REINS Act, which will fail in the Senate) and was finally appearing on stage with big names like John Boehner and Eric Cantor. It seemed that his star was rising. There will undoubtedly be more to this story. Here's Davis's announcement:
"In order to devote more time to my family, I have decided not to seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives.Here are media reactions:
“It is an honor to have the trust and confidence of the citizens of Kentucky’s Fourth Congressional District.
"I have been blessed with an exceptionally competent staff who have helped thousands of Kentuckians over the years. Moreover, together we have passed critical pieces of legislation and enacted laws to reform our government, strengthen our national security, protect our veterans and service members, create economic revival and energy independence, and improve transparency and accountability of the government.
"As Chairman of the Ways and Means’ Subcommittee on Human Resources, we have set a new tone that combines genuine concern for the least among us, with pragmatic process reforms that are both compassionate and conservative. That attitude and focus have produced real results and proactive bi-partisan legislation, despite the negative partisan climate in Washington. Indeed, we have proven that people of diverse world views can find common ground and produce meaningful results.
"I thank the people of Kentucky's Fourth District for this honor and look forward to continued service to our community and to our Republic in other capacities as I return to the private sector. I also want to thank my friend and mentor, former Senator Jim Bunning, for his example of steadfast character and unimpeachable integrity in service.
"Most of all, I thank my wonderful wife Pat and our children for their unfailing love, grace under pressure, and tireless encouragement in answering this call to serve.
"I am grateful that I live in a country where a boy like me, growing up with little hope, could walk a path by God's grace that has allowed me to encounter His peace, the joy of true love, and service at the highest levels of our elected national government. Truly, we are blessed in this Republic."
Cincinnati Enquirer, Washington Post, Courier-Journal, Herald-Leader, 84 WHAS, cn|2, FOX 19, WKYT/WYMT, WVXU, WFPL
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JUST IN FROM ROLL CALL (8:32PM)
The publication is naming possible replacements for Davis:
Kentucky insiders and former Davis staffers seemed shocked by the Congressman’s sudden announcement. But local Republicans began to name a few potential candidates who might run in 2012.Roll Call
Republicans mentioned state Rep. Adam Koenig, state Sen. Damon Thayer, Campbell County businessman Kevin Sell, state Rep.Alecia Webb-Edgington, state Senate President Pro Tem Katie Kratz Stine and conservative blogger Marcus Carey as potential GOP candidates.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) former top aide, Hunter Bates, also lives in the area and could run for the seat, according to one Republican operative. In 2003, Bates ran for lieutenant governor, but a judge ruled he did not meet the state’s residency requirement and he withdrew from the GOP ticket.
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WILLIAMS TO REMAIN SENATE PRESIDENT
Despite the shellacking he got in the gubernatorial race, Kentucky Republicans still want David Williams to lead them in the next session:
Higdon told Pure Politics that the caucus voted to “confirm their leadership” and that there were no plans to take future votes on leadership this upcoming session. Williams, who has been Senate President for more than a decade, was handily defeated in this year’s gubernatorial election against Gov. Steve Beshear. That lead to speculation that Williams would lose his Senate leadership position.cn|2
SEE ALSO: Williams lost 6 of 9 Senate districts in which Republicans are up for reelection cn|2
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IN CASE YOU MISSED...
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CINCINNATI'S ECON DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR: NO APOLOGIES FOR OMNICARE
In what could have been an awkward meeting, one of the architects of the incentive packages that lured Omnicare and Nielsen away from Covington to Cincinnati was the guest speaker at the Covington Business Council's monthly luncheon. While Patrick Ewing offered no apologies and no excuses, he did lambast the way cities and states are forced to compete with each other to land large corporations with massive tax breaks. It was a great presentation full of interesting comments. Click the link for the story.
The RC News: No Apologies for Omnicare, Nielsen from Cincinnati
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OMNICARE'S FORMER CEO AMONG HIGHEST PAID IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY
In spite of the fact that Omnicare can't pay its rent at RiverCenter without massive taxpayer subsidies and in spite of the fact that Omnicare was forced to settle for $100 million when it was accused of a Medicare fraud scheme, its former CEO that watched over the corruption and corporate welfare walked away with a ridiculous parting gift:
Gemunder got a package totaling about $98 million, reports the New York-based research firm GMI. He was second to John Hammergen of San Francisco-based pharmaceutical distributor McKesson Corp. (NYSE: MCK), who collected $145 million.Seriously. Defraud Medicare to the tune of $100 million and only pay rent when it is subsidized by taxpayers and still walk away with a package that may be worth $130 million? America.
Gemunder departed the Covington-based Omnicare (NYSE: OCR) abruptly in summer 2010 after nearly three decades with the company, which provides pharmacy services to the long-term-care industry. He was replaced by John Figueroa, a former McKesson executive.
The package included various severance and retirement provisions. Some analysts have estimated the real value at more than $130 million.
SEE ALSO: Even Republicans are starting to believe that CEOs are paid too much by a majority of 53% according to the latest poll from Pew Research:
Executive pay in 2010 was up as much as 40 percent in some cases, even as Americans’ approval of mega-corporations on Wall Street plunged to its lowest levels yet, data released this week reveals.Raw Story
(snip)
In spite of soaring corporate profits and executive pay, hiring has has only seen marginal improvement. Recent government studiesplace the overall unemployment rate at 8.6 percent, although unemployment claims are at the lowest they’ve been in nearly four years.
(snip)
A survey released Thursday by the Pew Research Center found that even among Republicans, often the most pro-business political party in the U.S., a slim majority (53 percent) agree that wealthy people and large corporations have too much power. Overall, Pew found that 77 percent of the public feel that political power has become too concentrated into the hands of America’s wealthy class.
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RELATED: LASIK ALOWS BARON TO SEE WITHOUT MONOCLE
LOL:
"I grew so dreadfully weary of affixing my monocle whenever I wished to look over a writ concerning one parcel of land or another," said the baron, adding that the sunglass monocle he had to wear while his eye recovered was worth the inconvenience, though its darkened lens forced him to rely upon the opinion of his manservant when selecting a dressing gown each morning.The Onion
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CENTER FOR GREAT NEIGHBORHOODS LANDS DUKE GRANT
The organization is on fire lately and now, the good work can continue:
Today the Duke Energy Foundation awarded us $35,000 to help CGN, in partnership with Tony Kreutzjans and Marc Tischbein, transform the vacant building at 108-112 W. Pike into 7 apartments and 3 commercial spaces. We'll keep you uppdated on the Pike Star project in 2012! Thanks to Duke for supporting this urban revitalization project in Covington!!SEE ALSO: The River City News was the only media present when CGN showed off some of its beautiful new works. Three homes in Jackson Square are now completely redone or close to being so. Two, in fact, are already sold! For the story and photos, click the link.
The RC News: Redefining a Neighborhood: Rundown Homes Go Back on Market
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20-YEAR OLD WOMAN ARRESTED IN OVERNIGHT COVINGTON SHOOTING
I'm told that this is not her first run-in with the law either:
Rabe and Desmar Owens were involved in an argument about 2:45 a.m. when Rabe shot Owens, Jones said. Owens was shot in the shoulder and taken to University Hospital. His injury was not believed to be life-threatening.Cincinnati Enquirer/Brenna Kelly
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STAND UP COVINGTON WANTS YOU TO STAY ENGAGED
The group's efforts to raise awareness and curb violence in the city continue:
12TH STREET NEARLY FINISHED
Local 12's Joe Webb always does good work and seems to be in Covington a lot, so be grateful for that:
It's a dramatic change. Four lanes, a median, parking on each side, decorative crosswalks and street lighting. Built in the 1880's, 12th Street was the main east-west corridor through Covington. The link from the expressway to Campbell County. It had to be fixed. "This little section/corridor carried over 16,000 vehicles in a day's time. A lot of traffic going on and just not a lot of place to put it. So, the construction part's never pretty, but the end results worth it."Notice the link on the word "vehicles"? I usually take those out, but I'm leaving it this time just so you can see how even in news stories, local TV stations are trying to sell you something. How embarrassing. Anyway, Webb's story with video is at the link.
Local 12
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LOUISVILLE BRIDGES ON TABLE BUT WHAT ABOUT BRENT SPENCE
Lieutenant Governor Jerry Abramson sees discussion coming soon about Ohio River bridges, but fails to mention the Brent Spence:
Speaking to Pure Politics after his first official economic development announcement as the second-in-command, Abramson said he expects the details of a financing plan to come “in the first quarter” of next year. And he agreed with Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, who said that the upcoming legislative session is the right time for Kentucky to pay up it’s share of the project that would build two new bridges connecting Kentucky and Indiana.Video at the link.
cn|2
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KY UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DROPS
But it's still very high:
Kentucky’s seasonally adjusted preliminary unemployment rate fell to 9.4 percent in November 2011 from 9.6 percent in October 2011, according to the Office of Employment and Training (OET), an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.Commonwealth of Kentucky
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THESE AMISH MEN ARE HARDCORE ABOUT IT
They refuse to put reflectors on their buggies so now they're under the fluorescent lights of jail:
The action came Monday after bench trials in Graves County. The men said that they do not plan to pay their fines and court costs, an action that has led to jail time for others convicted of the same charge. The conservative sect of the Amish has refused to display the orange triangle because they say it violates their religious prohibitions against displaying bright colors and trusting in man-made symbols.A state law requires the emblem for safety. However, Republican Rep. Ron Crimm of Louisville is proposing legislators take up a bill next month that would allow white or silver reflective tape to be used instead of the triangle.Herald-Leader
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TURFWAY PARK APPROVED FOR PICK-4 TAKEOUT REDUCTION
The track's hoping for a boost:
Turfway offers two Pick 4 wagers on nine-, 10- and 11-race cards, and three Pick 4 bets on 12 race cards on Friday evenings. “We decided we need to draw some attention to our Pick 4s,” Turfway president Bob Elliston said. “It has proven successful at Tampa Bay Downs, so we thought we would give it a shot.” The Turfway holiday meet runs through Dec. 31. The three-month winter/spring meet begins the following day.
What a great way to spend an afternoon or evening, too!
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ANOTHER DERBY HORSE HAS DIED
Just a day after 1991 Derby winner Strike The Gold went to the racetrack in the sky, 1998 3rd place finisher Indian Charlie has died after a battle with cancer. He was 16. In '98, he went off at 5-2 odds but fell behind eventual winner Real Quiet, whom Indian Charlie beat in that year's Santa Anita Derby.
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A WARNING FROM COVINGTON POLICE
Check it:
Now is that time of the year when parcel trucks are easily observed in the communities and their deliveries are being left outside. This packages are easy targets for theft. Here are some tips:|
• We ask that residents be alert when they are expecting package deliveries. Check the doorstep frequently.
• Neighbors, pay attention for deliveries and take note if you observe a suspicious vehicle nearby when deliveries are being made or shortly thereafter.
• You can request that your parcel carries not leave packages unattended.
MISS THIS MORNING'S NEWS ROUND-UP?
Did you ever think there would be a time when Covington could say, 'At least we're not Villa Hills'? That time is here; (In case you missed) Code enforcement hearing pits Mainstrasse businesses against each other; Plus, George Clooney goes gay for play. Those stories and more at the link!
News Round-Up -- Thursday Morning
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HOLIDAYS IN MAINSTRASSE
It's been a great holiday season in Mainstrasse. Check out some of the photos from various celebrations at the link!
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