The River City News: NEWS ROUND-UP -- MONDAY AFTERNOON

by Michael Monks 
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CITIES WANT RESTAURANT TAX AND NEW PENSION SYSTEM

Covington is not alone in the troubles it faces balancing its budget:

The two KLC officials also talked about why they are pushing for all cities — not just the smallest ones — to impose restaurant taxes. Money from that would go to cover costs of parks, which would free up general fund money for cities to cover over services.
(snip)The Kentucky League of Cities is suggesting to lawmakers that now is the time to move to a “hybrid” retirement system in which part of future state and city employees’ salaries go toward a pension and part goes toward a 401(k)-style plan.

More, with video, at the link.
cn|2
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IS RON PAUL RUNNING IN 2012 SO THAT RAND PAUL CAN RUN IN 2016
Liberty!:

The idea of Rand Paul assuming the tea party mantle from his father has occurred to many supporters in this state. “If he follows in his father’s footsteps and agrees with him, why not?” said Dan Soborski, 18, of Stratham, N.H., who is going into the Navy in March.
“He’s well-spoken, articulate, he’s never caught flat-footed and he gets a lot of air time,” Joe Ureneck, 60, a Massachusetts Republican state committeeman from Boston, said of the Kentucky senator. “This movement is not going away. It’s going to get bigger and bigger. Rand Paul or someone is going to fit into those (Ron Paul) shoes.”

Courier-Journal via Cincinnati Enquirer
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COVINGTON NATIVE GARY BAUER: 'WE CAN DO BETTER THAN PAUL'
Of course, he thinks "better" is Rick Santorum:

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CONGRESSMAN DAVIS HATES THAT YOUNG PEOPLE & THE SICK ARE INSURED
He says as much in his weekly column:

The sustainability and effectiveness of the health care law is shaky at best, but without the individual mandate, it is certain to wreak havoc on our health care system not to mention our economy and debt. The entire law should be overturned. While the Supreme Court deliberates over this crucial decision, Congress must continue legislative efforts to repeal and roll-back the health care law. In addition, we must keep the dialogue going over the best way to truly reform our health care system to ensure greater access and affordability for everyone.

As is typical of Davis, he has no plan of his own.
Geoff Davis
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YET ANOTHER REPUBLICAN ENTERS 4TH DISTRICT RACE
This time it's a Tea Partyin' teacher from Oldham County named Brian D. Oerther:

The Obama Administration is reporting an 8.5% unemployment rate when in reality the unemployment rate is 15.2%. I don't think we're on the same page regarding our definitions of economic recovery. It's too bad the Liberal media isn't willing to report the truth to the American people.

Check out his campaign Facebook page here.
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MEANWHILE, NO CANDIDATE FOR THE DEMOCRATS YET
No wonder the donkey is the Party's symbol, because they have their heads up their ass:

Democrats face a tough environment in the Fourth District, said former Congressman Ken Lucas, the only Democrat to serve in Congress for the Fourth District since 1967. Lucas served from 1998 to 2005 but described his victory as a Democrat in the Fourth District as an aberration. Lucas was also known in his tenure as one of the more conservative Democrats in Congress at the time.
“It would be tough for a Democrat to win it,” Lucas said. “One of the biggest drawbacks is that this is a presidential election year. President Obama doesn’t run well in Kentucky. That is probably going to be a major issue.”

President Obama only "doesn't run well in Kentucky" when the Democratic candidates are cowardly.
Cincinnati Enquirer/Scott Wartman
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GAMBLING AMENDMENT EXPECTED BEFORE FEBRUARY
Governor Beshear hopes to unveil his plans for expanded gaming in the next few days:

“Well I don’t have any artificial deadlines on this,” Beshear said. “Obviously we need to get this done before the end of the session and we’ll be moving sooner rather than later. We’re not going to be waiting around till up in February to put anything out on the table. You know we’re looking in the next week or so to have language out there or a bill out there and hopefully active consideration on it.’
The bill could see up to nine available locations for new casinos in the state. And many proponents of the issue say they would like most, if not all, of the new casinos at Kentucky’s horse racing tracks.

KPR via WFPL/Kenny Colston
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GOVERNOR WANTS LOW INCOME FAMILIES TO APPLY FOR TAX CREDIT
He says 97% of the funds received return to the local community:

“This tax credit is an extremely valuable resource for low-wage earning taxpayers struggling in this difficult economy, and I want to make certain that every Kentuckian eligible for this benefit receives it,” Beshear said at a news conference with U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler, D-Versailles, and Lexington Mayor Jim Gray at the United Way of the Bluegrass in Lexington.

(snip)

The Internal Revenue Service says an estimated 15 to 20 percent of eligible workers still do not claim their EITC benefits, mostly due to lack of awareness.

Herald-Leader
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JEFF RUBY'S PRECINCT CLOSING TEMPORARILY FOR RENOVATIONS
Wait, he didn't want Covington pay for them?

The bar will remain open during that time (beverage service only) , as long as it’s accessible through the lobby (where an antique elevator is being installed). When the restaurant re-opens, there will be a new chef, as yet unnamed, and a new General Manager: Brandon Ruby, Jeff Ruby’s son.

Cincinnati Enquirer/Polly Campbell
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CONTINUING ASSAULT ON UNIONS
The NY Times rips opponents of union labor a new one:

Many Republican leaders are adopting model legislation proposed by the American Legislative Exchange Council, a national corporate-financed conservative organization that is also assisting the Republican push to require voter identification cards to suppress the vote of minorities, young people and other constituencies that tend to favor the Democratic Party. There is little doubt that politics is also behind the Republicans’ push for right-to-work laws: they see an opportunity to further weaken unions, which are far more likely to support Democrats — as well as health care reform and a higher minimum wage — by slashing their funding and their donating power.

Read the whole thing.
The New York Times
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SEE ALSO: NFL Players Union comes to aid of union workers under attack in Indiana: Huffington Post
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10 DIE ON KENTUCKY ROADS LAST WEEK
6 of the victims were not wearing seatbelts.
press release
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CLOONEY FILM REVISED TO HONOR OHIO'S ROLE
When Ides of March debuted, Ohioans noticed that there was no thank-you for the state's film tax credits. That has now been fixed (NKY's role was likely covered by Cincinnati's film commission).
FOX 19
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FLAGS WILL BE AT HALF STAFF TOMORROW
Governor Beshear made the order to honor a fallen Fort Knox soldier:

According to the Department of Defense, Spc. Mikayla A. Bragg, 21, of Longview, Wash., died Dec. 21 in Khowst province, Afghanistan. She was assigned to the 201st Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Knox, Ky.

press release
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GOODWILL WARNS OF FAKE DOOR-TO-DOOR SCAM
Two men have been trying to gain entrance to elderly people's homes:

Goodwill Store Managers from the Fairfield store and the Oakley store have received phone calls from customers reporting that two men, claiming to be Goodwill employees, are going door to door asking for donations. One of the homeowners, an 84 year old woman in Fairfield, let the men into her home and gave them several bags of goods. The men then left and the woman called her daughter to tell her what had happened.

Local 12
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CHECK OUT THE ADOPTIONS FOR JANUARY AT KENTON CO ANIMAL SHELTER