tea party

As IRS Scandal Endures, Kentucky Tea Party Activist Split on Mitch McConnell

Kenny Colston — Tue, 14 May 2013 18:57:17 +0000

As the scandal surrounding the targeting of tea party groups by the IRS continues, some Kentucky tea party activists are upset with Senator Mitch McConnell's role in the process—even as the state party is asking them to support him.

In Kentucky, only the statewide 9/12 project has come forward to acknowledge that they were targeted and that they were rejecting the IRS' apology on the matter.

Mitch McConnell Demands White House Investigate IRS for Targeting Conservative Groups

Phillip M. Bailey and The Associated Press — Fri, 10 May 2013 17:09:49 +0000

Update: White House spokesman Jay Carney says an inspector general is looking into the matter.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is calling on the Obama administration to conduct a government-wide probe in the wake of an admission by the Internal Revenue Service that it targeted conservative groups.

The IRS apologized on Friday for inappropriately flagging conservative political groups for additional reviews during the 2012 election to see if they were violating their tax-exempt status.

Lois Lerner, who heads the IRS unit that oversees tax-exempt groups, said organizations that included the words "tea party" or "patriot" in their applications for tax-exempt status were singled out for additional reviews.

Lerner said the practice, initiated by low-level workers in Cincinnati, was wrong and she apologized while speaking at a conference in Washington.

McConnell says the admission is proof that his earlier concerns were well founded, adding the White House needs to review the agency's actions.

"Now more than ever we need to send a clear message to the Obama administration that the First Amendment is non-negotiable, and that apologies after an election year are not an sufficient response to what we now know took place at the IRS," he says. "This kind of political thuggery has absolutely no place in our politics."

Potential Republican Challenger to Mitch McConnell Expanding Outreach to Kentucky Tea Party

Kenny Colston — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 17:00:15 +0000

A Louisville businessman exploring a Republican primary against U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is setting up meetings with Tea Party groups in Central Kentucky.

David Adams, a tea party activist from Central Kentucky, said he's planning to meet with Bevin next week in Lexington with other activists to familiarize themselves with Matt Bevin, the possible Republican Senate candidate and a Louisvillian who runs the Connecticut-based Bevin Brothers Manufacturing.

Outgoing Young Republicans Chair: Backing Mitch McConnell Caused Loss to Tea Party Activist

Phillip M. Bailey — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 18:00:22 +0000

The outgoing chair of the Louisville Young Republicans says he lost his seat to a Tea Party activist due to publicly supporting Senator Mitch McConnell’s re-election campaign.

James Young had served as the group's leader since last year, but lost re-election to Louisville Tea Party Vice President Andrew Schachtner this week.

The chair position was the only contested seat in the group's elections Monday.

Young says he didn't begin to receiving threats of opposition until he began defending McConnell on this station.

"I'm very confident my appearance fueled some ideas in the minds of people looking for opportunities," he says. "There was an instance where I was specifically told through other individuals that ‘hey there are some people very upset within Tea Party organization that view you using your position to support Senator McConnell' and influencing others to do so."

Tea Party Activists Tell Kentucky Lawmakers to Reject Obamacare

Kenny Colston — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 16:46:18 +0000

FRANKFORT—As the 2013 Kentucky legislative session begins, Tea Party activists are encouraging lawmakers to abandon the implementation of the Affordable Care Act — also known as Obamacare — in the state because of fiscal and health care concerns.

About 50 activists rallied in the Capitol Rotunda Tuesday; they wanted their state legislators to hear their concerns as the 2013 legislative session began.

Tea Party Plans Anti-Obamacare Rally to Mark Kentucky Legislative Session Opening

Kenny Colston — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Before the first gavel is hit the start the 2013 legislative session in Kentucky, Tea Party activists plan to rally in the Capitol Rotunda against the federal Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare.

It’s the second capital rally against the health care law, which Kentucky has actively worked to implement by executive order from Governor Steve Beshear.

Rally organizer and activist David Adams says the goal of the rally is to convince lawmakers to pass a law overturning Beshear’s order and the health exchange in Kentucky.

Rand Paul: Tim Scott Appointment Will Help GOP, Tea Party Among Black Voters

Phillip M. Bailey — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 15:57:37 +0000

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., says the appointment of Congressman Tim Scott, R-S.C., to the Senate could help Republicans and the Tea Party among African-Americans.

Scott will succeed retiring Sen. Jim DeMint, who is leaving for the Heritage Foundation. The appointment will make Scott the only black senator in the chamber next year.

As observers note, Scott's prominence is due in large part to the Tea Party wave that elected him in 2010.

From NPR:

Scott touts a Tea Party message of drastically smaller government, and beyond that he has endeared himself to many conservatives with his willingness to criticize President Obama.

McConnell: Tea Party Has Been a 'Good Movement' for Republican Party

Kenny Colston — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 12:35:00 +0000

U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell says the Tea Party has been good for the Republican Party.

Critics of the Tea Party blame it for costing the GOP the majority in the U.S. Senate the past four years, citing high-profile losses in Delaware, Nevada and Indiana.

Last week, the leader of the Tea Party in the Senate, Jim DeMint of South Carolina, announced he was leaving to lead a think tank.

But McConnell says the Tea Party has done something important for the GOP -- it's energized the party.

Report Shows Kentucky's Debt Continues to Increase

Kenny Colston — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 17:36:03 +0000

An annual report that describes the state’s financial outlook shows that Kentucky has once again gone deeper into debt.

The report, when compared with past years, shows the state added more than $110 million in debt during the last fiscal year.

Tea Party activist David Adams says that number shows that claims by Governor Steve Beshear that he’s balanced the budget 10 times are false.

Reports from Kentucky's Tea Party Rally

Laura Ellis — Sun, 26 Aug 2012 13:30:00 +0000

A Tea Party rally featuring Kentucky Senators Mitch McConnell and Senator Rand Paul was held earlier this week in Frankfort to protest President Obama’s health care law