Aug. 4, 2010 — Ready for Fancy Farm

By Ronnie Ellis, CNHI

FRANKFORT - Like so many who follow Kentucky politics, I’m looking forward to Fancy Farm next weekend (Aug. 7-8). Yes it will be hot and yes it’s a long drive. But it’s sort of like the Kentucky Derby - if you live in Kentucky, you ought to attend at least one Fancy Farm picnic.

With Republican Rand Paul and Democrat Jack Conway running for retiring Sen. Jim Bunning’s seat and the attention the race is drawing, this should be a good year to try Fancy Farm if you’ve never been. Actually, given the wonderful people down there, the incredible food, and the entertainment value of the political stump speaking, pretty much any year is worth the trip. But this one could be special.

Gov. Steve Beshear will speak - will he launch into Paul or perhaps Senate President David Williams who is openly talking of running for governor? Will Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo endorse Conway? Think Sen. Mitch McConnell might blast President Barack Obama and say he needs Paul to stop the liberal Democratic agenda?

Some things at Fancy Farm are predictable, but some aren’t. It was at last year’s event that a couple of reporters began thinking Paul might be a serious threat to win the Republican primary. This year, Paul will face more scrutiny and he’ll be the target of more heckling by Democrats. How will he perform? How will his supporters - many of whom see the campaign as a holy crusade - respond to the rude treatment of their candidate?

There’s also change at Fancy Farm. No profanity allowed! Last year, Conway (in an attempt to do what?) said the crowd was looking at one tough son of a gun - or something close to that. Whatever he was trying to convey, it didn’t work and his campaign’s subsequent mishandling of the controversy turned a one-day story into a week’s worth. (Conway has done much the same thing this year with an apparent promise by campaign staff to help Mongiardo retire a campaign debt.). Republicans will remind Conway next Saturday of last year’s gaffe. How they do that without disobeying the ban on profanity will be interesting.

Those aren’t the complete list of speakers, but they’re the headliners. No Bunning and no “little green men” chasing him. But there’ll be some theater and you’ll see friends you haven’t seen since Fancy Farm last year. You’ll encounter a few characters as well. Come on Friday and attend your favorite party’s Friday evening pep rally at a nearby state park or come to the fish fry on the picnic grounds. Stick around and watch Comment on Kentucky which will air from there Friday night. Then on Saturday, head out to Fancy Farm for one of the best home-cooked meals and wildest political experiences you’ll ever enjoy.

Go with friends, preferably the ones who know old political tales of Fancy Farm picnics past and an older generation of pols like Happy Chandler, Alben Barkley, Louie Nunn and Wendell Ford - all of whom knew how to tell a story, give a fiery speech and scald an opponent. If Conway needs any examples, those were four tough - ahem - politicians with thick hides.

Fortunately for those who can’t make the trip, KET will broadcast this year’s speeches live. So, if you can’t or won’t make that long drive, settle back and watch. It may not be the same as being there — and you’ll miss all that food and flavor —but you can bet it’ll be a good show.

RONNIE ELLISwrites for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com. Follow CNHI News Service stories on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cnhifrankfort.

Cap and Tax: How will a new national energy tax impact you?

By Senator Mitch McConnell

The flight from Kentucky to Washington, D.C., is less than two hours long. But the distance between the two places is vast. While Kentuckians are working harder than ever to provide for themselves and their families, the crowd in Washington is working to control even more of the big decisions in our lives.

The latest example is that liberal Democrats in Washington are pushing for a job-killing national energy tax. Most Americans know that a national energy tax—sometimes called “cap and trade,” but more properly dubbed “cap and tax”—will hit them every time they fill up their car or flip a switch to turn on a light bulb. And because Kentucky is rich in coal and other natural resources, most Kentuckians understand that a national energy tax will hit our state much worse than most.

But you don’t have to take my word for it. Take it from Kentuckians in every corner of the state, urban and rural, Republican and Democrat, those directly impacted and those who would feel it indirectly as well: A national energy tax would hurt their livelihoods, their businesses and their families.

The barge shipping industry in Kentucky, for instance, employs thousands of people in our state, from Maysville to Paducah. Much of the freight those barges carry is coal, and a tax on coal would cost the industry jobs. And since the lost cargo cannot be easily replaced, the jobs will not be replaced either.

Kentucky is home to several automobile manufacturing plants, which employ thousands of people. Even more companies in Kentucky are reliant on the automobile industry. The current recession has already hit auto companies hard; many who work at these energy-intensive businesses fear how much a spike in energy prices will add to their troubles.

I’ve heard from farmers who would face increased fertilizer and fuel costs to keep their farms running because of cap and tax. To remain competitive in a global marketplace, they can’t raise prices, and would be forced to absorb the full force of the tax. In this current recession, many farms that already have narrow profit margins will see that margin get narrower still or disappear all together.

Electric co-ops are also in real danger. Many co-op consumers across the state live on fixed incomes. They fear an increase in their utility bills. And every one of us will have to pay more whenever we use energy, or buy something that used energy to manufacture it, sell it or ship it.

The common thread through all of these concerns is frustration and anger. People are frustrated that Washington thinks it knows best—about your family’s health care, owning American automobile companies, or running the banking industry. But Washington should get its priorities straight and stop targeting vital Kentucky industries. They risk making a weak economy even weaker, and right now, too many people are working harder than before just to make ends meet.

The “Washington knows best” attitude has led to a government that taxes too much, spends too much and borrows too much. Adding a new national energy tax on top of it goes too far. Most Kentuckians look at the current fiscal mess we are in and are appalled—it is time to say “enough.”

Because this issue is so important, I’ve created a website to show the damage cap and tax will do to Kentucky. You can learn more at www.mcconnell.senate.gov or by joining my official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mitchmcconnell