Conway calls Paul’s comments ‘ignorant’

State News

July 27, 2010

By Ronnie Ellis CNHI News Service The Richmond Register Tue Jul 27, 2010, 08:47 AM EDT

FRANKFORT — Democratic U.S. Senate candidate and Attorney General Jack Conway knows an opportunity when he sees one.

At least he did Monday, when he told about 100 gathered in the capitol rotunda celebrating the 20th anniversary of passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act that his opponent Rand Paul’s statements on the law were “a shame” and “ignorant.”

Conway also criticized former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, whose father President George H. Bush signed the ADA into law, for helping Paul raise money.

Conway said 50 million Americans have benefited from the protections of the ADA since it was signed into law by the first President Bush on July 26, 1990, calling it the “Bill or Rights, the Brown vs. Board of Education for the disability community.”

Conway condemned Paul’s previous statements that such problems of access and discrimination are more effectively handled locally. Paul — a Bowling Green eye surgeon and libertarian-leaning Republican — has campaigned against what he sees as intrusive government policies, runaway federal spending and debt. The day after his May 18 primary win over Republican Secretary of State Trey Grayson, Paul suggested to CNHI News that businesses with offices in two-story buildings might accommodate handicapped employees with a ground floor office rather than having to “spend $100,000 to put in an elevator.” Paul did not call for repeal of the law.

Conway told the crowd Monday that, “I will always support the Americans with Disabilities Act,” both as AG and “hopefully as your next United States Senator.

“But what a shame it is,” Conway continued, “that 20 years after the passage of the American with Disabilities Act, we would have a major candidate stand up and say he is against the American Disabilities Act, stand up and say if you have someone with a business in two stories, let someone with a disability take an office on the first floor, that is ignorant.”

He then turned toward Jeb Bush, who was scheduled to attend a Paul fundraising event in Louisville this week. “What a shame it is here today that a national politician is coming and appearing with that particular candidate and tarnishing the family legacy.” He referred to Jeb Bush, son of the first President Bush who signed the ADA into law and the brother of President George W. Bush who signed amendments to the act designed to strengthen it.

Jesse Benton, Paul’s campaign manager, called Conway’s statements irresponsible and a “cheap political stunt.”

“Dr. Paul has spent his entire adult life as a doctor,” Benton said. “He spends much of his time treating the blind, restoring eyesight and treating victims of many types of disabilities. He is deeply attuned to needs and struggles of the disabled, and to imply otherwise is a cheap political stunt by his opponent. It is sad that a desperate Jack Conway would make such irresponsible charges and politicize a non-political event to further his own ambitions.”

Pamela Roark-Glisson, executive director of Independence Place, Inc., a Lexington agency which helps disabled people to live independently, said both Conway and Paul were invited to address the rally.

“He (Paul) was invited by five different people — I was one of them,” she said. “He was invited by letter and we made phone calls and got no response.”

At least one person in the crowd, Ella Mullins of Ashland, agreed with much of what Conway said about the benefits of the ADA, but probably will vote for Paul anyway. Mullins, who uses a wheelchair for all but very short distances because of double-knee replacements, is a registered Republican.

“I don’t know for sure, but I will probably vote for Paul,” she said.

Ronnie Ellis writes 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.

Text Only

State News

State lawmakers call for constitutional convention
With U.S. Sen. Rand Paul leading the cheers, the state Senate on Tuesday passed a resolution calling for a limited constitutional convention to pass a federal balanced budget amendment.
The vote was 22-16 — Republican Sen. Julie Denton of Louisville joined the 15 Democrats in opposing the measure — on the measure sponsored by Senate President and Republican candidate for governor David Williams. The vote followed Paul’s speech to the body and his earlier remarks to the Senate State Government Committee.

February 23, 2011
Company that blundered pollution reports will again test mining sites
The same people blamed for inaccurate pollution reports from mining sites operated by ICG Coal will be responsible for collecting samples under that company’s corrective action plan submitted to the state.
ICG and Frasure Creek Coal entered a consent decree with the state's Energy and Environment Cabinet in December after environmental groups discovered reams of inaccurate pollution reports by the two companies.

February 17, 2011
Immigration bill delay may be about political leverage
The House Local Government Committee conducted a second day of hearings on a Senate immigration bill Wednesday without taking a vote, but the delay may be about political leverage as much as it is about philosophical objections.
The hearing also got testy, when the sponsor, Sen. John Schickel, R-Union, objected to critics who have characterized the measure as racially motivated and after suggestions by one Democrat committee member that another supporter of the bill used “self-righteous and venomous” language in his testimony.

February 10, 2011
House passes immigration bill
The Democrat House overwhelmingly passed its version of immigration control Tuesday while Senate leaders tried and fell short for now to garner enough votes to pass a bill to require a prescription for cold remedies used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.
The House voted 90-6 to pass HB-3, which would require employers who contract with the state and public agencies to verify the immigration status of new hires using the federal EVerify system. Those who violate the law would be prohibited from securing state contracts for one year after the first offense. A second or subsequent offense would bar contracting with the state for five years.

February 9, 2011
Payday lenders targeted for interest rates
Mary Love doesn’t look the part. A retired pastor and former employee of UPS Logistics from Oldham County, Love, 65, found herself retired, divorced and trying to live off “a small pension.” Soon, she found herself in a “debt trap.”
It began when one month she was a bit short and her rent was due. She visited a “payday lender,” and wrote a $230 check that the lender held for two weeks. She walked out with $200. But two weeks later she owed the lender $230 and still couldn’t make ends meet. This time she wrote a check for $460 and left with $400.

February 8, 2011
State settles case with Medicaid administrator
The third-party administrator for a Medicaid managed care program has agreed to pay more than $2 million in damages for falsely reporting patient results in order to secure a $700,000 bonus payment.
The settlement was the result of a nine-month investigation by the office of Attorney General Jack Conway acting on tips from a whistleblower inside AmeriHealth Mercy, the administrator for Passport Health Plan, the state-funded managed care program which serves clients from Louisville and 15 surrounding counties that has come under scrutiny by the state auditor and lawmakers. The over-reporting of positive health outcomes occurred in 2009, and the state Medicaid fraud statute allows the state to assess the company triple damages, Conway said.

January 27, 2011
Republican primary for governor grows
The Republican primary for governor grew by one on filing deadline day as expected, but Gov. Steve Beshear is getting a free pass in the Democratic primary.
Jefferson County Clerk Bobbie Holsclaw and her running mate, retired naval officer and high school teacher Bill Vermillion, filed candidacy papers Tuesday morning, promising a competitive race despite a late entry and delayed fundraising start.

January 26, 2011
Williams-Farmer ticket is official
FRANKFORT — Kentucky Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, and his running mate, Commissioner of Agriculture Richie Farmer, made it official Monday. They filed paperwork to run for governor and lieutenant governor, respectively.

January 19, 2011
Poll: Majority favors state smoking ban
Though advocates of anti-smoking laws don’t believe a statewide smoking ban will pass in the General Assembly this year, they see public support for it and have come to the conclusion that it is time to get the discussion started.

January 14, 2011
Lawmakers consider requiring prescriptions for meth precursors
FRANKFORT — Kentucky ranks No. 3 among 50 states in the number of reported meth labs, which is why lawmakers are considering legislation that would require a prescription to purchase such meth precursors as ephedrine or pseudoephedrine.

January 14, 2011 1 Photo
More State News Headlines

State News

Search Results

Conway calls Paul’s comments ‘ignorant’

Have you ever attended a meeting of a local government agency or taxing district?

Site Map