Somerset — The last time around, Somerset’s own Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers was one of only two Kentuckians in the U.S. House of Representatives to support the $700 billion bailout of the nation’s troubled financial industry, which fell 228-205 Monday.
On Friday, the Senate-reenergized plan picked up only one more of the six available Kentucky House votes, but more than enough elsewhere to pass through by a count of 263-171, following a tidal wave of shock in the mass media that the taxpayer-funded bailout didn’t succeed the first time around.
Rogers supported the measure the first time, and did so again on the second, though he reiterated Friday that he is “not a fan” of the financial rescue package. However, he was unwilling to not step in and try to quell a national economic crisis.
“I found myself unwilling to gamble on my people’s future, and feared that simply sitting idly by would put this country into its deepest financial recession in a generation,” said Rogers in his statement.
“In addition, I believe the bi-partisan Senate package really improves the bill the House rejected, providing maximum protections for the taxpayers,” he continued.
• protecting 21 million middle-class families from an average $2,500 tax increase because of the “outdated” Alternative Minimum Tax — “a regressive, unfair tax originally intended to capture only wealthy individuals.”
• tuition deductions for college students;
• out-of-pocket expense deductions for teachers;
• updates to the child tax credit;
• research and development tax credits for small businesses.
Rogers suggested the updated version of the package does good for those affected by another headline-making national catastrophe.
“In these trying economic times, it is especially important for the Congress to lend a helping hand to our citizens most in need,” said Rogers, “and the bill provides critical tax relief for our citizens on the Gulf Coast and the Midwest who are trying to rebuild their lives and homes from devastating hurricanes and floods.”
But it’s the citizens of his own Fifth Congressional District, Rogers suggested, that he was most trying to help by voting for the bailout.
“Throughout my tenure in Congress, I have always sought to help residents of southern and eastern Kentucky achieve a more prosperous future,” said Rogers. “It is that future I am most concerned about today. Whether it’s the homeowner looking to refinance their mortgage, the student looking to attend college, the small business owner trying to meet payroll, or the retiree looking to make ends meet, I’m hopeful this bill will give a leg up to those citizens most in need.”
Rogers blamed the credit market woes on “Wall Street fat cats” whose “greed, corruption, and irresponsible behavior” have put the livelihood of American citizens in peril.
“The sad reality is there are millions of innocent victims suffering from this tragedy all across America,” said Rogers. “The troubles in our credit markets have gone well beyond affecting the robber barons on Wall Street — it is beginning to affect everyday Americans in their everyday lives.”
Local News
Rogers: Senate improved bailout bill
- Local News
-
-
Hal Rogers defends Somerset’s Streetscape project
-
Survey may attract commercial passenger service
-
Somerset on verge of becoming natural gas hub
It sounds like a Buck Rogers fiction series, but it’s true. The city of Somerset is about to become the energy hub of Kentucky, maybe even regionally or nationally.
Somerset Mayor Eddie Girdler, gas company manager Dan Henderson and city engineer Reggie Chaney discussed the grandiose energy network this week with a reporter for the Commonwealth Journal. It’s more than a vision. City officials say it’s about to become reality. -
Old districts are back ... for now
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Such is the legislative redistricting debacle in Frankfort.
Judge Phillip Shepherd in Franklin Circuit Court on Tuesday tossed out the General Assembly’s controversial redistricting plans and reverted everything back to where it was before. -
Fast-moving blaze guts mobile home off Slate Branch Road
-
Big Bang Theory
Pulaski County is not at war. The booming you may hear at dusk is mock cannon fire to scare away birds.
Stuart Spillman, environmental director for the Lake Cumberland Health Department, said at least three cannons are on loan from the department to residents who want to scare away swarms of starlings and blackbirds settling in to roost.
He said a cannon is being used by a resident on Laura Lane off Ky. 39; another is in the Oak Hill Road area and a third is on Ashurst Street in the eastern part of Somerset.
Spillman said a timer on each cannon allows it to “fire” at whatever frequency is desired. The cannons must be used as the birds circle before going to roost. “After they settle in, nothing will chase them out,” Spillman said.
The Health Department doesn’t operate the cannons unless there is a specific complaint in an area where there are lots of birds, Spillman noted. He said so far this year the birds are not as bad as in the past. -
Boil water advisory is lifted countywide
The water controversy that Pulaski County has been boiling over — so to speak — for the last week is finally over.
At 10 minutes after noon Wednesday, the “boil water” advisory for the Western Pulaski Water District was lifted — almost a full week after the problems began around 1 p.m. last Thursday.
Prior to that, the Somerset Water Service — along with the other water providers in its system, including Science Hill Water, Southeastern Water, and Eubank Water — lifted their advisories, with Somerset on Saturday afternoon and the last, Southeastern, by Monday morning. Western Pulaski was the last in the system to complete sample testing for potential contaminants, due to not being able to access its Pikeville-based testing lab until Monday.
Somerset Mayor Eddie Girdler thanked the public for its patience and understanding during the duration of the boil water advisory — put in place to keep citizens from drinking water that could have been contaminated after an accident last Thursday at the water plant site — and also thanked all the city employees for their hard work during this time.
“The boil water advisory went about as well as would be expected,” said Girdler.
-
SCS to host Medal of Honor recipient
The message is clear: There are heroes. Even here in our own hometowns.
That’s the idea organizers hope to get across Saturday night at Somerset Christian School, when Congressional Medal of Honor winner Sgt. Dakota Meter speaks to all who choose to attend.
For further questions, ticket purchases, and sponsorship opportunities please contact Susan Adams at (606) 875-0255. -
Newspaper veteran name Publisher of Commonwealth Journal
SOMERSET — A fourth generation newspaperman has been named publisher of the Commonwealth Journal.
Rob McCullough, 50, who started working in a newspaper mailroom when he was 15, officially assumes his duties today. He succeeds Jack McNeely who has accepted a position with the Daily Mountain Eagle in Jasper, Alabama.
-
Blakley receives worldwide honor
- More Local News Headlines
-
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
