Jason Says Vote, Kentucky!

Candidates: 

• Senator Mitch McConnell (R): First elected to the US Senate 1985. Prior to that - Senate Minority Leader (2006-present), Senate Majority Whip (2002-2006), Judge-Executive, Jefferson County (1978-1985). Senate campaign site. 
• Secretary of State Allison Lundergan Grimes (D): Elected KY Secretary of State in 2012. Senate campaign website.

Jason's Bottom Line:

• The fact that this race is even close has more to do with Grimes' grit and tenacity and less to do with the optics of the year. By all estimations, McConnell should be well ahead of Grimes at this point - it is a "Republican year" after all - but he is not...and hopefully we can get rid of McConnell and get a real pragmatic legislator for the people of Kentucky. This is probably going to be my second favorite post (Colorado is first) because I think it's the Democrats best chance to knock off an obstructionist in the Senate. 
• Mitch McConnell has been labeled (repeatedly and widely) as the king/proud guardian of gridlock (there are 4 links to different sources there...and I had to stop myself from including more). He's built his almost 30 year Senate career on blocking any and all legislation proposed by Democrats and standing up for the power players who keep him in power - often at the detriment of average Kentuckians. 
• Allison Lundergan Grimes on the other hand, is a pragmatic problem solver who is giving McConnell the race of his political life. She is a smart and dedicated defender of the middle-class, and understands Kentucky better than any Democratic politician (other than perhaps Bill Clinton). 

Issues:

Access to Affordable Health Care

• Mitch McConnell: The Senate Minority Leader has put on a full court press in the Senate to repeal the ACA - even though Kentucky's Private Exchange is doing better than most of the others in the country. McConnell ignores the facts, and instead presses forward with Republican talking points about repeal and replace. The problem? McConnell - the supposed leader of the Senate Republicans - has failed to put forth any coherent Republican replacement. 
• Allison Lundergan Grimes: Opposes repealing the law because it will "take us back to the days where you could be discriminated against just for being a woman...The law isn't perfect, but we have to work to fix it." Grimes believes we must address the problems and unintended consequences of the law - especially the regulatory burden placed on small businesses.
• Winner: Allison Lundergan Grimes
• As a Senator, Grimes would work across party lines to further the goal of access to affordable health care for all Kentucky families. McConnell has spent his career opposing bipartisan solutions - if he were to win re-election, I wouldn't expect anything different.

Education/Student Debt

• Mitch McConnell: Unsurprisingly, Senator McConnell has spent his career attacking public schools, supports moving federal dollars to charter schools, and focuses the majority of his education policy on attaching teachers unions. Senator McConnell also led the Republican effort to block consideration of Senator Warren's bill aimed at lowering student loan interest rates. In defense of his actions, the Senator blamed Democrats for the problem in the first place. 
• Allison Lundergan Grimes: Grimes has vowed to support Senator Warren's legislation to lower interest rates for college students; saying, "Senator McConnell's blatant disregard for the hundreds of thousands of Kentuckians crushed by student loan debt is deeply disconcerting." 
• Winner: Allison Lundergan Grimes
• It all comes down to who is looking out for Kentucky students and families. Grimes wants to increase access to the middle class through education. McConnell, on the other hand, seems intent on blocking any economic or education progress if the Democrats will get credit. McConnell's education positions come down to (1) blame Democrats, (2) blame teacher's unions, (3) block any reforms, and (4) say you'll do better.

Pay Equity/Workplace Protections/Expanding the Middle Class

• Mitch McConnell: The Senator blocked the Paycheck Fairness Act (3 times). He voted against the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act after spending years blocking it's consideration, earning him the ire of the Louisville Courier-Journal which wrote: "[o]nly the obstructionist tactics of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2007, another shameful example of Mr. McConnell's supporting corporations instead of people." [Editorial, Louisville Courier-Journal, 5/29/08]. Senator McConnell opposed the Employee Non-Discrimination Act, but supported an amendment to kill worker's rights to collective bargaining anyway. The amendment was thankfully defeated - but goes to show that the Senator does not stand with the people of Kentucky - instead, he's with the Koch brothers and corporations. 
• Allison Lundergan Grimes: Grimes supports the Paycheck Fairness Act and has made it, and increasing the minimum wage to $10.10/hour, a central tenant of her campaign. Grimes fully supports ENDA. She also supports the ability to collective bargain. 
• Winner: Allison Lundergan Grimes
• This is as easy as looking at who stands up for workers and who stands up for the companies. I could pull hundreds of examples of McConnell (including recent statements to the Koch brothers) regarding his feelings on worker's rights. In the end, Grimes will bring a career of looking out for the middle class to the Senate - which is exactly what Kentucky (and the country) needs. 

Reproductive Rights/Women's Health Care

• Mitch McConnell: I'm not even going to bother with the litany of his positions - I'll let Senator McConnell speak for himself. "It has been a joy to watch respect for the sanctity of life grow and spread across our nation - something truly good and positive is happening. Unfortunately, President Obama and his liberal allies oppose enacting even modest protections for innocent life. Well, I couldn't think they are more wrong. As the father of three daughters, I believe innocent life should be protected. And I am proud of my career-long, 100 percent pro-life voting record in the United States Senate." He got it right - 100% from National Right to Life Committee and 0% across the board from NARAL and Planned Parenthood. 
• Allison Lundergan Grimes: Grimes is endorsed by the Women's Campaign Fund 2014, Emily's List, NARAL Pro-Choice America, and is a life-long supporter of a women's right to choice. She would bring a much needed pro-choice voice to the people of Kentucky, and the U.S. Senate. 
• Winner: Allison Lundergan Grimes
• She's looking out for the women - so women need to help her get to DC!

Marriage Equality

• Mitch McConnell: McConnell says, "I believe that traditional marriage, the union between a man and a woman, is the cornerstone of our society and the best possible foundation for a family. I believe that traditional marriage, the union between a man and a woman, should be the only form of marriage recognized by law. And I believe most Americans agree with me." No sir, we do not. McConnell gets 0% rating from ACLU, HRC, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, etc. 
• Allison Lundergan Grimes: Grimes says, "[w]hile I don't believe any church should be forced to recognize anything that is inconsistent with their teachings, my husband and I have been married for seven years, and I believe others should have the opportunity to make that same commitment." 
• Winner: Allison Lundergan Grimes
• Duh.

Bipartisanship/Willingness to Work Across the Aisle

This is a big one for me as I deal with Congress every day for work. The willingness of a member to bridge the partisan divide is so important to get anything done. The super-partisanship of Washington is the reason that Congress is dysfunctional and has the lowest approval ratings ever. 

• Mitch McConnell: Please Kentucky; get rid of this man so we can actually get something done in Washington!!
• Allison Lundergan Grimes: Grimes is a middle of the road politician who fits Kentucky well. She's a populist who has proven that she's a staunch supporter of the middle class. I look forward to seeing how she brings her pragmatism to the legislative process in DC. 
• Winner: Allison Lundergan Grimes
• When it comes to bridging the partisan divide to get things done for the people of Kentucky, I think you'd have to be insane to think that Mitch McConnell could/would change his political ways.