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February 06, 2004
KY 6
I don't know whether to feel sorry for tobacco farmers in Kentucky's 6th Congressional District or to be angry at them for being so dumb. Their congressional district has been represented for some time by a Republican and there has been no tobacco buyout. Now the Republican Speaker of the House comes to their district and tells them if you elect a Republican you will get your tobacco buyout.
Obviously a tobacco buyout would have been a huge win for ex-Congressman now Governor Fletcher -- if Hastert and national Republicans really wanted to help Kentucky tobacco farmers they would have done it while Fletcher was running for governor -- he could have coasted to election (it was relatively close) and the 6th district seat wouldn't even be in play for Democrats.
If a tobacco buyout had lost by one vote last year and that vote had been Fletcher's then electing a Republican might make sense. As it is, it won't change the partisan makeup of the House and it won't change the vote tally on the tobacco bill. Kentucky's 6th district voters can send a strong message to the House leadership that threats and empty promises is no way to govern, if they're smart enough. Then they might see some action on their buyout.
Posted by Chris at February 6, 2004 03:08 PM
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