Politics

A new political group will hit the airwaves just after the Kentucky Derby to oppose the federal healthcare law.

The Kentucky Opportunity Coalition will run ads attacking the Affordable Care Act. They've declined to release the spot early, but have hinted that it will feature various voices calling the law a train wreck.

The KOC is run by three area women, Kristen Webb and  Bridget Bush of Louisville and Karen Sellers of Paintsville. The group is being advised by Scott Jennings, a longtime ally of U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell. Jennings is also running a separate Super PAC aimed at helping re-elect McConnell. 

Even though the Affordable Care Act has been upheld by the Supreme Court as constitutional, it still faces opposition from Republicans who hope to repeal it.

Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway says there is “a good chance” he will run for governor in 2015. Conway has often been mentioned as a possible Democratic candidate to take over the governor’s mansion from two-term incumbent Steve Beshear.

In an interview this week with the editorial board of The Courier-Journal, the 43-year-old Conway also repeated his previous statements that he won’t challenge U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell next year.

Conway, who is finishing his second term as Attorney General, said he won’t “defer to anybody” when making a decision whether or not to run for governor. Other Democrats who have expressed interest in the gubernatorial contest are former state Auditor Crit Luallen, current auditor Adam Edelen, Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson, and former Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo.

On the GOP side, Agriculture Commissioner James Comer and Second District Congressman Brett Guthrie have often been mentioned as possible candidates.

Kentucky state Rep. Carl Rollins isresigning his House seat effective at the end of today, becoming the state first lawmaker to announce his retirement this cycle.

Rollins is resigning to become the Executive Director and the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority and the CEO of the Kentucky Higher Education Student Loan Corporation.

Rollins' represents the 56th Legislative District, which covers part of Fayette and Franklin counties and all of Woodford  County.

The resignation will trigger a special election for the seat, which Governor Steve Beshear has set for Tuesday, June 25. Each respective party will nominee a candidate to run in the election.