Jack Conway (politician)
Encyclopedia
John William “Jack” Conway (born July 5, 1969) is an American
politician from Kentucky
. Conway is a Democrat
and has served as the Attorney General of Kentucky
since 2008. Prior to his election as attorney general, he was a candidate in the 2002 U.S. House of Representatives election for , narrowly losing to Anne Northup
.
Conway was the Democratic nominee in the 2010 U.S. Senate election
, seeking the seat in the United States Senate
held by Republican
Jim Bunning
. Rand Paul
was declared the winner on November 2, 2010.
Conway won re-election to a second term as Attorney General with over 55% of the vote against Hopkins County
Attorney Todd P'Pool
, the eldest of four children of Barbara and Tom Conway, a Louisville lawyer. A graduate of St. Xavier High School, Conway gained an undergraduate degree from Duke University
, in 1991 and worked as legislative aide to the U.S. House Banking Committee
from 1991 to 1997. He graduated with a Juris Doctor
from George Washington University Law School in 1995 and worked as legal counsel and deputy cabinet secretary in the administration of Kentucky Governor
Paul Patton
from 1995 to 2001. Starting in 2001, he worked as a private attorney for Conliffe Sandman Sullivan. On May 20, 2006, Conway married Elizabeth Davenport and they have one daughter named Eva Louise.
Conway and his father are partners in thoroughbred racehorse
Stately Victor
, named after Jack's childhood best friend who died at age 23. On April 11, 2010 the colt won the Grade I
Blue Grass Stakes
and later ran in the Kentucky Derby
.
incumbent Anne Northup
to represent . The district leaned Democratic and Conway portrayed Northup as an ineffective legislator, while Northup had more campaign money to spend. After a tight contest, Conway was narrowly defeated on November 5, 2002, with 48.4 percent to 51.6 percent. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
tried to convince Conway to run again for the same seat in 2004, but he declined.
In 2007, Conway became the Democratic nominee for attorney general of Kentucky after winning the primary with 71.8 percent of the vote against former assistant attorney general Robert Bullock. Conway won the general election on November 6, 2007, against his Republican opponent, Lexington
State Representative
Stan Lee, with 60.5 percent to 39.5 percent.
As attorney general Conway created a cybercrimes
unit and forensics laboratory that prosecutes internet crimes and trains prosecutors and police officers. Conway led a state investigation into price gouging
at Kentucky gasoline stations before Hurricane Ike
made landfall in September 2008, resulting in seven stations paying settlements. He also prosecuted Medicaid fraud cases and renegotiated gas rates increases.
In August, 2009, Conway launched the Prescription Drug Diversion Task Force, targeting prescription drug trafficking, overprescribing physicians, and illegal out-of-state pharmacies. The Task Force also conducted police training statewide.
In November 2009, Conway asked Governor Steve Beshear
to set execution dates for three men on death row. This was criticized by opponents of the death penalty. The Kentucky Supreme Court
decided to stay executions until the Kentucky Department of Corrections follows mandatory administrative procedures.
seat held by Jim Bunning
. Conway became the third Democrat to enter the race, following Lieutenant Governor
Daniel Mongiardo
, who announced his candidacy in January and former U.S. Customs
agent Darlene Fitzgerald Price. Conway consulted with Democratic Congressman Ben Chandler
and state Auditor Crit Luallen
about running for the seat.
Due to Conway's large margin of victory in his state-wide campaign for attorney general, his fundraising ability, and the age difference between Conway and Bunning, Conway was described as a viable candidate.
In May 2010, Daniel Mongiardo
filed an ethics complaint against Conway alleging that Conway received more than $70,000 in donations from utility company lobbyists for which he approved a $22 million rate increase from Louisville Gas & Electric
. The Lexington Herald-Leader
reported that in a case about Atmos Energy
"Conway announced March 12 that he had reached an agreement that reduced by 38 percent the company's original request for a rate hike of $9.4 million, cutting it to $5.9 million". Conway's spokeswoman stated that Conway has saved ratepayers "$100 million dollars by forcing proposed rate hikes to be lower in 18 cases before the PSC since 2008". Mongiardo alleged that Conway benefited from the rate increase because Conway owns assets in Kinder Morgan
, a partner of Atmos Energy. On July 14, 2010 the ethics complaint against Conway was dropped and the Kentucky ethics panel stated "campaign contributions aren't considered gifts under the ethics code, and as a result the ethics commission doesn't have jurisdiction."
On May 18, 2010, Conway narrowly won the primary election to secure the Democratic nomination. With Bunning deciding to retire, Conway will face Republican nominee Rand Paul
for the Senate seat in November 2010.
Following the primary election Conway criticized Paul for his position on the Civil Rights Act of 1964
. He first claimed Paul wanted to "repeal" it and later stated that Paul rejected and would have opposed inclusion of a "fundamental provision of the act". Conway criticized Paul for a 2002 letter in which Paul opposed the Fair Housing Act. Paul had stated that "a free society" should allow discrimination by private businesses even if he disagreed. Conway argued that Paul held a "narrow, rigid philosophy that government shouldn't deal with businesses at all".
As of July 15, 2010, Conway had received $3.4 million in campaign contributions and loaned his campaign $525,000, surpassing Paul in available funds. Conway had been criticized by Paul for appearing at a fundraising event with a group of U.S. trial lawyers in Canada.
On October 15, 2010, in the wake of news coverage of Rand Paul's alleged activities in college, Conway began running a TV ad asking why Paul joined a group at Baylor
that mocked Christianity and told a classmate his god was "Aqua Buddha." The ad triggered an angry response from Paul, who claimed Conway was questioning his Christian
faith. The ad was controversial, but the Conway campaign continued to run it, saying that it questioned Paul's judgment, not his faith.
, and opposes a constitutional amendment to ban abortion. In his October 25, 2010 debate with Rand Paul, he reiterated his earlier statement that abortion should be rare but also safe and legal.
question about green house gas regulation by the Environmental Protection Agency, Conway stated, "I would prefer Congress to pass legislation that addresses climate change instead of having the EPA regulate greenhouse gas emissions. I also support energy conservation such as retrofitting buildings to be more energy efficient, and pursuing advanced energy technology like carbon capture and sequestration." In a letter written by Conway to the Environmental Protection Agency, he stated that "Coal is an integral part of Kentucky's economy and an important domestic energy resource" and that he supported "environmentally-conscious mining and [was] concerned that a series of new waivers to existing regulations [would] lead to the potential for abuse or arbitrary enforcement".
survey, Conway stated, "I support the 2nd Amendment
--and believe there is nothing wrong with owning a gun for personal protection or recreation." Conway supported maintaining and strengthening current federal legislation, such as required background checks at gun shows and child safety locks, but opposed raising the legal age from 18 to 21 and also opposed requiring a license for gun possession. Neither Conway nor his Republican opponent Rand Paul has complied with the request from Project VoteSmart to state their positions on these or similarly controversial issues in 2010, earning both men a "0% courage" rating from Project VoteSmart.
, and I have recovered millions more for consumers by taking on big oil and pharmaceutical companies."
Conway has said he supports the bipartisan debt commission that was proposed by Senators Judd Gregg
and Kent Conrad
, and says "I was puzzled and disappointed when Mitch McConnell
decided to vote against it after having praised it in the past." Conway says as a U.S. Senator he would work across party lines to solve problems like deficit reduction.
Looking at the federal budget, Conway has identified $430 billion in potential savings over the next ten years. Nearly half this amount could be saved by letting Medicare
negotiate prices for drugs with pharmaceutical companies, and Conway says this would be the first piece of legislation he would introduce if elected. Another $100 billion could be saved by reducing Medicare fraud using state-based agencies, just as Conway was able to reduce Medicaid fraud in Kentucky. He also wants to close corporate tax loopholes that encourage businesses to move factories and jobs overseas.
. In 2010, Conway told the Courier-Journal that he now opposes the Iraq War because the Bush administration overstated Saddam Hussein's efforts to obtain weapons of mass destruction, adding that "In this case, they trumped up the intelligence and then they didn't have a plan for winning the peace".
signed into law by President Barack Obama.
Conway has said that "If after a few years we find the system needs a few tweaks", He would "be open to considering options like a Medicare-buy-in that would bring younger, healthier adults into Medicare, and take advantage of the efficiencies in Medicare's delivery system." But, Conway insists, "I want to make sure any changes to Medicare in the future do not diminish benefits for current recipients."
Following passage of the health care act, Conway refused to join other state attorneys general in a constitutional challenge stating, "during the worst economic crisis in a generation, I will not misuse the resources or power of my office to pursue litigation that is without merit".
Conway's jobs plan also calls for the creation of a Small Business Loan Fund that will put $30 billion of new capital toward lending for small businesses through community banks and credit unions.
In 2002, while running for the U.S. House of Representatives, Conway supported the Bush tax cuts
. During the 2010 primary for the U.S. Senate seat in Kentucky, Conway told the editorial board of The Courier-Journal
that most of the Bush tax cuts should be allowed to expire. In early August 2010 Conway told CN|2 Politics, "I don't think that a recession is any time to raise taxes. So I think the Bush tax cuts ought to be extended for some period of time, especially the individual taxes, the estate tax provisions, keeping the capital gains tax at 15 percent. I think they ought to be extended".
, which includes a provision known as "card check". Conway says, "unions should be recognized if a majority of employees at a workplace sign cards indicating they wish to organize."
Conway opposes privatizing Social Security
and thinks these benefits should be maintained and protected from any outside risks associated with the financial markets. Conway opposes raising the retirement age and cutting Social Security benefit levels. In his 2002 run for Congress Conway stated that raising the retirement age and cutting benefit levels "to save Social Security" has to be considered, but retracted these comments by November 2002.
When asked if he was in favor of hemp farming for Kentucky, Conway replied: "It's a law enforcement issue. The problem with hemp is, when you're trying to eradicate marijuana, which is a major law enforcement issue in Kentucky, I know how difficult it can be for law enforcement to make the distinction, and so I think we need to leave that issue to those in law enforcement who are advising us on it. If there's a difficulty in distinguishing between hemp
and marijuana then we shouldn't have hemp farming in Kentucky, because it's more of a law enforcement issue about making certain we don't let a gateway drug
get into the marketplace."
Conway indicated in a 2002 Project Vote Smart survey that he does not support decriminalizing the use of marijuana for medical purposes.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician from Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. Conway is a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
and has served as the Attorney General of Kentucky
Attorney General of Kentucky
The Attorney General of Kentucky is an office created by the Kentucky Constitution. . Under Kentucky law, he serves several roles, including the state's chief prosecutor , the state's chief law enforcement officer , and the state's chief law officer...
since 2008. Prior to his election as attorney general, he was a candidate in the 2002 U.S. House of Representatives election for , narrowly losing to Anne Northup
Anne Northup
Anne Meagher Northup is an American Republican politician from the state of Kentucky. From 1997 to 2007, she represented the Louisville-centered 3rd congressional district of Kentucky in the United States House of Representatives, where she served on the powerful House Appropriations Committee...
.
Conway was the Democratic nominee in the 2010 U.S. Senate election
United States Senate election in Kentucky, 2010
The 2010 United States Senate election in Kentucky took place on November 2, 2010 alongside other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Primaries for each respective party were...
, seeking the seat in the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
held by Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Jim Bunning
Jim Bunning
James Paul David "Jim" Bunning is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher and politician.During a 17-year baseball career, he pitched from 1955 to 1971, most notably with the Detroit Tigers and the Philadelphia Phillies. When he retired, he had the second-highest total of career...
. Rand Paul
Rand Paul
Randal Howard "Rand" Paul is the junior United States Senator for Kentucky. He is a member of the Republican Party. A member of the Tea Party movement, he describes himself as a "constitutional conservative" and a libertarian...
was declared the winner on November 2, 2010.
Conway won re-election to a second term as Attorney General with over 55% of the vote against Hopkins County
Hopkins County
Hopkins County is the name of two counties in the United States:* Hopkins County, Kentucky* Hopkins County, Texas...
Attorney Todd P'Pool
Personal life and career
Conway was born in Louisville, KentuckyLouisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
, the eldest of four children of Barbara and Tom Conway, a Louisville lawyer. A graduate of St. Xavier High School, Conway gained an undergraduate degree from Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
, in 1991 and worked as legislative aide to the U.S. House Banking Committee
United States House Committee on Financial Services
The United States House Committee on Financial Services is the committee of the United States House of Representatives that oversees the entire financial services industry, including the securities, insurance, banking, and housing industries...
from 1991 to 1997. He graduated with a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from George Washington University Law School in 1995 and worked as legal counsel and deputy cabinet secretary in the administration of Kentucky Governor
Governor of Kentucky
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the head of the executive branch of government in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Fifty-six men and one woman have served as Governor of Kentucky. The governor's term is four years in length; since 1992, incumbents have been able to seek re-election once...
Paul Patton
Paul E. Patton
Paul Edward Patton was the 59th governor of Kentucky, serving from 1995 to 2003. Because of a 1992 amendment to the Kentucky Constitution, he was the first governor eligible to succeed himself in office since James Garrard in 1800...
from 1995 to 2001. Starting in 2001, he worked as a private attorney for Conliffe Sandman Sullivan. On May 20, 2006, Conway married Elizabeth Davenport and they have one daughter named Eva Louise.
Conway and his father are partners in thoroughbred racehorse
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
Stately Victor
Stately Victor
Stately Victor is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He ran in the 2010 Kentucky Derby, coming in eighth. Bred by Frank Stronach's Adena Springs, he is a son of the great Ghostzapper, the 2004 American Horse of the Year and ranked number one in the world that year...
, named after Jack's childhood best friend who died at age 23. On April 11, 2010 the colt won the Grade I
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
Blue Grass Stakes
Blue Grass Stakes
The Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, currently sponsored by the Toyota Motor Corporation, is an American Grade 1 horse race for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds held annually in mid April at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky....
and later ran in the Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
.
2002 Congressional race
Conway ran for Congress in 2002 against RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
incumbent Anne Northup
Anne Northup
Anne Meagher Northup is an American Republican politician from the state of Kentucky. From 1997 to 2007, she represented the Louisville-centered 3rd congressional district of Kentucky in the United States House of Representatives, where she served on the powerful House Appropriations Committee...
to represent . The district leaned Democratic and Conway portrayed Northup as an ineffective legislator, while Northup had more campaign money to spend. After a tight contest, Conway was narrowly defeated on November 5, 2002, with 48.4 percent to 51.6 percent. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is the Democratic Hill committee for the United States House of Representatives, working to elect Democrats to that body. They play a critical role in recruiting candidates, raising funds, and organizing races in districts that are expected to yield...
tried to convince Conway to run again for the same seat in 2004, but he declined.
Attorney general
In 2007, Conway became the Democratic nominee for attorney general of Kentucky after winning the primary with 71.8 percent of the vote against former assistant attorney general Robert Bullock. Conway won the general election on November 6, 2007, against his Republican opponent, Lexington
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
State Representative
Kentucky House of Representatives
The Kentucky House of Representatives is the lower house of the Kentucky General Assembly. It is composed of 100 Representatives elected from single-member districts throughout the Commonwealth. Not more than two counties can be joined to form a House district, except when necessary to preserve...
Stan Lee, with 60.5 percent to 39.5 percent.
As attorney general Conway created a cybercrimes
Computer crime
Computer crime, or cybercrime, refers to any crime that involves a computer and a network. The computer may have been used in the commission of a crime, or it may be the target. Netcrime refers to criminal exploitation of the Internet. Such crimes may threaten a nation’s security and financial health...
unit and forensics laboratory that prosecutes internet crimes and trains prosecutors and police officers. Conway led a state investigation into price gouging
Price gouging
Price gouging is a pejorative term referring to a situation in which a seller prices goods or commodities much higher than is considered reasonable or fair. In precise, legal usage, it is the name of a crime that applies in some of the United States during civil emergencies...
at Kentucky gasoline stations before Hurricane Ike
Hurricane Ike
Hurricane Ike was the second-costliest hurricane ever to make landfall in the United States, the costliest hurricane ever to impact Cuba and the second most active hurricane to reach the Canadian mainland in the Great Lakes Region after Hurricane Hazel in 1954...
made landfall in September 2008, resulting in seven stations paying settlements. He also prosecuted Medicaid fraud cases and renegotiated gas rates increases.
In August, 2009, Conway launched the Prescription Drug Diversion Task Force, targeting prescription drug trafficking, overprescribing physicians, and illegal out-of-state pharmacies. The Task Force also conducted police training statewide.
In November 2009, Conway asked Governor Steve Beshear
Steve Beshear
Steven Lynn "Steve" Beshear is an American politician who is the 61st Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. A Democrat, Beshear previously served in the Kentucky House of Representatives from 1974 to 1979, was the state's Attorney General from 1980 to 1983, and was Lieutenant Governor from...
to set execution dates for three men on death row. This was criticized by opponents of the death penalty. The Kentucky Supreme Court
Kentucky Supreme Court
The Kentucky Supreme Court was created by a 1975 constitutional amendment and is the state supreme court of the commonwealth of Kentucky. Prior to that the Kentucky Court of Appeals was the only appellate court in Kentucky...
decided to stay executions until the Kentucky Department of Corrections follows mandatory administrative procedures.
2010 Senate election
On April 9, 2009, Conway announced that he is running for the U.S. SenateUnited States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
seat held by Jim Bunning
Jim Bunning
James Paul David "Jim" Bunning is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher and politician.During a 17-year baseball career, he pitched from 1955 to 1971, most notably with the Detroit Tigers and the Philadelphia Phillies. When he retired, he had the second-highest total of career...
. Conway became the third Democrat to enter the race, following Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky
The office of lieutenant governor of Kentucky has existed under the last three of Kentucky's four constitutions, beginning in 1797. The lieutenant governor serves as governor of Kentucky under circumstances similar to the Vice President of the United States assuming the powers of the presidency...
Daniel Mongiardo
Daniel Mongiardo
Frank Daniel Mongiardo is an American physician and politician from Kentucky. Mongiardo is a Democrat and has been Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky since 2007. He was a member of the Kentucky State Senate from 2001 to 2007. He also ran for the U.S...
, who announced his candidacy in January and former U.S. Customs
United States Customs Service
Until March 2003, the United States Customs Service was an agency of the U.S. federal government that collected import tariffs and performed other selected border security duties.Before it was rolled into form part of the U.S...
agent Darlene Fitzgerald Price. Conway consulted with Democratic Congressman Ben Chandler
Ben Chandler
Albert Benjamin "Ben" Chandler III is the U.S. Representative for , serving since a special election in 2004. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education and career:...
and state Auditor Crit Luallen
Crit Luallen
Eugenia Crittenden Blackburn "Crit" Luallen is the current Auditor of Public Accounts for the Commonwealth of Kentucky.-Early Life and Education:Luallen is a native of Frankfort...
about running for the seat.
Due to Conway's large margin of victory in his state-wide campaign for attorney general, his fundraising ability, and the age difference between Conway and Bunning, Conway was described as a viable candidate.
In May 2010, Daniel Mongiardo
Daniel Mongiardo
Frank Daniel Mongiardo is an American physician and politician from Kentucky. Mongiardo is a Democrat and has been Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky since 2007. He was a member of the Kentucky State Senate from 2001 to 2007. He also ran for the U.S...
filed an ethics complaint against Conway alleging that Conway received more than $70,000 in donations from utility company lobbyists for which he approved a $22 million rate increase from Louisville Gas & Electric
Louisville Gas & Electric
Louisville Gas & Electric is a utilities company based in Louisville, Kentucky. A subsidiary of PPL Corporation through the LG&E and KU Energy subsidiary, LG&E serves over 350,000 electric and over 300,000 natural gas customers, covers an area of 700 square miles , and has a total regulated...
. The Lexington Herald-Leader
Lexington Herald-Leader
The Lexington Herald-Leader is a newspaper owned by The McClatchy Company and based in the U.S. city of Lexington, Kentucky. According to the 1999 Editor & Publisher International Yearbook, the Herald-Leaders paid circulation is the second largest in the Commonwealth of Kentucky...
reported that in a case about Atmos Energy
Atmos Energy
Atmos Energy Corporation , headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is the largest distributor of natural gas in the United States, serving 3.2 million customers nationwide. Atmos acquired TXU's natural gas and pipeline holdings in 2004. The company began as Energas in 1983, a spinoff of the natural gas...
"Conway announced March 12 that he had reached an agreement that reduced by 38 percent the company's original request for a rate hike of $9.4 million, cutting it to $5.9 million". Conway's spokeswoman stated that Conway has saved ratepayers "$100 million dollars by forcing proposed rate hikes to be lower in 18 cases before the PSC since 2008". Mongiardo alleged that Conway benefited from the rate increase because Conway owns assets in Kinder Morgan
Kinder Morgan
Kinder Morgan, Inc. is an American energy company. It is also, through a subsidiary, the general partner of and owner of many of the interests in Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, a publicly traded pipeline and terminal limited partnership....
, a partner of Atmos Energy. On July 14, 2010 the ethics complaint against Conway was dropped and the Kentucky ethics panel stated "campaign contributions aren't considered gifts under the ethics code, and as a result the ethics commission doesn't have jurisdiction."
On May 18, 2010, Conway narrowly won the primary election to secure the Democratic nomination. With Bunning deciding to retire, Conway will face Republican nominee Rand Paul
Rand Paul
Randal Howard "Rand" Paul is the junior United States Senator for Kentucky. He is a member of the Republican Party. A member of the Tea Party movement, he describes himself as a "constitutional conservative" and a libertarian...
for the Senate seat in November 2010.
Following the primary election Conway criticized Paul for his position on the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark piece of legislation in the United States that outlawed major forms of discrimination against African Americans and women, including racial segregation...
. He first claimed Paul wanted to "repeal" it and later stated that Paul rejected and would have opposed inclusion of a "fundamental provision of the act". Conway criticized Paul for a 2002 letter in which Paul opposed the Fair Housing Act. Paul had stated that "a free society" should allow discrimination by private businesses even if he disagreed. Conway argued that Paul held a "narrow, rigid philosophy that government shouldn't deal with businesses at all".
As of July 15, 2010, Conway had received $3.4 million in campaign contributions and loaned his campaign $525,000, surpassing Paul in available funds. Conway had been criticized by Paul for appearing at a fundraising event with a group of U.S. trial lawyers in Canada.
On October 15, 2010, in the wake of news coverage of Rand Paul's alleged activities in college, Conway began running a TV ad asking why Paul joined a group at Baylor
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
that mocked Christianity and told a classmate his god was "Aqua Buddha." The ad triggered an angry response from Paul, who claimed Conway was questioning his Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
faith. The ad was controversial, but the Conway campaign continued to run it, saying that it questioned Paul's judgment, not his faith.
Political views
A review of Conway's public statements over the last decade by the Louisville Courier-Journal found that while he does have liberal views on some issues such as reproductive rights and health-care reform, his outlook is conservative or moderate on others, including the death penalty and gay marriage. He told the interviewer, "I consider myself a political moderate. Fiscally, I can be pretty conservative. I'm pretty conservative, I think, on the 2nd Amendment" to the Constitution, guaranteeing the right to bear arms."Abortion
Conway supports legalized abortion that "should be as rare as possible, but should be kept safe and legal." He opposes late-term abortionLate-term abortion
Late termination of pregnancy or late-term abortions are abortions which are performed during a later stage of pregnancy. Late-term abortions are more controversial than abortion in general because the fetus is more developed and sometimes viable.-Definition:A late-term abortion often refers to an...
, and opposes a constitutional amendment to ban abortion. In his October 25, 2010 debate with Rand Paul, he reiterated his earlier statement that abortion should be rare but also safe and legal.
Civil liberties
In 2002, Conway expressed support for some provisions of the Patriot Act. In 2010, he expressed satisfaction that the act had been amended to provide more judicial restraint of surveillance by federal agents.Energy policy
Conway opposes "cap and trade" legislation favored by the administration of Barack Obama, but stated he could support a version that includes protections for coal industry and consumers of Kentucky. Replying to a Daily KosDaily Kos
Daily Kos is an American political blog that publishes news and opinions from a progressive point of view. It functions as a discussion forum and group blog for a variety of netroots activists, whose efforts are primarily directed toward influencing and strengthening the Democratic Party...
question about green house gas regulation by the Environmental Protection Agency, Conway stated, "I would prefer Congress to pass legislation that addresses climate change instead of having the EPA regulate greenhouse gas emissions. I also support energy conservation such as retrofitting buildings to be more energy efficient, and pursuing advanced energy technology like carbon capture and sequestration." In a letter written by Conway to the Environmental Protection Agency, he stated that "Coal is an integral part of Kentucky's economy and an important domestic energy resource" and that he supported "environmentally-conscious mining and [was] concerned that a series of new waivers to existing regulations [would] lead to the potential for abuse or arbitrary enforcement".
Firearms
In a 2002 Project Vote SmartProject Vote Smart
Project Vote Smart is a non-profit, non-partisan research organization that collects and distributes information on candidates for public office in the United States...
survey, Conway stated, "I support the 2nd Amendment
Second Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution is the part of the United States Bill of Rights that protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms. It was adopted on December 15, 1791, along with the rest of the Bill of Rights.In 2008 and 2010, the Supreme Court issued two Second...
--and believe there is nothing wrong with owning a gun for personal protection or recreation." Conway supported maintaining and strengthening current federal legislation, such as required background checks at gun shows and child safety locks, but opposed raising the legal age from 18 to 21 and also opposed requiring a license for gun possession. Neither Conway nor his Republican opponent Rand Paul has complied with the request from Project VoteSmart to state their positions on these or similarly controversial issues in 2010, earning both men a "0% courage" rating from Project VoteSmart.
Fiscal responsibility and budget deficits
Conway points to his record of fiscal responsibility as Attorney General of Kentucky. "I have saved over $100 million for Kentucky taxpayers by prosecuting waste, fraud, and abuse in MedicaidMedicaid
Medicaid is the United States health program for certain people and families with low incomes and resources. It is a means-tested program that is jointly funded by the state and federal governments, and is managed by the states. People served by Medicaid are U.S. citizens or legal permanent...
, and I have recovered millions more for consumers by taking on big oil and pharmaceutical companies."
Conway has said he supports the bipartisan debt commission that was proposed by Senators Judd Gregg
Judd Gregg
Judd Alan Gregg is a former Governor of New Hampshire and former United States Senator from New Hampshire, who served as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee. He is a member of the Republican Party and was a businessman and attorney in Nashua before entering politics...
and Kent Conrad
Kent Conrad
Kent Conrad is the senior United States Senator from North Dakota. He is a member of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party, the North Dakota affiliate of the Democratic Party...
, and says "I was puzzled and disappointed when Mitch McConnell
Mitch McConnell
Addison Mitchell "Mitch" McConnell, Jr. is the senior United States Senator from Kentucky and the Republican Minority Leader.- Early life, education, and military service :...
decided to vote against it after having praised it in the past." Conway says as a U.S. Senator he would work across party lines to solve problems like deficit reduction.
Looking at the federal budget, Conway has identified $430 billion in potential savings over the next ten years. Nearly half this amount could be saved by letting Medicare
Medicare (United States)
Medicare is a social insurance program administered by the United States government, providing health insurance coverage to people who are aged 65 and over; to those who are under 65 and are permanently physically disabled or who have a congenital physical disability; or to those who meet other...
negotiate prices for drugs with pharmaceutical companies, and Conway says this would be the first piece of legislation he would introduce if elected. Another $100 billion could be saved by reducing Medicare fraud using state-based agencies, just as Conway was able to reduce Medicaid fraud in Kentucky. He also wants to close corporate tax loopholes that encourage businesses to move factories and jobs overseas.
Foreign Policy
Conway stated in 2002, during his congressional campaign, that he supported George W. Bush's foreign policy and would have voted to authorize the 2003 invasion of Iraq2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
. In 2010, Conway told the Courier-Journal that he now opposes the Iraq War because the Bush administration overstated Saddam Hussein's efforts to obtain weapons of mass destruction, adding that "In this case, they trumped up the intelligence and then they didn't have a plan for winning the peace".
Health care
Conway supported the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care ActPatient Protection and Affordable Care Act
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a United States federal statute signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. The law is the principal health care reform legislation of the 111th United States Congress...
signed into law by President Barack Obama.
Conway has said that "If after a few years we find the system needs a few tweaks", He would "be open to considering options like a Medicare-buy-in that would bring younger, healthier adults into Medicare, and take advantage of the efficiencies in Medicare's delivery system." But, Conway insists, "I want to make sure any changes to Medicare in the future do not diminish benefits for current recipients."
Following passage of the health care act, Conway refused to join other state attorneys general in a constitutional challenge stating, "during the worst economic crisis in a generation, I will not misuse the resources or power of my office to pursue litigation that is without merit".
Immigration
Conway supports a pathway to legalization for some illegal immigrants, but said that preference should be given to those here legally. He has called for action against businesses that employ illegal aliens. He believes that "If you're born on the United States soil, then you're a United States citizen," and opposes breaking up families by deporting parents of children born here.Jobs and the Economy
Conway proposes a hometown tax credit to reward companies and small businesses that create jobs in Kentucky. Employers who prove they've boosted employment over the previous year by creating new jobs, increasing paid hours, or raising wages, would qualify for a 20% tax credit. The total benefit would be capped at $500,000 per firm. Conway says such a tax credit would be fully paid for by repealing foreign income and interest deductions, and closing offshore tax loopholes.Conway's jobs plan also calls for the creation of a Small Business Loan Fund that will put $30 billion of new capital toward lending for small businesses through community banks and credit unions.
In 2002, while running for the U.S. House of Representatives, Conway supported the Bush tax cuts
Bush tax cuts
The Bush tax cuts refers to changes to the United States tax code passed during the presidency of George W. Bush and extended during the presidency of Barack Obama that generally lowered tax rates and revised the code specifying taxation in the United States...
. During the 2010 primary for the U.S. Senate seat in Kentucky, Conway told the editorial board of The Courier-Journal
The Courier-Journal
The Courier-Journal, locally called "The C-J", is the main newspaper for the city of Louisville, Kentucky, USA. According to the 1999 Editor & Publisher International Yearbook, the paper is the 48th largest daily paper in the United States and the single largest in Kentucky.- Origins :The...
that most of the Bush tax cuts should be allowed to expire. In early August 2010 Conway told CN|2 Politics, "I don't think that a recession is any time to raise taxes. So I think the Bush tax cuts ought to be extended for some period of time, especially the individual taxes, the estate tax provisions, keeping the capital gains tax at 15 percent. I think they ought to be extended".
Labor
Conway supports the Employee Free Choice ActEmployee Free Choice Act
The Employee Free Choice Act was a legislative bill that was introduced into both chambers of the U.S. Congress on March 10, 2009. The bill's purpose was to,...
, which includes a provision known as "card check". Conway says, "unions should be recognized if a majority of employees at a workplace sign cards indicating they wish to organize."
Medicare and Social Security
If elected to the Senate, Conway says the first piece of legislation he will introduce would repeal what he calls a "sweetheart deal" for the pharmaceutical industry that currently prohibits Medicare from negotiating for lower prices on prescription drugs. Citing a report from the National Committee on Social Security and Medicare, he says that this alone would save the federal government $200 billion.Conway opposes privatizing Social Security
Social Security (United States)
In the United States, Social Security refers to the federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program.The original Social Security Act and the current version of the Act, as amended encompass several social welfare and social insurance programs...
and thinks these benefits should be maintained and protected from any outside risks associated with the financial markets. Conway opposes raising the retirement age and cutting Social Security benefit levels. In his 2002 run for Congress Conway stated that raising the retirement age and cutting benefit levels "to save Social Security" has to be considered, but retracted these comments by November 2002.
War on Drugs
Conway has stated that "“We need a United States senator who understands that we need federal funding for treatment, we need federal funding for law enforcement investigators, and we need a collaborative approach of federal, state and local (resources) to deal with the drug problem” in Kentucky where prescription drug abuse is of particular concern. Conway has pledged his steadfast support of Operation UNITE, an anti-drug initiative in Kentucky that receives the majority of its funding at the federal level. He has also called for the creation of a network of prescription pill tracking systems across the United States, where each state would adopt a prescription pill tracking program similar to the KASPER system in Kentucky.When asked if he was in favor of hemp farming for Kentucky, Conway replied: "It's a law enforcement issue. The problem with hemp is, when you're trying to eradicate marijuana, which is a major law enforcement issue in Kentucky, I know how difficult it can be for law enforcement to make the distinction, and so I think we need to leave that issue to those in law enforcement who are advising us on it. If there's a difficulty in distinguishing between hemp
Hemp
Hemp is mostly used as a name for low tetrahydrocannabinol strains of the plant Cannabis sativa, of fiber and/or oilseed varieties. In modern times, hemp has been used for industrial purposes including paper, textiles, biodegradable plastics, construction, health food and fuel with modest...
and marijuana then we shouldn't have hemp farming in Kentucky, because it's more of a law enforcement issue about making certain we don't let a gateway drug
Gateway drug
The gateway drug theory is the hypothesis that the use of less deleterious drugs may lead to a future risk of using more dangerous hard drugs and/or crime...
get into the marketplace."
Conway indicated in a 2002 Project Vote Smart survey that he does not support decriminalizing the use of marijuana for medical purposes.
External links
- Campaign financing from OpenSecrets.org