Kentucky deserves a senator that's going to fight for what's right for Kentucky and tell the truth. The combination of competition, a changing energy market and the power plan has hurt Kentucky families. That's the truth.
The economic rug has been pulled out from under many Kentucky families regardless if they worked directly in the mines. Mining jobs provide an enormous economic benefit to the entire state's economy. And after more than 200 years, it's part of our heritage and history. So it's not part of my DNA to say 'let's stop mining'. That's not the solution and it's just not feasible.
As energy markets shift we must fight to be sure coal is a bridge to the future. We CAN make a difference and invest in coal's future.
We need a bold national plan to renew our efforts to develop CCS technology. When we make coal clean, we can increase demand and revitalize the coal industry and the regions where it's based while also taking steps to protect our outdoors. Here are a few important steps we need to take to start making coal work for the environment and avoid needless job loss.
Earlier in the year, President Barack Obama asked Congress to provide $960 million with the act, but Congress didn't include funding. Gray criticized Paul for not voting for an amendment that would allocate about $600 million with the bill.
Paul's spokeswoman said the senator voted for a Republican omnibus bill that would have provided $1.5 billion for addiction prevention and treatment last year.
But Gray refused to say whether he would work to end federal regulatory initiatives such as the Clean Water Act. "There's no one size fits all on those kinds of questions," Gray said. "You don't say carte blanche that we're going to throw the baby out with the bathwater."
[Gray's opponent Senator Rand] Paul said regulation from the federal government has overstepped its bounds. "You don't want the government telling you that you can't make reservoirs and ponds to irrigate your land," Paul said.
[Gray's opponent Senator Rand] Paul said he supported trade agreements, such as Trans-Pacific Partnership, because they would bring money to Kentucky farmers.
Jim will work to create new opportunities and careers across the Commonwealth. He's done this work throughout his career, in business and as Mayor. That work highlights the importance of advanced manufacturing to Kentucky's economy and establishes goals that are critical to providing jobs for Kentucky workers. We have to think globally when talking about job creation in our state and driving exports, training workers, and attracting foreign investment are three critical components to rebuilding our state's unique economy.
We can rebuild the American Dream by growing our economy and creating more good paying jobs. That's what Jim has done his entire life and that's what he'll do for Kentucky in the US Senate.
A strong education system is essential to advancing our workforce and economy. Businesses looking to expand or locate in Kentucky need to know that we can provide the workforce they need to compete and thrive. That is why investment in education and our teachers is essential.
In Kentucky, our students' educational successes determine the future prosperity of our state. We must provide all students every opportunity to achieve at high levels. Students need educational opportunities that address their specific learning needs and are not tied to test scores.
We must also stand strong with our allies to identify and root out terrorists and protect our global interests. One of our most important allies in this fight is Israel. Jim supports a strong US-Israel relationship because of our strategic alliance, as well as our shared commitment to pursuing peace, democratic principles, human rights and religious freedom. Israel must maintain its qualitative military edge. To that end, the US should quickly ensure its access to the weapons Israel needs to maintain the peace and its security.
Kentuckians are fed up with Washington and politicians that are out to help themselves and their cronies. It's clear that our campaign finance system is broken, and we need to elect new leadership to root out this rigged system.
The Supreme Court decision in Citizens United has opened the floodgates for billionaires and special interests to spend unlimited, untraceable money in America's elections. It is a cancer in our democracy that billionaires are using to tip the scales in their favor.
The voters deserve to know who is influencing their elected leaders, which is why Jim supports increased disclosure. There's no good reason why political spending should be kept secret.
Continuous improvement is always essential in business and government. Medicare has remained solvent because of our ability to make improvements to the program without turning it into a voucher program.
We need leaders in the Senate who understand the threat and have the strength and resolve to meet it head on. That includes supporting the military, our intelligence community, and diplomacy that unifies the world behind this mission.
Jim supports measures to ensure long-term stability, raising the revenue cap is one option. And Jim will fight any measure to cut or privatize Social Security. He believes in keeping our promises to our nation's seniors by paying what we owe and preserving these programs for our children and grandchildren.
After a lifetime of hard work, our seniors deserve to know that Medicare will continue to guarantee their health coverage for life.
We can't afford US Senators who put politics above the safety and security of your family. Jim is willing to do what it takes to defeat these terrorists, and he has the strength to make the choices we need to get the job done.
It's clear that ISIS will stop at nothing and use unconventional methods to strike fear into our hearts. We must destroy ISIS where they are and prevent them from attacking us here at home. To stay ahead, we must be strategic, strong and innovative. Vital American assistance has enabled our allies in the region to shrink the territory ISIS controls and we should continue that aid as long as it is achieving results.
In December, the day after an extremist couple shot and killed 14 people in San Bernardino, Paul voted against a Democrat-backed bill that would have blocked the sale of guns through licensed firearms dealers to roughly 10,000 Americans whose names are reported to be on the secret watch list, indicating that federal law-enforcement officials suspect them of possible terrorist activity. The legislation failed by a 54-to-45 vote.
Responding to Gray's criticism, Paul said he voted for an alternative bill last December, one backed by Republicans, to let federal law-enforcement officials delay gun sales to suspected terrorists for up to 72 hours. "The legislation I supported prevented the Obama administration from drawing up a secret list of Americans who, through no judicial process, are stripped of their rights," Paul said.
"Well, I would first say there's no place for bigotry and prejudice and discrimination, and it always threatens liberty and justice and freedom," he said in an interview, discussing Kentucky's Democratic voters rallying around him. "I won the primary, [winning in] every county in the state. And we expect momentum heading into the fall. And I see people across the state who are interested in the issues that are really pressing issues.
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The above quotations are from 2016 Kentucky Senate race: debates and news coverage.
Click here for other excerpts from 2016 Kentucky Senate race: debates and news coverage. Click here for other excerpts by Jim Gray. Click here for a profile of Jim Gray.
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