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Six Additional Kentucky Counties Are Now Eligible for Disaster Assistance

March 5, 2008



Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell announced Wednesday that Kentuckians in Bath, Harrison, Hopkins, Nicholas, Shelby, and Spencer counties, who were affected by the severe weather on February 5 - 6, 2008, are now eligible to apply for federal disaster assistance.



In early February, Senator McConnell contacted President Bush and Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff about the federal disaster declaration. Residents in these additional six counties join the residents in the nine counties that have been previously declared eligible to receive disaster assistance since February 22: Allen, Christian, Fayette, Hardin, Hart, Meade, Mercer, Monroe, and Muhlenberg.



According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Kentuckians affected by the storm in those counties can apply for assistance online at www.fema.gov or by calling (800) 621-FEMA (3362). For the hearing- and speech-impaired, contact TTY (800) 462-7585.



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McConnell: Isakson Proposal Provides Innovative Relief

March 4, 2008





Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor Tuesday regarding Senator Isakson’s housing proposal which would help maintain the value and security of neighborhoods by encouraging speedy sale and renovation of foreclosed homes:



“Last week we debated housing. Democrats want to raise monthly mortgage payments on everyone who wants to buy a new home or refinance an existing one. Republicans have a broader, bolder plan. We want to create the economic conditions that make homeownership easier — more jobs and higher wages.



“Our first priority is to help families who are either facing foreclosure or seeing the values of their homes drop as a result of other foreclosures nearby.



“This morning I want to talk about one specific thing we can do to help these families.



“Home values are falling not only because of cut-rate selloffs by banks, but also because areas with a high volume of vacant homes often see an increase in crime and neglect.



“One thing government has done in the past to help reverse a slide in home values is to make tax credits available to people who pick up foreclosed homes in affected areas.



“This worked in the mid-70s, when a period of easy credit led to over-construction and higher interest rates.



“Congress responded with a $6,000 tax credit spread out over three years for anyone who bought a new home for their primary residence. Home values stabilized, inventory dropped, and the housing market recovered Congress should do the same thing today.



“Senator Isakson has decades of experience in real estate. He saw the good effects of the tax credit that Congress provided in the 70s.



“Now he’s proposing a $15,000 credit, spread over three years, for people who buy newer homes whose first mortgage is in default or single-family homes in possession of a bank.



“Buyers must occupy these homes as their principle residence to be eligible — we’re not about to let speculators to come in and make the current problem worse



“This is just one idea Republicans are proposing to help families struggling with the painful effects of the housing downturn.



“I mentioned some of these ideas yesterday. We will discuss others as the week goes on.



“A lot of families need urgent relief. They should know the government is doing everything it can, without damaging our long-term economy, to help them through a difficult stretch.



“And we certainly should avoid measures that make the underlying situation worse, as the centerpiece of the Democrats’ response to the housing situation would.”



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McConnell: ‘End Brinksmanship on Judicial Nominees’

March 3, 2008



‘I hope the Committee is not slow-walking these nominees based on decade-old grievances, both real and imagined’



Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell delivered the following remarks [as prepared] on the Senate floor Monday regarding the Judiciary Committee’s shut down on circuit court nominations:



“I would like to compliment the Ranking Member on the Judiciary Committee, Senator Specter, on his remarks about the need for the Judiciary Committee to treat the President’s circuit court nominees fairly.



“Before this Congress began, the Majority Leader and I discussed the need for the Senate to have a fairer, and less contentious, confirmation process.



“I believe my friend the Majority Leader still shares that goal. The Senate made decent progress on circuit court nominations last year. We didn’t match President Clinton’s number from his first session of his last Congress, but we came close.



“We had one notable bump along the way, namely the nomination of Judge Leslie Southwick. But we were able to get him through. And it is good for the institution that we did.



“Unfortunately, the prospect of turning the page on judicial nominations—a goal which I think all but the hardest partisans share—has taken a wrong turn. Despite the best efforts of the Ranking Member and others, progress has all-but ground to a halt.



“There have been no judicial confirmations so far this year, and there has been only one hearing on a circuit court nominee since September of last year.



“It is puzzling why progress has almost stopped.



“Some like to blame the President. But as the Ranking Member has noted, there are several circuit court nominees who have been pending in Committee for hundreds of days who have yet to receive a simple hearing, let alone a committee or floor vote.



“In addition, many of these nominees satisfy most or all of the Chairman’s specific criteria for prompt consideration: they have strong-home state support, they fill judicial emergencies, and they have good or outstanding ABA ratings.



“So it is puzzling why it is taking so long to move them. I hope the Committee is not slow-walking these nominees based on decade-old grievances, both real and imagined.



“That may be emotionally satisfying, but it will set a precedent that will serve us ill, regardless of who is in the White House and which party controls the Senate.



“I hope my Democratic colleagues resist the desire by some to drag us back into judicial confirmation brinksmanship and establish a precedent they will regret. I hope they will treat these nominees fairly before it is too late.”



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