Conway swipes Paul on ADA

State News

Discussion

July 27, 2010

By RONNIE ELLIS CNHI The Glasgow Daily Times Tue Jul 27, 2010, 11:01 AM CDT

FRANKFORT — Democratic U.S. Senate candidate and Attorney General Jack Conway knows an opportunity when he sees one.

At least he did Monday when he told about 100 people gathered in the capitol rotunda celebrating the 20th anniversary of passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act that his opponent Rand Paul’s statements on the law were “a shame” and “ignorant.”

Conway also criticized former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, whose father President George H. Bush signed the ADA into law, for helping Paul raise money.

Conway said 50 million Americans have benefited from the protections of the ADA since it was signed into law by ‘the first President Bush on July 26, 1990, calling it the “Bill or Rights, the Brown vs. Board of Education for the disability community.”

Conway condemned Paul’s previous statements that such problems of access and discrimination are more effectively handled locally. Paul — a Bowling Green eye surgeon and libertarian-leaning Republican — has campaigned against what he sees as intrusive government policies, runaway federal spending and debt. The day after his May 18 primary win over Republican Secretary of State Trey Grayson, Paul suggested to CNHI News that businesses with offices in two-story buildings might accommodate handicapped employees with a ground floor office rather than having to “spend $100,000 to put in an elevator.” Paul did not call for repeal of the law.

Conway told the crowd Monday that, “I will always support the Americans with Disabilities Act,” both as AG and “hopefully as your next United States Senator.

“But what a shame it is,” Conway continued, “that 20 years after the passage of the American with Disabilities Act, we would have a major candidate stand up and say he is against the American Disabilities Act, stand up and say if you have someone with a business in two stories, let someone with a disability take an office on the first floor, that is ignorant.”

He then turned toward Jeb Bush, who was scheduled to attend a Paul fundraising event in Louisville this week. “What a shame it is here today that a national politician is coming and appearing with that particular candidate and tarnishing the family legacy.” He referred to Jeb Bush, son of the first President Bush who signed the ADA into law and the brother of President George W. Bush who signed amendments to the act designed to strengthen it.

Jesse Benton, Paul’s campaign manager, called Conway’s statements irresponsible and a “cheap political stunt.”

"Dr. Paul has spent his entire adult life as a doctor,” Benton said. “He spends much of his time treating the blind, restoring eyesight and treating victims of many types of disabilities. He is deeply attuned to needs and struggles of the disabled, and to imply otherwise is a cheap political stunt by his opponent. It is sad that a desperate Jack Conway would make such irresponsible charges and politicize a non-political event to further his own ambitions.”

Pamela Roark-Glisson, executive director of Independence Place, Inc., a Lexington agency which helps disabled people to live independently, said both Conway and Paul were invited to address the rally.

“He (Paul) was invited by five different people — I was one of them,” she said. “He was invited by letter and we made phone calls and got no response.”

At least one person in the crowd, Ella Mullins of Ashland, agreed with much of what Conway said about the benefits of the ADA, but probably will vote for Paul anyway. Mullins, who uses a wheelchair for all but very short distances because of double-knee replacements, is a registered Republican.

“I don’t know for sure, but I will probably vote for Paul,” she said.

Text Only

State News

EVENING UPDATE: Supreme Court: Lawmakers to run in old districts
Legislative candidates will have to run in decade-old districts in this year’s elections, the Kentucky Supreme Court ruled Friday afternoon.

February 24, 2012
Stivers withdraws pseudoephedrine bill
In a move that surprised both supporters and opponents, the sponsor of a bill to require prescriptions for medications containing pseudoephedrine withdrew the bill in the state Senate Thursday.

February 23, 2012
Gambling talk, cold medicine dominates week
First it was redistricting which dominated every conversation in the 2012 General Assembly. Lawmakers couldn’t resolve that issue and it’s now before the state Court of Appeals which is expected to seek to transfer the case to the state Supreme Court.

February 17, 2012
Drug bill clears committee
It took some blunt testimony and visual evidence and the vote was close, but the Senate Judiciary Committee passed out a bill Thursday to require prescriptions for the purchase of products containing pseudoephedrine.

February 16, 2012
Senate committee looks at constables
A state Senate committee revised a proposed constitutional amendment which would have eliminated the office of constable Wednesday, choosing instead to offer a statute to allow local governments to define constables’ duties through ordinance.

February 16, 2012
Medicaid managed care groups reassure committee
Medicaid managed care organizations went before a restive Senate committee whose members have been bombarded with complaints from providers about late payments for Medicaid services.

February 16, 2012
Gambling amendment introduced
Gov. Steve Beshear and Republican Sen. Damon Thayer on Tuesday announced the much anticipated gambling amendment they hope to push through the legislature, an amendment that would allow up to seven casinos, five at existing horse racing tracks.

February 15, 2012
Activists gather to protest mountaintop removal
Their message was clear, though not everyone agrees with it.

February 15, 2012
Kentucky pharmacists unhappy with rates
A roomful of Kentucky pharmacists Monday made clear their dissatisfaction with some of their reimbursement rates under the newly implemented Medicaid managed care system before a legislative committee.

February 14, 2012
LRC appeals to Supreme Court
A lawyer for the governing arm of the state legislature has filed an appeal asking the state Supreme Court to dissolve a Franklin Circuit Court temporary injunction that 2012 candidates for the legislature run under 2002 district lines and set aside its ruling that the new district lines passed this year are unconstitutional.

February 14, 2012
More State News Headlines

State News

Search Results

Discussion

Conway swipes Paul on ADA

Site Map