Author

Tom Loftus
Tom Loftus is a native of Cincinnati and a graduate of The Ohio State University. His long career in Kentucky journalism includes four years as Frankfort bureau chief for The Kentucky Post and 32 years as Frankfort bureau chief for The Courier Journal. He is a member of the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame and a freelance reporter for the Kentucky Lantern.
Kelly Craft, her coal exec spouse give maximum $10,000 each to Republican Party of Kentucky
By: Tom Loftus - March 21, 2023
FRANKFORT — Republican candidate for governor Kelly Craft and her husband Joe Craft each contributed $10,000 to the Republican Party of Kentucky last month. The two Crafts were among 12 donors who each gave $10,000 to the RPK in February, according to a report the party filed late last week with the Federal Election Commission. Five of […]
Crafts have interests in 20-plus businesses, no worth estimate required in candidate disclosures
By: Tom Loftus - February 20, 2023
FRANKFORT — Republican candidate for governor Kelly Craft recently disclosed that she and her husband Joe Craft have financial interests in more than 20 businesses, primarily the coal giant Alliance Resource Partners LP, which is headed by Joe Craft. Candidates for statewide office were required to file personal financial statements by Feb. 15 covering calendar […]
Kentucky Democratic Party has more money than Republicans heading into governor’s race
By: Tom Loftus - February 2, 2023
FRANKFORT — Just as Democrat Andy Beshear has built a big fundraising lead over his Republican rivals for governor, the Kentucky Democratic Party has amassed a much bigger warchest than the Republican Party of Kentucky at the outset of this gubernatorial election year. In disclosures filed with campaign finance regulators this week, the Kentucky Democratic […]
Record amount spent lobbying Kentucky legislature last year
By: Tom Loftus - January 20, 2023
FRANKFORT — A record amount of nearly $24.3 million was spent lobbying the Kentucky General Assembly in 2022, according to reports filed by the hundreds of corporations, associations and other groups registered to lobby the legislature. Reports filed by the groups show that the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce continues to be the biggest-spending group in […]
Kentucky Democrats raise $50,000 from Charter for building fund, pales against GOP’s haul
By: Tom Loftus - January 10, 2023
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Charter Communications, the St. Louis-based telecommunications company, contributed $50,000 in late 2022 to the building fund of the Kentucky Democratic Party. The contribution was disclosed in a report filed by the party Tuesday morning with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance. It was the only contribution listed in the Democratic Party’s building […]
Pfizer gives $1 million to Republican Party of Kentucky to expand its headquarters
By: Tom Loftus - January 9, 2023
FRANKFORT, Ky. – In what may be the largest political contribution ever given to a political party in Kentucky, the drug maker Pfizer Inc. gave $1 million last month to the building fund of the Republican Party of Kentucky. A report filed by Republican Party of Kentucky Building Fund last week with the Kentucky Registry […]
Updated with Craft, Cameron reports. Beshear maintains big fundraising lead over Republican rivals.
By: Tom Loftus - January 3, 2023
This article has been updated with new information. FRANKFORT, KY – Gov. Andy Beshear’s re-election campaign on Tuesday reported raising $646,700 during the last quarter of 2022, bringing the total Beshear has raised to date to $5,180,200. The campaign reported having a bit over $4.7 million of that on hand. While the haul during the […]
Robust revenue growth forecast, setting stage for GOP to cut Kentucky income tax next month
By: Tom Loftus - December 14, 2022
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky can expect a big revenue surplus of $1.4 billion when the state’s current fiscal year ends on June 30. That was the prediction Wednesday of a group of experts — called the Consensus Forecasting Group — which is charged with making official forecasts of revenue for budgeting purposes. If the forecast […]
Republicans poised to cut Kentucky income tax again based on revenue boom that could be fleeting
By: Tom Loftus - November 30, 2022
FRANKFORT – Kentucky House Majority Leader Steven Rudy recently told a receptive audience at a Kentucky Chamber of Commerce forum that the first bill the House will consider when it convenes in January will be a measure to cut the Kentucky income tax rate from 4.5% to 4%. “I think it is very cool for […]