09-26-2012, 07:39 PM
Bill Adkins acknowledged a tough road ahead campaigning in Kentuckyâs conservative Fourth Congressional District but believes he can overcome the challenges.
The Williamstown-based lawyer told the Enquirer editorial board Monday he hopes for disenchanted Republicans to turn the tide in his favor in the race to succeed U.S. Rep. Geoff Davis for the congressional seat that covers Northern Kentucky.
Adkins, 56, faces Republican Thomas Massie, who garnered 45 percent of the GOP vote in the primary against six other candidates. He believes dissension between the tea party, which supported Massie, and other Republicans might work in his favor.
âThe tea party has a candidate; the Democrats have a candidate,â Adkins said. âThe question is, do the Republicans have a candidate? You have a dissatisfied electorate with those people that would have chosen (Gary) Moore or (Alecia) Webb-Edgington. Theyâre not happy with the tea party. Iâm not delusional but on the flip-side this is a game that can be played.â
Adkins said his desire to spend more in infrastructure distinguishes his platform.
âThe economists that I believe are correct are the ones that say you pay down debt when you have the money to pay down the debt, but when you are in deficit, depression, recession circumstances, you donât pay down debt, you invest in your education, your infrastructure,â Adkins said. âYou put people to work and infrastructure is the ideal way to address that.â
The $2.4 billion Brent Spence Bridge project ranks top on Adkinsâ list for infrastructure projects. Adkins opposes tolls but doesnât know an alternative funding source and said that the federal government will âhave to be very creative in coming up with that number.â
âI think youâll find that (tolls) donât float very well in this area,â Adkins said. âI would like to see it not hit disproportionately those people that use that bridge that are local residents on both sides of the river.â
Adkins also favors letting the tax cuts expire for people who make $250,000 or more but remain in place for people who make less. He said tax cuts for the rich doesnât necessarily translate to jobs for the poor.
âCertainly the middle class tax cuts, those people spend those tax cuts,â Adkins said. âIf you make 30,000, $40,000, $50,000 a year, they spend their tax cuts, but if you make Mitt Romney numbers, you put your money in the Caymanâs where they donât actually impact the economy as it should.â
Adkins also hopes his experience will earn points with voters. Prior to becoming a lawyer 13 years ago, he worked in a dozen different fields, including coal miner, railroad worker, bartender, retail store manager, printer, construction worker, bookkeeper, radio disc jockey and roofer.
He believes he has also closed some of the fund raising gap between him and Massie. Adkins said heâs received more from local donors, but did not have an estimate. He said he will get support from the Kentucky Democratic Party and over the past weekend heard for the first time people with the national Democratic Party.
âI wish they had done it earlier,â Adkins said. âI think theyâre missing an opportunity, because and open seat is an open seat. I donât think you stay out of the game just because it may be an uphill climb.âhttp://cincinnati.com/blogs/nkypolitics/...-district/
The Williamstown-based lawyer told the Enquirer editorial board Monday he hopes for disenchanted Republicans to turn the tide in his favor in the race to succeed U.S. Rep. Geoff Davis for the congressional seat that covers Northern Kentucky.
Adkins, 56, faces Republican Thomas Massie, who garnered 45 percent of the GOP vote in the primary against six other candidates. He believes dissension between the tea party, which supported Massie, and other Republicans might work in his favor.
âThe tea party has a candidate; the Democrats have a candidate,â Adkins said. âThe question is, do the Republicans have a candidate? You have a dissatisfied electorate with those people that would have chosen (Gary) Moore or (Alecia) Webb-Edgington. Theyâre not happy with the tea party. Iâm not delusional but on the flip-side this is a game that can be played.â
Adkins said his desire to spend more in infrastructure distinguishes his platform.
âThe economists that I believe are correct are the ones that say you pay down debt when you have the money to pay down the debt, but when you are in deficit, depression, recession circumstances, you donât pay down debt, you invest in your education, your infrastructure,â Adkins said. âYou put people to work and infrastructure is the ideal way to address that.â
The $2.4 billion Brent Spence Bridge project ranks top on Adkinsâ list for infrastructure projects. Adkins opposes tolls but doesnât know an alternative funding source and said that the federal government will âhave to be very creative in coming up with that number.â
âI think youâll find that (tolls) donât float very well in this area,â Adkins said. âI would like to see it not hit disproportionately those people that use that bridge that are local residents on both sides of the river.â
Adkins also favors letting the tax cuts expire for people who make $250,000 or more but remain in place for people who make less. He said tax cuts for the rich doesnât necessarily translate to jobs for the poor.
âCertainly the middle class tax cuts, those people spend those tax cuts,â Adkins said. âIf you make 30,000, $40,000, $50,000 a year, they spend their tax cuts, but if you make Mitt Romney numbers, you put your money in the Caymanâs where they donât actually impact the economy as it should.â
Adkins also hopes his experience will earn points with voters. Prior to becoming a lawyer 13 years ago, he worked in a dozen different fields, including coal miner, railroad worker, bartender, retail store manager, printer, construction worker, bookkeeper, radio disc jockey and roofer.
He believes he has also closed some of the fund raising gap between him and Massie. Adkins said heâs received more from local donors, but did not have an estimate. He said he will get support from the Kentucky Democratic Party and over the past weekend heard for the first time people with the national Democratic Party.
âI wish they had done it earlier,â Adkins said. âI think theyâre missing an opportunity, because and open seat is an open seat. I donât think you stay out of the game just because it may be an uphill climb.âhttp://cincinnati.com/blogs/nkypolitics/...-district/