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May 11, 2012
Kentucky farmers who were victims of Eastern Livestock’s check kiting scheme will receive the first installment of restitution checks beginning tomorrow. Members of my staff will be in Cave City from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. distributing checks totaling $300,000. Each recipient will receive a payment pro-rated according to his losses.
Securing restitution for Kentucky’s farmers, many of whom have struggled financially in the wake of Eastern Livestock’s collapse, has been a top priority of mine. I’m pleased that we were able to recover nearly $900,000 in our settlement with Eastern Livestock. For more information, please see our press release .
I was pleased to announce that my Office of Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Control recovered another $1.75 million on behalf of the Kentucky Medicaid program. Please see today’s press release on the settlement with Forest Pharmaceuticals. Since 2008, we’ve recovered or been awarded more than $230 million for the state and federal Medicaid programs.
My office has been working closely with Secretary of State Grimes and her staff to prevent vote fraud in the May 22 Primary Election. Investigators from my office will be patrolling precincts and polling places on Election Day looking for any voting irregularities.
We also need the public’s help. If you witness any possible election law violations, please call my Election Fraud Hotline at 800-328-VOTE.
Working together, we can ensure a fair and honest election for all Kentuckians.
May 4, 2012
As Attorney General, it has been my pleasure to work with the Century Council and other positive partners over the years to remind teens about the dangers of underage drinking. I recently taped a Public Service Announcement and shared a blog post about this important issue. I hope you'll take a moment to read it and talk to your teens about saying no to underage drinking.
If you have young drivers at home, please make sure to also talk to them about the dangers of texting and driving. A national survey released by the Ad Council finds that 60 percent of young adult drivers (16-24) said they have texted while driving. If you text and drive, you are risking your life, the lives of others and you are breaking the law. For more information, please see our press release.
I enjoyed spending some time on the backside at Churchill Downs this week. I talked to local media covering Derby 138, visited with radio stations from across Kentucky as part of the ATT Morning Line program at the Derby Museum and attended the Signature HealthCare prayer breakfast.
I've also firmed up my Oaks and Derby picks. I like On Fire Baby in the Oaks and I'll have Another in the Derby. Whether you watch the Kentucky Derby with friends and family at home or spend the day at historic Churchill Downs, I hope you have a safe and enjoyable weekend.
April 27, 2012
My Keep Kentucky Kids Safe partners and I received a warm welcome in Calloway and McCracken counties yesterday as we warned students about the dangers of prescription drug abuse. Our message seemed to strike a chord with the students, faculty, community leaders and law enforcement who attended our programs at Calloway Middle in Murray and Paducah's Lone Oak Middle School.
I would also like to thank Dr. Karen Shay for her continued strength and courage as she shares her story of how prescription pill abuse has devastated her family and robbed her of her beautiful daughter, Sarah. Karen is one of several parents who travel across the Commonwealth with me with the hope that no other family will have to endure the heartache of losing a child to this scourge. For Karen's story, or more information on my efforts to combat prescription drug abuse, please visit my Prescription Drug Abuse page.
I was honored to join Gov. Beshear, Speaker Stumbo, House and Senate leaders and members of law enforcement for the signing this week of House Bill 1. This legislation is a significant step forward as we work to combat the epidemic of prescription drug abuse in Kentucky. (Press release)
More than 200 victim service providers, advocates, social workers and prosecutors attended our annual Victims' Assistance conference this week in Louisville. I was grateful to have the opportunity to personally thank these folks for the work they do each and every day to ensure healing and justice for victims of crime.
April 20, 2012
It was my privilege to join law enforcement from across Kentucky earlier this week at a rally in support of passage of HB 1 to strengthen the fight against prescription drug abuse. Kentucky loses three people every day to prescription drug overdoses. I am hopeful that Kentucky lawmakers meeting during this final day of the Special Session will hear the pleas of families and communities across the Commonwealth and pass sweeping prescription drug legislation today.
I look forward to taking my Keep Kentucky Kids Safe program to McCracken and Calloway counties next week. I'll be joined by our law enforcement partners and Dr. Karen Shay, whose daughter Sarah who is among the more than 1,000 Kentuckians who die each year from prescription drug overdoses. I appreciate all that Karen is doing to help ensure that we don't lose another generation to prescription pill abuse.
The good work of our new Cooperative Disability Investigations (CDI) Unit has resulted in the arrests of four people following a disability fraud investigation in Laurel County. CDI was created through a joint partnership with my office, the Social Security Administration and Cabinet for Health and Family Services.
The defendants are accused of forging and cashing a Supplemental Security Income check issued to a deceased family member. For more information, please see our press release.
April 13, 2012
With Gov. Beshear's call for a Special Session to begin on Monday, Kentucky lawmakers have another chance to pass comprehensive prescription drug legislation. I am disappointed that this didn't happen during the regular session and concerned about the influence lobbyists for the medical community had on HB 4. Please see the statement I issued earlier today.
Federal prosecutors were able to obtain three guilty pleas this week in a conspiracy to buy votes during the May 2010 primary election in Breathitt County. Seven people have now either pled guilty or been convicted in vote buying conspiracies during that primary election in Breathitt County. I appreciate the hard work of my investigators who helped bring these charges forward and the assistance we received from our state and federal counterparts as we work to ensure honest and fair elections for all Kentuckians. Read more...
As many Kentuckians enjoy the final days of spring break this week, I hope you will remember that the pictures and messages you post on social networking sites like Facebook or MySpace can affect both your safety and your future. Students preparing for college should also know that more than 80 percent of college admissions officers use Facebook to recruit students. Read more...
April 6, 2012
Today, I joined with Gov. Beshear and a bi-partisan group of legislators to urge members of the General Assembly to take action on critical prescription drug abuse legislation. Lawmakers have one day left to act on House Bill 4. As I've told lawmakers on Capitol Hill and in Frankfort, we must act now to address one of the greatest threats to our state.
We're losing more than 1,000 Kentuckians each year to prescription drug overdoses. In fact, Kentucky has the nation's sixth-highest rate of prescription drug overdose deaths, at nearly 18 deaths per 100,000.
Passage of HB 4 is an important step in our effort to combat this scourge and I'm hopeful everyone, including the medical community, can get on board to ensure that we don't lose another generation of Kentuckians to prescription drug abuse. For more information on this important legislation, please see our press release.
I was pleased to announce that my Office of Special Prosecutions this week obtained a guilty verdict in a prescription pill trafficking scheme. A Christian County jury convicted 27-year-old Peter Nibert of Pasco County, Fla. on charges of trafficking in Oxycodone. Meanwhile, Nibert's Hopkinsville, Ky. co-defendants, Cary Alder and Scotty Highsmith, were sentenced for their role in the scheme. Alder received a 10-year prison sentence, while Highsmith, a persistent felony offender, was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Nibert mailed more than 3,000 Oxycodone pills to Kentucky to be sold locally over the course of the conspiracy. Because of the hard work of everyone involved in this case, we have put a stop to this trafficking scheme and those responsible. For more information, please see our press release.
There was moving sight at the Capitol this week. More than 5,000 pinwheels were placed in the front lawn as part of the kick-off of National Child Abuse Awareness Month. The pinwheels represent the 5,035 child sexual abuse victims who were served last year by Kentucky's 15 regional Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs).
My office will continue to work hand-in-hand with Kentucky's CACs to provide hope, healing and justice to victims of this horrendous crime and to prevent future abuse.
March 30, 2012
Seeking restitution for Kentucky cattlemen caught up in Eastern Livestock’s checking kiting scheme has been a top priority for my office since our investigation began in late 2010. This week, I was pleased to announce the guilty pleas of four former Eastern Livestock executives and the court-ordered payment of more than $850,000 in restitution to Kentucky farmers who sold livestock to the Metcalfe County buying station.
I appreciate the many farmers who worked with my office throughout our investigation. Our farmers are an invaluable resource for the Commonwealth of Kentucky and I hope our efforts will bring relief to the many families who have struggled financially as a result of these fraudulent business practices.
I am also grateful for the assistance we received from the FBI and numerous other state and federal agencies as we worked to bring this case to a close. The distribution of the first two restitution payments to approximately 170 victims will begin prior to the defendants’ sentencing in June. For more information, please see our press release.
Lawmakers this week passed legislation that will improve oversight of proprietary colleges operating in Kentucky. For too long, the schools have been monitored by the Board of Proprietary Education (BPE), which was primarily made up of representatives of for-profit colleges.
House Bill 308 does away with the BPE and establishes the Kentucky Commission on Proprietary Education, which will be made up of a diverse membership and the schools will no longer control their own oversight board. The legislation also includes additional operating guidelines and consumer protections. This is a step in the right direction for students and consumers in Kentucky.”
March is always an exciting time in the Commonwealth, but this is a particularly special time as two Kentucky teams are in the national spotlight. Elizabeth and I look forward to cheering on both the Cards and the Cats in the NCAA Final Four this weekend. Regardless of the outcome, Kentucky will have a team vying for the national championship!
March 23, 2012
For the second time this month, I had the privilege of testifying on Capitol Hill about an issue that directly affects Kentucky families. I appeared on Tuesday before the U.S. Senate subcommittee to discuss my investigation of the for-profit college industry and student loan debt.
As Kentucky's Attorney General, I am extremely concerned that students with private student loans do not have the same consumer protections as students with federal or federally backed loans. In the wake of failure, many students, who are already on the financial edge, are trapped in a cycle of dodging bill collectors, wage garnishment and no meaningful path to financial recovery.
I'm pleased that my office has been able to obtain relief of more than $4.5 million in loans for 2,200 students of now-defunct Decker College. As you may recall, we also reached agreement with Student Loan Xpress for $3.6 million in loan reductions for students of the now-defunct American Justice School of Law in Paducah.
Decker College closed its doors in 2005, yet my office still receives calls every week from students struggling to pay their school loans. This is a tragedy.
I appreciate the invitation from Sen. Durbin to testify before his subcommittee and I appreciate his attention to this issue. I hope you'll take a few moments to watch the webcast of this important hearing.
I'm taking my Keep Kentucky Kids Safe program to Union County High School on Monday to warn students about the dangers of prescription drug abuse.
I'd like to personally thank police, prosecutors and community leaders in Union County for the support they have shown for our efforts to combat this scourge.
March 16, 2012
Consumers across Kentucky are serving as our eyes and ears on the ground to report disaster fraud and possible price gouging in the wake of the March 2 tornadoes. I believe our quick action to warn businesses that price gouging is not tolerated in Kentucky has paid off. We've received about 20 complaints, but so far have found no evidence of price gouging.
Last weekend, staff members from my Office of Consumer Protection volunteered their time to distribute disaster fraud brochures and assist storm victims in Laurel, Lawrence, Kenton, Morgan, Magoffin, Johnson and Menifee counties. I truly appreciate their commitment to protecting consumers, particularly at a time when so many of our friends and neighbors are suffering.
If you suspect price gouging or a disaster-related fraud, please call my Disaster Fraud Hotline at 1-855-450-5645 or email your complaints to disasterscams@ag.ky.gov.
As a father of two daughters, I was proud to stand in support this week of House Bill 498 to fill a dangerous gap in domestic violence protections. The bill seeks to extend the protective order statute to domestic violence victims who are in a dating relationship. I want to thank Marcia Roth and the Mary Byron Project for taking the lead and working with our General Assembly to pass this important legislation.
Finally, I'd like to congratulate the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers for a terrific season and effort in the NCAA tournament and wish the Cards, Cats and Racers the best of luck in the next round of the tournament. If you're interested, here is my bracket.
March 9, 2012
First and foremost, my thoughts and prayers remain with the victims of last week's deadly tornadoes. The stories of heroism, neighbors helping neighbors and the scores of volunteers who have mobilized to assist families in need are an inspiration.
We often see the very best and worst in people during times like this. Earlier this week, I put businesses on notice that my office stands ready to investigate and prosecute, where necessary, anyone who seeks excessive profits during this time of emergency.
I have asked consumers to continue serving as our eyes and ears across the Commonwealth to report individuals or businesses that may be gouging consumers. Complaints related to price gouging or fly-by-night contractors can be emailed to disasterscams@ag.ky.gov or to my Disaster Fraud Hotline at 855-450-5645.
My Office of Consumer Protection is also working with counties interested in implementing our Disaster Fraud Task Force and Contractor Registration Program to deter storm chasers and unscrupulous contractors who prey on storm victims. For more information, please see our press release.
Kentucky House members yesterday approved sweeping legislation to combat the scourge of prescription drug abuse. I applaud the House for recognizing the importance of enacting legislation that will give law enforcement increased access to KASPER data and keep entrepreneurs out of the pill mill business.
I worked closely with Speaker Stumbo and Gov. Beshear in crafting House Bill 4 and I am confident this important legislation will continue to receive bipartisan support in Frankfort. If you support our efforts, let your state Senator know that prescription drug abuse is killing our people and the time to act is now.
March 2, 2012
Three people in Kentucky and 100 people in the United States will die today of prescription drug overdoses. Yesterday, I testified before a Congressional subcommittee about our efforts to fight prescription drug abuse in the Commonwealth. I was joined by my friend and colleague, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. We have worked closely to stem the prescription pill pipeline between Florida and Kentucky.
This is an American tragedy that is taking a toll on our families, businesses and communities. The key to tackling this issue is for each state to implement prescription drug monitoring programs. Yesterday, I urged legislators to provide federal grants that would bring all states online with monitoring and provide funding to enable communication between the monitoring databases.
Education remains a key component in our fight against illicit prescription drugs. Earlier this week, I spoke to nearly 1,000 middle and high school students in Hardin and Washington counties about the dangers of abusing prescription drugs. I appreciated the warm welcome from school officials and community leaders.
I also want to thank my friend, Mike Donta, who traveled with me to share the story of his son Michael and his battle with prescription pill addiction. Mike is one of several courageous parents who have joined my Keep Kentucky Kids Safe effort. With their help, we will continue warning Kentucky kids about the devastating consequences of prescription drug abuse. I want to ensure that we don't lose another generation to this scourge.
Here are some more alarming statistics. Demand for emergency food assistance in Kentucky has increased 84 percent since 2006. And one in every four Kentucky children lives in poverty. This morning, I joined with Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller and Dare to Care Food Bank in Louisville to kick-off the fourth annual March Against Hunger food drive.
We are calling on the legal communities in Kentucky and Indiana to donate goods and help raise money for Kentucky and Indiana food banks. During these difficult times, it is vital that we do all that we can to help re-stock the shelves of regional food banks that are lifelines for Kentuckiana families in need. I am confident Kentucky attorneys will embrace this challenge.
Finally, victims of this week's severe weather need to be aware of scam artists and fly-by-night contractors. Please report any incidents of possible fraud or shoddy construction work to my Office of Consumer Protection at 1-888-432-9257. For more information and tips for protecting yourself against storm chasers, please see our press release.
February 24, 2012
I was pleased to announce yesterday that the former administrator of Golden Years Rest Home in Letcher County has been ordered to pay $340,000 in restitution after pleading guilty to theft and exploitation charges. Golden Years fell into disrepair and its residents suffered while James Tackett lived a lavish lifestyle, buying expensive vehicles and property with money that was supposed to be used for the care of residents at the facility.
My investigators and prosecutors have worked tirelessly to bring this case to a successful close. I appreciate all they do for Kentucky and for its elderly and vulnerable citizens. For more information, please see our press release.
March is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and it is my honor to participate in a kick-off event next Thursday, March 1 here at the Capitol. My staff and I work every day to assist victims of sexual assault and other violent crimes and to raise awareness and to ensure their voices are heard. In observance of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, please consider purchasing a newly designed "I Care About Kids" license plate, sponsored by the Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Prevention (CSAEP) Board. Proceeds from the license plates go to the Child Victims Trust Fund to assist in funding child sexual abuse prevention programs in Kentucky.
I also look forward to taking my Keep Kentucky Kids Safe program to schools in Hardin and Washington counties on Tuesday. We'll be talking to middle and high school students about the dangers of prescription drug abuse. I'll be joined by Van Ingram, Executive Director of the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy and Mike Donta, one of the courageous parents who travels with us to share his story of how prescription pill abuse has devastated his family. For more information on my Keep Kentucky Kids Safe initiative, please visit my Prescription Drug Abuse page.
February 17, 2012
Investigators from my Prescription Drug Diversion Task Force assisted the DEA in executing a search warrant on Wednesday at a Lexington pain clinic. The search is part of our ongoing investigation into overprescribing physicians in Kentucky. As you may recall, our search last month of a Johnson County pain clinic resulted in approximately 20 arrests on outstanding warrants and the revocation of the clinic’s business license by the city of Paintsville. For more information on my efforts to combat prescription drug abuse, please visit my awareness and prevention page.
My Office of Special Prosecutions this week obtained its fifth and final conviction in an immigration and identity theft probe that began in 2009. I appreciate the hard work of my prosecutors and investigators who saw this case through to a successful close. For more information, please see our press release.
I met with members of Leadership Winchester yesterday during their visit to the Capitol. I welcomed the opportunity to talk to them about the work we’re doing here at the Attorney General’s office, including my priority issues, such as fighting prescription drug abuse, going after Internet predators and protecting Kentucky taxpayers and ratepayers.
February 10, 2012
It was my privilege to speak to Kentucky’s County and Commonwealth’s Attorneys at their respective meetings in Lexington this morning. Despite unprecedented budget cuts and furloughs, prosecutors have worked tirelessly to keep our justice system moving forward. I appreciate all they do to make our communities safer and will continue to fight to protect funding for our prosecutorial community.
Yesterday, Kentucky and 48 other states took the first step in holding banks accountable for the mortgage foreclosure crisis that has affected communities across our Commonwealth and the nation. This is a crisis that nearly brought our country to its knees.
I was pleased to sign onto the historic $25 billion settlement with five of the nation’s largest banks to provide relief to consumers who were foreclosed upon, principal write-downs and refinancing for homeowners who are underwater on their homes and payments to states for ongoing consumer protection programs.
Kentucky’s portion of the settlement is $58.8 million. It is also important to note that this settlement preserves the rights of states to pursue criminal and civil actions against the banks. I would not have signed on without that provision. In fact, I’ve already subpoenaed the Mortgage Electronic Registration System (MERS), which I believe may have circumvented state law.
The five banks named in the settlement are responsible for 5,400 foreclosures in Kentucky over the past four years. This is a good deal that will bring some relief to Kentucky homeowners who have struggled during this crisis.
Again, this is just a first step in holding banks accountable for the mortgage foreclosure crisis. I will utilize the resources in this settlement to assist consumers and continue investigating big banks, their involvement in MERS and their bundling of mortgage-backed securities that have cost institutional investors billions of dollars.
For more information, please see our press release or visit www.NationalMortgageSettlement.com.
February 3, 2012
Yesterday, House Speaker Greg Stumbo filed sweeping legislation to combat the scourge of prescription drug abuse across Kentucky. I have worked closely with the Speaker and Gov. Beshear to craft this legislation that will hold accountable doctors who overprescribe, take the operation of pain clinics out of the hands of entrepreneurs and give law enforcement increased access to KASPER data. I believe the legislation we are proposing will save lives in every corner of the Commonwealth.
There isn't a family or community in Kentucky that hasn't been affected by prescription pill abuse, and I am confident this legislation will pass in a bipartisan fashion. I look forward to announcing more details about this important legislation next week.
I was touched yesterday by the warm welcome I received from students, teachers and community leaders at North Oldham and Henry County high schools as my Keep Kentucky Kids Safe partners and I talked about the devastating consequences of prescription pill abuse. I was joined by Dr. Karen Shay, whose daughter, Sarah, died of a prescription drug overdose in 2006, and Dan Orman, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services in Oldham County Schools.
Raising awareness and educating our kids and parents about the dangers of abusing prescription pills is an integral part of my multi-pronged plan to fight this epidemic. For more information about our school programs and prevention efforts, please visit our Prescription Drug Abuse page.
I had the privilege on Wednesday of taking part in a drug summit hosted by Kentucky's two U.S. Attorneys, Kerry B. Harvey and David J. Hale, to talk about our efforts to crack down on pain clinics and the pill pipeline between Kentucky and Florida.
Also this week, I talked about the vital services my office provides to counties across the state at the Kentucky County Judge Executive Association's meeting in Lexington and provided members of the House Budget Review Subcommittee an overview of the important work my office does every day on behalf of Kentucky families, despite unprecedented budget cuts which have put my office at funding levels not seen since before 1997.
January 27, 2012
Working with the DEA and local and state law enforcement, we executed a search warrant on Wednesday at the Care More Pain Management Clinic in Paintsville, Ky. This is the second time in a year that my office has searched this clinic as part of our ongoing investigation into overprescribing physicians. Our efforts last year resulted in the federal indictment and guilty plea of Dr. Richard Albert, who allegedly prescribed more than 100,000 pills a month. For more information, please see our press release
In addition to our investigative efforts, I'm continuing to warn Kentucky kids about the dangers of prescription pill abuse. Next week, I'll visit with students at North Oldham High School and Henry County High as part of my Keep Kentucky Kids Safe prescription drug abuse prevention program. Please make sure to monitor and secure prescription medications in your home and safely dispose of unneeded pills. Visit my prescription drug abuse awareness page for a link to the prescription drug drop-off locations around Kentucky.
As you may have heard, more than 24 million Zappos.com customers are at risk for having their identities stolen or personal financial accounts compromised as a result of a data security breach. I am among nine attorneys general seeking more information about the breach, the adequacy of the Zappos' security practices and their notification of consumers. For more information, please see our press release.
Finally, in recognition of Data Privacy Day tomorrow, please make sure to follow these simple steps to protect your personal information online:
- Configure your wireless router to encrypt data.
- Know your privacy settings.
- Don't assume that public "hot spots" are secure.
- Always think before you post and never post vacation information.
More information is available at www.onguardonline.gov.
January 20, 2012
I have often said the fight against prescription drug abuse is an all-hands-on-deck issue. It was my privilege yesterday to join Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi at the Different Faces of Substance Abuse Conference in Lexington. Attorney General Bondi is not just a colleague; she is a friend and an important ally in our fight against illegal pill mills and the pill pipeline between Florida and Kentucky.
Attorney General Bondi has put aside politics and personal agendas to help protect her beloved home state from the scourge of prescription pill abuse and to stem the flow of illegal pills into states like Kentucky. We've both created prescription drug task forces to crack down on prescription pill diversion and overprescribing physicians. Last year, we joined forces to ensure successful implementation of a prescription drug monitoring program in Florida. Be assured, Attorney General Bondi and I will continue to work together to see that prescription monitoring programs are in place in all 50 states.(Press release)
I had an opportunity this week to highlight my second term priorities at a meeting of the Frankfort Rotary Club. Of course, combating prescription pill abuse in Kentucky remains a top priority. I have been working with Gov. Beshear and Speaker Stumbo on new initiatives to fight this epidemic, including comprehensive prescription drug legislation. I hope to have more information on our legislative efforts soon.
My other priority issues include going after the banks that created the mortgage foreclosure crisis and continuing our investigation into the questionable business practices of some for-profit schools.
January 13, 2012
I joined with my fellow Attorneys General this week in urging Congress to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). In the 17 years since the law was put in place, the number of domestic violence cases has dropped by 50 percent. VAWA is an invaluable tool for those of us who work every day to investigate, prosecute and prevent domestic violence deaths. I hope you'll take a moment to read the letter we sent to Congress about the importance of VAWA.
Next week, I look forward to visiting with members of the Frankfort Rotary Club. I'll be talking to them about the latest news from my office and my priorities as I begin my second term as Attorney General.
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and I will be the featured speakers at the Faces of Substance of Abuse conference in Lexington on Thursday, Jan. 19. Attorney General Bondi has been an important ally as we combat the scourge of prescription pill addiction in Kentucky and as we work to shut down the pill pipeline between our two states.
State offices will be closed on Monday, January 16 in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. We should all take time on Monday to reflect on Dr. King's legacy. His message of hope, healing and peace is as important today as it was decades ago.
January 6, 2012
It was a tremendous honor on Monday to be sworn in for a second term as Kentucky's 49th Attorney General. I ran for this job because I love Kentucky and saw an opportunity where I could make a difference. I believe my record over the past four years shows my steadfast commitment to standing up for Kentucky families.
I want to make the Commonwealth a better place for all of our families. That's why over the next four years, I'll continue to combat the scourge of prescription pill addiction and protect our kids from Internet predators.
I'll go after banks that created the mortgage foreclosure crisis and work every day to protect the interests of Kentucky taxpayers and ratepayers. We've already saved Kentuckians more than $1 billion in proposed rate increases and Medicaid fraud collections.
Also this week, I attended Governor Beshear's State of the Commonwealth address. I appreciate all that the Governor is doing for Kentucky during these challenging times and I look forward to working with him to win passage of sweeping prescription pill legislation.
Finally, I alerted consumers today to a new "Tech Support" telemarketing scam spreading across Kentucky. Remember, always be leery of unsolicited calls and never provide personal information to someone you do not know.