In The News
Kentucky lawmakers discuss debt ceiling standoff
WASHINGTON — A planned meeting Friday between President Joe Biden and congressional leaders to negotiate raising the government’s borrowing limit was postponed. The congressional leaders will now meet with the president early next week. The group only has a few weeks to strike a deal or the government will default on what it owes. Members of the Kentucky delegation are weighing in on the debt ceiling standoff. The White House said that the debt ceiling should be raised without any other … Continue Reading
May 04, 2023
Barr and McGarvey team up on horse racing legislation
WASHINGTON — With horse racing’s marquee event, the Kentucky Derby, taking place Saturday, two Kentucky lawmakers are making a push for legislation designed to help those who take part in the sport. Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., of Lexington, where the Keeneland racetrack is located, and Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Ky., of Louisville, which is home to Churchill Downs, are working together on two measures that would provide more favorable tax benefits to racehorse owners. “The bills we are talking about … Continue Reading
April 28, 2023
Democrats push for stricter gun safety regulations
WASHINGTON — Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Ky., stood with a Louisville trauma surgeon, House Democratic leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and members of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force demanding change Thursday. Drafting stricter gun safety legislation that can pass both chambers will be difficult with Republicans in control of the House, but McGarvey, the only Democrat in Kentucky’s congressional delegation, said that “doing nothing is not working.” “That’s why Democrats are out here … Continue Reading
April 28, 2023
Ky. congressmen introduce bill incentivizing equine industry
Two members of Kentucky’s Congressional delegation introduced two pieces of bipartisan legislation on Thursday that are designed to incentivize Kentucky’s signature equine industry. Congressmen Andy Barr, R-Lexington, and Morgan McGarvey, D-Louisville, joined forces on the two measures. The Racehorse Cost Recovery Act of 2023 would make the three-year depreciation schedule permanent for racehorses, regardless of their age when put into service. Currently, Congress must reauthorize this … Continue Reading
April 27, 2023
State officials, health care leaders speak at Gun Violence Prevention Task Force in DC
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - With more than 50 people shot and killed in Louisville in 2023, Ky. Congressman Morgan McGarvey joined health officials to address the violence crisis within the city and the commonwealth. McGarvey was joined in Washington D.C. by UofL Health Chief Medical Officer and trauma surgeon Dr. Jason Smith in an attempt to discuss with House Republicans to create and pass legislation to address gun violence. Smith said he wants discussions on gun violence to continue for all … Continue Reading
April 26, 2023
Ky. congressman Morgan McGarvey introduces bill aiming to reduce student hunger
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - Congressman Morgan McGarvey, serving the commonwealth’s 3rd District, introduced his first bill aiming to make sure no child goes hungry. Bill H.R. 2567, known as the School Meals Expansion Act, is looking to amend the National School Lunch Act’s Community Eligibility Provision to allow more schools to provide free meals for every student they serve, according to a notice from McGarvey’s office. Currently, the Community Eligibility Provision allows schools with 40 … Continue Reading
April 19, 2023
Louisville at the center of gun reform conversation
WASHINGTON — According to data collected by the Gun Violence Archive, more than 160 mass shootings have taken place in 2023 alone. Two mass shootings happened in Louisville just in the last two weeks. The shooting at the Old National Bank downtown left five people dead, and eight others injured. Just five days later, a shooter at Chickasaw Park killed two people and injured four. “My Hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, was ripped apart by two mass shootings,” said Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Ky., … Continue Reading
April 18, 2023
Congressman McGarvey joins leaders to call for gun control measures at federal level
WASHINGTON — Kentucky Congressman Morgan McGarvey has been calling for gun safety measures since last week's mass shooting in downtown Louisville. McGarvey joined the House Democratic Caucus on Tuesday for their briefing on Capitol Hill. They're pushing for more gun laws on the federal level. "We have to do more to keep our communities safe and doing nothing isn't working," he said. "We must put public safety over guns, we must put kids over guns, we must put people over guns and act to keep … Continue Reading
April 11, 2023
Advocates call for gun law reform following Louisville mass shooting
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — As the city mourns the loss of five people killed in a mass shooting Monday, many are calling on lawmakers to make changes to state and federal laws. One of those people is Whitney Austin, a survivor of a workplace shooting. Austin was shot twelve times in 2018 at a bank administrative building in Cincinnati. She survived, but three others were killed. What happened in Louisville Monday, she says, hits close to home. “I was devastated,” Austin said. “You know it is so … Continue Reading
April 11, 2023
Kentucky officials call for gun reform following Louisville mass shooting
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WKYT) - Kentucky officials are calling for gun reform following a mass shooting in downtown Lousiville. Investigators say the 25-year-old suspected gunman legally purchased the weapon from a Louisville gun dealer on April 4. Monday’s shooting was the 146th mass shooting in the U.S. in 2023. On Tuesday, Kentucky officials voiced their frustrations over the state’s gun laws. “There’s one more topic we need to talk about today, and that is guns,” said Louisville Mayor Craig … Continue Reading
April 11, 2023
Leaning on faith, Louisville mourns victims of mass shooting
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — They went to their churches on the evening after Easter — to cry, to light candles, to ask God why, on this holiday of rebirth, they must mourn so much death. Many in Louisville turned to their faith for impromptu services Monday night, hours after a gunman killed five of his co-workers at Old National Bank downtown and injured eight others. Hundreds gathered at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, where one of the victims, Joshua Barrick, was an active member. His family sat … Continue Reading
April 11, 2023
'This is about life and death': Mayor, McGarvey urge gun laws after Louisville shooting
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg and Congressman Morgan McGarvey both made emotional pleas Tuesday to the Kentucky legislature, begging for action to prevent gun violence in the wake of a mass shooting that left six people dead. "This isn't about partisan politics," Greenberg said. "This is about life and death. This is about preventing tragedies. "I'm only interested in working together with our state legislators to take meaningful action to save lives, to prevent more tragic injuries and … Continue Reading
April 11, 2023
Kentucky Democrat slams Republicans for ‘banning books and pronouns’ while gun violence soars
Kentucky Democratic Rep Morgan McGarvey slammed Republicans for “banning books and pronouns” while ignoring gun violence after the Louisville bank shooting. The shooter, Connor Sturgeon, 25, killed five people and wounded eight others at the Old National Bank on Monday. Those killed have been identified as Josh Barrick, 40; Tommy Elliott, 63; Jim Tutt, 64; Juliana Farmer, 57; and Deanna Eckert, 57. Sturgeon went on his rampage after being notified that the bank where he had worked since 2021 … Continue Reading
April 10, 2023
https://www.wlky.com/article/louisville-bank-mass-shooting-leaders-president-governor-reaction/43554344
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Reactions have been pouring in from lawmakers and officials since the deadly shooting in downtown Louisville that killed five people and injured eight others, including two police officers. President Joe Biden "Once again, our nation mourns after a senseless act of gun violence," said Biden. "Jill and I pray for the lives lost and impacted by today's shooting. Too many Americans are paying for the price of inaction with their lives." Gov. Andy Beshear Gov. Beshear gave … Continue Reading
April 05, 2023
Congressman Morgan McGarvey is leaving Louisville residents voicemails for feedback
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It's not often you get a call from your local representative in Congress, but that's exactly what happened to many Louisville residents over the last week. Congressman Morgan McGarvey (D, KY-3), who represents Louisville in Washington D.C., is testing a new way to reach out to constituents about the issues that matter most to them. "This isn't a spam call, I'm just calling to get your feedback on a few of the things I've already started to work on," he said in a … Continue Reading
March 28, 2023
Ky. delegation majority sends letter asking for disaster declaration
FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) - Nearly every member of Kentucky’s Congressional delegation has sent a letter to President Joe Biden, asking him to issue a disaster declaration for parts of Kentucky affected by severe weather in February. The state’s federal delegation sent a joint letter to President Biden, urging his approval of Gov. Andy Beshear's request for a Major Disaster Declaration, which would release federal funding to assist with critical clean-up and repairs. The letter was signed by U.S. … Continue Reading
March 15, 2023
Adults earning high school diploma at Goodwill Excel Center
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It’s touted as a first of its kind program in Kentucky. Goodwill’s Excel Center gives adults ages 18-64 a second chance at earning their high school diploma. Students take accelerated courses in math, English, history and more through JCPS curriculum. “You’re learning everything you’re going to need to prepare you for the world of work but also it’s going to give you that academic achievement so you can go on and pursue your college education,” Lead Life Coach Mary Simmons … Continue Reading
March 15, 2023
Freshman Rep. Morgan McGarvey aims to find bipartisan solutions this term
Rep. Morgan McGarvey, a Democrat who represents Louisville, is the newest member of the Kentucky delegation and its only Democrat. “This is serious business,” McGarvey told Spectrum News. “We’re the first freshmen class elected after Jan. 6, and I get the sense from my class that we came here to do something.” McGarvey criticized House Republicans, who get to set the agenda, after they decided to focus on several bills that had no chance of passing in the Democratic-led Senate. “These … Continue Reading
March 08, 2023
Louisville mayor, officials, Breonna Taylor's lawyer all react to DOJ civil rights violation report
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Mayor Craig Greenberg spoke during the Department of Justice's press conference Wednesday afternoon announcing civil rights violations by the Louisville Metro Police Department and city government. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland led the announcements enumerating what they said were several civil rights violations. You can read about that here. "Our city has wounds that have not yet healed and that is why this report and this moment are so important,” said Greenberg, … Continue Reading
February 25, 2023
Rep. Morgan McGarvey hosts 'listening' town hall
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Before heading back to Washington D.C. next week, Kentucky's newest U.S. congressman fielded a flurry of questions from his constituents during a town hall. Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-KY, and his team hosted a small group of 20 or so residents inside the Portland Branch Library, Saturday. McGarvey said the takeaways from that meeting are instrumental in forging his path forward in Congress. "This is a listening town hall," McGarvey said. "It's so important when we're back … Continue Reading