Campaign Watchdog: Claim that Conway supports cap-and-trade plan 'false'

The statement: "Liberal Jack Conway supports Obama's cap-and-trade plan, which will cost Kentuckians jobs."

— Republican Party of Kentucky, in a mailing against Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Jack Conway

The ruling: False

The facts: Conway does not support a cap-and-trade bill pushed by the administration of President Barack Obama.

Cap and trade refers to a system aimed at reducing emissions blamed for global warming. It would put a cap on emissions coupled with a system to let producers trade credits to meet the limit.

The measure stalled in the U.S. Senate after the House approved the bill last year. Many analysts don't think Congress will consider a similar bill going forward.

Conway has said any cap-and-trade measure should include provisions to protect Kentucky's electric rates and coal industry and keep other nations such as China from gaining a competitive advantage, among other things. The law the House passed did not meet that test, Conway said.

The mailing cites a July 2009 story in The Paducah Sun that said Conway supported the cap-and-trade bill, though he said it needed changes. Conway's campaign said the story was wrong.

Voters can judge for themselves if Conway has flip-flopped on the issue, but it's clear that Conway now opposes the cap-and-trade bill pushed by Obama.

The Herald-Leader will fact-check statements made by candidates and their surrogates in the campaigns for Lexington mayor, the 6th Congressional District and U.S. Senate.

This story was originally published October 26, 2010 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Campaign Watchdog: Claim that Conway supports cap-and-trade plan 'false'."