Republican U.S. Senate candidate Trey Grayson was the guest on Issues and Answers tonight. Grayson is running against two others in the Republican Primary. He says his experience and "track record" as Kentucky's Secretary of State make him the best candidate.

Trey Grayson says he is a Republican but has no problem thinking and acting independently.

"I'm a conservative, and I'm going to vote that way, but I'm not going to let that stand in the way of speaking my mind and standing up to party leaders when they're wrong," Grayson says.

He says if elected, he will practice the same financial responsibility he has shown in the state office at the national level. "That's the kind of discipline we're going to have to take to Washington," Grayson says, "We're going to have to ask our federal folks to do more with less, and I've seen that we've done it."

Grayson says he is concerned about the region's coal industry, mainly the permitting process. "The coal industry is an important part of Kentucky, currently. It's an important economic driver of this region, but it drives the whole state's economy." He says he is against the cap and trade bill.

As for health care reform, Grayson says Washington needs to act more conservatively. He says, "Why would you pass a bill, just for the sake of passing a bill; that increases premiums and has that great of a cost?" Grayson also says while there is no question we need reform, more government control is not the answer.

Trey Grayson says some ways he would like to look at reforming health care include buying insurance policies across state lines and malpractice reform. He is not in favor of the public option.