Thursday, May 26, 2005
Tax Reform Step One: The 16th Amendment Must Go
Before we take on the topic of tax reform, please read this for an interesting history of how we created this mess.
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Lexington PVA Office Investigation
Fayette County's Property Valuation Administrator's office has been plagued by serious mismanagement issues that have been covered up by local media.
Insiders are talking. As we confirm details, we will report them here.
Insiders are talking. As we confirm details, we will report them here.
Kentucky Progress Radio
I'll be on the radio this afternoon (WEKY 1340 AM) 5:15 pm to 6:15 pm. Call in number is (877) 620-1340
2006 Election Preview
Kentucky Democratic Party insiders are preparing a full-scale attack on the Republican Senate Majority in next year's elections. Just what we need, more Deaniacs in Frankfort.
Meanwhile, the highest concentration of Republican voters in a Senate district currently held by a Democrat reside in the 34th (Madison, Lincoln, Rockcastle). That's the district of Senate Minority Leader Sen. Ed Worley.
Meanwhile, the highest concentration of Republican voters in a Senate district currently held by a Democrat reside in the 34th (Madison, Lincoln, Rockcastle). That's the district of Senate Minority Leader Sen. Ed Worley.
Mad Science A Wedge Issue?
Congressman Ben Chandler firmly established his Beltway liberal credentials last year when he voted to raise taxes, set up abortion clinics on overseas military bases, and to throw extra money at the National Endowment for the Arts. He surely sealed the deal yesterday when he voted to spend taxpayer dollars to create a market for human embryos.
Democrats think they have found a wedge issue for the 2006 elections in embryonic stem cell research. Proponents of this research claim that destroying live human embryos can yield material to cure a long laundry list of diseases and conditions. There is, of course, no evidence to suggest that this works.
Fifty House Republicans went along with the scheme. Fortunately, a more rational version of a research bill passed as well.
President Bush will veto the bad bill if necessary.
UPDATE: It would be funny if it weren't so cynical and stupid. Goofy Senators Reid and Kennedy are both calling for an "up-or-down vote" on federal embryonic destruction. The AP writer on the story unwittingly ads more of the same with this helpful sentence: "He called for an "up-or-down vote," meaning one with no amendments attached." Oh. Is that what it means when Democrats say it? Last week it was just something Republicans said when they wanted their fascist judges pushed through with no regard for "minority rights."
Democrats think they have found a wedge issue for the 2006 elections in embryonic stem cell research. Proponents of this research claim that destroying live human embryos can yield material to cure a long laundry list of diseases and conditions. There is, of course, no evidence to suggest that this works.
Fifty House Republicans went along with the scheme. Fortunately, a more rational version of a research bill passed as well.
President Bush will veto the bad bill if necessary.
UPDATE: It would be funny if it weren't so cynical and stupid. Goofy Senators Reid and Kennedy are both calling for an "up-or-down vote" on federal embryonic destruction. The AP writer on the story unwittingly ads more of the same with this helpful sentence: "He called for an "up-or-down vote," meaning one with no amendments attached." Oh. Is that what it means when Democrats say it? Last week it was just something Republicans said when they wanted their fascist judges pushed through with no regard for "minority rights."
Monday, May 23, 2005
GOP Meltdown In US Senate; Moderate Lovefest on Judicial Nominees
Go ahead and kick me while I'm down. With the gutless wonders we have in our fake majority in the US Senate, I'm quite used to it.
The only thing worse than hearing about the cave in on judicial nominees is the having to endure the left-wing crowing that is sure to come.
The only thing worse than hearing about the cave in on judicial nominees is the having to endure the left-wing crowing that is sure to come.
Do Nothing Chandler Stays His Course
Rep. Ben Chandler continues to trade in his middle-of-the-road appeal for Beltway Liberal brownie points by joining in with what passes for Democrat Do-Something-ism these days: building a shrine to FDR.
Rep. Chandler signed on with Barney Frank, Nancy Pelosi, Jim McDermott, Jim Moran, and other such left-wing luminaries in co-sponsoring HR 197 Honoring Franklin Delano Roosevelt or The I'm a Democrat and, Doggone It, I Like Myself Act.
This resolution celebrates FDR's role in lengthening the Depression, building the welfare state, creating the Social Security ponzi scheme, and promoting Communists to the highest levels of the United States government.
All this is supposed to cover up the fact that Democrats don't want Social Security reform to diminish their power any faster than their misstatements, election thefts, and tax increases do.
Rep. Chandler signed on with Barney Frank, Nancy Pelosi, Jim McDermott, Jim Moran, and other such left-wing luminaries in co-sponsoring HR 197 Honoring Franklin Delano Roosevelt or The I'm a Democrat and, Doggone It, I Like Myself Act.
This resolution celebrates FDR's role in lengthening the Depression, building the welfare state, creating the Social Security ponzi scheme, and promoting Communists to the highest levels of the United States government.
All this is supposed to cover up the fact that Democrats don't want Social Security reform to diminish their power any faster than their misstatements, election thefts, and tax increases do.
Howard Dean: Why JOBTROT Doesn't Mean Much
Kentucky's Governor's office may even be overrun with incompetents, but who cares? Democrats are still likely to put up AG Greg "Who's Your Daddy?" Stumbo or Treasurer Jonathan "I've got $150 million, make that $30 million, hey where's my money?" Miller versus Fletcher in 2007. That says it all. If the Kentucky Democratic Party doesn't expect to beat EF, let's get back to focusing on improving the Commonwealth. While the media have been reading meaningless emails, the Administration has been doing just that.
And thanks to Howard Dean for saying yesterday that Socialists like Senate candidate Bernie Sanders are just regular Democrats. You can look it up. Raising taxes, expanding government's reach, and obstructing progress at every turn are tactics that don't inspire anyone. If "Our Scandals Get Less Coverage Than Your Scandals" becomes a viable campaign selling point, then I will be worried.
And thanks to Howard Dean for saying yesterday that Socialists like Senate candidate Bernie Sanders are just regular Democrats. You can look it up. Raising taxes, expanding government's reach, and obstructing progress at every turn are tactics that don't inspire anyone. If "Our Scandals Get Less Coverage Than Your Scandals" becomes a viable campaign selling point, then I will be worried.
Sunday, May 22, 2005
Domino Theory 2005
Congressional Obstructionist Democrats fall like this (starting this week):
1. Judicial Filibuster
2. Bolton nomination
3. Social Security reform
4. Tax Reform
5. Medicare/Medicaid reform
Kentucky House Democrats who think they have Republicans on the run over merit job issue --that no one cares about-- hope to enact huge tax increase in 2006. Don't hold your breath waiting for that plan to succeed.
1. Judicial Filibuster
2. Bolton nomination
3. Social Security reform
4. Tax Reform
5. Medicare/Medicaid reform
Kentucky House Democrats who think they have Republicans on the run over merit job issue --that no one cares about-- hope to enact huge tax increase in 2006. Don't hold your breath waiting for that plan to succeed.
Friday, May 20, 2005
Illegal Harry Moberly Fundraising Letter Contest
We have received a copy of a disturbing fundraising letter for House Budget Chairman Harry Moberly . The letter is on Kentucky Association of School Superintendents letterhead and includes the Commonwealth's "Unbridled Spirit" and the Kentucky Department of Education's "Education Pays" logos.
See how many "problematic" elements you can find in this letter:
April 29, 2005
Dear KASS Member:
We have a very strong lobbying firm working for us in Frankfort. John Cooper, the chief lobbyist, has come with a request that we need to honor.
Harry Moberly, chairman of the House A & R Committee, had a very expensive election and has a debt that will need to be liquidated. John Cooper believes our future efforts in Frankfort (especially on principal selection) will be much improved if we can take 176 checks to Harry from superintendents in the amount of $100 each.
I have called several superintendents in different parts of the state (and different party affiliations) and have asked their opinions about this request. Everyone I spoke to agreed that we need to do this.
Please make out a check for $100 to Harry Moberly and send it ASAP to:
KASS
872 Nacke Pike
Cecilia, KY 42724
Sincerely,
David A. Baird
I'll give you the first one. David Baird didn't write the letter. He said KASS Executive Secretary Roland Haun did it.
See how many "problematic" elements you can find in this letter:
April 29, 2005
Dear KASS Member:
We have a very strong lobbying firm working for us in Frankfort. John Cooper, the chief lobbyist, has come with a request that we need to honor.
Harry Moberly, chairman of the House A & R Committee, had a very expensive election and has a debt that will need to be liquidated. John Cooper believes our future efforts in Frankfort (especially on principal selection) will be much improved if we can take 176 checks to Harry from superintendents in the amount of $100 each.
I have called several superintendents in different parts of the state (and different party affiliations) and have asked their opinions about this request. Everyone I spoke to agreed that we need to do this.
Please make out a check for $100 to Harry Moberly and send it ASAP to:
KASS
872 Nacke Pike
Cecilia, KY 42724
Sincerely,
David A. Baird
I'll give you the first one. David Baird didn't write the letter. He said KASS Executive Secretary Roland Haun did it.
Thursday, May 19, 2005
House Budget Chairman's Account Under Water
Less than three weeks after Sen. Dan Mongiardo (D-UK) came under fire for spending money he didn't have to run against Sen. Jim Bunning, Election Finance records reveal that Rep. Harry Moberly (D-Richmond) did the same thing.
Faced with a stiff challenge despite his ridiculously gerrymandered 81st House district, Moberly spent nearly $30,000 more than he had. This fact has now landed him under scrutiny after the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents got caught trying to finance Moberly's debt this spring in hopes of influencing his vote.
****UPDATE*****: David Baird, the man who wrote the "inapropriate" fundraising letter for Moberly (according to the Courier Journal) now denies writing the letter. So who wrote it? The trail seems to lead to the Eastern Kentucky Univerity campus. Stay tuned...
Faced with a stiff challenge despite his ridiculously gerrymandered 81st House district, Moberly spent nearly $30,000 more than he had. This fact has now landed him under scrutiny after the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents got caught trying to finance Moberly's debt this spring in hopes of influencing his vote.
****UPDATE*****: David Baird, the man who wrote the "inapropriate" fundraising letter for Moberly (according to the Courier Journal) now denies writing the letter. So who wrote it? The trail seems to lead to the Eastern Kentucky Univerity campus. Stay tuned...
Social Security Silence Speaks Volumes
It has been one week since the first Democrat with an idea on Social Security came forward with his innovative proposal of the largest tax increase in history.
Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL) raised the ire of Democrats everywhere when he unwittingly exposed the fact that their only plan is to raise taxes.
When we get this dust-up over the judicial nominees out of the way next week, we can get back to entitlement reform. Until then, here is a great article about the difficulty Dems face with the debate on Social Security since Wexler spilled the beans.
Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL) raised the ire of Democrats everywhere when he unwittingly exposed the fact that their only plan is to raise taxes.
When we get this dust-up over the judicial nominees out of the way next week, we can get back to entitlement reform. Until then, here is a great article about the difficulty Dems face with the debate on Social Security since Wexler spilled the beans.
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Harry Moberly's Campaign Finance Scam
If you want a potentially explosive newspaper story to not get much attention, you give it a headline like "Moberly Will Restrict Donations."
The Louisville Courier Journal reports today that the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents (KASS) sent out a fundraising letter for Rep. Harry Moberly (D-Richmond) dated April 29, 2005 telling members "our future efforts in Frankfort (especially on principal selection) will be much improved if we can take 176 checks to Harry from superintendents in the amount of $100 each."
Bad enough, but read on...
The letter said Moberly "had a very expensive election and has a debt that needs to be liquidated."
That's where the red flags went up. Moberly claimed in the article that he had less than $30,000 in campaign debt. His Registry of Election Finance Statement, however, shows a campaign surplus of $1971.58.
So we called the Registry of Election Finance. It turns out that Moberly has turned over to them a bill for $99,698.45 from Emmons And Company Inc. for "management and payment of campaign activities" that isn't reflected in the online filing. Further, payments of $65,000 and $5000 have been reported as paid. That leaves an unpaid balance of $29,698.45.
Moberly reports campaign disbursements of $148,265.94. His opponent spent just $41,224.06 and got 44% of the vote in the heavily gerrymandered 81st district. No doubt Moberly needed every bit of what amounts to a $30,000 campaign contribution from Dale Emmons' company to pull off the win.
With any luck, though, Moberly's next effort to get lobbyists to pay his 2004 campaign expenses won't receive even this much attention.
The Louisville Courier Journal reports today that the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents (KASS) sent out a fundraising letter for Rep. Harry Moberly (D-Richmond) dated April 29, 2005 telling members "our future efforts in Frankfort (especially on principal selection) will be much improved if we can take 176 checks to Harry from superintendents in the amount of $100 each."
Bad enough, but read on...
The letter said Moberly "had a very expensive election and has a debt that needs to be liquidated."
That's where the red flags went up. Moberly claimed in the article that he had less than $30,000 in campaign debt. His Registry of Election Finance Statement, however, shows a campaign surplus of $1971.58.
So we called the Registry of Election Finance. It turns out that Moberly has turned over to them a bill for $99,698.45 from Emmons And Company Inc. for "management and payment of campaign activities" that isn't reflected in the online filing. Further, payments of $65,000 and $5000 have been reported as paid. That leaves an unpaid balance of $29,698.45.
Moberly reports campaign disbursements of $148,265.94. His opponent spent just $41,224.06 and got 44% of the vote in the heavily gerrymandered 81st district. No doubt Moberly needed every bit of what amounts to a $30,000 campaign contribution from Dale Emmons' company to pull off the win.
With any luck, though, Moberly's next effort to get lobbyists to pay his 2004 campaign expenses won't receive even this much attention.
As Scandals Unfold, Who is Watching Stumbo?
As twin scandals plague Kentucky's state capitol, mounting concern has Frankfort observers wondering about the role of the one known link between the two events: Attorney General Greg Stumbo.
Elected narrowly as one of three scandal-ridden 2003 candidates for the office, Stumbo finds himself under a cloud of speculation for his role in election year 2000 vote buying and under fire for his own alleged abuses of the merit system under Democrat governors.
These scandals both appear to involve wrong-doing by Republicans. But someone should be watching the Top Cop of the Commonwealth to ensure that justice is served fairly.
Elected narrowly as one of three scandal-ridden 2003 candidates for the office, Stumbo finds himself under a cloud of speculation for his role in election year 2000 vote buying and under fire for his own alleged abuses of the merit system under Democrat governors.
These scandals both appear to involve wrong-doing by Republicans. But someone should be watching the Top Cop of the Commonwealth to ensure that justice is served fairly.
Tick, Tick, Tick...Boom!
U.S. Senate goes nuclear today. Harry Reid and Tom Daschle made this happen. Don't forget that.
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Boy, Do We Need Judicial Reform
Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, Reagan appointee and poster boy for term limits on the Court, is upset because he thinks the United States keeps it's criminals in prison too long.
At a speech Friday, he bemoaned the fact that U.S. sentences are eight times longer than those in Western Europe. (Yes, he really did. Here's the article.)
"We need to rethink the sentencing system," Justice Kennedy said Friday. "We have 180,000 prisoners in the California state system alone."
Great advice, Justice Kennedy. Let's just turn them loose in your neighborhood.
At a speech Friday, he bemoaned the fact that U.S. sentences are eight times longer than those in Western Europe. (Yes, he really did. Here's the article.)
"We need to rethink the sentencing system," Justice Kennedy said Friday. "We have 180,000 prisoners in the California state system alone."
Great advice, Justice Kennedy. Let's just turn them loose in your neighborhood.
Did Fletcher Admin Stop Another Sandy Burglar?
Lost in the hubbub of the Transportation Cabinet hiring feeding frenzy is the fact that when Greg Stumbo sent two men to sneak into the Personnel office and take files, he lost a lot of credibility with objective observers.
Brings to mind Clinton National Security Advisor Sandy Berger's efforts to stuff classified national security documents into his socks.
Brings to mind Clinton National Security Advisor Sandy Berger's efforts to stuff classified national security documents into his socks.
Monday, May 16, 2005
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