PetitionGate Story Deepens

I called Fayette County Clerk Don Blevins this morning about the Julian Beard candidate petition story and got something I didn't expect.

There is more to the story than what you got from the Herald Leader on Saturday.

The water company fight from the last several years may raise its ugly head again in a possible lawsuit over Beard's incomplete petition to start his campaign for the Lexington 4th district council seat.

Lexington's requirement of 100 signatures on a ballot petition is unique in Kentucky. Meanwhile, several petition-related issues from the water company fight are pending resolution before the Kentucky Court of Appeals right now. So the need for 100 signatures could go away in the next few months when the court decision on repealed charter provisions comes down. And that would make Beard a legitimate candidate.

Or not.

The fact remains that Lexington's charter requires 100 signatures on petition to file for city office. And the charter specifies that signatures that are found on competing petitions are stricken from both. So current law leaves Mr. Beard without enough signatures to be a candidate.

But that isn't his only problem. If the law is changed and Beard is allowed on the ballot, he still has Mayor Teresa Isaac hanging around his neck. Beard is the Mayor's director of Economic Development.

Asked about the Mayor's divisive style, Beard said he didn't see the problem.

"She (Mayor Isaac) is extremely inclusive," Beard said.

It gets better.

Beard says the Mayor doesn't have a problem with the business community.

"She is exactly the opposite of anti-business," he said.

On the issue of a so-called "Living Wage" that would nearly double the federal minimum wage, Mr. Beard said "it's much more complex" than being for or against the issue. Under further questioning, though, he cleared the air.

"Yes, I'm for a 'Living Wage,'" Beard said.

Herald Leader Carries Liberal Water On Petition Issue

Liberal council "candidate" Julian Beard doesn't need a campaign spokesman this year. He has the Lexington Herald-Leader.

Beard got 112 signatures on his campaign petition to run for the Fourth district Urban County Council seat. He only needed 100. But the law says names that appear on two candidates' petitions for the same race must be voided on both. There were fifteen such signatures on both Beard's and Bill Roberts' petitions. That leaves Beard with an insufficient 97 signatures. End of story, right?

Enter the Herald-Leader.

The headline screams "Dirty Tricks." The story follows with a focus on the "allegation" that Roberts purposely sought out fifteen people in order to invalidate his opponent's application.

Whether he did or not only really matters to the bonehead who thought 112 names was enough to survive the inevitable mistakes and, of course, duplications. And it matters to a certain newspaper determined to revive their left-wing agenda in Lexington.

The real problem from their perspective is that Bill Roberts is the former two-term chairman of the Republican Party of Fayette county and not a liberal.

A companion story explored the immediate desire to prevent another "Beard" in future elections. It looks like they are now calling this provision in the law a "loophole."

Beard would have avoided this whole mess if he had just rounded up a couple hundred more comrades to sign his little petition. Since he didn't, he wants to fight the law after the fact.

From the first story we learn Beard does not plan to withdraw his illegitimate candidacy. His attorney is even quoted trying to goad Roberts into challenging his petition. Fayette county clerk Don Blevins is quoted in the second story as saying only that he thought the law invalidating duplicate signatures was unfair.

It is still the law Mr. Blevins. See that you follow it and send Mr. Beard packing. While I can't fathom the rationale for prolonging the 97=100 math from the locals, their desperation and disregard for inconvenient laws certainly is familiar.

Hottest Ticket In Town

A lot of attention will be centered on Madison county the evening of March 24. The Madison Republican Party Lincoln Day dinner is that night. Keynote speaker: Rep. Hal Rogers. Tickets are going fast.

Liberal Free-For-All In Committee Meeting

Tuesday's House Appropriation and Revenue committee meeting in Frankfort was a sight to behold. The hot topic was HB 506, Rep. Jim Wayne's Tax Increase Bill. Since no one in the MSM has reported on the festivities, here's a quick rundown:

--Rep. Wayne(D-Louisville) said "This is not radical legislation. What I am proposing is reasonable and modest." He was referring to his bill which is, according to LRC estimates, a $192 million tax increase. Rep. Wayne proceeded to get caught up in all the excitement and started quoting Wendell Berry's memorable economic philosophy: "Rats and roaches live by competition under the laws of supply and demand; it is the privilege of human beings to live under the laws of justice and mercy.” I am not making this up.

--Debra Miller of Ky. Youth Advocates said “The Earned Income Tax Credit is widely recognized as the number one poverty fighter at the federal level.”

--Rep. Mary Lou Marzian said "I don’t know how much longer we as a legislative body will sit here and talk about the budget being in the toilet. I’m prepared to vote on this bill today. We can take some bold steps and do something postive. It is time. The train has left. Be brave. Be courageous. Pass legislation that can help Kentucky families."

--Bill Stolte of Berea said “Many mornings I find myself asking myself, ‘Why am I here?’ You should ask why you are here."

Georgetown News-Graphic Pimps Charlie Hoffman

Calling it "media bias" just doesn't get it on this one.

Rep. Charlie Hoffman (D-Georgetown) will need all the help he can get in November after loudly supporting the labor union that constantly attacks workers at Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Kentucky. And now that he has signed on to the Attack Wal-Mart Bill, the paper does everything it can to obscure the issue in today's edition.

The story isn't available online, but the headline reads "Legislators consider bill on health care funding" and includes a picture of Rep. Hoffman with the following quote attributed to him: "Some of the so-called health care plans are just so the company can claim that they make those available, but the benefits are minimal." That's funny. Democrats in Frankfort wrote all the health plan mandates, including the bare bones version no one wants. So is Hoffman suggesting some kind of bill that would undo the damage his fellow Democrats did to the health insurance market with their 1994 HillaryCare initiative?

No, he wants to put a tax on Wal-Mart for hiring part-time workers.

To their credit, the News-Graphic does quote Republican Senator Damon Thayer on the issue, albeit way down in the story and without exploring his statement much. Kudos to Thayer for calling the bill what it is. "It's socialism," he said. Exactly.

So Hoffman wants to tax Wal-Mart shoppers extra because Wal-Mart doesn't pay, in his opinion, a fair share of health insurance costs. The way the bill is written, by the time Toyota adds another 1500 jobs in the state, Hoffman will be after them as well. The bill only applies to companies with 10,000 employees in the state.

Rep. Hoffman seems totally clueless about what is wrong with this bill. "I think it is well within the purview of government to increase the standard of living for its constituents," he said.

How do you figure that, sir? By killing part-time jobs or raising consumer prices? The Georgetown News-Graphic is doing no one any favors by propping up this guy.

Here Comes Right To Work!

Kentuckians overwhelmingly want Right to Work legislation in Kentucky. Union groups, the ACLU, and Democrats say they won't let it pass in Kentucky, but don't be too quick to buy their rhetoric just yet.

Wild liberal spin notwithstanding, Kentucky's competitiveness will be enhanced when we pull this unnecessary obstacle down.

Kentucky's Favorite Democrat

Here is a very interesting picture of Kentucky's Favorite Democrat: Hillary Clinton.

KY House Majority Whip Barrows To Resign

Rep. Joe Barrows (D-Versailles) is going to resign his House seat at the end of the current session and join the Attorney General's office to increase his pension, sources in the AG's office said this weekend.

Barrows enlisted Carl Rollins to file late for his 56th district seat, both hoping Rollins would stand unopposed for the seat. Republican Kevin Locke, however, frustrated their scheme by filing on the last day as well.

Locke is well-regarded in the district and likely to beat either Democrat. Other Democrats are expected to seek greener pastures soon as their fragile majority in the House appears less likely to survive the November elections.

We Need Truth-In-Hiring For Law Enforcement

In 2004, Rep. Stan Lee sponsored a bill that allowed employers to divulge information about former employees to prospective employers.

We need the same thing for our law enforcement agencies.

Most of our police officers in Kentucky serve valiantly and regularly go above and beyond the call of duty. But some of the few bad apples plague the system. The problems they present persist because they just bounce around from one department to another.

Public safety demands this be changed.

Currently, a problematic officer can leave his current position (or be fired) and go elsewhere. When the hiring agency calls for a reference, the former employer can only state the dates of employment. If the former employer tries to warn the prospective employer against making the hire, his agency would be open to legal action.

A truth-in-hiring law for law enforcement agencies would alleviate this potentially dangerous loophole in the system.

The "Hey, I Don't Have An Opponent" Act of 2006

Rep. Jim Wayne (D-The Hague) has filed a bill to raise taxes on everyone over $75,000 annual income and to give the money out in the form of an Earned Income Tax Credit. The bill would also have Kentucky ignore the federal phase-out of the Death Tax.

Dems Working The Felon Vote

Rep. Jesse Crenshaw (D-Lexington) and Rep. Tom Riner (D-Louisville) have competing bills to try to get convicted felons back in the voting booth.

Crenshaw's bill would allow all felons who have completed their sentence and probation to vote. The ACLU considers this a good bill and is encouraging their followers to support it. Their action alert says "a change in the Constitution would avoid any arbitrary use of the discretionary power, and instead provide certainty and predictability for those who have served their time." Sure, predictable as in predictable Democrat votes.

Rep. Riner's bill would simply allow anyone convicted of a felony to continue to vote. This would definitely open up a new avenue for Democrat prison vote buying in future elections. (Conjugal visits, anyone?)

And on the subject of conjugal visits, a Michigan legislator has filed a bill that would allow married prisoners to have conjugal visits in order to keep their families intact. How about suggesting people don't commit felonies in order to keep their families together?

Back in Kentucky: I just can't imagine why we want to allow more people who have been sitting around in prison trying to dream up ways to game the system to go out and vote for politicians of like mind.

Congressional GOP Determines Own Fate Today

In leadership elections today in Washington D.C., House Republicans pick a new Majority Leader. Reps. Anne Northup and Geoff Davis would do very well to select John Shadegg or even John Boehner. They have to know that Roy Blunt would not be a good choice.

My favorite is Shadegg. He is one of twenty five House Republicans who voted against the disastrous Medicare prescription drug bill.

Bill Farmer: Ready For Debate

The race for Lexington Mayor was kicked into high gear today when the conservative candidate, Councilman Bill Farmer, challenged his opponents to join him in a series of twelve debates.

“Lexington needs a leader that will unite us and get everyone working together and through these public forums, the voters of Lexington will be able to learn more about my proposals to unite our city,” Farmer said.

Dude, I Need A Car

An incompetent mechanic has killed my car. I need a new one.

Any help?

I can't very well count on my contact with Ben Chandler to get a sweet JD Byrider deal like his regulators at OAG used to get, but I am looking for a dependable used car (I've been a Ford man for years, but will switch for the right car.)

Thanks.

Oh, and I will talk about the incompetent mechanic at some point after the upcoming legal proceedings.

Did Hillary Clinton Lie, Or Did She Steal KY Money?

Remember when Hillary Clinton came in to Louisville last December and Kentucky Democrats said she raised $600,000 for the state Dem party in one night?

Well, the Kentucky Democratic Party filed their finances yesterday and it shows they raised $598,723.58 in total contributions for the entire year of 2005. And that should include the big John Edwards, Max Cleland, and Joe Biden fundraisers in the state. Where did the money from Hillarypalooza go? Did she take it back to New York? Did she invest it in set-up cattle futures contracts?

Watching this one unwind will be a scream! Expect state Dem chair Jerry Lundergan's head to roll for Hillary this time.

It looks like KDP has wiped their press release archive of any mention of the big night, but they left this news story.

Tim Moore: A Leader To Watch

When Rep. Mike Weaver (D-Elizabethtown) gave up his seat in the state House for a run at Congress, Democrats had to know they were going to lose his old seat.

Tim Moore of Elizabethtown will not only win the seat, he will become a quick leader in Frankfort.

Keep your eye on Tim Moore in the 26th district. If the GOP has any more like him, the Democrats who have held us back for so long are in big trouble.

Worley Is Toast, Lundergan Rocked. Bad Day For Dems

While Kentucky Democrats try to figure out which voice to use in the 2006 elections (and notwithstanding some wishful thinking in setting up Senate challenges) the big news is that Senate Minority Leader Ed Worley is in big trouble. There is no other way to view the Senate races this year. Senators Kerr and Buford drew interesting challenges, but should prevail rather handily. Barry Metcalf will dispatch newcomer Albert Spencer and then defeat what is left of Worley.

The House races will be a lot more difficult to handicap, but the year is definitely looking like a winner for the GOP. It won't stop the spinners from trying to prop up the Dems, but today will ultimately be just another case of close but no cigar as they lose the House this year.

Cindy Sheehan Rides Again (Herb Brock Version)

Herb Brock doesn't deserve to work at a conservative newspaper like the Danville Advocate Messenger.

I'm not even going to link to his stupid column printed in today's paper. It was a complete waste of newsprint.

Brock started his random walk with a recitation of the list of strange laws on the books in Kentucky. You know the one about carrying an ice cream cone in your pocket that the pro-expanded gambling ads keep telling us about? Well, Brock trots that one out again.

Then he steps way out on a ledge and attacks Senator Tom Buford for sponsoring SB 93, which would outlaw prostestors at funerals.

I'm used to Brock going off half-cocked in his columns, but this is insane. We have people protesting the funerals of Iraq War casualties and Herb Brock is too lazy or stupid (or both) to find out which end is up before puking all over them and their families.

And now I hear this bill is stalled in the Senate because of this one writer. I certainly hope that is not true.

Ed To The Woodshed?

Hide the Thorazine...

Phone lines were burning between Washington D.C., Frankfort, and Richmond today and the inferno is bearing down on one Senator Ed Worley(D-Richmond).

Tomorrow, insiders expect Worley to get a Republican opponent -- and a Democrat primary opponent to boot!

Ed's very shady land deal is getting ready to come around and bite him, hard.

Education Philosophy Needs Change: Here's How

As thousands of Kentucky high school seniors turn toward the home stretch on their secondary education, now might be an appropriate time to look at methods to improve the way we teach our kids. One simple step could make a big difference.

The time has come to break the mold on the way we educate Kentuckians.

Taxpayers have been mighty patient waiting for schools to improve as we pour in tax dollars year after year. If the goal for increasing school spending has been to graduate more students who can't do college-level work, then we are succeeding. Since it isn't, now may be past time to concede that a lack of funds is not holding us back so much as a problem with our philosophy.

We must now change our approach in order to change our future results.

The one thing that we can do to improve the prospects of our next group of high schoolers is to quit tying class credits to the amount of time spent sitting in a classroom.

Teachers get paid based on time spent in the classroom. But students benefit from what they learn. So if the question is "Who are schools for?" and if the answer we want is "educating students," then awarding class credits and diplomas the same way we pay teachers and administrators -- by the hour -- makes little sense.

A year spent in a high school class currently earns a student one Carnegie Unit. Mastery of a subject is not required -- a "D" is sufficient. You just have to put in your time.

That sounds a little like jail, doesn't it?

Nearly two in three of our high school graduates require remedial courses to even start college. We spend more money on education every year and get test results that do not reflect that increased commitment. Kentucky Economic Justice Alliance recently called for $337 million in annual spending increases for schools. For what? They don't say and I can't imagine.

This is getting a little ridiculous, don't you think?

Wiping out the Carnegie Unit would not cost taxpayers anything. If students could walk into a class and demonstrate mastery of the subject matter on Day One, they could move on to other academic pursuits at no cost to the taxpayer whatsoever.

I would love to hear a member of the education establishment try to prove why eliminating the Carnegie Unit system would be a bad thing. Actually, this approach could expose what is wrong with our public schools. Schools get money based on how many bodies are filling up their facilities and for how long. It should come as little surprise that this approach does not yield optimal results for students. Turning this old system on its head and promoting students on their learning schedule would put the focus where it belongs.

A good case can be made that very few students derive maximum benefit under a system that demands timing their learning curve to our agrarian-era school calendar. Better students tend to suffer under the Carnegie Unit system because the pace in the classroom is too slow for them. Struggling students suffer because the pace is too fast. It seems that we are paying a high price to keep the flow of education moving at a middling speed that doesn't fit -- and doesn't work for -- too many of our students.

We are already utilizing distance education in our high schools. This can be expanded at minimal cost to assist students in achieving subject matter mastery when they are ready.

Student misbehavior takes up an increasing amount of school resources. This could be turned into an advantage without the Carnegie Unit system. When students determine the speed at which their learning takes place, they will have less time or opportunity to be bored with school.

Our kids are capable of doing more in school and many of our dedicated teachers lose sleep trying to figure out how to help them succeed. The Carnegie Unit was established in 1907 and, clearly, doesn't fit in a world where everything else is customized by technology to fit the individual.

Like everything else in a free society, the Carnegie Unit can be done away with when the people demand it. What do you think?