Jonathan "Skippy" Miller was so busy performing the duties of his State Treasurer job that earlier this year he decided to run for governor. When that didn't work out, he was given the position of chairman at the Democratic Party of Kentucky.
Good thing he is term-limited out of office at the end of this year. Otherwise, he might hit the presidential tour with Dennis Kucinich while we pay him his six-figure allowance.
Jim Waters at the Bluegrass Institute has picked up on the effort to shut down the Treasurer's office.
We need legislators to file and co-sponsor a bill for the necessary constitutional amendment.
Friday, June 01, 2007
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Does Jack Conway Think He Can Ignore Every Law?
Liberal Attorney General candidate Jack Conway is going to have to explain whether or not he supports the current occupant of that office Greg Stumbo in his unconstitutional OAG opinion that casinos can be legalized without a constitutional amendment.
We know he is a big supporter of boyfriend benefits at taxpayer expense, another unconstitutional state action, but he needs to come clean on this one too.
We know he is a big supporter of boyfriend benefits at taxpayer expense, another unconstitutional state action, but he needs to come clean on this one too.
Another Shot At The Wrong Target
Rep. Tanya Pullin wants to expand need-based financial aid for college students --something there really isn't a shortage of -- and top it off with a freeze on tuition increases at state schools.
The program is called the "Kentucky Postsecondary Education Covenant Award."
Today's trick question: name one example of government price-fixing that has worked without creating unintended consequences worse than the underlying problem.
The part of the bill that subtracts any other aid or scholarships from the "Covenant Award" also accomplishes exactly the wrong thing. We should encourage students who take the initiative to pile up scholarship awards in excess of "costs of education." This program punishes those who would do so by reducing the need-based award, requiring them to spend more time scrambling around at some part-time job rather than sticking to the books.
As an example, my son just got another $1000 scholarship that he qualified for because of many hours of past work at school and in the community. Filling out the application took less than half an hour. Not a bad return for past work he was going to do anyway and half an hour at the keyboard. This program would tell a student with means and a solid school record to go for the scholarship, which might subsidize his living expenses and would certainly be more efficient than spending many hours flipping burgers. A less affluent student with the same record might feel compelled to skip the scholarships, take the "Covenant Award," and flip burgers for additional funds.
This means the more ambitious, less affluent students will take their chances without the "Covenant Award," risk applying for scholarships they won't get, and hope to earn enough to cover education expenses plus some extra to live on. The less ambitious students will take the "Covenant Award," work more hours to finance miscellaneous expenses, and will be more likely to flunk out after burning through the state money.
This all leads to higher costs for the kind of students we really should be helping stay in state.
The program is called the "Kentucky Postsecondary Education Covenant Award."
Today's trick question: name one example of government price-fixing that has worked without creating unintended consequences worse than the underlying problem.
The part of the bill that subtracts any other aid or scholarships from the "Covenant Award" also accomplishes exactly the wrong thing. We should encourage students who take the initiative to pile up scholarship awards in excess of "costs of education." This program punishes those who would do so by reducing the need-based award, requiring them to spend more time scrambling around at some part-time job rather than sticking to the books.
As an example, my son just got another $1000 scholarship that he qualified for because of many hours of past work at school and in the community. Filling out the application took less than half an hour. Not a bad return for past work he was going to do anyway and half an hour at the keyboard. This program would tell a student with means and a solid school record to go for the scholarship, which might subsidize his living expenses and would certainly be more efficient than spending many hours flipping burgers. A less affluent student with the same record might feel compelled to skip the scholarships, take the "Covenant Award," and flip burgers for additional funds.
This means the more ambitious, less affluent students will take their chances without the "Covenant Award," risk applying for scholarships they won't get, and hope to earn enough to cover education expenses plus some extra to live on. The less ambitious students will take the "Covenant Award," work more hours to finance miscellaneous expenses, and will be more likely to flunk out after burning through the state money.
This all leads to higher costs for the kind of students we really should be helping stay in state.
Special Session Needs A Trade-Off
The Governor and the General Assembly should be able to agree on the spending projects they both want to add to a June Special Session. Otherwise, they should hold off on the gimmicky "energy bill" and the no-way-to-win domestic partner issue.
We can do without the energy gimmicks and since Governor Fletcher's own Trustees passed boyfriend benefits -- and House Democrats support them -- that matter now needs to be settled in court.
The fight worth fighting is for Rep. Stan Lee's special needs scholarship bill that could save taxpayers $200 million over the next decade -- offsetting some of the new spending -- and benefit our most vulnerable schoolchildren now.
We can do without the energy gimmicks and since Governor Fletcher's own Trustees passed boyfriend benefits -- and House Democrats support them -- that matter now needs to be settled in court.
The fight worth fighting is for Rep. Stan Lee's special needs scholarship bill that could save taxpayers $200 million over the next decade -- offsetting some of the new spending -- and benefit our most vulnerable schoolchildren now.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Urging Kentucky Republicans To Stand For Something: Issue #1 School Choice
Instead of getting bogged down with petty foolishness, it would be great if Kentucky's Republican candidates could coalesce around a single issue to engage voters this fall.
The time grows near which will allow candidates to run and win by advocating school choice.
It won't happen, but Governor Fletcher could make an issue of special needs scholarships. The teachers union isn't going to endorse him anyway and the vouchers will save taxpayers money. And Steve Beshear will have no answer for it except what he gets from union extremists. (Here's a hint: they don't do a very good job of refuting vouchers.)
The one place school choice might realistically show up this year is in the Attorney General's race. GOP nominee Stan Lee sponsored the voucher bill this year and his liberal opponent, Jack Conway, is likely to try to use it against him.
Lee would be well advised to tout school vouchers every day until November.
The time grows near which will allow candidates to run and win by advocating school choice.
It won't happen, but Governor Fletcher could make an issue of special needs scholarships. The teachers union isn't going to endorse him anyway and the vouchers will save taxpayers money. And Steve Beshear will have no answer for it except what he gets from union extremists. (Here's a hint: they don't do a very good job of refuting vouchers.)
The one place school choice might realistically show up this year is in the Attorney General's race. GOP nominee Stan Lee sponsored the voucher bill this year and his liberal opponent, Jack Conway, is likely to try to use it against him.
Lee would be well advised to tout school vouchers every day until November.
Explaining "High" Gas Prices In America
The Club for Growth has a hard-to-ignore take on a Gallup poll on the cause of $3 a gallon gas.
The hard fact is blaming oil companies for being greedy causes us to adopt the same muddled thinking we usually get from our left-wing moonbat friends.
Free market fans who abandon their principles as soon as the sticky, black stuff comes out of the ground have to take a good look at increasing demand here and in the developing world. Discounting political instability and intransigence here and abroad also takes a willful blindness unworthy of such a serious discussion.
The best way for you to reduce what you spend on fuel is to use less of it. That is demand. Also, legalizing expanded domestic drilling would help. That is supply.
Unfortunately, this will continue to be a political football as the party out of power blames the party in power or -- in the case of divided government -- they trade blame.
It could well be that the discussion won't get any more rational until one of the oil companies figures out how to run cars on hydrogen. That will happen long before any public-spirited federal agency pulls it off.
The hard fact is blaming oil companies for being greedy causes us to adopt the same muddled thinking we usually get from our left-wing moonbat friends.
Free market fans who abandon their principles as soon as the sticky, black stuff comes out of the ground have to take a good look at increasing demand here and in the developing world. Discounting political instability and intransigence here and abroad also takes a willful blindness unworthy of such a serious discussion.
The best way for you to reduce what you spend on fuel is to use less of it. That is demand. Also, legalizing expanded domestic drilling would help. That is supply.
Unfortunately, this will continue to be a political football as the party out of power blames the party in power or -- in the case of divided government -- they trade blame.
It could well be that the discussion won't get any more rational until one of the oil companies figures out how to run cars on hydrogen. That will happen long before any public-spirited federal agency pulls it off.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Four Dollar Meds: Biggest Loss Leader In History Or A Political Statement?
Wal-Mart is saving consumers hundreds of millions of dollars with its private prescription drug plan.
Did Democrats Toss Election To Rehab Lunsford?
Interesting to note from Ryan Alessi's column that Bruce Lunsford knew he could have forced a run-off -- one he could well have won -- if he had gone after Democratic nominee Steve Beshear's weaknesses on casino gambling and loan-sharking.
The predatory lending stuff is pretty good, but Beshear will have a very difficult time trying to sell specifics on his casino plan to the public.
Hope Lunsford enjoys his improved image among primary voters.
The predatory lending stuff is pretty good, but Beshear will have a very difficult time trying to sell specifics on his casino plan to the public.
Hope Lunsford enjoys his improved image among primary voters.
The Pulse Of Lexington
I will be on Leland Conway's radio show at 630 AM or wlap.com this morning at 11:00 talking about how the new media should impact public policy.
A Non-Liberal Professor At University of Kentucky
Here's an interesting podcast featuring John Garen, Economics department chairman at the University of Kentucky.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Jim Newberry Won't Talk About Civil Case, But He Really Should Answer This Criminal Question
Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry has refused to answer questions about the lawsuit against him and former Mayor Teresa Isaac for violating the state Whistleblower Act.
But he shouldn't be able to hide from one question about any criminal indictments that may be handed down against officers in the Fayette County Detention Center. You have to understand, as peace officers under the Urban County form of government, indicted peace officers will not be able to work in the detention center.
So, Mayor Newberry, will any criminally indicted officers from the FBI case you won't talk about be placed on leave with or without pay?
But he shouldn't be able to hide from one question about any criminal indictments that may be handed down against officers in the Fayette County Detention Center. You have to understand, as peace officers under the Urban County form of government, indicted peace officers will not be able to work in the detention center.
So, Mayor Newberry, will any criminally indicted officers from the FBI case you won't talk about be placed on leave with or without pay?
A Fun Summer Project In Kentucky
It's time to get Kentucky's state legislators to publicly state who they each support for governor.
Democrats who refuse to answer have to be counted as Ernie Fletcher supporters.
Democrats who refuse to answer have to be counted as Ernie Fletcher supporters.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Pay No Attention To The Anonymous "Draft Forgy" Blogger Behind That Curtain
Some anonymous character is still trying to push the ridiculous idea that Larry Forgy should run for U.S. Senate against Mitch McConnell.
Whoever he is, he is getting a little desperate for attention. Now he claims the big threat against Mitch McConnell might come from former state Rep. Steve Nunn.
Whoever he is, he is getting a little desperate for attention. Now he claims the big threat against Mitch McConnell might come from former state Rep. Steve Nunn.
Take Their Freedom, But They Want Their MTV
Venezuela loves its communist dictator until, of course, he shuts down a popular television station.
Dividing November Spoils In Late May
House Budget Chairman Harry Moberly has worked out a deal to support Steve Beshear for governor in exchange for the Budget Director's job.
Moberly is propping up lightweight Rep. Don Pasley to take over as Budget Chair.
Moberly is propping up lightweight Rep. Don Pasley to take over as Budget Chair.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Live Blog GOP Unity Rally 2007
Stiff upper lips and bravado at the Republican party get together this evening would be terribly disappointing.
If the Republican party of Kentucky wants to really stand for something -- and not just thump a lightweight casinocrat -- tonight is a huge opportunity.
I'll be live-blogging as much as possible.
Update: I was squished in like a sardine, so I just listened. You will want to check out the comments section of this post, though. The Herald Leader did a good story on the event.
If the Republican party of Kentucky wants to really stand for something -- and not just thump a lightweight casinocrat -- tonight is a huge opportunity.
I'll be live-blogging as much as possible.
Update: I was squished in like a sardine, so I just listened. You will want to check out the comments section of this post, though. The Herald Leader did a good story on the event.
CJ's Novel Idea: Complain About Money In Politics
The Louisville Courier Journal's left-wing polemicists were a little too eager to start their holiday weekend. This is apparently the case, because they mailed in this tired little ditty about how evil it is for Republicans to raise money for campaigns.
If the Courier Journal is so offended by money in politics -- or perhaps they are just upset that none of it ever buys ads on their pages anymore? -- they should lobby to change the laws, rather than complain about people they hate following the existing ones.
The dead-tree media is going to have to find more creativity than this if they are to have any hope of survival in the brave, new online world. Perhaps we could investigate the real reason so many papers hate Attorney General nominee Stan Lee so much. If you don't know, it is because Lee has a strong idea to post legal notices on the internet which current law dictates must be printed in newspapers at taxpayer expense.
Sen. Williams, the Senate president, admits it is illegal for Republican legislators to take this cash directly from lobbyists. But he says it's OK if lobbyists or their clients launder it by dumping it into something called Republican Party of Kentucky Senate Trust. Why? Because that trust (wink, wink) is run by party officials, not by senators themselves.
If the Courier Journal is so offended by money in politics -- or perhaps they are just upset that none of it ever buys ads on their pages anymore? -- they should lobby to change the laws, rather than complain about people they hate following the existing ones.
The dead-tree media is going to have to find more creativity than this if they are to have any hope of survival in the brave, new online world. Perhaps we could investigate the real reason so many papers hate Attorney General nominee Stan Lee so much. If you don't know, it is because Lee has a strong idea to post legal notices on the internet which current law dictates must be printed in newspapers at taxpayer expense.
Friday, May 25, 2007
On Seat Belts And Casinos
New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine says, in the following public service announcement, that he should be dead. Seems like the Garden State should also be flush with cash, given all the casino revenues they have that Steve Beshear is lusting after.
Instead, New Jersey is projecting a $2.5 billion deficit for 2008. What could possibly be going wrong with such a solid plan?
Instead, New Jersey is projecting a $2.5 billion deficit for 2008. What could possibly be going wrong with such a solid plan?
The Call Of The Entrepreneur
Kentucky can't reach its potential until it gets government out of the way of its small business owners. A documentary called "The Call Of The Entrepreneur" is opening eyes to the role of visionary business leaders in the creation and growth of great communities. The Bluegrass Institute is sponsoring viewings across the state. If you are interested in hosting a viewing of this film, call Chris Derry at 270-782-2140.
Keeping Your Eye On The Ball This Summer
I just heard Lieutenant Governor Steve Pence say he hasn't heard from Governor Fletcher asking for his support.
Uh-oh.
Actually, I should say "I told you so."
The Fletcher campaign is not going to reach out to primary opponents because they don't have to. Steve Beshear and Daniel Mongiardo just aren't that much of a threat.
Conservatives would do well to talk to their legislators about repealing AMC and reforming public pensions, economic development, and education. Organizing and applying pressure to the General Assembly effectively can make changing the occupant of the Governor's Mansion unnecessary.
We should start with an easy one. Call your legislators and ask them to file a bill to shut down the Treasurer's Office.
If our interest is really in promoting conservative principles, we should spend this summer actually pushing for those principles while staying focused on enacting them and let the battle for the Mansion sort itself out.
Uh-oh.
Actually, I should say "I told you so."
The Fletcher campaign is not going to reach out to primary opponents because they don't have to. Steve Beshear and Daniel Mongiardo just aren't that much of a threat.
Conservatives would do well to talk to their legislators about repealing AMC and reforming public pensions, economic development, and education. Organizing and applying pressure to the General Assembly effectively can make changing the occupant of the Governor's Mansion unnecessary.
We should start with an easy one. Call your legislators and ask them to file a bill to shut down the Treasurer's Office.
If our interest is really in promoting conservative principles, we should spend this summer actually pushing for those principles while staying focused on enacting them and let the battle for the Mansion sort itself out.
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