The city of Lexington has ended their feeble attempt to block this blog on city computers.
It is starting to dawn on the folks at 200 East Main Street that the Justice Department investigation and the class action and civil lawsuits aren't just going to go away.
Can't imagine why anyone in the Mayor's office would think they could finesse all this stuff as easily as they can scam the Lexington Herald Leader.
Just ask Ron Bishop, Don Leach, and the boys and girls at the Fayette County Detention Center. They are a little further along the learning curve.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Stroke Of Genius Meets Good Public Policy
Senate President David Williams has filed a bill to move the candidate filing deadline forward to April. This eliminates the problem of legislators sitting on their hands during the first month of the General Assembly and forces legislators to get off the fence about casino gambling before campaign opponents have to file to run against them.
Smoke-Filled Media Bias At Herald Leader
Amazing how the Lexington Herald Leader can watch a parade of House and Senate Democrats chase their tails on the puffery of just one little old cigarette tax increase and see a gathering storm of support in "Cigarette tax hike gains traction."
This story could more accurately be headlined "House Dems fiddle while Frankfort burns."
The newspaper story didn't even mention the one group of cooler heads who have already decided this issue. The Senate Republicans said no tax increase. Well, maybe just one.
Revenues keep going up in Frankfort. Spending keeps going up faster. Raising taxes, it should stand to reason, isn't the answer here. If we really want to take a step in the right direction, we will start talking about transparency in our state government.
This story could more accurately be headlined "House Dems fiddle while Frankfort burns."
The newspaper story didn't even mention the one group of cooler heads who have already decided this issue. The Senate Republicans said no tax increase. Well, maybe just one.
Revenues keep going up in Frankfort. Spending keeps going up faster. Raising taxes, it should stand to reason, isn't the answer here. If we really want to take a step in the right direction, we will start talking about transparency in our state government.
Still Looking For Ways To Cut Spending
Since people are going to gamble anyway, there really is no need to allow the state lottery to spend money on advertising or marketing, right?
A Better Idea For Improving Schools
Before attacking House Minority Whip Stan Lee for joining Speaker Jody Richards' effort to limit the state to one charter school -- in Bowling Green, of course -- I called him seeking an explanation.
Rep. Lee says he is working a charter school bill for all the state. That is a very good thing.
Rep. Lee says he is working a charter school bill for all the state. That is a very good thing.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Unexpected Twist On Blog Blockergate 2008
Didn't see this one coming.
Sources are reporting that the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government has blocked this website on city computers.
I can't get into it now, but the timing of this cowardly action is VERY interesting. Stay tuned.
And any city workers reading from home who have information about Mayor Newberry's role in the various city scandals or in the mess at the Fayette County Detention Center can reach me at kyprogress@yahoo.com.
Still waiting to hear what the Beshear blog blocking policy will be.
Sources are reporting that the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government has blocked this website on city computers.
I can't get into it now, but the timing of this cowardly action is VERY interesting. Stay tuned.
And any city workers reading from home who have information about Mayor Newberry's role in the various city scandals or in the mess at the Fayette County Detention Center can reach me at kyprogress@yahoo.com.
Still waiting to hear what the Beshear blog blocking policy will be.
Taking Care Of Their Own
Meanwhile, back at the ranch.
And no, I don't care nearly as much about the Chandler hiring as it is not against the law.
Attorney General Jack Conway, where are you?
And no, I don't care nearly as much about the Chandler hiring as it is not against the law.
Attorney General Jack Conway, where are you?
Nine Minutes To See What America Needs
Much, much less government spending. Hillary and Obama won't do it. Rudy and Mitt won't either.
The Comptroller General of the United States says we are screwed by 2040, when the federal government will only have the money to operate Social Security and Medicaid. Go back to sleep, though. There is no crisis.
The Comptroller General of the United States says we are screwed by 2040, when the federal government will only have the money to operate Social Security and Medicaid. Go back to sleep, though. There is no crisis.
How About A Kentucky Stimulus Package?
Harry Moberly has not just one, but two bills designed to stick it to corporations.
Many of the rest of our legislators are looking for ways to enable more economic opportunity for our citizens.
Like Jim DeCesare.
Rather than work up incentive packages for some companies to do business here, shouldn't we just get rid of corporate taxes and let the government live off the taxes created by the new businesses, new employees, and improved economy?
Many of the rest of our legislators are looking for ways to enable more economic opportunity for our citizens.
Like Jim DeCesare.
Rather than work up incentive packages for some companies to do business here, shouldn't we just get rid of corporate taxes and let the government live off the taxes created by the new businesses, new employees, and improved economy?
Paying For Democracy One Addict At A Time
Senate Bill 5, the "Crowded Field Bill" which passed the Senate yesterday should be killed in the House. We can easily pay for the extra elections by enacting this bill.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
KY Educrats, Your Bathtub Awaits
Education Commissioner Jon Draud, in a letter to Governor Steve Beshear, bemoans the fact that state spending on the Kentucky Department of Education has dropped from $31.7 million in FY 2002 to $24.3 million in FY 2007.
Sounds like we are headed in the right direction.
But this line at the end of the letter takes the cake:
Besides the fact "strong, steady funding" is bureaucratspeak for annual funding increases, there is no convincing evidence that public schools have "shown real progress" in recent years or that funding increases are "the key to maintaining" that illusory progress.
Sounds like we are headed in the right direction.
But this line at the end of the letter takes the cake:
Kentucky has shown real progress over the past decade and a half, and strong, steady funding is the key to maintaining that progress.
Besides the fact "strong, steady funding" is bureaucratspeak for annual funding increases, there is no convincing evidence that public schools have "shown real progress" in recent years or that funding increases are "the key to maintaining" that illusory progress.
Cough Up A Lung On Your Own Dime
Rather than raising cigarette taxes to give politicians more money to play with, wouldn't it be simpler to exclude from receiving Medicaid benefits or state aid anyone who smokes cigarettes or uses tobacco products?
This Isn't The "Taxpayer Transparency" We Need
Rep. Harry Moberly came under intense fire last year for trying to hide more legislative actions behind closed doors. After seeing that, it was surprising to see him file a bill yesterday to open up the secretive "economic development" process by requiring the Cabinet for Economic Development to provide information to the legislature upon request. That could be a good thing.
But you have to read the whole bill, which includes this:
I don't know about you, but I'm not at all comfortable with the idea of Harry Moberly being allowed to legally pore over my state tax returns with just my name blacked out.
In case you don't get my objection, let me ask you this: how many taxpayers live at your address?
But you have to read the whole bill, which includes this:
(3) Information that shall be provided upon request includes:
(a) Any information acquired from any records of the Department of Revenue, but excluding the taxpayer's name ...
I don't know about you, but I'm not at all comfortable with the idea of Harry Moberly being allowed to legally pore over my state tax returns with just my name blacked out.
In case you don't get my objection, let me ask you this: how many taxpayers live at your address?
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Et tu, Senator Borders?
It was bad enough when House Budget Chairman Harry Moberly filed a bill last week to raise the expensive Limited Liability Entity Tax, but today the Senate Budget Chairman Charlie Borders filed exactly the same bill with his name on it.
You are copying homework off the wrong guy there, Senator Borders.
Now that Republicans are on board, this must be another one of those "revenue-neutral tax increases" we love so much.
If you are keeping score at home, candidate Steve Beshear promised to support repeal -- not expansion -- of the LLET and keeps saying Kentucky doesn't need tax increases.
Are you watching this, Governor?
You are copying homework off the wrong guy there, Senator Borders.
Now that Republicans are on board, this must be another one of those "revenue-neutral tax increases" we love so much.
If you are keeping score at home, candidate Steve Beshear promised to support repeal -- not expansion -- of the LLET and keeps saying Kentucky doesn't need tax increases.
Are you watching this, Governor?
Putting Governor Steve Beshear To The Test
Why wouldn't Governor Beshear have the courage to sign an executive order Kentuckians of all political stripes want him to sign?
And no, it's not casinos.
And no, it's not casinos.
Physician, Heal Thyself
What in the world are we doing waiting around for a bunch of career politicians to fix their own pension disaster when all they have done for decades is show a prodigious and embarrassing appetite for gorging themselves on our tax dollars?
First thing, they must repeal this bill. Here's more from BIPPS, including the soon-to-be state legislator with the highest "high three."
First thing, they must repeal this bill. Here's more from BIPPS, including the soon-to-be state legislator with the highest "high three."
Preventing Courier Journal Embarrassment
You have got to the kidding me! Read this, from today's Louisville Courier Journal editorial page:
It's nothing new to see the Louisville Courier Journal (newspaper's name not withheld to maximize embarrassment) carry water for another bloated state legislator, but this is ridiculous and precisely why we need more government transparency than the bloated class wants to allow us now.
The current budget crisis is really a test of what legislative independence has become. For more than 30 years, lawmakers pushed for control. Now they have it. But when it comes to the budget, they squander it.
One frustrated legislative staffer recently described how some members operate. He fumed, "Once upon a time, you didn't even have to tell (legislator's name withheld to prevent embarrassment) what was in the budget. Now you have to give him a state park to get him to vote for it."
It's nothing new to see the Louisville Courier Journal (newspaper's name not withheld to maximize embarrassment) carry water for another bloated state legislator, but this is ridiculous and precisely why we need more government transparency than the bloated class wants to allow us now.
He Likes Mike (Huckabee)
Chuck Norris will be on Leland Conway's radio show this morning at 11:35 talking about what he will do to you if you aren't for Mike Huckabee.
You can listen on 630AM WLAP or just click here.
You can listen on 630AM WLAP or just click here.
Monday, January 14, 2008
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