Steve Beshear's Magic Carpet Ride

We are still waiting for Governor Steve Beshear to clue us in on how he is going to handle the public employee pension disaster. I'm guessing he has amended his earlier statement to a "no comment."

For the record, here is his earlier statement on the pensions.

Are We Almost Ready To Stop Screwing Around?

Governor Steve Beshear's casino bill probably doesn't even have the 60 votes to get out of the House. The cigarette tax as savior for the state is beyond ridiculous.

The only way out of our budget mess is to cut spending and the only question that matters is "where do we start?"

Cutting out prevailing wage, raising co-pays on Medicaid and state employee health plans enough to limit overutilization, stopping welfare payments to drug abusers, etc.

The answers are there. We just need a few more politicians with the courage to get it done.

Oodles Of Doodles On Google

For vanity's sake, I had to find out where I fit in to the 6.3 million Google entries bearing my name.

I'm number eight.

Queen Hillary In Your Spam Folder

If you have an email address, you have probably gotten a compelling message from the heir to some African fortune offering to share it with you. All you have to do is send your bank account information and, of course, turn your brain completely off.

It's not hard to imagine we are looking at the same kind of sucker's bet with Hillary Clinton's offer of free health insurance for everyone:

Clinton has not always specified the enforcement measures she would embrace, but when pressed on ABC's "This Week," she said: "I think there are a number of mechanisms" that are possible, including "going after people's wages, automatic enrollment."

Do you really have to think long and hard about whether you want Bill and Hillary Clinton to have control over your paycheck or your checking account or both?

Let The People Decide

Anyone hoping to kill off the casino gambling issue for 2008 might want to pick two or three of the constitutional amendment bills and start pushing lawmakers to pass them. Kentucky law prohibits more than two amendment questions on a November ballot.

As much as I would like to see shorter, more focussed legislative sessions and the abolition of the Treasurer's office, maybe I'll pick raising the homestead exemption and limiting a governor's pardon powers just to get it done.

Puff The Magic Draggin'

Anyone who really thinks raising the cigarette tax seventy cents more is going to stop teenagers from smoking has never been in a long popcorn line at a movie theater, or a fast food restaurant, or a mall.

And the other justification -- that it will provide needed revenue for the state -- is also just smoke and mirrors. The reality is people crossing over from other states to buy low-tax cigarettes bring other economic activity that will be sorely missed if the low taxes disappear.

It would be much cheaper and easier to decrease benefits for welfare beneficiaries who smoke. Raising the cigarette tax just cuts into the help that our money provides them anyway.

We Need A Transparent Transportation Cabinet

If you are looking for a part of state government that really needs to post its checkbook on the internet to keep everyone honest, look no further than the Transportation Cabinet.

Here is a bill filed yesterday that will generate some interesting discussions in the Senate. Someone in the House might at well stick an amendment on there making the Transportation Cabinet post all its financial transactions and contracts online.

Unless, of course, the most ethical government in Kentucky history is hiding something...

Are We Buying High And Selling Low?

Could it be Governor Steve Beshear is getting us into the casino business at exactly the wrong time? For the latest, we take you to New Jersey:

Last year, for the first time in the 29-year history of legalized gambling in Atlantic City, the casinos won less money than they did the year before, figures released yesterday show.

The 5.7 percent decline to $4.9 billion was hardly a surprise. For month after month in 2007, the gaming halls reported wins that were down from 2006 levels -- all attributed to new competition from slots parlors in Pennsylvania and New York, and new smoking restrictions on Atlantic City casino floors. (emphasis added)

Still, the first year-to-year decline provided a marker that the gambling mecca did not want. It also deprived the people of New Jersey of about $24 million in gambling tax revenue, which the state uses to benefit senior citizens and people with disabilities.

"It is a shock -- a slap on the side of the head for anyone who owns a casino in town," said Carlos Tolosa, president of the Eastern Division of Harrah's Entertainment Inc., which owns the Harrah's Marina, Showboat, Caesars and Bally's casinos in Atlantic City. Collectively, the four casinos made up 44 percent of last year's total revenue.

"This was a wake-up call for everybody that we have to continue to build nongaming attractions and convert this resort town into a destination," Tolosa said, "and that we have a long way to go."

Source: hotel-online.com

Professional Politicians' Pay Too High

Kentucky is moving more in the direction of having professional politicians like we have on the federal level. We should begin to correct this by repealing the 2005 bill that passed the legislature with only 2 No votes and included a provision allowing state lawmakers to jump to a state job and get an enormous pension boost.

And the rich health insurance benefits for part-time magistrates and city commissioners need to go as well.

Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Mo

Still looking for a presidential candidate? Might as well try this.

Vote chooser says Mitt Romney is my guy.

Fed Fair Tax Would Necessitate State Reform

If the Fair Tax were to be implemented at the federal level, Kentucky's tax system would have to change because you can't start filling out a Kentucky tax return until you have done a federal tax return. That wouldn't be possible if individuals were no longer paying income taxes, which is what the Fair Tax does. Rep. Mike Harmon has filed a resolution to start the legislature studying how we would handle this kind of tax reform.

Entitlement Reform In Kentucky

Members of the House Health and Welfare Committee this morning discussed a committee substitute for the drug testing for welfare recipients bill that would improve the bill by adding a probable cause element.

He's Just Like Ronald Reagan

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich will be on the Leland Conway radio show in Lexington this morning on 630 WLAP. Or you can listen on www.wlap.com.

Reminder: Businesses Don't Pay Taxes

Would you be willing to trade a cigarette tax increase for repeal of the income tax on unprofitable businesses?.

Did Beshear Sell Judicial Appointment For $200?

Governor Steve Beshear just appointed John Chappell as a District Judge in the 27th district today. Chappell, a London attorney, filed to run for the office on December 12.

This wouldn't be the John Chappell, Attorney at Law, of London who contributed $200 to Scott Alexander's Senate campaign on January 19, would it? That wouldn't be good.

CHAPPELL, JOHN
402 W. 4TH STREET
LONDON, KY, 40743
Employer : JOHN CHAPPELL, AAL
Occupation : ATTORNEY INDIVIDUAL Contribution
$200.00 on 01/19/2008
ALEXANDER, SCOTT for
STATE SENATOR - 30TH DISTRICT
SPECIAL - 02/05/2008

The impropriety of the contribution and subsequent appointment aside, I would think two hundred bucks isn't very much money for this sort of thing. Do we really want this governor to be in charge of selling casino licenses?

Who Do You Want To Get Your Tax Rebate?

The federal government this spring is expected to send back tax dollars to taxpayers as an "economic stimulus." Whether you like the economic rationale or not, you probably would be interested in a bill to keep that money away from Governor Steve Beshear, wouldn't you? Well, here you go.

Fastest Political Flameout In History

Louisville's Chris Thieneman nuked himself this morning.

Steve Beshear's Unnecessary Tuition Increases

Governor Steve Beshear's proposal to cut Kentucky's merit-based KEES college scholarship program and maintain spending for need-based aid is probably going to be a disaster.

Just as the legislature is considering a measure to lower the GPA to renew KEES scholarships, the proper cost-saving move would be to increase standards for getting the awards. Instead, Beshear will probably cut all awards the same amount in the name of "fairness."

Doing this and in effect raising the proportion of aid that is award exclusively on the basis of not having enough money to pay for college is a sure way to exacerbate the inflation problem.

Nice job, Steve. What's next? (Oh yeah, public employee benefits...)

Steve Beshear's Going Out Of Business Sale

Looks like Attorney General Jack Conway has found a rug to sweep his and Governor Steve Beshear's problems under.

Do you have Skippy Miller under there already?

How about R.D. Hubbard?


HUBBARD, R.
124 KOVENISH
PALM DESERT, CA, 92260
Employer : HOLLYWOOD PARK
Occupation : RACE TRACK OWNER INDIVIDUAL Contribution
$500.00 on 05/10/1999
MILLER, JONATHAN for
STATE TREASURER - STATEWIDE
PRIMARY - 05/25/1999

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HUBBARD, R.
73-405 EL PASO #32D
PALM DESERT, CA, 922600000
Employer : R. D. HUBBARD ENTERPRISES, INC.
Occupation : REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER INDIVIDUAL Contribution
$1,000.00 on 02/19/2003
CHANDLER, A. for
SLATE - STATEWIDE
PRIMARY - 05/20/2003

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HUBBARD, R.
124 KOVENISH
PALM DESERT, CA, 92260
Employer :
Occupation : RETIRED INDIVIDUAL Contribution
$1,000.00 on 03/21/2007
LUNSFORD, W. for
SLATE - STATEWIDE
PRIMARY - 05/22/2007

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HUBBARD, R.
73-405 EL PASO #32D
PALM DESERT, CA, 92260
Employer : RD HUBBARD
Occupation : DEVELOPER INDIVIDUAL Contribution
$1,000.00 on 04/16/2007
MILLER, JONATHAN for
SLATE - STATEWIDE
PRIMARY - 05/22/2007

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HUBBARD, R.
73-405 EL PASEO NO. 32D
PALM DESERT, CA, 92260
Employer : R.D. HUBBARD ENTERPRISES, INC.
Occupation : REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER INDIVIDUAL Contribution
$10,000.00 on 11/30/2007
BESHEAR MONGIARDO INAUGURAL COMMITTEE
FARMER, TRACY for
SLATE - STATEWIDE
GENERAL - 11/06/2007

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HUBBARD, R. D.
73-405 EL PASEO NO. 32D
PALM DESERT, CA, 922600000
Employer : R. D. HUBBARD ENTERPRISES, INC.
Occupation : REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER INDIVIDUAL Contribution
$1,000.00 on 05/08/2007
BESHEAR, STEVEN for
SLATE - STATEWIDE
PRIMARY - 05/22/2007

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HUBBARD, R. D.
73-405 EL PASEO NO. 32D
PALM DESERT, CA, 922600000
Employer : R. D. HUBBARD ENTERPRISES, INC.
Occupation : REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER INDIVIDUAL Contribution
$1,000.00 on 10/17/2007
BESHEAR, STEVEN for
SLATE - STATEWIDE
GENERAL - 11/06/2007

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HUBBARD, R.D.
73-405 EL PASEO / NO. 32D
PALM DESERT, CA, 922604214
Employer : R.D. HUBBARD ENTERPRISES, INC.
Occupation : CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER INDIVIDUAL Contribution
$1,000.00 on 10/10/2006
WORLEY, JAMES for
STATE SENATOR - 34TH DISTRICT
GENERAL - 11/07/2006

Second Time's A Charm?

Governor Ernie Fletcher's campaign against casino gambling wasn't going to work for reasons that had little or nothing to do with casino gambling.

The Senate 30 special election may not prove anything about casinos, either, but the race may turn out differently.

Have you seen this commercial (airing now in the district)?