This afternoon, the Senate is expected to pass HB 18. The bill has been amended to include the provisions of SB 3, which would end the common practice of legislators going on strike each election year during the first month of the General Assembly. It would also make Kentucky a Super Tuesday state in presidential primaries.
Now the Senate needs to amend the House Finance and Administration Cabinet reorganization bill to include government expenditure transparency.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
Time To Decide If Kentucky Is A Sanctuary State
Indiana advanced an illegal immigration bill today similar to the HB 304 House Judiciary Chair Kathy Stein is bottling up.
If Indiana runs off their illegal aliens and Kentucky does nothing, are we prepared to accept them all? It's not like they will be moving north, where it is colder.
If Indiana runs off their illegal aliens and Kentucky does nothing, are we prepared to accept them all? It's not like they will be moving north, where it is colder.
Lexington Jail Still On Double-Secret Probation
Just when you thought the madness at the Fayette County Detention Center couldn't get any worse, a jail employee pursuing sexual harassment charges against Captain Dwight Hall has received a death threat via telephone while at work.
Upon investigation, it was determined the phone call also originated from within the facility.
This is part of what the caller said:
Former Mayor Teresa Isaac and Mayor Jim Newberry are being sued for their roles in covering up scandals in the jail.
Upon investigation, it was determined the phone call also originated from within the facility.
This is part of what the caller said:
"Shut your mouth you stupid whore or else you are going to pay."
Former Mayor Teresa Isaac and Mayor Jim Newberry are being sued for their roles in covering up scandals in the jail.
Not Just For Jody Richards
A bill to expand the charter school concept in Kentucky beyond the one illegal program Speaker Jody Richards slipped into the 2006 budget should be introduced this week.
Charter schools function like public schools except they don't have to operate under the same bureaucracy as regular public schools. Further, they face real accountability and can be shut down if they don't produce substantial results.
Kentucky is one of only four states whose education bureaucracy has persisted in denying school choice to parents. Also, the bill will show how charter schools can be run for much less money than the one in Speaker Richards' district.
Charter schools function like public schools except they don't have to operate under the same bureaucracy as regular public schools. Further, they face real accountability and can be shut down if they don't produce substantial results.
Kentucky is one of only four states whose education bureaucracy has persisted in denying school choice to parents. Also, the bill will show how charter schools can be run for much less money than the one in Speaker Richards' district.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Identifying The Problem, Ignoring Solutions
Louisville Courier Journal columnist Jill Johnson Keeney complained today about, of all things, the structure of state government in Kentucky:
A little digging might have helped her find three possible answers to this question:
Without any better ideas, the nattering nabobs should really take a closer look at some of the proposed solutions already out there.
This is a terrible system we have in Kentucky, where a governor takes office in December and less than a month later is expected to have a staff assembled, a budget prepared, and be ready with proposals for correcting major problems and advancing the state.
A little digging might have helped her find three possible answers to this question:
Limiting the scope of legislative sessions, for example, is the subject of two bills filed by Senate Republicans and one filed by a House Republican.
The bills are here, here, and here.
Without any better ideas, the nattering nabobs should really take a closer look at some of the proposed solutions already out there.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Kentucky's Least Accountable Department
If we were serious about cutting waste, fraud, and abuse in Frankfort, we couldn't find a better place to start than the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE).
Just the latest example of their handiwork is another screw-up affecting the disastrous CATS testing:
Kentucky School News and Commentary has the whole story.
Have to wonder how much longer we can afford the luxury of not paying much attention to our education bureaucrats.
Just the latest example of their handiwork is another screw-up affecting the disastrous CATS testing:
This means that Kentucky students (some as young as 9-years old) will be asked to do one thing...but will be assessed on something else - some secret rubric. How is a student to know which questions have a secret rubric, and which do not? What are the ethics of penalizing students for following instructions?
Kentucky School News and Commentary has the whole story.
Have to wonder how much longer we can afford the luxury of not paying much attention to our education bureaucrats.
Leadership Vacuum In Frankfort Red Light District
It has been two days since Governor Steve Beshear introduced his stillborn casino plan. If the House Democrats had the votes to pass it, it would be worthy of serious discussion. But they don't.
The real story in all this mess is the ideological split in House leadership. The House Democratic caucus has ceased to function and is ripe for a serious shake-up.
While they sort that out, though, the rest of the state has serious needs that are being ignored.
Busting Kentucky out of its welfare mentality can get started by getting serious about illegal immigration and drug-abusing welfare recipients. We need to cut back on the political feeding trough mentality, too, on the way to reforming public employee pension plans before they break the state. Governor Beshear said he will introduce a pension reform plan next week. He really needs to reverse his growing string of policy missteps by getting this one right.
The term "public employee" should suggest those who earn their living through the government work for us, but as their benefits gets more out of hand, we wind up working harder for them. This trend needs to be reversed a whole lot more than we need to sit around watching debate on a revenue scheme that stands no chance of passage.
We can't improve the state by putting up with the same nonsense.
The real story in all this mess is the ideological split in House leadership. The House Democratic caucus has ceased to function and is ripe for a serious shake-up.
While they sort that out, though, the rest of the state has serious needs that are being ignored.
Busting Kentucky out of its welfare mentality can get started by getting serious about illegal immigration and drug-abusing welfare recipients. We need to cut back on the political feeding trough mentality, too, on the way to reforming public employee pension plans before they break the state. Governor Beshear said he will introduce a pension reform plan next week. He really needs to reverse his growing string of policy missteps by getting this one right.
The term "public employee" should suggest those who earn their living through the government work for us, but as their benefits gets more out of hand, we wind up working harder for them. This trend needs to be reversed a whole lot more than we need to sit around watching debate on a revenue scheme that stands no chance of passage.
We can't improve the state by putting up with the same nonsense.
Please Read Bluegrass Policy Blog
I really kind of get a kick out of telling people that I blog for a living.
KentuckyVotes.org, my main gig, is a blog. You can make comments about bills and respond to other comments. If you haven't already gone on there and set up an account to receive daily updates, feel free to do so. That is getting to be a pretty interesting community.
Bluegrass Policy Blog is another thing I do. Usually that is an expansion of bill descriptions that don't really fit KyVotes or just observations about other things going on. It is less political than Kentucky Progress, but if you like this site, you should like that one as well.
Have a great weekend. I'll be on here and Bluegrass Policy Blog posting regularly, as I do seven days a week.
Keep in touch.
KentuckyVotes.org, my main gig, is a blog. You can make comments about bills and respond to other comments. If you haven't already gone on there and set up an account to receive daily updates, feel free to do so. That is getting to be a pretty interesting community.
Bluegrass Policy Blog is another thing I do. Usually that is an expansion of bill descriptions that don't really fit KyVotes or just observations about other things going on. It is less political than Kentucky Progress, but if you like this site, you should like that one as well.
Have a great weekend. I'll be on here and Bluegrass Policy Blog posting regularly, as I do seven days a week.
Keep in touch.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Another House Dem Tax Increase Bill
HB 538 makes permanent a tax increase on retailers slipped into the 2006 budget. Rep. Sannie Overly is the lead sponsor, but this one has Rep. Harry Moberly's fingerprints all over it.
Cut The Local Government Secrecy
It is just about time to stop looking for a magic treasure chest of state government revenues and get serious about ways to cut spending and reducing government to a more affordable level. Requiring local governments to post their budget ordinances online is a good step in that direction. Easing the process of comparing what our local governments are spending their money on is a critical part of making government more accountable to the people.
An amendment filed yesterday to this bill would make that a reality.
An amendment filed yesterday to this bill would make that a reality.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
A Nuclear Power Plant? In Kentucky?
A bill filed today would make it easier for an application to build a nuclear power plant to succeed in Kentucky.
Does the fact that I have two children studying to go into nuclear engineering color my opinion of this bill? You betcha.
And lest you think this bill won't even get a hearing, check this out: it has a Senate twin.
Does the fact that I have two children studying to go into nuclear engineering color my opinion of this bill? You betcha.
And lest you think this bill won't even get a hearing, check this out: it has a Senate twin.
Talk Show Talking
I went up to Northern Kentucky last week and chatted with Pat Crowley on his television show about some of the goings on in Frankfort.
Here it is.
Here it is.
If We Blow Enough Sunshine Up Its Butt, Do You Think It Might Start To Glow?
The casino amendment:
"Are you in favor of increasing state financial support for elementary and secondary education, expanding health care for senior citizens, children and others, support for local governments, and combating drug and alcohol abuse and other important programs by permitting the General Assembly to authorize up to five casinos subject to approval of the voters in the city or county where the casino is located; and up to seven casinos licenses for existing horse racing associations, all of which will be subject to the approval of a state agency created to oversee casino gaming."
"Are you in favor of increasing state financial support for elementary and secondary education, expanding health care for senior citizens, children and others, support for local governments, and combating drug and alcohol abuse and other important programs by permitting the General Assembly to authorize up to five casinos subject to approval of the voters in the city or county where the casino is located; and up to seven casinos licenses for existing horse racing associations, all of which will be subject to the approval of a state agency created to oversee casino gaming."
Kentucky To Outlaw Mountain Dew?
Two dental professionals testifying to the House Health and Welfare Committee just stated "Mountain Dew Mouth" looks a lot like "Methamphetamine Mouth."
A couple of legislators off camera immediately made comments suggesting that Mountain Dew be made illegal.
Now THAT would get more people interested in the political process.
A couple of legislators off camera immediately made comments suggesting that Mountain Dew be made illegal.
Now THAT would get more people interested in the political process.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Brandon Spencer Gets Paid By Greg Stumbo
Remember when Rep. Brandon Spencer, an ambulance company executive, had an epiphany and decided he didn't want his House seat as much as he wanted to give it to the ever eager Greg Stumbo?
Today we saw the pay off for Mr. Spencer.
Today we saw the pay off for Mr. Spencer.
Time To Wake Up Jonathan Miller
Finance and Administration Cabinet Secretary Jonathan Miller likes to say he is for "good government," "openness," and "transparency."
That would be a whole lot easier to believe if he weren't sitting by quietly while the House allows his cabinet to operate under the cover of darkness.
This is outrageous. And the mainstream media, who I guess is busy covering the dead casino bill due out tomorrow, is complicit.
That would be a whole lot easier to believe if he weren't sitting by quietly while the House allows his cabinet to operate under the cover of darkness.
This is outrageous. And the mainstream media, who I guess is busy covering the dead casino bill due out tomorrow, is complicit.
Sports Caption Should Fire Them Up
There was nothing funny about the Kentucky Wildcats' 41 point loss to Vanderbilt last night. But then I saw the caption on a game photo in the Lexington Herald Leader:
I wonder how many angry letters to the editor they will get on this one.
CATS SUFFER WORST LOSS IN SERIES HISTORY
Kentucky mimicked a night of political landslides. Alas, the Cats played the role of Hillary Clinton buried in defeat in the Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C., primaries.
I wonder how many angry letters to the editor they will get on this one.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Do Nothing Frankfort
The first bill to get a vote in both the House and Senate passed today. Was it something to benefit education? Taxes? Pensions? Entitlement reform? Transparency? Legislative reform? Immigration? Drugs? Local governments?
Nope. It was Abraham Lincoln's birthday.
So glad the glory days have returned to Frankfort.
Nope. It was Abraham Lincoln's birthday.
So glad the glory days have returned to Frankfort.
Gambling With Your Child's Well-Being
As Governor Steve Beshear prepares to divulge his casino gambling plan, he is expected to ignore the downside of creating more avenues for self-destructive, math-challenged Kentuckians to blow up their own finances and then turn to taxpayers for a bail-out.
This is a mistake, of course.
At the very least, Governor Beshear should propose to fine anyone with gambling winnings an amount equal to those winnings if that person's non-gambling income would qualify him or her for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit or if the household receives KCHIP, food stamps, or other state aid in the same tax year the gambling winnings occur.
Making it impossible for low-income Kentuckians to profit from gambling would have the effect of preventing them from frittering away their money. And ours.
This is a mistake, of course.
At the very least, Governor Beshear should propose to fine anyone with gambling winnings an amount equal to those winnings if that person's non-gambling income would qualify him or her for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit or if the household receives KCHIP, food stamps, or other state aid in the same tax year the gambling winnings occur.
Making it impossible for low-income Kentuckians to profit from gambling would have the effect of preventing them from frittering away their money. And ours.
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