As funny as it is to see them getting worked up about rumors (imagine that, at the Lexington jail!), the hilarious part is that it is true.
This is how administration is going to fire Lt. Revel.
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Rumors and more
Got a copy of a goofy Fayette County Detention Center internal email. Here, see for yourself (click to read):
As funny as it is to see them getting worked up about rumors (imagine that, at the Lexington jail!), the hilarious part is that it is true.
This is how administration is going to fire Lt. Revel.
As funny as it is to see them getting worked up about rumors (imagine that, at the Lexington jail!), the hilarious part is that it is true.
This is how administration is going to fire Lt. Revel.
More Fayette jail cover-up craziness
As Mayor of Lexington, Teresa Isaac said and did some pretty strange things.
But even after hearing her threaten to condemn Lexington Mall and turn it into a softball field, would you ever believe she would vet her hiring of Fayette County Detention Center Director Ron Bishop through a phone call to a woman who runs a coalition of left-wing groups in Memphis, Tennessee?
From Isaac's deposition:
There are a couple of funny things about this: the "reporter" is Deborah Clubb, executive director of Memphis Area Women's Council. She used to be a "reporter" but when she was making excuses for Bishop's long line of issues she was, instead, a firmly entrenched left-wing group activist. Hadn't been a reporter for quite a while.
If Isaac would lie about this, what else might she lie about?
And if Bishop were a Republican rather than a well-connected Democrat, do you imagine these two feminists would be covering for him?
But even after hearing her threaten to condemn Lexington Mall and turn it into a softball field, would you ever believe she would vet her hiring of Fayette County Detention Center Director Ron Bishop through a phone call to a woman who runs a coalition of left-wing groups in Memphis, Tennessee?
From Isaac's deposition:
Isaac: (Bishop) had been a jailer before and he had worked in state government.
Question: Jailer where?
Isaac: I believe Memphis.
Q: High jailer or was he just a jail employee?
Isaac: I would not be able to recall without his file in front of me, but I did call a reporter for the Memphis Commercial Appeal and talked to her about what his tenure at the jail in Memphis had been.
Q: What did you find out?
Isaac: That there had been some issues that had come up but all of them had been resolved in his favor.
Q: What issues?
Isaac: I don't recall now.
Q: Sexual harassment?
Isaac: I truly don't recall now but I do remember calling the reporter from the Memphis Commercial Appeal and talking to her.
Q: What did the reporter mean that they had been resolved?
Isaac: I guess if there was some kind of an investigation that it came out it wasn't his fault.
There are a couple of funny things about this: the "reporter" is Deborah Clubb, executive director of Memphis Area Women's Council. She used to be a "reporter" but when she was making excuses for Bishop's long line of issues she was, instead, a firmly entrenched left-wing group activist. Hadn't been a reporter for quite a while.
If Isaac would lie about this, what else might she lie about?
And if Bishop were a Republican rather than a well-connected Democrat, do you imagine these two feminists would be covering for him?
Forget Japan; send Beshear to California
Enticing businesses to move from California to Kentucky may not be such a hard sell if a massive $9.7 billion tax increase goes through in Sacramento.
Saving a few dollars on Gov. Beshear's junkets overseas would be nice. Putting Kentucky in position to benefit from the disastrous tax policies of another state would really be great.
Of course, we need to look out for our own disastrous policies, not the least of which is the public employee benefits mess we still need to clean up.
Saving a few dollars on Gov. Beshear's junkets overseas would be nice. Putting Kentucky in position to benefit from the disastrous tax policies of another state would really be great.
Of course, we need to look out for our own disastrous policies, not the least of which is the public employee benefits mess we still need to clean up.
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Coveting North Carolina's partisan rancor
North Carolina has a Democratic governor and Democratic majorities in its House and Senate.
And unlike Kentucky, it has Republicans in both chambers who are speaking out about the level of debt they are slathering on future generations of taxpayers because of profligate spending.
What's really interesting is that, since North Carolina is more than twice Kentucky's size, the amount of debt they are balking at is much smaller than that which sailed through Kentucky's legislature.
And unlike Kentucky, it has Republicans in both chambers who are speaking out about the level of debt they are slathering on future generations of taxpayers because of profligate spending.
What's really interesting is that, since North Carolina is more than twice Kentucky's size, the amount of debt they are balking at is much smaller than that which sailed through Kentucky's legislature.
Is the state lottery era almost over?
Anyone who made it past third grade math understands that buying a state lottery ticket is little more than a quick way to pay taxes.
So it is more than a little funny to see a university business professor in Virginia get upset enough to sue his state after learning that he was buying tickets with absolutely no chance of a big payoff.
Kentucky's Senate picked up on the idea to stop advertising the lottery to save money. While House Dems would have little of it, the idea is too good not to come back.
As ridiculous as it is to expect Kentuckians to go to the store and buy a lottery ticket because they saw a tv advertisement, it is foolish to expect lottery revenues to keep fueling our big spenders forever.
Probably not a bad idea to assume the Virginia lawsuit marks the beginning of the end for state lotteries.
Either way though, we should seriously reconsider placing so much confidence in such a bad bet. Wouldn't it be better to eliminate business taxes and watch the economic growth expand opportunity in the state?
So it is more than a little funny to see a university business professor in Virginia get upset enough to sue his state after learning that he was buying tickets with absolutely no chance of a big payoff.
Kentucky's Senate picked up on the idea to stop advertising the lottery to save money. While House Dems would have little of it, the idea is too good not to come back.
As ridiculous as it is to expect Kentuckians to go to the store and buy a lottery ticket because they saw a tv advertisement, it is foolish to expect lottery revenues to keep fueling our big spenders forever.
Probably not a bad idea to assume the Virginia lawsuit marks the beginning of the end for state lotteries.
Either way though, we should seriously reconsider placing so much confidence in such a bad bet. Wouldn't it be better to eliminate business taxes and watch the economic growth expand opportunity in the state?
How about another price fixing scheme?
From the same people who caused your food prices to explode while trying to lower your gasoline prices, we now have expressions of concern about college education costs.
Last year's big idea from the General Assembly was freezing tuition increases.
“Something's got to happen,” said Richard A. Crofts, the interim president of the state Council on Postsecondary Education.
“It can't continue, and we're going to have to develop a plan,” he said.
Last year's big idea from the General Assembly was freezing tuition increases.
Monday, July 07, 2008
Big week coming up for Fayette jail defendants
Attorneys for the five indicted Fayette jail employees in the inmate abuse scandal will be back in US District Court Friday trying to get their hands on the evidence against their clients.
Federal prosecutors are fighting the effort.
Before that battle, though, intense speculation surrounds a Wednesday morning hearing in the same courtroom for three "sealed defendants." If those defendants turn out to be Fayette jail employees who have agreed to testify against the five indictees, this story will quickly become very difficult to ignore.
Same goes for this story.
Federal prosecutors are fighting the effort.
Before that battle, though, intense speculation surrounds a Wednesday morning hearing in the same courtroom for three "sealed defendants." If those defendants turn out to be Fayette jail employees who have agreed to testify against the five indictees, this story will quickly become very difficult to ignore.
Same goes for this story.
Doing something about gas prices
A new bill pre-filed today will allow people to drive electric cars on some Kentucky roads.
If you go to KentuckyVotes.org and sign up for daily updates, you will get information about all the new bills as they are filed.
If you go to KentuckyVotes.org and sign up for daily updates, you will get information about all the new bills as they are filed.
Big government rally in Edgewood
Smoking ban fans will have a party to discuss infringing on private property rights Wednesday at 6pm.
Still spending too much in Kentucky
Kentucky's end of the year revenue figures due out later this week are expected to show cash inflows have continued upward, outpaced only by government spending.
As politicians continue to promote higher taxes to make up the "revenue shortfall," debt for taxpayers keeps going up.
It is amazing that when bureaucrats talk about running government like a business they mean they want to grow it. But when it comes to paying for it, your business -- and not theirs -- it what they focus on.
As politicians continue to promote higher taxes to make up the "revenue shortfall," debt for taxpayers keeps going up.
It is amazing that when bureaucrats talk about running government like a business they mean they want to grow it. But when it comes to paying for it, your business -- and not theirs -- it what they focus on.
Saturday, July 05, 2008
WLEX spiked damaging Newberry, Isaac story
Lexington's NBC television affiliate WLEX-18 is sitting on a story about Mayor Jim Newberry and former Mayor Teresa Isaac repeatedly attacking whistleblower Cpl. John Vest since Vest disclosed in 2006 he had assisted a federal investigation of inmate abuse while serving as an employee of the Fayette County Detention Center.
In sworn testimony, Newberry admitted speaking to Vest on multiple occasions about problems at the jail, doing nothing about the jail situation for almost a year and a half into his administration, and signing an order to fire Vest. Isaac made inflammatory comments about Vest after the FBI raided FCDC in the fall of 2006 and sparked renewed abuse of inmates when she was quoted in the Lexington Herald Leader saying "I've reviewed the same records they've reviewed, there's absolutely nothing in there that would amount to a civil rights violation and I've been a civil rights attorney for 25 years so I think I would know."
Isaac later admitted under oath that she hadn't actually seen the same records as federal investigators.
A federal grand jury in Covington indicted five FCDC officers on June 12 for excessive use of force against inmates and for conspiring to cover up their actions. Vest is suing the city of Lexington as well as Isaac and Newberry for the government's treatment of him in the scandal.
In sworn testimony, Newberry admitted speaking to Vest on multiple occasions about problems at the jail, doing nothing about the jail situation for almost a year and a half into his administration, and signing an order to fire Vest. Isaac made inflammatory comments about Vest after the FBI raided FCDC in the fall of 2006 and sparked renewed abuse of inmates when she was quoted in the Lexington Herald Leader saying "I've reviewed the same records they've reviewed, there's absolutely nothing in there that would amount to a civil rights violation and I've been a civil rights attorney for 25 years so I think I would know."
Isaac later admitted under oath that she hadn't actually seen the same records as federal investigators.
A federal grand jury in Covington indicted five FCDC officers on June 12 for excessive use of force against inmates and for conspiring to cover up their actions. Vest is suing the city of Lexington as well as Isaac and Newberry for the government's treatment of him in the scandal.
Let's prove David Williams right on this one
State and local officials in Kentucky are still claiming pension reform in the end of June special session will improve or even eliminate the $27 billion public employee benefits shortfall. Some also continue to insist that lawmakers "saved" local governments $56 million in HB 1.
Senate President David Williams is leading the charge in Frankfort for much more significant changes and insists the people will rise up and demand necessary action from the legislature before it is too late.
Sure hope so.
Senate President David Williams is leading the charge in Frankfort for much more significant changes and insists the people will rise up and demand necessary action from the legislature before it is too late.
Sure hope so.
Friday, July 04, 2008
Stu Silberman, school choice poster boy
With all the talk in Frankfort the last few years about making school districts set up policies to deal with bullying (a bullying bill was finally signed into law this year after several failed attempts), it is amazing that Fayette County Schools is still asleep at the wheel.
From the Lexington Herald Leader:
The key part is the school's refusal to move the daughter out of harm's way despite multiple requests. When taxpayers can take the public money dedicated to each child's education and move that child elsewhere in pursuit of better results, the system will cease to function primarily for the benefit of the bureaucrats who run the system.
From the Lexington Herald Leader:
The key part is the school's refusal to move the daughter out of harm's way despite multiple requests. When taxpayers can take the public money dedicated to each child's education and move that child elsewhere in pursuit of better results, the system will cease to function primarily for the benefit of the bureaucrats who run the system.
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Out with the old, in with the really old
Here goes Gov. Steve Beshear with another one of his bold leadership things.
I'm sure getting rid of Congressman Ed Whitfield's wife will make everything all better in Kentucky's horse racing industry.
"Governor Beshear has abolished the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority, forming a new board called the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. The new commission contains many of the same members as the Horse Racing Authority though Beshear replaced Authority vice-chair Connie Whitfield with his chief backer and campaign fundraiser Tracy Farmer."
I'm sure getting rid of Congressman Ed Whitfield's wife will make everything all better in Kentucky's horse racing industry.
Steve needs a hurricane
Gov. Steve Beshear rages about gas prices in Louisville, but what he really needs is a hurricane.
Hurricane Katrina allowed Gov. Ernie Fletcher to declare a state of emergency in Kentucky in 2005, which triggered our 2004 price gouging law, enabling Attorney General Greg Stumbo to sue Marathon Oil for price gouging. That law was ridiculous, which inspired the General Assembly to make it somewhat less ridiculous.
The current standard for price gounging in Kentucky involves a state of emergency and prices that are "grossly excessive." The law does not define that term.
We might need a new law that is more clear. What we will probably get is a new law that allows the government to crush any business when the Governor's approval rating slide is found to be "grossly excessive."
Hurricane Katrina allowed Gov. Ernie Fletcher to declare a state of emergency in Kentucky in 2005, which triggered our 2004 price gouging law, enabling Attorney General Greg Stumbo to sue Marathon Oil for price gouging. That law was ridiculous, which inspired the General Assembly to make it somewhat less ridiculous.
The current standard for price gounging in Kentucky involves a state of emergency and prices that are "grossly excessive." The law does not define that term.
We might need a new law that is more clear. What we will probably get is a new law that allows the government to crush any business when the Governor's approval rating slide is found to be "grossly excessive."
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Louisville gas prices making Beshear sick
My YouTube account is more than ready for Gov. Steve Beshear to have his Jimmy Swaggart moment over gas prices in Louisville.
LFUCG doesn't want you to read this
Fayette jail whistleblower Cpl. John Vest said the following under oath in his multi-million dollar civil suit against the city of Lexington (LFUCG):
"I did my job really, really good and one of these days you'll find out how well I did my job. I upheld the oath that I took in the military to protect and defend the constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. I uphold the oath that Fayette County gave me when they commissioned me as a peace officer, a sworn officer. I took that oath. I upheld it. I risked myself greatly."
"And I want to tell you something, ma'am. Every day that I went to work undercover, I was scared to death, every day, and I watched things that still affect me to today."
"No pay; you're shunned by your government that you're working for; you're protecting the Constitution, but the government you're working for doesn't want to support you even though they could, and they want to do anything they can to slander you or put you down. They want to deny that I received any training whatsoever from LFUCG when I'm still a sworn officer."
"And ma'am, I am still a sworn officer today as far as I'm stil an employee. They haven't fired me. And if I had done anything wrong, I would have been gone a long time ago. And the FBI just doesn't walk into facilities like that and take a U-Haul truckload of stuff out. And it just doesn't take the FBI three nights to look at all that evidence. And it didn't take -- it didn't take me being a dishonest peace officer or being -- or not being credible to get a federal judge in Washington D.C. to sign a sealed search warrant to where they can walk in that facility and escort your director to master control and tell him, you open these doors and we are taking this stuff. That didn't happen because I was not credible, and that didn't happen because they didn't have evidence that supported a sealed search warrant, ma'am, and that search warrant's still sealed."
"You haven't even read that search warrant, have you, ma'am? It's not open. I was credible. I still am credible."
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Seven billion dollars buys a lot of misery
The state of Kentucky started the new fiscal year Tuesday with $7,016,000,000 in bonded debt. As a percentage of our economy, that's more than every other state in the nation except Massachusetts and New York.
When lawmakers try again to pull money out of our economy for tax increases or borrow even more to spend, think how much better off we would be without the roughly $350 million a year in debt service we already have.
When lawmakers try again to pull money out of our economy for tax increases or borrow even more to spend, think how much better off we would be without the roughly $350 million a year in debt service we already have.
Happy 401-k Day!
Now that we have finished the worst June for stock market investors since June 1930, today is exactly the wrong time to be getting down on the stock market.
For a little perspective, the Dow is currently trading near 11,200. In May 1930, the Dow closed at 275.07. It finished June 1930 at 226.34. A significant drop, yes. But the end of the world?
No. In fact, If I were a state or local employee trying to figure out if I wanted to lock myself in to hoping bureaucrats and politicians were going to work things out for my retirement, I would be following Rep. Bob Damron's advice and start demanding a defined contribution retirement plan.
For a little perspective, the Dow is currently trading near 11,200. In May 1930, the Dow closed at 275.07. It finished June 1930 at 226.34. A significant drop, yes. But the end of the world?
No. In fact, If I were a state or local employee trying to figure out if I wanted to lock myself in to hoping bureaucrats and politicians were going to work things out for my retirement, I would be following Rep. Bob Damron's advice and start demanding a defined contribution retirement plan.
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