Kentucky's Senate Republican caucus has agreed to approve all of Governor Steve Beshear's executive branch appointments this year in exchange for nothing, President Robert Stivers' office has confirmed.
This will not do. Kentucky conservatives have a great opportunity to fight back against this cave-in mentality and exposing Frankfort's ridiculous "new tone" nonsense, which is political speak for giving up the farm.
Of fifty one confirmation resolutions filed in the Senate so far, fifty of them are sponsored by members of the Senate Republican caucus. The one exception is Kentucky's point person for ObamaCare, Insurance Commissioner Sharon Clark. Republicans are understandably squeamish about publicly sponsoring re-confirmation of the bureaucrat behind Kentucky's illegally formed and funded ObamaCare scheme, but the fix is in for approval of Commissioner Clark in the late days of the session in hopes sexier issues will distract attention from this outrage.
Senate Republicans have made a deal with Beshear to the detriment of all Kentuckians just to play to the media theme of them being nice guys. Please call your Senator and demand that he or she publicly refuse to support confirmation of the person who has set us up for the massive federal takeover of our healthcare system.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Perjury for fun and profit in Lexington
Fayette County Prosecutor Charles "Sam" Finley apparently thought he was being cute in his court battle against a Lexington small business and it may get him in hot water.
Finley filed an 11th hour motion yesterday to appeal a judge's order for Lexington police to return tens of thousands of dollars in improperly confiscated inventory to Botany Bay, 932 Winchester Rd. Lexington Police have blatantly ignored orders from Judge Kim Wilkie to return the inventory -- which video evidence seems to indicate they have destroyed.
In Finley's motion, he claimed Judge Wilkie did not allow prosecutors and police to give supporting evidence for holding on to Botany Bay's inventory, much of which was taken despite not being specified -- even generally -- on a search warrant served last August. His claim, it turns out, was false. Judge Wilkie made that point abundantly clear in court.
Wilkie's ten minute dressing down of Finley in court this morning was a sight to behold. How this young kid, a 2011 graduate of NKU law school, thought he would get away with it is unimaginable.
In Finley's motion, he claimed Judge Wilkie did not allow prosecutors and police to give supporting evidence for holding on to Botany Bay's inventory, much of which was taken despite not being specified -- even generally -- on a search warrant served last August. His claim, it turns out, was false. Judge Wilkie made that point abundantly clear in court.
Wilkie's ten minute dressing down of Finley in court this morning was a sight to behold. How this young kid, a 2011 graduate of NKU law school, thought he would get away with it is unimaginable.
Monday, February 11, 2013
Hemp unanimously passes Senate panel
The funniest thing about hemp opponents' drubbing in today's Senate Agriculture Committee was Democrats who voted in favor of the hemp bill telling anyone who would listen that Governor Steve Beshear called and told them to vote no.
Industrial hemp in Kentucky has bipartisan support and its opponents risk looking very silly if they keep fighting it. Should be a fun issue in the 2014 elections for those "drug warriors" so anxiously engaged in keeping Kentuckians from producing such a beneficial product.
Industrial hemp in Kentucky has bipartisan support and its opponents risk looking very silly if they keep fighting it. Should be a fun issue in the 2014 elections for those "drug warriors" so anxiously engaged in keeping Kentuckians from producing such a beneficial product.
Thursday, February 07, 2013
"Some people" are right, Senator
Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers got the state pension discussion off to a bad start when he told the Lane Report the General Assembly is not to blame for us having the worst funded fringe benefits in the nation.
"Some say the General Assembly caused the problem," Stivers told Ed Lane. He then explained that since he has been in leadership (2008), the legislature "has funded to the recommended or greater amount than the Kentucky Retirement System stipulated to the Senate as being the appropriate contribution -- each and every budget cycle."
Technically, Stivers' whole statement is true, but the only meaningful part is the bit about some people blaming legislators. The problem is not enough people are blaming legislators yet. Yes, since 2008 KRS has "stipulated to" the funding schedule passed in 2008 that requires legislators to fund an increasing portion of the the annual required contribution over 20 years, though the contribution never gets up to full funding until the twentieth year.
By then, it may be too late. The Senate's pension reform bill, SB 2, by the way, is basically another "too little, too late" effort that isn't terrible but also lacks the substance to end our pension crisis. Only better budgeting and more funding (and oversight) of KRS will do that now.
UPDATE: Just got an email from Sen. Stivers' office clarifying that he meant to say the legislature has funded to the level requested by the Governor (and not KRS). And that's fine, but it and all the talking in the world won't solve what actions would have taken care of a long time ago. The public can be engaged effectively on this issue, Senator Stivers, but we are missing the opportunity.
"Some say the General Assembly caused the problem," Stivers told Ed Lane. He then explained that since he has been in leadership (2008), the legislature "has funded to the recommended or greater amount than the Kentucky Retirement System stipulated to the Senate as being the appropriate contribution -- each and every budget cycle."
Technically, Stivers' whole statement is true, but the only meaningful part is the bit about some people blaming legislators. The problem is not enough people are blaming legislators yet. Yes, since 2008 KRS has "stipulated to" the funding schedule passed in 2008 that requires legislators to fund an increasing portion of the the annual required contribution over 20 years, though the contribution never gets up to full funding until the twentieth year.
By then, it may be too late. The Senate's pension reform bill, SB 2, by the way, is basically another "too little, too late" effort that isn't terrible but also lacks the substance to end our pension crisis. Only better budgeting and more funding (and oversight) of KRS will do that now.
UPDATE: Just got an email from Sen. Stivers' office clarifying that he meant to say the legislature has funded to the level requested by the Governor (and not KRS). And that's fine, but it and all the talking in the world won't solve what actions would have taken care of a long time ago. The public can be engaged effectively on this issue, Senator Stivers, but we are missing the opportunity.
Tuesday, February 05, 2013
Jim DeCesare, ObamaCare slayer
Kentucky Senator Julie Denton's anti-ObamaCare bills (SB 39 and SB 40) will have no trouble getting through the Senate, but Obamacrats in the House have promised a swift death to both of them in the House Health & Welfare Committee.A discharge petition requiring signatures of twenty five House members could force the bills past leadership and onto the House floor for a vote, where lots of Democrats would be afraid to vote against them. Bowling Green Rep. Jim DeCesare was the first to bring the issue up today.
"We would have to let the bills languish in a committee for a little while, but then we could do (a discharge petition)," DeCesare said.
Please call the legislature at 502-564-8100 and thank Rep. DeCesare for his leadership on killing ObamaCare in Kentucky. He will then need 24 friends in the House to step forward. Any volunteers?
Monday, February 04, 2013
Kentucky spending orgy
Kentucky's Health Benefit Exchange has finally coughed up the Budget Narrative from their monster $182 million ObamaCare grant application that came through for them on January 17. In it, they describe the titles, duties and cost of 119 employees for the web site purportedly designed to make it easier for us to buy health insurance.
The average annual pay plus benefits for 119 employees comes out to $122,650. Nothing else these people have pulled could possibly better frame this issue for handling it correctly. It is past time to shut down ObamaCare in Kentucky. Please contact your representatives, local media and everyone you know and tell them about this so we can finish the job once and for all.
If you like getting information like this first, please consider clicking here and making a contribution to keep the effort going. Thanks for all you do.
The average annual pay plus benefits for 119 employees comes out to $122,650. Nothing else these people have pulled could possibly better frame this issue for handling it correctly. It is past time to shut down ObamaCare in Kentucky. Please contact your representatives, local media and everyone you know and tell them about this so we can finish the job once and for all.
If you like getting information like this first, please consider clicking here and making a contribution to keep the effort going. Thanks for all you do.
Romney staffer still pimping ObamaCare
If Mitt Romney had been elected President, his chief of staff would have been former Utah Governor Michael Leavitt. Governor Leavitt has been a chief proponent of ObamaCare.
Late last week, Leavitt posted on his blog another sales pitch for state-run health benefit exchanges, complete with seriously questionable economic assumptions and ignoring the key fact that states who want out of ObamaCare need to decline to run their own exchange in order to avoid federal tax penalties.
The advisory board of Kentucky's health benefit exchange meets again on February 28, 2013 at 1:30 at 12 Mill Creek Park, Frankfort. Please make plans to attend if you can and bring friends to draw more attention to what these people are trying to spring on us. Attendees at previous meetings have found them to be a very eye-opening experience.
Late last week, Leavitt posted on his blog another sales pitch for state-run health benefit exchanges, complete with seriously questionable economic assumptions and ignoring the key fact that states who want out of ObamaCare need to decline to run their own exchange in order to avoid federal tax penalties.
The advisory board of Kentucky's health benefit exchange meets again on February 28, 2013 at 1:30 at 12 Mill Creek Park, Frankfort. Please make plans to attend if you can and bring friends to draw more attention to what these people are trying to spring on us. Attendees at previous meetings have found them to be a very eye-opening experience.
Sunday, February 03, 2013
A better "drugs" solution
I will be speaking at a rally in favor of medicinal marijuana on Wednesday at 1pm ET at the state capitol on Wednesday. We will be in room 149 in the capitol annex if we can all fit in there.
Please spread the word.
Please spread the word.
Saturday, February 02, 2013
Frankfort's jig is up
Among the things I have been yelling about for years is the fake balanced budgets state government keeps patting itself on the back about and the pretense to revenue shortfalls. Sadly, state media members have been more loyal to politicians than to their readers or the truth on this front.
A small sign this may soon change came in the form of a front page article in Saturday's Lexington Herald Leader headlined "Kentucky's financial outlook lowered to 'negative' because of pension woes."
Deep in the article was a quote from Moody's, a ratings agency who isn't as susceptible to political spin.
Republicans and Democrats alike tell their constituents how hard they work each year to "balance the budget." It's baloney. Spread the word, please.
A small sign this may soon change came in the form of a front page article in Saturday's Lexington Herald Leader headlined "Kentucky's financial outlook lowered to 'negative' because of pension woes."
Deep in the article was a quote from Moody's, a ratings agency who isn't as susceptible to political spin.
"Kentucky's credit outlook is negative. While revenue growth has improved, the commonwealth's sizable budget deficits over the past few years led to a depletion of reserve balances and borrowing for budget relief."
Republicans and Democrats alike tell their constituents how hard they work each year to "balance the budget." It's baloney. Spread the word, please.
Friday, February 01, 2013
On WLAP 630 AM Lexington today
I will be a guest on the Matt Walsh Show with substitute host Tom Dupree today at 4:30 pm. We will be talking about a unique constitutional protection available to Kentuckians that we would do well to pay more attention to and that other states would do well to emulate.
You can listen by clicking here.
You can listen by clicking here.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Mitch McConnell leans toward right on drugs
Mitch McConnell today said he supports Kentucky hemp. Good.
I'm glad to see Senator McConnell moving to the right with his statement on hemp, though he continues to cling to the big government view that if we just spend a few billion dollars more on 'drug eradication' that people will suddenly stop taking drugs.
I'm glad to see Senator McConnell moving to the right with his statement on hemp, though he continues to cling to the big government view that if we just spend a few billion dollars more on 'drug eradication' that people will suddenly stop taking drugs.
Not so fast, Sheriff
The Kentucky Sheriffs Association has clearly misunderstood the nature of their constituents' concern about federal threats to Kentuckians' gun rights.
Don't believe me? Call KSA Executive Director Jerry Wagner at 606-782-0592 and ask him if his statement from Tuesday means that all Kentucky Sheriffs are prepared to refuse federal orders limiting our self-defense rights guaranteed by the 2nd Amendment.
As a group, they aren't.
We need a stronger, more precise statement from our Sheriffs than the one they made on Tuesday, when they stated support for the Constitutions of the Commonwealth and the United States. They are crazy if they think we are just going to let this go.
Don't believe me? Call KSA Executive Director Jerry Wagner at 606-782-0592 and ask him if his statement from Tuesday means that all Kentucky Sheriffs are prepared to refuse federal orders limiting our self-defense rights guaranteed by the 2nd Amendment.
As a group, they aren't.
We need a stronger, more precise statement from our Sheriffs than the one they made on Tuesday, when they stated support for the Constitutions of the Commonwealth and the United States. They are crazy if they think we are just going to let this go.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Lexington Police paint city into a corner
Fayette District Court Judge Kim Wilkie ordered Lexington Police for a second time to return confiscated inventory to a small Lexington business this morning.
Police raided Botany Bay last August with a search warrant seeking illegal drugs. Finding none, they then proceeded to pull two truckloads of miscellaneous items out of the store -- many of which were outside the scope of the search warrant.
Police video of the raid clearly depicts officers destroying a substantial amount of Botany Bay's property. These same items are now supposed to be returned to Botany Bay in the same condition in which they were taken.
Before Lexington citizens are asked to reimburse Botany Bay for the results of this latest adventure in law enforcement, they should seek serious answers from city politicians.
Police raided Botany Bay last August with a search warrant seeking illegal drugs. Finding none, they then proceeded to pull two truckloads of miscellaneous items out of the store -- many of which were outside the scope of the search warrant.
Police video of the raid clearly depicts officers destroying a substantial amount of Botany Bay's property. These same items are now supposed to be returned to Botany Bay in the same condition in which they were taken.
Before Lexington citizens are asked to reimburse Botany Bay for the results of this latest adventure in law enforcement, they should seek serious answers from city politicians.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
KY Sheriffs unanimously support Constitution
Members of the Kentucky Sheriffs' Association voted unanimously today to support the Constitutions of the United States and the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
Citizens across Kentucky have been calling county law enforcement offices seeking clarification of sheriffs' positions on gun rights in the face of recent federal rhetoric about confiscating private weapons.
"A lot of people have been calling and we just wanted to clarify that we do support the Constitutions our members have sworn to uphold," Jerry Wagner, Kentucky Sheriff Association Executive Director.
This comes less than three weeks after Jackson County Sheriff Denny Peyman created a national firestorm by proclaiming that he would defy federal efforts to violate citizens' Second Amendment rights.
*** For an important update to this post, please click here.
Citizens across Kentucky have been calling county law enforcement offices seeking clarification of sheriffs' positions on gun rights in the face of recent federal rhetoric about confiscating private weapons.
"A lot of people have been calling and we just wanted to clarify that we do support the Constitutions our members have sworn to uphold," Jerry Wagner, Kentucky Sheriff Association Executive Director.
This comes less than three weeks after Jackson County Sheriff Denny Peyman created a national firestorm by proclaiming that he would defy federal efforts to violate citizens' Second Amendment rights.
*** For an important update to this post, please click here.
My remarks to Jessamine Co. School Board
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak tonight. I have been an engaged, sometimes critical, but ultimately very satisfied parent customer of Jessamine County Public Schools continuously since 1995. I have about six years left with my youngest child here and we appreciate you giving me a couple of minutes of your time.
I'm here to address an issue that has become rather incendiary in recent weeks due to national events. That issue is child safety in our schools. As you know, Jessamine County Schools' policy matches state law in effectively banning possession of firearms on school property. What you may not know is that state law also allows district school boards to change their policies to allow parents and teachers to carry weapons inside the walls of our school buildings.
I'm here to request that you make that change. There is a reason that mass shootings usually occur only in gun free zones. That's because people with ill intent are not concerned about state laws those of us who are trying to be law-abiding citizens choose to observe.
I expect there will be a process of persuasion required to widely gain a better understanding of this subject before we see action. Opponents are already making their voices heard in opposition to re-thinking this issue. They come up with all kinds of nightmare scenarios they say would result from taking this step to better protect our children. The President of the United States has already weighed in against it. But the truth is we could take all kinds of precautions to both pro-actively protect our children and to prevent accidents. We could expand policy to perhaps include only concealed carry permit holders, who undergo substantial gun safety training. We have been fortunate in Jessamine County to have had no school shootings. In all likelihood, expanding policy in this way will result in the number of school shootings -- currently zero -- staying at zero here. Allowing us to carry guns in the schools will serve merely as a deterrent to would-be attackers.
The difference between current policy and this proposed change is that we will stop a dangerous gun ban that stops only those who would protect our children. I hope to encourage school districts across the state to expand policy in this way to better protect our children to send a message not only to attackers here but to set an example on child safety for the nation. It would be nice to see my home district lead the way. I will follow up with board members here and ask that you carefully consider the safety needs of our children in your decision-making. Thank you.
I'm here to address an issue that has become rather incendiary in recent weeks due to national events. That issue is child safety in our schools. As you know, Jessamine County Schools' policy matches state law in effectively banning possession of firearms on school property. What you may not know is that state law also allows district school boards to change their policies to allow parents and teachers to carry weapons inside the walls of our school buildings.
I'm here to request that you make that change. There is a reason that mass shootings usually occur only in gun free zones. That's because people with ill intent are not concerned about state laws those of us who are trying to be law-abiding citizens choose to observe.
I expect there will be a process of persuasion required to widely gain a better understanding of this subject before we see action. Opponents are already making their voices heard in opposition to re-thinking this issue. They come up with all kinds of nightmare scenarios they say would result from taking this step to better protect our children. The President of the United States has already weighed in against it. But the truth is we could take all kinds of precautions to both pro-actively protect our children and to prevent accidents. We could expand policy to perhaps include only concealed carry permit holders, who undergo substantial gun safety training. We have been fortunate in Jessamine County to have had no school shootings. In all likelihood, expanding policy in this way will result in the number of school shootings -- currently zero -- staying at zero here. Allowing us to carry guns in the schools will serve merely as a deterrent to would-be attackers.
The difference between current policy and this proposed change is that we will stop a dangerous gun ban that stops only those who would protect our children. I hope to encourage school districts across the state to expand policy in this way to better protect our children to send a message not only to attackers here but to set an example on child safety for the nation. It would be nice to see my home district lead the way. I will follow up with board members here and ask that you carefully consider the safety needs of our children in your decision-making. Thank you.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Please join Kentucky Safer Schools Project
It's right there in Kentucky's law books. KRS 527.070(3)(f) states local school boards can decide who is allowed to carry firearms in our schools. This section lists exemptions to state law prohibiting possession of weapons on school property. It states anyone "authorized to carry a firearm by the board of education or board of trustees of the public or private institution" may do so.
Please contact your local board of education and find out what their policy is on authorizing staff members and parents to carry firearms on campus. Respond to this post with what you find out and we will put together a list to get to work on ensuring that parents and staff members have the ability to protect children from attackers who manage to get inside our schools anywhere in Kentucky.
Please contact your local board of education and find out what their policy is on authorizing staff members and parents to carry firearms on campus. Respond to this post with what you find out and we will put together a list to get to work on ensuring that parents and staff members have the ability to protect children from attackers who manage to get inside our schools anywhere in Kentucky.
Friday, January 25, 2013
#BillClintonDefault
U.S. House Republicans' effort to "resequence" the federal debt discussion needs a little help.
I get the logic of Speaker Boehner's "no budget, no pay" bill with the creation of a debt ceiling date set to May 18 so someone other than Obama knows when default occurs. Rep. Andy Barr, my Congressman, voted for the measure on Wednesday. I appreciate his logic and the idea that the bill creates some chance for a positive outcome to this standoff rather than no chance. If the bill becomes law -- and it might -- there is at least some reason to hope spending might be curtailed in the ensuing battle.
But I agree with Rep. Thomas Massie's "no" vote. We all feel like we have been here before because we have been.
The current strategy is missing something and I think Republicans would do well to turn all their firepower on it for a while. That something is former President Bill Clinton.
Congressional Republicans have spent the last decade missing a great opportunity they can no longer afford to miss. They must destroy once and for all the fiscal accounting gimmick-driven myth of the Clinton budget surplus.
The truth is that proper accounting for intragovernmental transfers -- in this case, squandered Social Security surplus funds -- completely eliminates any so-called Clinton surplus.
Republicans have wasted the last decade trying to give Newt Gingrich credit for the "Clinton surplus." That must end now.
The effort to resequence the fiscal debate will be made much easier and more potent if we first resequence Bill Clinton. Democrats won't know what to do with this line of attack when it is launched and the disarray that will follow if we stick with it long enough will set the stage for reality-based budgeting, a desperately needed change in focus.
I get the logic of Speaker Boehner's "no budget, no pay" bill with the creation of a debt ceiling date set to May 18 so someone other than Obama knows when default occurs. Rep. Andy Barr, my Congressman, voted for the measure on Wednesday. I appreciate his logic and the idea that the bill creates some chance for a positive outcome to this standoff rather than no chance. If the bill becomes law -- and it might -- there is at least some reason to hope spending might be curtailed in the ensuing battle.
But I agree with Rep. Thomas Massie's "no" vote. We all feel like we have been here before because we have been.
The current strategy is missing something and I think Republicans would do well to turn all their firepower on it for a while. That something is former President Bill Clinton.
Congressional Republicans have spent the last decade missing a great opportunity they can no longer afford to miss. They must destroy once and for all the fiscal accounting gimmick-driven myth of the Clinton budget surplus.
The truth is that proper accounting for intragovernmental transfers -- in this case, squandered Social Security surplus funds -- completely eliminates any so-called Clinton surplus.
Republicans have wasted the last decade trying to give Newt Gingrich credit for the "Clinton surplus." That must end now.
The effort to resequence the fiscal debate will be made much easier and more potent if we first resequence Bill Clinton. Democrats won't know what to do with this line of attack when it is launched and the disarray that will follow if we stick with it long enough will set the stage for reality-based budgeting, a desperately needed change in focus.
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Tea Party press release
Tea Party leaders from around Kentucky will hold a brief press conference today following the meeting of the advisory board of the Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange at 12 Mill Creek Park in Frankfort. The meeting begins at 1:30 pm.
The KHBE has improperly taken upon itself taxing authority without the permission of the General Assembly. Senate Bill 40 would allow the people to have their say in the creation of this expensive new bureaucracy and we must be allowed to have that say.
The secrecy and incompetence exhibited by the federal government and certain elements within state government to illegitimately force Kentucky into spending untold millions of dollars purportedly for a web site deserves better answers than we are getting. That changes starting today.
David Adams
859-537-5372
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Lexington, KY police smacked by Constitution
Exactly five months after Lexington, KY police stormed a local business, a judge has ordered them to return tens of thousands of dollars in merchandise and cash they improperly took.
Back on August 16, 2012, Botany Bay on Winchester Rd in Lexington was invaded by several Lexington police wrecking personal property and issuing threats to put the local company out of business.
Today, Fayette District Judge Kim Wilkie ordered police to return all of Botany Bay's property, much of which witnesses saw officers destroy in August. The return is to be completed in two weeks. Most of the confiscated items were not listed on a served search warrant supposedly intended to capture illegal drugs. Police falsely told media at the time that they took illegal drugs from Botany Bay.
Judge Wilkie scheduled a February 19 hearing on the constitutionality of the new Kentucky law under which police attempted to prosecute Botany Bay. That new law was passed in 2012 by the General Assembly under the title House Bill 481.
Back on August 16, 2012, Botany Bay on Winchester Rd in Lexington was invaded by several Lexington police wrecking personal property and issuing threats to put the local company out of business.
Today, Fayette District Judge Kim Wilkie ordered police to return all of Botany Bay's property, much of which witnesses saw officers destroy in August. The return is to be completed in two weeks. Most of the confiscated items were not listed on a served search warrant supposedly intended to capture illegal drugs. Police falsely told media at the time that they took illegal drugs from Botany Bay.
Judge Wilkie scheduled a February 19 hearing on the constitutionality of the new Kentucky law under which police attempted to prosecute Botany Bay. That new law was passed in 2012 by the General Assembly under the title House Bill 481.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Hazard "gun free zone" shooting tonight
Two people are dead and another injured in a shooting tonight on the campus of Hazard (KY) Community and Technical College. The eastern Kentucky school has a policy prohibiting firearms.
This comes about as President Barack Obama plans to take to the airwaves tomorrow morning to announce plans for tighter gun control in America.
Plans for multiple Second Amendment rallies are underway to counteract federal gun grabbing schemes.
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