Score One For Mitch McConnell

Senate Democrats had no choice but to go along with the Republican plan to cut the Alternative Minimum Tax without keeping their campaign promise to match tax cuts with revenue neutral tax increases.

Think the mortgage bailout won't affect you?

Think again.

The General Assembly Is Coming!

Monday morning I will be on the Jack Pattie Show in Lexington at 9:00 talking about bills coming up in Frankfort and the session that starts January 8.

You can listen on 590 AM or www.wvlkam.com and you can follow the legislative activity in Kentucky by going to KentuckyVotes.org.

Scrooged By Mayor Jim Newberry

Fayette County Detention Center whistleblower Cpl. John Vest helped spark an FBI raid on the Lexington jail over a year ago. For his trouble -- and despite Kentucky legal protections for whistleblowers -- Vest has been on unpaid leave all this time and has had to fight repeated efforts by the city to fire him. Officials continue to claim the ongoing Justice Department investigation is without merit.

Just learned tonight, though, Vest was granted vacation time for Thanksgiving. Could Mayor Newberry be changing his tune? It will be interesting to see what Newberry does at Christmas.

Shining Light On Kentucky Tax Dollars

A new bill just pre-filed in Frankfort might help open up the process to greater scrutiny, but the bill isn't perfect.

Terwort's Rope-A-Dope

Conservative candidate Will Terwort, running for the 63rd House seat formerly held by Education Commissioner Jon Draud, has started planning his first fundraiser for the primary election in May.

His Republican opponents are vying for a nomination from the Kenton County Republican Executive Committee, a spot in the special election, and a guarantee of being stuck in Frankfort while Terwort campaigns in the district.

"I'm taking my message directly to the people of the 63rd district," Terwort said.

Rudy Cuts Through Bluegrass

Johnathan Gay has up not one, but two, great posts about Rudy Giuliani.

Final Word On Chamber of Commerce Ed Report

You may have noticed several media stories on the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce higher education report.

Dick Innes of the Bluegrass Institute has a take you won't get from the mainstream media.

Covering Up For Jonathan Miller

No idea how long Kentucky's MSM has been sitting on this evidence of Finance Secretary-designate Jonathan Miller illegally using state resources for his personal business.

Jim Newberry Not The Efficiency Fairy

Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry's personnel policies in office haven't exactly inspired confidence.

Now we find out city employees signing up for benefits are spending an average of nearly three hours each online and with a representative doing an on-the-clock enrollment.

Remind me again why Lexington voters were so eager to get rid of Teresa Isaac.

Competition, Web Killing The Corporate Tax Man

The rationale for what we now call the Limited Liability Entity Tax was that some companies were shifting taxable revenue to lower-tax states.

The growth of internet shopping is doing the same thing, isn't it?

And then we spend economic development crediting back taxes to corporations to either come here or stay here and provide jobs to Kentuckians.

Now that Republicans and Democrats agree the LLET needs to go, shouldn't we consider phasing out our corporate income tax as well?

After all, even Massachusetts is considering ending taxes of corporations.

What's Wrong With Polwatchers, The Arena?

It has now been four days since the Lexington Herald Leader called on House Budget Chairman Harry Moberly (D-Richmond) to step down, given the clear conflict of interest in taking a high-level position with Eastern Kentucky University one week ago.

In fact, both major newspapers in the state -- neither of which has made a habit of asking Democrats to resign from anything -- have pointed out Moberly's conflict, but the political blogs of both papers have been completely silent on the controversy swirling around Moberly who, like his comrade Sen. Ed Worley (D-Richmond) always seems to have some kind of trouble with the law.

Cat got your tongue?

Bad Economics From KY Chamber of Commerce

With a tighter budget expected in Frankfort in January, it is imperative the discussion is based on reality. The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce higher education report released today isn't really a step in that direction.

A key part of the Chamber's proposal is the Kentucky 21st Century Scholars Program.

Are We Denying Liberties Or Saving Money?

The Kentucky Club for Growth is butting heads with the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce over the Chamber's support for a statewide smoking ban and boost to the cigarette tax.

"The Kentucky Club for Growth is amazed that with all of the (public) education bureaucrats that have infiltrated the chamber, not one of them is teaching basic economics to its leadership," the Club said in a statement.

"The Club for Growth said if the "goal of the chamber to reduce smoking is to reduce health care costs, at what point does the chamber start lobbying for a fast-food and doughnut tax?"

If what we are really concerned with is saving public health dollars, why not just cut people off of state welfare benefits unless they can test negative for nicotine?

Carroll Hunting For Successor

Senator Julian Carroll is looking for a candidate to run for his seat in 2008 so he can spend more time with his family.

Voting Noe

Someone is going to replace Lieutenant Governor-elect Dan Mongiardo in the state Senate in a January special election. Democratic candidate Roger Noe seems to be off to a bad start trying to position himself in the eastern Kentucky district.

Pretty funny to watch.

Begging The Question: What Is A Right-Wing Extremist In Education?

When Education Commissioner Jon Draud was asked if he is a right-wing extremist "when it comes to education," he said that he has always supported public education, so he isn't one.

Here is audio of the quote.

I guess what we need is a definition of an education "right-wing extremist" so we can be on the lookout should one happen to come along.

Kenton County Candidate Conundrum

The 63rd House district special election will almost certainly be won by the Republican nominee. The Kenton county GOP executive committee gets to pick the nominee.

And they have been given their marching orders from what's left of the establishment in Frankfort.

But Will Terwort will be the fiscal conservative in the primary in May when the voters get to decide. RPK should stay out of this.

Here Come The Thompsons

Fred Thompson's wife, Jeri, will be in Louisville on Tuesday for a private get-together with supporters.

Are Polwatchers Boycotting Their Boss?

A full 24 hours after the Lexington Herald Leader joined Kentucky Progress and the Louisville Courier Journal in asking Budget Chairman Harry Moberly to rectify his conflict of interest by resigning, there is not one single word about it on the paper's political blog.

What's up guys, boycotting your own paper?

Here is an exerpt from Friday's Herald Leader:

Ethical government, it bears repeating, involves not just avoiding conflicts of interest but also avoiding their appearance or the potential for them.

For that reason, state Rep. Harry Moberly, D-Richmond, should give up his powerful legislative chairmanship if he continues serving as the top financial administrator at Eastern Kentucky University...
Moberly also should decide where his first loyalty lies and act accordingly.

This is a terrific opportunity for Kentucky's independent blogosphere to assert itself and give fellow Kentuckians reason to follow our lead, don't you agree?