Steve Beshear Is No Scab

It is as if the legislators in Frankfort are on strike and Steve Beshear is no scab.

The Lexington Herald Leader reports:

Beshear says his aides are still trying to nail down details of the casino plan and the retirement system reform and that his time is consumed by crafting a budget proposal.

The delay in the unveiling of those policies is practical -- not a political stalling tactic to make it past the candidate filing deadline, Beshear insists.

"It's not geared to the filing deadline, it's simply geared to the fact that right now we're in the middle of putting this budget together," he said. "That's our top priority, obviously, because I've got to do that by the 29th and we're working on these other things at the same time. It's just a product of the time that we've got."

That's bunk. Everyone on Team Beshear has had a pretty good idea details of the casino plan and problems with the retirement plan and crafting a budget proposal were going to be issues for them to work on since last May.

The Governor Steve Beshear-as-slacker routine has everything to do with the January 29 filing deadline.

Giuliani Panders In Florida

As if one Republican presidential candidate with a bad insurance plan weren't enough, Rudy weighs in.

Sing, Sing A Song, Sing Out Loud, Sing Out Strong

Former Lexington Mayor Teresa Isaac will be deposed regarding her role in the Fayette County Detention Center scandal on Friday, January 25 at 9:30 am.

Mayor Jim Newberry is up Tuesday, February 8.

Fayette Jail Scandal Hits The Radio On Monday

Busy Monday morning coming up for me. I will be on the Jack Pattie Show on 590 AM WVLK in Lexington at 9:00 talking about the legislature and Leland Conway's show on 630 AM at 11 AM talking about the scandal at the Fayette County Detention Center.

Anyone with a story to tell about the problems at the jail should email me at kyprogress@yahoo.com.

City of Lexington Buying Bogus Diplomas

I'm doing some research into the "consulting" business Ray Sabbatine and Donald Leach are running out of the Fayette County Detention Center and the taxpayer money they are using to line their own pockets.

Accidentally came across one little goody: Lexington taxpayers paid for Leach's fake doctoral degree.

Big House Democrat Tax Increase Bill

The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce send out an email yesterday afternoon claiming Rep. Harry Moberly's HB 302 would increase taxes by up to $200 million a year.

That may be a good guess, but if you look at the bill it isn't hard to imagine it's impact might be much more severe. The bill punishes companies who do business in other states for doing business in Kentucky. Nice plan, Chairman Moberly.

Harry Moberly is one great big reason I won't be sending any of my kids to Eastern Kentucky University.

You Can't Block This

The city of Lexington has ended their feeble attempt to block this blog on city computers.

It is starting to dawn on the folks at 200 East Main Street that the Justice Department investigation and the class action and civil lawsuits aren't just going to go away.

Can't imagine why anyone in the Mayor's office would think they could finesse all this stuff as easily as they can scam the Lexington Herald Leader.

Just ask Ron Bishop, Don Leach, and the boys and girls at the Fayette County Detention Center. They are a little further along the learning curve.

Stroke Of Genius Meets Good Public Policy

Senate President David Williams has filed a bill to move the candidate filing deadline forward to April. This eliminates the problem of legislators sitting on their hands during the first month of the General Assembly and forces legislators to get off the fence about casino gambling before campaign opponents have to file to run against them.

Smoke-Filled Media Bias At Herald Leader

Amazing how the Lexington Herald Leader can watch a parade of House and Senate Democrats chase their tails on the puffery of just one little old cigarette tax increase and see a gathering storm of support in "Cigarette tax hike gains traction."

This story could more accurately be headlined "House Dems fiddle while Frankfort burns."

The newspaper story didn't even mention the one group of cooler heads who have already decided this issue. The Senate Republicans said no tax increase. Well, maybe just one.

Revenues keep going up in Frankfort. Spending keeps going up faster. Raising taxes, it should stand to reason, isn't the answer here. If we really want to take a step in the right direction, we will start talking about transparency in our state government.

Still Looking For Ways To Cut Spending

Since people are going to gamble anyway, there really is no need to allow the state lottery to spend money on advertising or marketing, right?

A Better Idea For Improving Schools

Before attacking House Minority Whip Stan Lee for joining Speaker Jody Richards' effort to limit the state to one charter school -- in Bowling Green, of course -- I called him seeking an explanation.

Rep. Lee says he is working a charter school bill for all the state. That is a very good thing.

Unexpected Twist On Blog Blockergate 2008

Didn't see this one coming.

Sources are reporting that the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government has blocked this website on city computers.

I can't get into it now, but the timing of this cowardly action is VERY interesting. Stay tuned.

And any city workers reading from home who have information about Mayor Newberry's role in the various city scandals or in the mess at the Fayette County Detention Center can reach me at kyprogress@yahoo.com.

Still waiting to hear what the Beshear blog blocking policy will be.

Taking Care Of Their Own

Meanwhile, back at the ranch.

And no, I don't care nearly as much about the Chandler hiring as it is not against the law.

Attorney General Jack Conway, where are you?

Nine Minutes To See What America Needs

Much, much less government spending. Hillary and Obama won't do it. Rudy and Mitt won't either.

The Comptroller General of the United States says we are screwed by 2040, when the federal government will only have the money to operate Social Security and Medicaid. Go back to sleep, though. There is no crisis.

How About A Kentucky Stimulus Package?

Harry Moberly has not just one, but two bills designed to stick it to corporations.

Many of the rest of our legislators are looking for ways to enable more economic opportunity for our citizens.

Like Jim DeCesare.

Rather than work up incentive packages for some companies to do business here, shouldn't we just get rid of corporate taxes and let the government live off the taxes created by the new businesses, new employees, and improved economy?

Paying For Democracy One Addict At A Time

Senate Bill 5, the "Crowded Field Bill" which passed the Senate yesterday should be killed in the House. We can easily pay for the extra elections by enacting this bill.

That Sneaky Obama Is At It Again!

KY Educrats, Your Bathtub Awaits

Education Commissioner Jon Draud, in a letter to Governor Steve Beshear, bemoans the fact that state spending on the Kentucky Department of Education has dropped from $31.7 million in FY 2002 to $24.3 million in FY 2007.

Sounds like we are headed in the right direction.

But this line at the end of the letter takes the cake:

Kentucky has shown real progress over the past decade and a half, and strong, steady funding is the key to maintaining that progress.

Besides the fact "strong, steady funding" is bureaucratspeak for annual funding increases, there is no convincing evidence that public schools have "shown real progress" in recent years or that funding increases are "the key to maintaining" that illusory progress.

Cough Up A Lung On Your Own Dime

Rather than raising cigarette taxes to give politicians more money to play with, wouldn't it be simpler to exclude from receiving Medicaid benefits or state aid anyone who smokes cigarettes or uses tobacco products?

This Isn't The "Taxpayer Transparency" We Need

Rep. Harry Moberly came under intense fire last year for trying to hide more legislative actions behind closed doors. After seeing that, it was surprising to see him file a bill yesterday to open up the secretive "economic development" process by requiring the Cabinet for Economic Development to provide information to the legislature upon request. That could be a good thing.

But you have to read the whole bill, which includes this:

(3) Information that shall be provided upon request includes:
(a) Any information acquired from any records of the Department of Revenue, but excluding the taxpayer's name ...

I don't know about you, but I'm not at all comfortable with the idea of Harry Moberly being allowed to legally pore over my state tax returns with just my name blacked out.

In case you don't get my objection, let me ask you this: how many taxpayers live at your address?