Tuesday, June 17, 2008
A heads up on Fayette jail coverage
Tomorrow I will report on sworn testimony by Lexington's former Mayor Teresa Isaac and Mayor Jim Newberry in the ongoing Fayette jail scandals.
The Bluegrass Institute lives!
Two weeks after a massive hacker attack nearly destroyed the online presence of Kentucky's free market think tank, the Bluegrass Institute and Bluegrass Policy Blog are available again on the internet.
While a fairly expensive fix got the sites back up, a much larger project is underway to secure donor funding to take the organization's websites to the next level. This is in addition to generating much larger exposure for public policy solutions by expanding the efforts of the Institute in print and broadcast media.
The Institute's legislative tracking site, Kentucky Votes, was unaffected by the attack but it will also be part of the upcoming improvements that will be rolled out this summer.
By the way, if you wish to be kept updated with no nonsense daily reports on the activity of next week's special session, go to Kentucky Votes and sign up for a free account. You will get email reports first thing each morning on the prior day's legislative activity and which will keep you updated through the rest of the year as pre-filed bills are posted for the 2009 General Assembly.
While a fairly expensive fix got the sites back up, a much larger project is underway to secure donor funding to take the organization's websites to the next level. This is in addition to generating much larger exposure for public policy solutions by expanding the efforts of the Institute in print and broadcast media.
The Institute's legislative tracking site, Kentucky Votes, was unaffected by the attack but it will also be part of the upcoming improvements that will be rolled out this summer.
By the way, if you wish to be kept updated with no nonsense daily reports on the activity of next week's special session, go to Kentucky Votes and sign up for a free account. You will get email reports first thing each morning on the prior day's legislative activity and which will keep you updated through the rest of the year as pre-filed bills are posted for the 2009 General Assembly.
Let them eat cicadas
We've heard about how bad things are getting in the newspaper business, but you probably had no idea the evil capitalists who run the Winchester Sun were making their employees eat cicadas:
Yarmuth to burn Northup without carbon capture
The Yarmuth for Congress campaign will put out a news release this afternoon attacking Anne Northup for urging Congress to allow for expanded oil exploration to meet increased demand.
The focus of the attack is the Congressional Democratic talking point that oil companies aren't drilling all their leased land now, so we should instead fine them for the leases that aren't being used. Yarmuth supports doing this.
That would be great if finding oil was as easy as dreaming up ways to steal money through taxes and fines from people who work for it.
Make no mistake, the people who are fighting against expanding oil exploration in this country will be tickled pink when they destroy domestic oil exploration completely and we further increase gas prices and our dependency on foreign nations. Yarmuth won't do it, but it would be great if he thought through his words and deeds a little before flaming Northup.
The focus of the attack is the Congressional Democratic talking point that oil companies aren't drilling all their leased land now, so we should instead fine them for the leases that aren't being used. Yarmuth supports doing this.
That would be great if finding oil was as easy as dreaming up ways to steal money through taxes and fines from people who work for it.
Make no mistake, the people who are fighting against expanding oil exploration in this country will be tickled pink when they destroy domestic oil exploration completely and we further increase gas prices and our dependency on foreign nations. Yarmuth won't do it, but it would be great if he thought through his words and deeds a little before flaming Northup.
Someone tell moveon.org there is no draft
Here is a very well done, emotional, and totally misleading ad done by the folks at moveon.org:
Are you mad yet?
By now you have probably heard about Kentucky Education Commissioner Jon Draud getting caught lying about the $13,000 in extras he ordered for his taxpayer-provided car.
You may wonder why he isn't crying too hard about paying back that money after he got caught. Well, I'll tell you why.
On July 1, when HB 470 goes into effect, Draud will be laughing all the way to the bank with 40,000 little reasons not to care that you caught him in the smaller heist, with the entire legislature and Gov. Steve Beshear aiding and abetting, of course.
You may wonder why he isn't crying too hard about paying back that money after he got caught. Well, I'll tell you why.
On July 1, when HB 470 goes into effect, Draud will be laughing all the way to the bank with 40,000 little reasons not to care that you caught him in the smaller heist, with the entire legislature and Gov. Steve Beshear aiding and abetting, of course.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Purple arraignment falls next Monday
Indicted Fayette County Detention Center employees Anthony Estep, Kristine Lafoe, Clarence McCoy, John McQueen, and former employee Scott Tyree will be arraigned next Monday, June 23, at 9:30 am in US District Court in Lexington, according to court records.
It will be interesting to see how much bail Judge James Todd requires, who can't make bail, and where they might be housed before trial.
Also can't help wondering who is up next. The FBI confirmed that investigation of the inmate abuse scandal continues.
It will be interesting to see how much bail Judge James Todd requires, who can't make bail, and where they might be housed before trial.
Also can't help wondering who is up next. The FBI confirmed that investigation of the inmate abuse scandal continues.
Fayette jail whistleblower testifies under oath
In written court documents from his civil suit Fayette jail whistleblower John Vest (plaintiff) shed light on where the scandal is going next.
Some goodies --
I call this one "naming names."
Don't forget that the federal investigation is not over:
And if you are wondering what role former Lexington Mayor Teresa Isaac plays in all this:
This is a very important point. Isaac can lie to the media about a lot of things, but when she tells the media falsely that someone else has lied to federal investigators, well that is a horse of a different color.
The Lexington Herald Leader reported September 29, 2006:
Isaac made her implausible assessment a day after federal agents removed hundreds of boxes of documents from the facility.
And here is where it starts getting fun:
Some goodies --
I call this one "naming names."
"Plaintiff has identified the following potential witnesses to testify at the trial of this matter: Teresa Isaac, Jim Newberry, Rebecca Langston, Tim Bennett, Ashley Case, Ron Bishop, James Kammer, Capt. Brian Proffitt, Debbie Shouse, Capt. Suzanne Whittlesey, Lt. Kristine Lafoe, Sgt. Anthony Estep, Sgt. John McQueen, Lt. Shawn Campbell, Tonya Roberts, Clarence McCoy, Scott Tyree, John Steward, Phillip Chumbley, Kenneth Isaac."
Don't forget that the federal investigation is not over:
"Plaintiff has been and still is cooperating with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice with respect to a criminal investigation into civil rights violations at the LFUCG Detention Center."
And if you are wondering what role former Lexington Mayor Teresa Isaac plays in all this:
"Isaac published to the media that the allegations of Vest were unfounded."
This is a very important point. Isaac can lie to the media about a lot of things, but when she tells the media falsely that someone else has lied to federal investigators, well that is a horse of a different color.
The Lexington Herald Leader reported September 29, 2006:
"We're absolutely convinced that the investigation will show there's no violations," Isaac said yesterday.
There have not been any incidents of excessive force at the jail, Isaac said. "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 25years so I think I would know."
Isaac made her implausible assessment a day after federal agents removed hundreds of boxes of documents from the facility.
"Isaac's defamatory statements were made intentionally, with malice, with utter disregard for the truth, and made though she knew that her statements in this regard were false because she could not have reviewed all of the evidence seized by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Department of Justice at the time of her statements."
And here is where it starts getting fun:
"... in a malicious attempt to discredit the Plaintiff, Defendants Isaac and Bishop falsely reported publicly that over the past three years, the Plaintiff had been guilty of the same type of excessive force violations that he had reported to the FBI."
Kentucky taxpayers have battered wife syndrome
The Bluegrass Institute today threw cold water in the face of the state's sleeping giant of an electorate and wonders how much more of a shock is required to create a constructive uprising.
Isn't it just about time to hit back?
"Kentucky's unaccountable education bureaucracy spends money with insufficient oversight and fixes it's own report card every year. Kentucky's politicians increase spending on themselves and borrow by the billions when your money runs out. Secrecy in Frankfort is so entrenched, the media watchdogs can't even be bothered to push for honesty and openness. "Needy" citizens have too little accountability for their bottomless bowls of entitlements. And "economic development" bureaucrats pick business winners and losers with money they take from those who they prefer to be on the losing end."
Isn't it just about time to hit back?
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Another inconvenient Lexington Jail scandal fact
The upcoming explosive civil lawsuit filed by vindicated whistleblower John Vest against the city of Lexington, current Mayor Jim Newberry, former Mayor Teresa Isaac, and others will be heard in Jessamine County.
Fayette jail scandal live
I will be on the Leland Conway Show Monday morning at 9:15 talking about the latest on the Fayette County Detention Center scandal.
Anything in particular you want to hear about?
Anything in particular you want to hear about?
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Setting the record straight on John Vest
An anonymous, middle-of-the-night commenter on another post continued the same line of attack used by Fayette County Detention Center Director Ron Bishop and former Lexington Mayor Teresa Isaac against federal whistleblower John Vest. Here is the comment:
The day of the FBI raid on the Lexington jail, Isaac and Bishop both went on the attack against Vest. Their main contention was that Vest made up the charges of abuse on inmates to promote himself in his campaign for Jessamine County Jailer.
Given the five indictments Thursday, we can safely set that allegation aside. The FBI isn't in the habit of letting itself be used to further a local candidate's political ambitions and only the hardest head could still insist such a thing in light of the rapidly advancing legal proceedings.
The anonymous commenter mentioned Vest's one public statement since this whole ordeal started and blames that for his current unpaid leave status with the city of Lexington. What the commenter doesn't mention is that the inmate beatings stopped immediately after the FBI raid and resumed literally within an hour after Mayor Isaac stated publicly that she had viewed the evidence and saw nothing wrong. Some people, such as this anonymous commenter, don't want you to have any idea the pervasiveness of the illegal activities and atmosphere of indimidation going on in the jail.
The truth is federal authorities wrote Vest's statement and I helped him organize a press conference after Isaac's ludicrous assessment. That is when it became clear that the cover-up went all the way to the Mayor's office and that he had to get out fast. The continuing effort to smear John Vest is not surprising, though. That kind of behavior is par for the course from desperate criminals who are used to hiding behind offices and titles and getting a pass for their activities.
The day of the FBI raid on the Lexington jail, Isaac and Bishop both went on the attack against Vest. Their main contention was that Vest made up the charges of abuse on inmates to promote himself in his campaign for Jessamine County Jailer.
Given the five indictments Thursday, we can safely set that allegation aside. The FBI isn't in the habit of letting itself be used to further a local candidate's political ambitions and only the hardest head could still insist such a thing in light of the rapidly advancing legal proceedings.
The anonymous commenter mentioned Vest's one public statement since this whole ordeal started and blames that for his current unpaid leave status with the city of Lexington. What the commenter doesn't mention is that the inmate beatings stopped immediately after the FBI raid and resumed literally within an hour after Mayor Isaac stated publicly that she had viewed the evidence and saw nothing wrong. Some people, such as this anonymous commenter, don't want you to have any idea the pervasiveness of the illegal activities and atmosphere of indimidation going on in the jail.
The truth is federal authorities wrote Vest's statement and I helped him organize a press conference after Isaac's ludicrous assessment. That is when it became clear that the cover-up went all the way to the Mayor's office and that he had to get out fast. The continuing effort to smear John Vest is not surprising, though. That kind of behavior is par for the course from desperate criminals who are used to hiding behind offices and titles and getting a pass for their activities.
Three chickens roosting, two geese a cooking...
The Fayette jail story is growing tentacles.
Jake at Page One jumps on it as only he can:
Just got a comment in on another thread saying:
I have no idea who sent this anonymous comment, but all the names check out with multiple sources inside the facility. My best sources all started out as anonymous tips and I protect all my sources. If you know something that isn't getting out there, give me a call.
Jake at Page One jumps on it as only he can:
"The Fayette County Jail. Federal whistleblower. Ruh ro. Cover-ups, lies, firings, indictments, white washings. This is going to be the biggest story to rock Lexington in a decade. Mainstream media: wake up because it’s about to get crazy."
Just got a comment in on another thread saying:
"If you think third shift intake was bad. Second shift was over the top! Bowles, Herbals and the former Sgt "the mouth" Baker should start thinking. Reams got it going on too.
Admin has bailed on you and so will Risk Managment. Your ship is about to sail."
I have no idea who sent this anonymous comment, but all the names check out with multiple sources inside the facility. My best sources all started out as anonymous tips and I protect all my sources. If you know something that isn't getting out there, give me a call.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Talk, talk, talk
Indicted Fayette County Detention Center guard Lt. Kristine LaFoe won't talk now, but she was pretty chatty as recently as last week.
When asked about the federal investigation into inmate abuse at the Lexington jail, she was telling co-workers that the investigation was going nowhere.
"That shark's belly-up. It's dead in the water," she said.
When asked about the federal investigation into inmate abuse at the Lexington jail, she was telling co-workers that the investigation was going nowhere.
"That shark's belly-up. It's dead in the water," she said.
You want to stay current, don't you?
With the Kentucky General Assembly set to go in for a special session and spend a bunch of your money on June 23, wouldn't you like to have a good way to keep up with what they are actually doing?
The mainstream media is mostly giving them a pass on the details of the upcoming pension bill. But you don't have to be left out in the dark. A non-biased website that makes it easy for you to keep up on your own is www.kentuckyvotes.org.
If you sign up for a free account on Kentucky Votes, you will receive an email each day there is legislative activity (including the pre-filed 2009 bills which start appearing soon!).
The mainstream media is mostly giving them a pass on the details of the upcoming pension bill. But you don't have to be left out in the dark. A non-biased website that makes it easy for you to keep up on your own is www.kentuckyvotes.org.
If you sign up for a free account on Kentucky Votes, you will receive an email each day there is legislative activity (including the pre-filed 2009 bills which start appearing soon!).
Unanswered questions at the Fayette jail
There are a lot of unanswered questions about the inmate abuse scandal in Lexington. Here is one I'm anxiously awaiting the answer to:
I just sent this one.
And, the plot thickens...
I just sent this one.
And, the plot thickens...
Fayette jail whistleblower is the real story
The mainstream media has had twenty-four hours to get the Fayette County Detention Center prisoner abuse story right. For the most part, they failed.
While nearly every other local reporter covering the story scampered to Mayor Jim Newberry for his whitewash, WTVQ reporter Kellie Wilson took a drive out to Nicholasville and knocked on the door of federal whistleblower John Vest, who was quoted in her story.
While Newberry was busy suspending the five indictees with pay "pending an investigation," Vest remains on administrative leave without pay and without the benefit of a credible internal investigation. And all he did was present evidence to the FBI that was then dismissed sight unseen by former Mayor Teresa Isaac and FCDC Director Ron Bishop. In fact, the one official investigation so far vindicates Vest, paints Bishop and Isaac as shameless liars, and leaves observers wondering why Newberry tried to fire Vest.
That's why Vest is suing all three of them.
If you think this story has run it's course, think again.
While nearly every other local reporter covering the story scampered to Mayor Jim Newberry for his whitewash, WTVQ reporter Kellie Wilson took a drive out to Nicholasville and knocked on the door of federal whistleblower John Vest, who was quoted in her story.
While Newberry was busy suspending the five indictees with pay "pending an investigation," Vest remains on administrative leave without pay and without the benefit of a credible internal investigation. And all he did was present evidence to the FBI that was then dismissed sight unseen by former Mayor Teresa Isaac and FCDC Director Ron Bishop. In fact, the one official investigation so far vindicates Vest, paints Bishop and Isaac as shameless liars, and leaves observers wondering why Newberry tried to fire Vest.
That's why Vest is suing all three of them.
If you think this story has run it's course, think again.
Federal search warrant remains sealed
FBI Chief Division Counsel David Beyer told me this morning the sealed search warrant that kicked off the 2006 raid of the Fayette County Detention Center hasn't been unsealed and probably won't be for a while.
That sheds light on two lies that have endangered lives in Lexington.
Despite Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry's ridiculous claim that the federal investigation of FCDC is somehow limited to the third shift at the facility and former Mayor Teresa Isaac's ridiculous claim that her twenty five years as a civil rights attorney qualified her to say definitively that no violations happened at the jail, the fact remains little is really known about how far the dangerous behavior at the jail goes.
That's Reality 2, Lexington political hacks 0, if you are keeping score at home.
That sheds light on two lies that have endangered lives in Lexington.
Despite Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry's ridiculous claim that the federal investigation of FCDC is somehow limited to the third shift at the facility and former Mayor Teresa Isaac's ridiculous claim that her twenty five years as a civil rights attorney qualified her to say definitively that no violations happened at the jail, the fact remains little is really known about how far the dangerous behavior at the jail goes.
That's Reality 2, Lexington political hacks 0, if you are keeping score at home.
Who are the others, Mayor Newberry?
Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry gave the city council Thursday night details about the Little Abu Ghraib action at the Fayette County Detention Center. One part of his statement deserves further scrutiny.
According to the Lexington Herald Leader, "He said the problems seemed to be contained to the third shift at the jail."
That's interesting. Can't imagine who or where he got that from. He should tell us how he knows this, or at least who the other criminals are.
Not that someone who is being sued for abusing a whistleblower will understand this, but in the interest of public safety, Mayor Newberry really should spill the beans about who else on third shift is involved, and here is why:
From the United States Department of Justice:
So Newberry says he knew what was going on at the jail all this time, yet he left the five indictees on the city payroll. Now we find out that he has the remaining unindicted co-conspirators "contained" on third shift. The public needs to know, Mayor. Who are they and when will you be placing them on leave with pay?
According to the Lexington Herald Leader, "He said the problems seemed to be contained to the third shift at the jail."
That's interesting. Can't imagine who or where he got that from. He should tell us how he knows this, or at least who the other criminals are.
Not that someone who is being sued for abusing a whistleblower will understand this, but in the interest of public safety, Mayor Newberry really should spill the beans about who else on third shift is involved, and here is why:
From the United States Department of Justice:
"The first count of the indictment alleges that the five defendants conspired with each other and with other unindicted individuals to assault inmates without justification, and to cover up their conduct by filing false reports and charges."
So Newberry says he knew what was going on at the jail all this time, yet he left the five indictees on the city payroll. Now we find out that he has the remaining unindicted co-conspirators "contained" on third shift. The public needs to know, Mayor. Who are they and when will you be placing them on leave with pay?
Thursday, June 12, 2008
You've got a funny way of cooperating there, Mayor Jim Newberry
Just got the following statement from civil Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry in my email. His statement needs a little clarification:
Right. You also have proactively tried several times to fire whistleblower John Vest and have fought him vigorously in his civil suit against the city. How has that made anyone safer? No, I'm completely serious. How does abusing a whistleblower make anyone safer anywhere?
And you left Director Ron Bishop and Deputy Director Don Leach in place to continue the same policies that caused the problem. Wonder why?
How have you cooperated with the investigation? Name one way. Who did you speak to and what did you say? And it is very interesting that Scott Tyree was allowed to transfer out of the jail while whistleblower John Vest was put on the street. The taxpayers of Lexington will be paying the upcoming civil judgement to Mr. Vest (who never got the benefit of an investigation) for years to come and you could have avoided the whole thing. "Aware?" Care to rephrase that, Mayor Newberry?
"While the alleged violations occurred in 2006, prior to our administration taking office, we have over the past 17 months proactively implemented various measures to help ensure a safe and secure facility for both our employees and the inmates."
Right. You also have proactively tried several times to fire whistleblower John Vest and have fought him vigorously in his civil suit against the city. How has that made anyone safer? No, I'm completely serious. How does abusing a whistleblower make anyone safer anywhere?
"In 2007, we installed video cameras in the intake area, one site of alleged criminal activity, and have completely restructured staff in intake."
And you left Director Ron Bishop and Deputy Director Don Leach in place to continue the same policies that caused the problem. Wonder why?
"We have been aware of the ongoing investigation at the jail and will continue to fully cooperate. Sgt. John McQueen, Corrections Officer Clarence McCoy, Sgt. Anthony Estep and Lt. Kristen Lafoe are employed by the Division of Community Corrections. Scott Tyree is a former corrections officer who has transferred to the Division of Water & Air Quality. The employees will be suspended with pay, effective immediately, pending further investigation."
How have you cooperated with the investigation? Name one way. Who did you speak to and what did you say? And it is very interesting that Scott Tyree was allowed to transfer out of the jail while whistleblower John Vest was put on the street. The taxpayers of Lexington will be paying the upcoming civil judgement to Mr. Vest (who never got the benefit of an investigation) for years to come and you could have avoided the whole thing. "Aware?" Care to rephrase that, Mayor Newberry?
INDICTMENTS!
The United States District Court in Covington this afternoon handed down indictments in the Fayette County Detention Center inmate abuse scandal. Indicted were: John McQueen, Clarence McCoy, Kristine Lafoe, Scott Tyree, and Anthony Estep.
Charges include conspiracy, falsification of records, and obstruction of justice.
Now is when the fun starts because the heat is on Mayor Jim Newberry, who gets to see his role shift from mayor to defendant in the civil case which just got a serious boost. And what about former Mayor Teresa Isaac and FCDC director Ron Bishop, who both said two years ago there was nothing to this and that whistleblower Cpl. John Vest was lying about the whole thing?
Stay tuned to Kentucky Progress as the prosecution phase begins and the investigation continues. The behind the scenes scrambling right now is hilarious and suggests Newberry and friends really convinced themselves this thing was going to dry up and blow away. Newberry didn't even know that any of these indictments were about to hit until someone in his office read it here this afternoon. His efforts to separate himself will only make him look more foolish than he already looks.
Don't just stand there, Jim, fire somebody!
Charges include conspiracy, falsification of records, and obstruction of justice.
Now is when the fun starts because the heat is on Mayor Jim Newberry, who gets to see his role shift from mayor to defendant in the civil case which just got a serious boost. And what about former Mayor Teresa Isaac and FCDC director Ron Bishop, who both said two years ago there was nothing to this and that whistleblower Cpl. John Vest was lying about the whole thing?
Stay tuned to Kentucky Progress as the prosecution phase begins and the investigation continues. The behind the scenes scrambling right now is hilarious and suggests Newberry and friends really convinced themselves this thing was going to dry up and blow away. Newberry didn't even know that any of these indictments were about to hit until someone in his office read it here this afternoon. His efforts to separate himself will only make him look more foolish than he already looks.
Don't just stand there, Jim, fire somebody!
Pins and needles
The federal grand jury considering the two year investigation of the Fayette County Detention Center inmate abuse scandal is working at this very minute and may be doling out some indictments at any time.
We aren't solving the pension crisis
We have been down this road before. Every time the projected growth of a government program is trimmed even the slightest amount, the "stakeholders" clinging to that government program scream bloody murder that people will die in the streets because of the cut.
The same thing is happening in reverse with Kentucky's public employee fringe benefits crisis, now $27 billion in an ever-deepening hole.
House Dems are talking now in terms of "saving" $500 million a year and "fully funding" the programs by 2025.
Don't be fooled. All they have agreed to do is "cut" the growth rate of the $27 billion hole that needs so desperately to be filled up. They aren't really cutting anything or saving anything, unless you really want to get excited about the possibility that in a few years things won't be quite as horrible as they will be if we do absolutely nothing.
The teachers union giving their stamp of approval to this agreement should have been a dead giveaway.
The same thing is happening in reverse with Kentucky's public employee fringe benefits crisis, now $27 billion in an ever-deepening hole.
House Dems are talking now in terms of "saving" $500 million a year and "fully funding" the programs by 2025.
Don't be fooled. All they have agreed to do is "cut" the growth rate of the $27 billion hole that needs so desperately to be filled up. They aren't really cutting anything or saving anything, unless you really want to get excited about the possibility that in a few years things won't be quite as horrible as they will be if we do absolutely nothing.
The teachers union giving their stamp of approval to this agreement should have been a dead giveaway.
No, state government websites weren't hacked
If you need to go on the legislature's websites this morning, you may be in for a little wait. Or it may be a long wait. No one knows for sure.
It seems BellSouth is having some technical problems. Just a quick taste of the technical problems state government is going to have waiting for 2025 when Speaker Jody Richards says the public pension systems will be fully funded.
It seems BellSouth is having some technical problems. Just a quick taste of the technical problems state government is going to have waiting for 2025 when Speaker Jody Richards says the public pension systems will be fully funded.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
No education in the second kick of Draud's mule
Education Commissioner Jon Draud could have avoided his whole tearful "I have sinned" moment today if only he had supported putting the education department's checkbook on the internet.
Bruce Lunsford knocks himself off message
Bruce Lunsford got a baptism by fire today when he forgot where he was, tried to cover it up, and then tried to blame it on Republicans.
First, he went to Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond:
Then, he got his story straight:
And then, after the Republican Party of Kentucky had a field day with the slip-up, Lunsford campaign spokeswoman Allison Haley tried to blame the whole thing on Republicans when she told the Lexington Herald Leader "their time would be better spent trying to address the energy crisis."
That's just it, though. While the Lunsford campaign thinks botching a photo-op at a gas station is going to change something, Republicans in Congress have been prevented by "environmental" zealots from expanding energy exploration.
Another thing: as fun as Lunsford's misstatements are, some of the things he has said on purpose have been even better. Like this and this.
First, he went to Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond:
Then, he got his story straight:
And then, after the Republican Party of Kentucky had a field day with the slip-up, Lunsford campaign spokeswoman Allison Haley tried to blame the whole thing on Republicans when she told the Lexington Herald Leader "their time would be better spent trying to address the energy crisis."
That's just it, though. While the Lunsford campaign thinks botching a photo-op at a gas station is going to change something, Republicans in Congress have been prevented by "environmental" zealots from expanding energy exploration.
Another thing: as fun as Lunsford's misstatements are, some of the things he has said on purpose have been even better. Like this and this.
Only one way to take away Jon Draud's fancy car
Education Commissioner Jon Draud has announced his study group on educational assessment. That's the CATS test Senate Republicans tried unsuccessfully to get rid of earlier this year. Draud is the arrogant SOB you are paying $220,000 to drive around in a luxurious car you bought for him. Your elected representatives voted to fatten his pension (HB 470). And this morning, you bought him a tankful of gas.
Blog readers may remember that we got rid of the last creep who came in here to blow smoke at us in the name of our children. I don't see how anyone can take Draud seriously to really address education issues at a time in which doing so couldn't be more important.
Do you?
Blog readers may remember that we got rid of the last creep who came in here to blow smoke at us in the name of our children. I don't see how anyone can take Draud seriously to really address education issues at a time in which doing so couldn't be more important.
Do you?
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Pucker factor Thursday
This will drive the hater bureaucrats in Lexington crazy, but I'm hearing a lot of chatter around the Fayette County Detention Center about the first round of federal indictments coming down this Thursday.
After so many false alarms, I'm not exactly holding my breath. But after two years of investigation, getting the prosecution phase of this saga going would provide a welcome pressure release for the good guys. And an even more welcome punch to the gut of those who have lied, obstructed, and intimidated their way through life for way too long.
The pusillanimous FCDC Deputy Director Don Leach may have buried the latest sexual harassment complaint, but several employees who claim to have suffered his bullying for years are encouraged that the questioning of his various activities by officials seems rather precise.
After so many false alarms, I'm not exactly holding my breath. But after two years of investigation, getting the prosecution phase of this saga going would provide a welcome pressure release for the good guys. And an even more welcome punch to the gut of those who have lied, obstructed, and intimidated their way through life for way too long.
The pusillanimous FCDC Deputy Director Don Leach may have buried the latest sexual harassment complaint, but several employees who claim to have suffered his bullying for years are encouraged that the questioning of his various activities by officials seems rather precise.
Skippy can't dance
Gov. Steve Beshear may have missed the irony of putting the same guy who ran the KAPT program into the ground in charge of his study group for public employee pension reform.
But as the General Assembly moves toward to a special session for the purpose of putting a Band-Aid on the bloody mess, the possibility exists Jonathan Miller and Beshear could become accidental heroes for fiscal sanity.
The closer we get to insolvency of the fringe benefits systems, the more discretionary spending will get crowded out in favor of piles of cash for employees and retirees. Heck of a way to instill discipline, but with these guys it's surely our only shot.
But as the General Assembly moves toward to a special session for the purpose of putting a Band-Aid on the bloody mess, the possibility exists Jonathan Miller and Beshear could become accidental heroes for fiscal sanity.
The closer we get to insolvency of the fringe benefits systems, the more discretionary spending will get crowded out in favor of piles of cash for employees and retirees. Heck of a way to instill discipline, but with these guys it's surely our only shot.
Will Obama mess up KY's pension reform party?
The mainstream media is pretty excited to see the General Assembly, the teachers union, and other "stakeholders" join hands over their latest plan to tweak our way out of the $26 billion public employee fringe benefit disaster.
The reason for all the hand-holding and singing is that Frankfort is counting on President Barack Obama to implement a federal universal health insurance plan, thereby removing the states' responsibilities for employee health coverage. Since most of the actual problem with the "pension" mess is the opulent health insurance benefits given to public employees, we continue to celebrate official inaction.
Maybe President Obama will make corruption illegal in our public school systems so we won't have to worry about that, either.
The reason for all the hand-holding and singing is that Frankfort is counting on President Barack Obama to implement a federal universal health insurance plan, thereby removing the states' responsibilities for employee health coverage. Since most of the actual problem with the "pension" mess is the opulent health insurance benefits given to public employees, we continue to celebrate official inaction.
Maybe President Obama will make corruption illegal in our public school systems so we won't have to worry about that, either.
Anti-smoking Nazis ride north
County officials in Kenton, Campbell, and Boone counties are trying to spring public smoking bans on the people of their counties simultaneously this summer without much public discussion.
More evidence of tax dollars working to fool you
If you have kids in public schools in Kentucky, expect to see more nonsense over the next six years relating to school "testing" than you have ever seen in your life.
Here is why.
Here is why.
Help us rebuild Bluegrass Institute
The hacker who took down the Bluegrass Institute, it turns out, did a heck of a job.
After several false alarms that had us believing our sites might be coming back up at any moment, it is now clear that the old sites won't be up for at least another week, if at all.
So I have rebuilt the Institute's blog on my own. Please take a minute to check it out, leave a comment, and tell a friend.
We are working furiously to build a much stronger web presence and we will succeed to better pursue free-market policies and making Kentucky into the kind of place free people can live together more peacefully and prosperously. Thank you.
After several false alarms that had us believing our sites might be coming back up at any moment, it is now clear that the old sites won't be up for at least another week, if at all.
So I have rebuilt the Institute's blog on my own. Please take a minute to check it out, leave a comment, and tell a friend.
We are working furiously to build a much stronger web presence and we will succeed to better pursue free-market policies and making Kentucky into the kind of place free people can live together more peacefully and prosperously. Thank you.
Monday, June 09, 2008
Can't keep a good blog down
The Bluegrass Institute is making the most of a hacker attack to revamp it's entire web presence, but this afternoon the public policy group's blog is up with new content.
Readers of the Bluegrass Policy Blog will find the comments section much, much easier to use than it used to be. Check it out.
And as always, arguments from every side are greatly encouraged. Thanks.
Update: a blog poll on the new site brings up the question of how far we want transparency to go. Should government transparency include posting welfare payments to individuals on the internet for everyone to see?
Readers of the Bluegrass Policy Blog will find the comments section much, much easier to use than it used to be. Check it out.
And as always, arguments from every side are greatly encouraged. Thanks.
Update: a blog poll on the new site brings up the question of how far we want transparency to go. Should government transparency include posting welfare payments to individuals on the internet for everyone to see?
Hey Mayor Jerry, at least do a silly task force!
This really shouldn't be about politics.
Jefferson County Republican Party Chairman Brad Cummings said today Louisville should put it's spending information on the internet. The gesture is well-timed, but it is amazing that Mayor Jerry Abramson, a Democrat, should even have to be prodded a little bit, much less harassed by a local political figure, to do the right thing:
Page One has more.
Jefferson County Republican Party Chairman Brad Cummings said today Louisville should put it's spending information on the internet. The gesture is well-timed, but it is amazing that Mayor Jerry Abramson, a Democrat, should even have to be prodded a little bit, much less harassed by a local political figure, to do the right thing:
“The people of Louisville Metro deserve to see how their tax dollars are being spent through an online database that can be accessed through Google or any other search engine” Cummings said. “Secretary Trey Grayson has shown great leadership on this very important issue with Governor Steve Beshear recently proving to be a willing student of Trey’s vision. Our Mayor should sign up for the same class while seats are available.”
Page One has more.
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Franklin County jail Sex Tax passes
Franklin County taxpayers get to dole out 4% pay increases for county employees next year, thanks to a Fiscal Court budget vote on Friday.
And the budget includes a levy similar to the old Spanish-American War tax which will pay off the rest of a $5million court settlement awarded to five women. They sued after being victimized sexually by a former Franklin County jailer.
Anyone care to guess whether the Franklin County Sex Tax will be repealed after paying off the court settlement?
And the budget includes a levy similar to the old Spanish-American War tax which will pay off the rest of a $5million court settlement awarded to five women. They sued after being victimized sexually by a former Franklin County jailer.
Anyone care to guess whether the Franklin County Sex Tax will be repealed after paying off the court settlement?
A great idea from across the aisle
Lexington blogger Ralph Long (he ran against Rep. Stan Lee in 2004) has a great idea for making state government more transparent. He says we should make public all expenditures on state credit cards. That's a good one.
Ralph also got a little rough with fellow Democrats Gov. Steve Beshear and Rep. Mike Cherry for coming late to the government transparency party.
Ralph is starting to sound like a right-wing blogger.
Ralph also got a little rough with fellow Democrats Gov. Steve Beshear and Rep. Mike Cherry for coming late to the government transparency party.
"Let’s give Steve Beshear credit for being able to steal a good idea... this is such a great idea, I think it is, then why did it die in the legislature and who killed it? I don’t know why this died, other than most of our legislators wouldn't know a good idea if it bit them in the ass, but the guy that killed this puppy was Mike Cherry."
Ralph is starting to sound like a right-wing blogger.
If we had lower taxes we might have more of this
While the state's major political parties were meeting this weekend, Walmart was actually doing some good.
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Did you see this?
Making it harder for politicians to hide what they are doing with your money shouldn't be something we have to argue very hard for. Secretary of State Trey Grayson understands that and is leading the way. If you can get to Frankfort Monday morning and want to help wrest control of Kentucky's government from the hands of those who prefer to keep us in the dark, this is the place to be (click to expand):
Depends on your definition of success
The Lexington Herald Leader can be so funny sometimes.
Take today's editorial as an example. In it, the editors claim "real progress" in a national education report showing Kentucky's high school graduation rate was 71.6% in 2005.
Now all we need to do, they claim, is throw more money at the education bureaucrats who got us to this point. One minor problem with this is those same Kentucky bureaucrats just told us a week ago our graduation rate for 2005 was 82.86%.
In a sane world, the mainstream media would be all over this illusory 11%. But no, the best answer we get from our constitutionally-protected watchdogs is a whitewash, a guilt-trip, and some revisionist history:
Clearly, these people can't be trusted to address how much we are going to have to dumb-down the CATS tests over the next five years to come anywhere close to mandated proficiency goals.
Take today's editorial as an example. In it, the editors claim "real progress" in a national education report showing Kentucky's high school graduation rate was 71.6% in 2005.
Now all we need to do, they claim, is throw more money at the education bureaucrats who got us to this point. One minor problem with this is those same Kentucky bureaucrats just told us a week ago our graduation rate for 2005 was 82.86%.
In a sane world, the mainstream media would be all over this illusory 11%. But no, the best answer we get from our constitutionally-protected watchdogs is a whitewash, a guilt-trip, and some revisionist history:
"No one in Kentucky has an excuse to rest on laurels, especially when the state is eliminating and underfunding reforms that have worked."
Clearly, these people can't be trusted to address how much we are going to have to dumb-down the CATS tests over the next five years to come anywhere close to mandated proficiency goals.
Friday, June 06, 2008
Mainstream media waking up to transparency
The idea of making the government show us the public checkbook is catching fire.
WHAS Louisville reporter Mark Hebert has a post up this evening about Governor Steve Beshear trying to catch up to Secretary of State Trey Grayson on the transparency initiative promoted heavily by the Bluegrass Institute.
What's funny is this part:
That would be somewhat easier to believe if we didn't have two House bills (HB 105 and HB 769) earlier this year that could have gotten a huge boost with a kind word from the governor back then. Nevertheless, it is good that he seems to be getting on board now. Hope he doesn't spend too long studying it.
WHAS Louisville reporter Mark Hebert has a post up this evening about Governor Steve Beshear trying to catch up to Secretary of State Trey Grayson on the transparency initiative promoted heavily by the Bluegrass Institute.
What's funny is this part:
"Spokesman Dick Brown says the internet records transparency initiative has been in the works for some time and will fulfill a campaign promise made by Beshear."
That would be somewhat easier to believe if we didn't have two House bills (HB 105 and HB 769) earlier this year that could have gotten a huge boost with a kind word from the governor back then. Nevertheless, it is good that he seems to be getting on board now. Hope he doesn't spend too long studying it.
A small step forward on a Friday
Governor Steve Beshear deserves encouragement for announcing today a task force to study putting government expenditures online.
Not that we really need to study it too much.
Someone tell Beshear he isn't going to melt if he takes a look at a state with a Republican governor like Mark Sanford of South Carolina about how to get the job done.
Did I mention the press conference coming up Monday about this very issue?
Not that we really need to study it too much.
Someone tell Beshear he isn't going to melt if he takes a look at a state with a Republican governor like Mark Sanford of South Carolina about how to get the job done.
Did I mention the press conference coming up Monday about this very issue?
Good driver? Responsible? Here's how you're screwed in Kentucky
We may have done well earlier this year to beat back the legislative effort to make the car insurance companies treat everyone like bad credit risks, but it looks like we are going to get nailed with higher costs anyway.
Governor Steve Beshear announced with great fanfare today a giveaway of $3.2 million from the taxpayers to Safe Auto Insurance Company, an insurer for people with poor credit ratings and bad driving records.
That's because we expanded the taxpayer giveaway market in the 2008 session to include include more service providers.
So if you can't get regular insurance, your guys just got a boost. If you have good credit and a clean driving record, you and your insurer just provided the boost.
Governor Steve Beshear announced with great fanfare today a giveaway of $3.2 million from the taxpayers to Safe Auto Insurance Company, an insurer for people with poor credit ratings and bad driving records.
That's because we expanded the taxpayer giveaway market in the 2008 session to include include more service providers.
So if you can't get regular insurance, your guys just got a boost. If you have good credit and a clean driving record, you and your insurer just provided the boost.
How to hide an orgy
A spending orgy is pretty easy to hide in a state government with no transparency. It helps when your mainstream media writes stories upside down like this:
The main sentence in the story is this one: "With one month left in the fiscal year, the General Fund has received $7.8 billion, up 1.2 percent from the same 11-month period a year earlier."
In other words, we have more money than ever before. The problem is not that we need more revenue. We need less spending.
The main sentence in the story is this one: "With one month left in the fiscal year, the General Fund has received $7.8 billion, up 1.2 percent from the same 11-month period a year earlier."
In other words, we have more money than ever before. The problem is not that we need more revenue. We need less spending.
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Bluegrass Institute update
The cowards who hacked up the Bluegrass Institute over the weekend will soon see their dirty work reversed.
The Bluegrass Policy Blog may be up as soon as tonight.
The Institute's work on increasing government transparency continues with preparations for a Trey Grayson press conference on Monday.
The Bluegrass Policy Blog may be up as soon as tonight.
The Institute's work on increasing government transparency continues with preparations for a Trey Grayson press conference on Monday.
Chandler compares paying unions to fighting in Iraq
The biggest problem with Rep. Ben Chandler's school spending bill has been it's requirement that union wages be paid on building projects in states which, unlike Kentucky, have learned a lesson on government waste and stopped requiring prevailing (union) wages on such projects.
Chandler made matters worse yesterday with his over-the-top anti-war rhetoric when he said:
Chandler made matters worse yesterday with his over-the-top anti-war rhetoric when he said:
"We are spending hundreds of billions of dollars in Iraq; surely we can invest less than $7 billion in the future of our children, and the future of our country."
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Mayor Jim Newberry's dirty lawyer trick
You haven't heard anything in the mainstream media about the filthy, rotten behavior of the city of Lexington in their handling of the many scandals at the Fayette County Detention Center. When the media wakes up to this one you will hear about it, though.
Attorneys at Wyatt, Tarrant, and Combs have tried to get United States Army Staff Sgt. Delmar White removed as a plaintiff in a class action lawsuit against the city for some illegal pay practices. They base their request on the fact that White hasn't been answering their letters or returning their phone calls in the discovery process.
A highly decorated Marine and National Guardsman, White died Sept. 2, 2007 in combat in Bagdad.
Newberry will lose this request and, hopefully, White's estate will be well compensated by the taxpayers of Lexington, who shouldn't forget Newberry's disgusting tactics in his next election.
Attorneys at Wyatt, Tarrant, and Combs have tried to get United States Army Staff Sgt. Delmar White removed as a plaintiff in a class action lawsuit against the city for some illegal pay practices. They base their request on the fact that White hasn't been answering their letters or returning their phone calls in the discovery process.
A highly decorated Marine and National Guardsman, White died Sept. 2, 2007 in combat in Bagdad.
Newberry will lose this request and, hopefully, White's estate will be well compensated by the taxpayers of Lexington, who shouldn't forget Newberry's disgusting tactics in his next election.
Kentucky caught fudging graduation numbers
The new “Graduation Counts 2008” report from Education Week has been issued less than a week after the Kentucky Department of education released its own “Nonacademic Data Report” for Kentucky’s public schools. The new Education Week data exposes some very disturbing holes in what we are being told about the performance of our schools.
For example, the Graduation Counts Web articles include a special Kentucky section that shows us how well Kentucky’s education leaders disseminate high school graduation rates.
The state report claims statewide high school graduation rate for Kentucky’s Class of 2005 was 82.86 percent. Education Week’s Kentucky section has a sort of “lie meter” on Page 7 that shows the real rate was much lower – over 11 points lower – at just 71.5 percent. Nationally, Kentucky ranks below the median in 29th place among the 50 states.
There is more interesting information from Ed Week.
While the national spread between graduation rates for boys and girls is 7.5 points in favor of the ladies, here in Kentucky the spread is notably higher at 9.8 points. Why is KERA less successful with boys than girls?
Hispanics in Kentucky also do much more poorly than the national average with a graduation rate disparity of 49.4 percent versus 57.8 percent.
Kentucky’s whites also graduate at a rate 5.2 points below the national average of 77.6 percent.
Only Kentucky’s blacks do slightly better than their national counterparts, but their graduation rate of just 58.2 percent is hardly a testament to KERA.
Not surprisingly, you won’t find these minority graduation rates in the state’s Nonacademic Data Report. You have to go to more honest sources like Education Week if you want that information. Here in Kentucky, our educators prefer to continue using data that has been officially audited and found unreliable, which is how Kentucky comes up with an inflated 82.86 graduation rate in the first place.
Bluegrass Institute education analyst Richard Innes wrote this post.
For example, the Graduation Counts Web articles include a special Kentucky section that shows us how well Kentucky’s education leaders disseminate high school graduation rates.
The state report claims statewide high school graduation rate for Kentucky’s Class of 2005 was 82.86 percent. Education Week’s Kentucky section has a sort of “lie meter” on Page 7 that shows the real rate was much lower – over 11 points lower – at just 71.5 percent. Nationally, Kentucky ranks below the median in 29th place among the 50 states.
There is more interesting information from Ed Week.
While the national spread between graduation rates for boys and girls is 7.5 points in favor of the ladies, here in Kentucky the spread is notably higher at 9.8 points. Why is KERA less successful with boys than girls?
Hispanics in Kentucky also do much more poorly than the national average with a graduation rate disparity of 49.4 percent versus 57.8 percent.
Kentucky’s whites also graduate at a rate 5.2 points below the national average of 77.6 percent.
Only Kentucky’s blacks do slightly better than their national counterparts, but their graduation rate of just 58.2 percent is hardly a testament to KERA.
Not surprisingly, you won’t find these minority graduation rates in the state’s Nonacademic Data Report. You have to go to more honest sources like Education Week if you want that information. Here in Kentucky, our educators prefer to continue using data that has been officially audited and found unreliable, which is how Kentucky comes up with an inflated 82.86 graduation rate in the first place.
Bluegrass Institute education analyst Richard Innes wrote this post.
A step in the right direction
Senate President David Williams has suspended the Capitol Annex renovation that has gotten so much press recently.
In a letter to the LRC, Williams said "...I have determined to indefinitely suspend further renovation of the second floor of the Annex..."
Great. Now, let's get rid of pension and health benefits for part-time government workers.
In a letter to the LRC, Williams said "...I have determined to indefinitely suspend further renovation of the second floor of the Annex..."
Great. Now, let's get rid of pension and health benefits for part-time government workers.
McCain and Obama still together on transparency
If you have missed the government transparency movement sweeping America because you live in the corrupt little backwater of a state we lovingly call Kentucky, you won't want to miss this:
Go here for the rest of the story. While most Kentucky politicians have slept through it, Secretary of State Trey Grayson has been moving full-steam-ahead for taxpayers' right to know.
"The fact that even in a presidential election year the two main contenders Sens. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain can set aside their differences to co-sponsor this bill, is testament to the importance of the issue."
Go here for the rest of the story. While most Kentucky politicians have slept through it, Secretary of State Trey Grayson has been moving full-steam-ahead for taxpayers' right to know.
Bluegrass Institute update
Looks like the Bluegrass Institute's main website and blog should be back up tomorrow. The organization's most popular site Kentucky Votes remains unhacked by the sorry malcontents who couldn't fight on the merits, so they paid some hacker to temporarily quiet the opposition.
Ageism is ugly
Martin Luther King Jr. must be rolling over in his grave to see the media this morning yammering about Senator Barack Obama's "historic" effort based not on the content of his character, but the color of his skin.
I'm still waiting for the fawning reports of Sen. John McCain for being the oldest nominee of a major party ever. Or the first Vietnam POW nominee of a major party. Or the first sitting U.S. Senator who supports tax cuts to be the nominee of a major party in half a century (not counting Bob Dole, but he was just an old white guy).
I'm still waiting for the fawning reports of Sen. John McCain for being the oldest nominee of a major party ever. Or the first Vietnam POW nominee of a major party. Or the first sitting U.S. Senator who supports tax cuts to be the nominee of a major party in half a century (not counting Bob Dole, but he was just an old white guy).
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
More legal troubles for Lexington jail
The union representing employees of the Fayette County Detention Center has filed a grievance against jail administration, CWA local 3372 President Mike Garkovich confirmed today. Multiple jail employees who did not wish to be quoted for fear of retribution said the source of the grievance was a sexual harassment complaint filed by Corporal D. Zirbes against Deputy Director Don Leach.
If you are keeping score at home, mismanagement of the jail has resulted, so far, in a two year-long federal investigation, a class action lawsuit, and multiple civil suits. Keep up the great work, guys.
If you are keeping score at home, mismanagement of the jail has resulted, so far, in a two year-long federal investigation, a class action lawsuit, and multiple civil suits. Keep up the great work, guys.
BlogHillary screams "it's not over"
If you really want to see how angry the Hillary Mafia is, you need to read her blog. They are accusing the Associated Press of trying to sway the superdelegates in favor of Barack Obama. Given that AP continues to report she is dropping out tonight hours after she said it's not true, though, it kind of looks like she has a point.
Trey Grayson speaks
Secretary of State Trey Grayson will make a major policy announcement to the monthly meeting of the Center-Right Coalition on Monday, June 9 at 10 AM in Frankfort. As a result, this meeting will be open to the media and the public is invited.
If you want to come, call me on my cell phone (the number is at the top of this page.)
If you want to come, call me on my cell phone (the number is at the top of this page.)
Is Kentucky about to import economic disaster?
Stateline.org points out Kentucky may face a struggle with yet another entitlement burden if unemployment increases much.
Pamela Prah reports Kentucky is among a group of states with underfunded unemployment insurance trust funds.
Given Kentucky's troublesome tendency to import poverty-stricken residents from other states, what might be even more disconcerting is that neighbors to the north Michigan and Ohio (and to the west, Missouri) are even closer to insolvency in their unemployment trust funds than we are. Should they decide to scale back on this or other entitlements to weather the storm, Kentucky may be forced to act.
Of course we did have a couple of bills in the last General Assembly (HB 190 and HB 221) that could have started us in that direction.
Pamela Prah reports Kentucky is among a group of states with underfunded unemployment insurance trust funds.
"States that are also well below the recommended level with only about six months of money in their reserves are: Arkansas, California, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin."
Given Kentucky's troublesome tendency to import poverty-stricken residents from other states, what might be even more disconcerting is that neighbors to the north Michigan and Ohio (and to the west, Missouri) are even closer to insolvency in their unemployment trust funds than we are. Should they decide to scale back on this or other entitlements to weather the storm, Kentucky may be forced to act.
Of course we did have a couple of bills in the last General Assembly (HB 190 and HB 221) that could have started us in that direction.
Monday, June 02, 2008
When you think pension scandal, think JR Gray
While Frankfort officials talk about how to tweak the public employee fringe benefit program to delay Kentucky's inevitable fiscal calamity, don't expect many legislators to say anything about former legislator and newly-minted Labor Secretary JR Gray.
Thanks to a provision in HB 299 from 2005, Gray will get a ridiculous pension boost as his time in the legislature is converted to benefit him as if he were Labor Secretary for the last quarter century.
Nice scam if you can slip it past taxpayers.
Thanks to a provision in HB 299 from 2005, Gray will get a ridiculous pension boost as his time in the legislature is converted to benefit him as if he were Labor Secretary for the last quarter century.
Nice scam if you can slip it past taxpayers.
Over her dead body, perhaps?
Many people are counting out Hillary Clinton in her bid for the presidency and it is being widely reported that she is ready to quit.
She just sent out the following campaign email this afternoon. Looks like she is not quite ready to bow out gracefully.
Or could it be she is just trying to squeeze a few dollars out of her most rabid supporters to pay her back some of the millions she loaned her campaign?
She just sent out the following campaign email this afternoon. Looks like she is not quite ready to bow out gracefully.
Or could it be she is just trying to squeeze a few dollars out of her most rabid supporters to pay her back some of the millions she loaned her campaign?
Government transparency steps up big in Kentucky
Secretary of State Trey Grayson will speak next Monday morning to the Center-Right Coalition in Frankfort. Grayson recently announced publicly his efforts to make spending in his office transparent to taxpayers and has agreed to encourage other officials to do the same (facebook account required to read this link).
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Shortening the "oil shortage"
Newt Gingrich has nearly 300,000 signatures on a petition to require Congress to let us go get our own oil.
Much barking, no biting on fringe benefit reform
If you were just reading editorial headlines Sunday, you might think Kentucky was ready to demand action from Frankfort on the $26 billion public pension disaster. The Louisville Courier Journal bellowed "Pension reform, now" and the Paducah Sun screamed, simply, "NOW." The Lexington Herald Leader said "Light a fire under legislature," but they were talking about raising taxes.
We are never going to get anywhere on fixing the mess caused by decades of overpaying our government employees at the rate we are going.
The Sun said "Beshear is less likely than his ineffective predecessor to let the legislature dictate the terms of a special session. Something tells us he’s going to finally bring about long-overdue pension reform."
Their optimism is misplaced. We need to join 12-step recovering addicts by first admitting that we have been overpaying public employees for a long time. Otherwise, cutting benefits slightly today probably just means they will go back up later. That's just kicking the can down the road.
Now that more people are starting to pay attention to this, we need to shift the discussion to consideration of phasing out pensions for legislators. Eliminating this conflict of interest might help lawmakers keep clear heads about driving us out of the benefits ditch and inspire them to stay out.
Allowing legislators to take executive branch jobs and pick up a huge pension boost should be an easy mistake to reverse. Repealing the expensive part of HB 299 from 2005 would show significant good will.
Color me skeptical.
We are never going to get anywhere on fixing the mess caused by decades of overpaying our government employees at the rate we are going.
The Sun said "Beshear is less likely than his ineffective predecessor to let the legislature dictate the terms of a special session. Something tells us he’s going to finally bring about long-overdue pension reform."
Their optimism is misplaced. We need to join 12-step recovering addicts by first admitting that we have been overpaying public employees for a long time. Otherwise, cutting benefits slightly today probably just means they will go back up later. That's just kicking the can down the road.
Now that more people are starting to pay attention to this, we need to shift the discussion to consideration of phasing out pensions for legislators. Eliminating this conflict of interest might help lawmakers keep clear heads about driving us out of the benefits ditch and inspire them to stay out.
Allowing legislators to take executive branch jobs and pick up a huge pension boost should be an easy mistake to reverse. Repealing the expensive part of HB 299 from 2005 would show significant good will.
Color me skeptical.
That didn't take very long
Speaking to Bill Bryant on WKYT's Newsmakers program, U.S. Senate candidate Bruce Lunsford wasted no time in playing the class warfare game and redistributing wealth with the best of them:
What he meant to say was "yes"
In an interview on WKYT's Newsmakers program in Lexington, Bill Bryant got an earful when he asked U.S. Senate candidate Bruce Lunsford if he supports a universal health insurance scheme:
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Bluegrass Institute hacked, sites down for days
If you can't beat them, hack them.
That's seems to be the philosophy of whoever hacked the Bluegrass Institute's websites Saturday and stifled much of the organization's public communications until at least Monday.
The Bluegrass Institute, Kentucky's free market think tank, has raised the ire of Frankfort politicians and bureaucrats with its non-partisan advocacy of open and honest government spending practices and public education statistics reporting.
An early Institute victory forced the legislature to post floor votes onto the internet each day the General Assembly is in session. The website that came about as a result, Kentucky Votes, managed to escape the hack which brought down The Bluegrass Institute's main site (www.bipps.org) and the group's blog, Bluegrass Policy Blog (www.bluegrassblog.org).
Current initiatives, which have rankled many, include an effort to place government expenditures on a searchable website, pushing for a serious discussion of public employee fringe benefit reform to avert bankruptcy of state and local governments, creating more meaningful oversight of the Kentucky Department of Education, and reducing corporate taxes across-the-board to bring more jobs to Kentucky.
"Clearly, more than a few people have us in their cross-hairs," said Institute founder and President Chris Derry. "But this temporary setback doesn't slow the need to operate government under correct principles. We shall return and double our efforts."
That's seems to be the philosophy of whoever hacked the Bluegrass Institute's websites Saturday and stifled much of the organization's public communications until at least Monday.
The Bluegrass Institute, Kentucky's free market think tank, has raised the ire of Frankfort politicians and bureaucrats with its non-partisan advocacy of open and honest government spending practices and public education statistics reporting.
An early Institute victory forced the legislature to post floor votes onto the internet each day the General Assembly is in session. The website that came about as a result, Kentucky Votes, managed to escape the hack which brought down The Bluegrass Institute's main site (www.bipps.org) and the group's blog, Bluegrass Policy Blog (www.bluegrassblog.org).
Current initiatives, which have rankled many, include an effort to place government expenditures on a searchable website, pushing for a serious discussion of public employee fringe benefit reform to avert bankruptcy of state and local governments, creating more meaningful oversight of the Kentucky Department of Education, and reducing corporate taxes across-the-board to bring more jobs to Kentucky.
"Clearly, more than a few people have us in their cross-hairs," said Institute founder and President Chris Derry. "But this temporary setback doesn't slow the need to operate government under correct principles. We shall return and double our efforts."
Is Don Leach the lone gunman or just a patsy?
Fayette County Detention Center Deputy Director Don Leach is currently trying to dig himself out of trouble for a contraband violation in the intake area of the Lexington jail. An internal incident report has been filed and it has been a hot topic of discussion among rank-and-file employees who are watching the jail administration implode under federal investigations and lawsuits.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Does John McCain think you are a conservative?
We've all heard a lot of debate about Sen. John McCain's conservative credentials. And while the certain prospect of a fall campaign against either Sen. Barack Obama or Sen. Hillary Clinton burnishes McCain's reputation as a bona fide heir of Reagan, I couldn't help noticing McCain has taken to classifying political blogs on his campaign's website. At least one of his classifications was somewhat noteworthy.
Daily Kos is actually featured as a liberal blog and a longer list of conservative blogs hits on several of the biggies like Michelle Malkin, Power Line Blog, and Club for Growth.
But under a list of "Other" Suggested blogs, there is the following (click the image to expand it):
You can go here and check it out for yourself.
Daily Kos is actually featured as a liberal blog and a longer list of conservative blogs hits on several of the biggies like Michelle Malkin, Power Line Blog, and Club for Growth.
But under a list of "Other" Suggested blogs, there is the following (click the image to expand it):
You can go here and check it out for yourself.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Both House and Senate full of it on pension mess
Please, someone try to convince me this latest pension dog-and-pony show is not the biggest pile of manure in a state containing many big piles of manure.
What say you, Bruce Lunsford?
The Intrade prediction market has Kentucky's U.S. Senate race tightening. Last trades at midday have Sen. Mitch McConnell at $65 and challenger Bruce Lunsford at $35.
Sen. McConnell would do well to challenge Lunsford to state his position on the mult-billion dollar Mortgage Bailout Bill.
Sen. McConnell would do well to challenge Lunsford to state his position on the mult-billion dollar Mortgage Bailout Bill.
Got a minute for a little internet activism?
I'm on my way to Frankfort to see the shiny new Senate offices we are buying.
If you have a minute, please join the Facebook group "Where in the world is Kentucky's checkbook?" (It seems you have to join Facebook first, but that's not a bad idea. Great way to keep in touch with people.)
If you have a minute, please join the Facebook group "Where in the world is Kentucky's checkbook?" (It seems you have to join Facebook first, but that's not a bad idea. Great way to keep in touch with people.)
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Skippy is hiring
Finance and Administration Cabinet Secretary Jonathan Miller is looking for a Chief Information Officer. Lots of huge benefits for the right girl.
Bruce Lunsford doubles up on Mitch McConnell
The prediction market Intrade prices a Bruce Lunsford victory over Mitch McConnell at $38, one week after trading at $17.
A McConnell victory remains priced at $80.
A McConnell victory remains priced at $80.
Shock: new Kentucky ed numbers don't add up
Kentucky's education bureaucracy has an amazing ability to make schoolchildren disappear and then magically reappear when they are needed to calculate funding.
Take, for example, the following press release that was printed without question by the Lexington Herald Leader.
In the news story, we see a Kentucky graduation rate of 83%, a drop out rate of 3%, and a retention rate of 3%. Add that up and think about it just a little.
And, by all means, don't take my word for it. Ask Crit Luallen.
Take, for example, the following press release that was printed without question by the Lexington Herald Leader.
In the news story, we see a Kentucky graduation rate of 83%, a drop out rate of 3%, and a retention rate of 3%. Add that up and think about it just a little.
And, by all means, don't take my word for it. Ask Crit Luallen.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Now is a great time to talk about this
Sen. John McCain should promise to run for just one term as President.
Of course, doing so really puts the spotlight on who he picks for Veep.
Please, don't let it be Mike Huckabee.
Is getting someone who is conservative on both fiscal and social issues too much to ask?
Of course, doing so really puts the spotlight on who he picks for Veep.
Please, don't let it be Mike Huckabee.
Is getting someone who is conservative on both fiscal and social issues too much to ask?
Vote for me to elect the other guy?
Interesting post on Peach Pundit from the Libertarian Party convention provides an unusual approach to getting a presidential nomination:
If the candidates' best line this year is going to be "waste your vote on me," enthusiasm for the Libertarian Party must be pretty low. Perhaps not as bad as the Greenies, but probably pretty low.
Gravel has a hit piece on Barr up around the convention this morning. It reads, “Do you really think we will win the White House? If we run Bob Barr, he will take votes away from McCain, then Obama or Clinton will be president for 8 years with a Democratic Congress. If we run Mike Gravel, he will take votes away from the Democrat and McCain will be president for 4 years with a Democrat Congress. Mike Gravel is our only smart choice!”
If the candidates' best line this year is going to be "waste your vote on me," enthusiasm for the Libertarian Party must be pretty low. Perhaps not as bad as the Greenies, but probably pretty low.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Locking and loading for President Obama
I think it is pretty funny to see Hillary Clinton get creamed for not suggesting someone shoot Barack Obama so she can get the Democratic presidential nomination.
That said, it's interesting that, with Obama leading in national polls, a Missouri car dealership is offering gas coupons or handgun coupons to people who buy a car.
Most people are choosing to exercise their Second Amendment rights, by accepting the guns rather than the gas. Barack can't be happy about that.
Too bad car dealers can't offer properly regulated health insurance as an incentive. If Barry wins in November, people in the flyover states may be looking for some of that.
That said, it's interesting that, with Obama leading in national polls, a Missouri car dealership is offering gas coupons or handgun coupons to people who buy a car.
Most people are choosing to exercise their Second Amendment rights, by accepting the guns rather than the gas. Barack can't be happy about that.
Too bad car dealers can't offer properly regulated health insurance as an incentive. If Barry wins in November, people in the flyover states may be looking for some of that.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Conservative Edge coming back to life
If you have gotten out of the habit of checking out The Conservative Edge, now is a good time to go back.
And while you are at it, head over to Real Clear Politics and vote for Leland Conway's "I am not a racist" essay.
And while you are at it, head over to Real Clear Politics and vote for Leland Conway's "I am not a racist" essay.
Who likes buying cars and gas for bureaucrats?
Glad to see Kentucky Education Commissioner Jon Draud catch a little grief for his fancy taxpayer-provided car. It's pretty hard to see how pimping his ride is going to help educate any children out of poverty here.
Of course, rewarding government employees for less than stellar results in Kentucky is hardly unprecedented. Take, for instance, the administrators at the Fayette County Detention Center who are zipping around at taxpayer expense.
Of course, rewarding government employees for less than stellar results in Kentucky is hardly unprecedented. Take, for instance, the administrators at the Fayette County Detention Center who are zipping around at taxpayer expense.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
I think we just found some missing state money
Jessamine County Sheriff Kevin Corman appears to have serious problems with the Kentucky State Police related to financial irregularities in his office.
Picking a bad decade to expand Medicaid
Remember when Kentucky figured out we overspent on Medicaid and needed more money to fill in the gap?
Ohio is now finding the same thing.
And some folks want to sign everyone up for government health insurance. Sheesh...
Ohio is now finding the same thing.
"State Budget Director J. Pari Sabety told legislators yesterday that the budget needs another $344 million ($122 million in state funds) to cover increased Medicaid costs because 66,000 more people than expected are using the state-federal health-insurance program for the poor and elderly."
And some folks want to sign everyone up for government health insurance. Sheesh...
Kentucky, circa 2020?
French bureaucrats are having a meltdown over public employee pension reform, a subject Kentucky politicians are striving mightily to ignore here.
A government employee revolt has to be considered inevitable in Kentucky, given what we are seeing in France and our limited ability to tax ourselves out of a Bluegrass version of the same mess here.
What are you waiting for, Monsieur Beshear?
A government employee revolt has to be considered inevitable in Kentucky, given what we are seeing in France and our limited ability to tax ourselves out of a Bluegrass version of the same mess here.
What are you waiting for, Monsieur Beshear?
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
If we don't teach our kids, people will forget
Kentucky educators are now busily putting together a curriculum on the Holocaust, as state law requires them to do.
And may we never forget the horrors perpetrated on innocent human beings in the name of an ideology.
While we are at it, though, perhaps we should remember even worse atrocities committed in the name of a much larger ideology: communism.
Kentucky legislators should start to work immediately on a bill for the 2009 General Assembly requiring schools to teach children about the millions of lives destroyed by communist leaders.
And may we never forget the horrors perpetrated on innocent human beings in the name of an ideology.
While we are at it, though, perhaps we should remember even worse atrocities committed in the name of a much larger ideology: communism.
Kentucky legislators should start to work immediately on a bill for the 2009 General Assembly requiring schools to teach children about the millions of lives destroyed by communist leaders.
This little piggy ate subsidies...
After watching Republicans get creamed in elections and, subsequently, going to CPAC this year for the first time in his presidency, George W. Bush found the will to veto The Farm Bill.
The override is coming, but it was a worthy effort.
The override is coming, but it was a worthy effort.
Health insurance changes headed your way
In comparing Sen. Barack Obama's health care plan against Sen. John McCain's health care plan, it may be helpful to consider whether someone would want to be a New Yorker buying health insurance in Kentucky or a Kentuckian buying health insurance in New York.
Read this.
Read this.
Yet, she can't
Sen. Hillary Clinton can't shake the image that, even after winning Kentucky's battle last night, she is going to lose the war against Sen. Barack Obama.
Providing a sure sign Hillary is doomed, Mark Hebert reports Governor Steve Beshear is set to cast his superdelegate vote for her.
Providing a sure sign Hillary is doomed, Mark Hebert reports Governor Steve Beshear is set to cast his superdelegate vote for her.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
What is Steve Beshear hiding now?
Just learned this morning California is about to set up a website listing every government expenditure. Gov. Steve Beshear knows he is going to get himself sued on some of his executive orders, but instituting government transparency would merely make him look like he took one of his campaign promises seriously.
Why would he not want us to know what is happening to our money once we send it to Frankfort?
Why would he not want us to know what is happening to our money once we send it to Frankfort?
Anyone know a good First Amendment lawyer?
Fayette County Detention Center bagman Sgt. John McQueen is looking like the fall guy for Dr. Don Leach this morning.
Please place all angry anonymous responses below. And if you want to sue me for libel, you know where to find me.
Please place all angry anonymous responses below. And if you want to sue me for libel, you know where to find me.
Monday, May 19, 2008
63rd House primary shocker
Will Terwort appears to be about to beat Rep. Alecia Webb-Edgington in tomorrow's Republican primary.
Will you beat Mitch McConnell and not get paid?
If you really think Greg Fischer or Bruce Lunsford is going to beat Sen. Mitch McConnell in November, you might want to look at Intrade.com.
A more Democratic Senate might get you free government healthcare, or nationalized oil companies (free gas, anyone?), or whatever.
But at a last trade of $17 for a contract on "any Dem beats Mitch," the prediction market presents an excellent opportunity for you (if you really believe!) to put someone else's money in your mouth.
A more Democratic Senate might get you free government healthcare, or nationalized oil companies (free gas, anyone?), or whatever.
But at a last trade of $17 for a contract on "any Dem beats Mitch," the prediction market presents an excellent opportunity for you (if you really believe!) to put someone else's money in your mouth.
Kentucky's rigid political spoils system too costly
Tennessee is pushing for government spending transparency and Ohio is pushing for an end to back-slapping double-dippers.
Kentucky would do well to pursue both (or even just one) of these initiatives. But all we get is hot air.
Each day with no positive action is another day in which we draw closer to disaster.
Kentucky would do well to pursue both (or even just one) of these initiatives. But all we get is hot air.
Each day with no positive action is another day in which we draw closer to disaster.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Friday, May 16, 2008
A little action in Kentucky's Sixth
Congressional candidate Tony McCurdy appeared on the Leland Conway Show in Lexington this morning and announced his support for the FairTax.
Skippy on the stump
Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet Secretary Jonathan Miller today endorsed Barack Obama for President and railed against gas prices to a huge crowd of adoring fans who really wish he had been elected governor.
The Obama campaign provided the podium. And the crowd. And the videographer.
The Obama campaign provided the podium. And the crowd. And the videographer.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Trousers ablaze
Congressman Ben Chandler promised the citizens of Kentucky's Sixth district in 2004 he would never vote for a tax increase if they honored him by sending him to Congress.
Today he broke his promise for the fifth time in the current session.
Does Senator Barack Obama condone such blatant chicanery?
Today he broke his promise for the fifth time in the current session.
Does Senator Barack Obama condone such blatant chicanery?
Louisville Metro Council race heats up
See if you can spot any problems with this mailer in the ongoing battle between Jon Ackerson and Ellen Reitmeyer:
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Playing Fayette Jail Twister
The federal grand jury investigating the Fayette County Detention Center has extended its term one month into June, fueling speculation one or more targets in the inmate beatings scandal has provided new information necessitating a delay in the proceedings.
Also getting some interesting details in about the city's investigation into possible embezzlement at FCDC.
Also getting some interesting details in about the city's investigation into possible embezzlement at FCDC.
Will Hillary out-Nader Nader?
The Drudge Report suggests this morning Sen. Hillary Clinton could shift to an independent run for POTUS after she sees the handwriting on the Democratic Party wall.
Apparently, 29% of Democrats want her to go indy after Sen. Barack Obama clinches their party's nomination.
Apparently, 29% of Democrats want her to go indy after Sen. Barack Obama clinches their party's nomination.
Why we can't all just get along
Recent polling suggests widespread disgust with Kentucky's legislature, much of it for good reason.
But the real problem is the finding that, despite our rapidly expanding entitlement spending, bonded indebtedness, and unfunded fringe benefits, 58% of Kentuckians don't think state government is spending enough money.
But the real problem is the finding that, despite our rapidly expanding entitlement spending, bonded indebtedness, and unfunded fringe benefits, 58% of Kentuckians don't think state government is spending enough money.
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