Bad News For Teachers Union, Good News For Us

School choice is working in Washington D.C.

National GOP Like Kentucky Dems?

Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney earned Kentucky Kudos on Monday with a good teacher pay plan.

Today, he gets the opposite for his compulsory health insurance plan and another very dubious political move.

Supporters point to requirements for drivers to carry car insurance, but that is a weak analogy. The government doesn't spend taxpayer dollars buying car insurance for low-income people. The law requires them to stay off the road and offenders face jail time if they drive without insurance. Romney's socialized medicine deal expands the entitlement mentality further up the income scale. Some people complain about pay increases putting them into higher tax brackets, but that is only a marginal increase. Under Romney's plan, upwardly mobile workers would find increasing incomes causing a tangible loss to their government health insurance subsidy.

Do we really want entitlement disincentives to plague the middle class just as the old "War on Poverty" has crushed the poor for decades? I suppose if we really wanted to follow this track we could provide government car insurance and subsidies for car purchases and sliding-scale prices for gasoline and car repairs based on income. Hey, where's my leather seat subsidy?!

Anyway, as 2008 draws ever closer, national Republicans wanting to keep the GOP in the White House face the same problem as Kentucky Democrats who want their party to regain the Governor's Mansion. No candidate.

It Just Gets Worse For Worley

As Senator Ed Worley(D-Richmond) prepares for an April 19 hearing on the ethics complaint regarding his hidden business interests, he faces even more bad news.

One of his companies, Highland Centre LLC, has over $11,000 in delinquent property taxes owed to Madison county, according to the Richmond Register. The Madison county clerk's office confirmed the delinquency and plans a sale of the tax liens.

Terrorists Find Another Downing Street Memo

Al-jazeera is at it again. How long will it be before the American Left picks up this story?

I'd say by this weekend we will be hearing in the MSM how attacking Iraq made the terrorists mad at us and caused the subway bombings in London.

Once again, the Bush administration is stuck between those who want to surrender the war and those who want to turn the Middle East into a sea of glass. It is a shame when protecting America's interests responsibly is the minority position.

The Bio-terror Lab That Could Have Been

When Hal Rogers was putting together a Kentucky-Tennessee coalition to bring the federal bio-terror laboratory to Somerset, where the heck was Ben Chandler?

Lexington is a much better fit, with the University, the educated workforce, and the infrastructure needs already in place. I'm all for southern Kentucky getting this and it will be a great boon to the state, but it would be nice if central Kentucky had an alert Congressional representative as well.

And yes, it is sour grapes. It is also an I-told-you-so.

It's Another Isolated Incident!

As Tom DeLay steps down, we are reminded that Republican officeholders under ethical clouds usually step down (Newt Gingrich, Robert Livingston, Tom DeLay) and Democrats usually cling to power as if their lives depended on it (Ted Kennedy, Bill Clinton, Johnny Ray Turner, Ed Worley).

The point is that all the Democrat tv commercials already in the can for running every race against Tom DeLay just lost their sting.

Stumbo Runs Aground

Does anyone doubt there is more to this story?

Seems interesting that the AP reports he went out last night looking for fishing locations, but wasn't reported missing until 9 AM today. Has his family grown accustomed to Stumbo's all-night excursions not ending until the middle of the next morning? Also, don't most people carry a cell phone in case of a "boat accident?"

The Pinellas county Sheriff's Office says that charges will not likely be filed against Stumbo in the incident.

Hey, A Republican With An Education Plan!

Gov. Mitt Romney deserves major points for taking on the education establishment in Massachusetts.

The top teachers union thug in his state calls Romney's plan to bring sanity to the teacher pay issue "inequitable, divisive, and ineffective."

In English, that means it is good.

Frustrate A Liberal: Support School Choice

Fear is a great motivator. Fresh off two consecutive Frankfort wins versus taxpayers, the education establishment, for their own good, really needs a little healthy fear thrown their way.

It is high time we give it to them.

Since most of us know throwing more money at our public school administrators isn't the answer to improving student education, when are we going to realize we don't have to sit back and keep endorsing blank checks to an unaccountable school bureaucracy? Seriously, how much better would our public schools be if parents could choose to take their tax dollars and their children elsewhere if they saw a better educational opportunity?

The education establishment doesn't want you asking questions like that. Unfortunately, too many elected Republicans (a seemingly natural anti-government monopoly constituency) have turned into nervous Nellies at a time that taxpayers have every reason to be questioning the status quo.

They really, really don't want you to click here to see what is coming to Kentucky. But go ahead, you rebel, and do it anyway.

Howard Dean At Your Front Door

The DNC has put the word out for Democrat volunteers to go door-to-door across the nation on April 29.

Here is part of their script:

Democrats are working on the following issues:
Which issues are the most important to you?
Honest Leadership & Open Government
Real Security
Energy Independence
Economic Prosperity & Educational Excellence
A Healthcare System that Works for Everyone
Retirement Security

I would choose each one of these issues and ask the volunteer to describe in detail what the Democratic Party is going to do differently. If this effort receives the media scrutiny it deserves it could amount to a monumentally hilarious screw-up. Think one part Jay Walking and one part Dean Scream. Then multiply those by thousands of mad-as-hell half-cocked lefties invading neighborhoods from sea to shining sea and getting their empty rhetoric thrown back in their faces, making up silly answers to questions, and melting under the pressure of real world situations.

Someone needs to follow these people around with video cameras. What we really need to do is come up with a great name for the reality show that would come as a result of all this.

KAPT Charade Exposed, Future Losses Limited

Budget negotiators have finally killed off the money-losing KAPT program. The moribund program has long been propped up by the dubious backing of the state's unclaimed property fund.

That is no longer the case.

While the program has technically been re-opened to new accounts starting in July, budget language requires premiums to be "actuarially sound." This is the crux of the issue: premiums were initially so low that the program kept going into the tank. Actuarial losses wind up being paid for with taxpayer money. That is what the Senate majority objected to. Requiring adequate premiums to keep the program from being a chronic money-loser removes all incentive to sign up for KAPT in the future.

R.I.P. KAPT.

The $13.7 million Jonathan Miller took from taxpayers in December of 2004 has also been returned to the general fund.

I would love to be a fly on the wall when Miller figures out that he really got hosed.

It's Not Too Late To Fix This

Does anyone find it somewhat odd that the Telford YMCA in Richmond is inviting scandal-plagued Sen. Ed Worley in to be the keynote speaker at their Annual Banquet? The event is supposed to be for the entire community and not just those who support thuggery and deception.

There is plenty of time to find another speaker for this event if they hurry. If you stand for the stated ideals of the YMCA but not the nefarious schemes of the Senate Democrat Leader, call (859)623-9356 and tell them to get someone else.

Another Top Democrat Coming To Lexington

Big news for Kentucky Democrats: if you swooned for Howard Dean, if you melted for Hillary Clinton, if you are angry at Jerry Lundergan for not following through on his promise to bring Ted Kennedy in, you are going to love this one.

Jane Fonda is coming to Lexington. She's anti-war and anti-capitalism all in one.

Enjoy!

I wonder which of Lexington's mayoral candidates will show up for pictures at the April 29 event.

Big Plan Revealed

Washington D.C. Democrats have claimed for months their "plan" for America was to be revealed at a later date, usually referred to as "soon."

Well, today appears to be the day.

Here is the Real Security Plan.

Looks like the work of the same people who thought John Kerry would be a great nominee. The plan seems to be heavy on talking points (Eliminate Osama Bin Laden, destroy terrorist networks like al Qaeda, finish the job in Afghanistan and end the threat posed by the Taliban) and very, very light on anything we can actually use.

Feed Your National Blog Day

Here is some common sense on China.

Mexican Illegals Learning Politics From American Left

I would be happier making fun of the French on this one if we didn't have this going on here in America.

The media is reporting on high school students walking out of class to protest for the illegals. But they aren't mentioning the teachers in Dallas who are taking elementary school students out to join the protests and wave Mexican flags. Are these teachers taking a lesson from their Anglo union comrades on how to abuse a field trip for political purposes?

Quick, Someone Call The ACLU!!

I have a feeling we are about to violate this guy's civil rights.

Funeral Protest Law Signed, Anti-War Leaders Seethe

Kentucky now can prosecute people who protest soldier funerals, much to the consternation of liberals like this.

A committed group of citizens made this happen, despite the best efforts of retiring Rep. Mike Weaver to kill the bill quietly. Now it is time for him to go lose his race for Congress and fade off into the sunset. Tim Moore will be a welcome replacement in a nice pick-up for Republicans in the House.

Show Them The Money: KEA Survey Ignores Kids

Kentucky's teachers union is big on politics. Someone should remind them their reason for being has a little to do with our children. This spring every candidate for state office gets a survey from the KEA. If you are a Democrat and answer yes to every question (increasing funding for schools, raising teacher pay and cutting employee health contributions for public employees), you get an endorsement!

Lipstick on a Pig

Feel free to ignore the changes made so far this year to last year's tax modernization. Inc. magazine picked up on the story of the tax law that pits small business against big business in the state.

The Senate passed the HB 295 disaster last night with changes the House won't like. The conference between the two chambers will create another layer of mess. Wish they could just scrap the whole thing.

Bluegrass FLOW Loses Again

It looks like Kentucky American Water Co. is going public after all. But it isn't going to happen through a government condemnation, as Mayor Teresa Isaac spent her entire term trying to force.

RWE, the company's parent, announced today it plans to sell American Water on the open market to shareholders sometime next year. This presents a win-win situation in which those who want local control of their water delivery system will be able to acquire it with their own money and without trampling anyone's private property rights. This is also good news for KY American customers outside of Lexington who stood to lose any voice in the operations of their water supplier if the city of Lexington had succeeded in taking over the company.

We Want Gore?

Democrats are feeling their oats. That must be why the left is digging up Al Gore and talking about running him for President in 2008.

I really wouldn't mind hearing him talk about putting Social Security surplus funds in a lock box. (Think the Dems will let him do that again?) But in a time when even Republicans can't be trusted to cut spending, make tax cuts permanent, or hold off trade protectionists, do we really want to go backward on these things? And don't even get me started on how fast he would turn the war effort over to the UN and the courts over to the ACLU, forgetting them both until we were all speaking Farsi and jailing Christians for praying at home.

The worst thing about Democrats putting up the extremists on their side is that too many Republicans who get elected by default don't feel they have to adhere to conservative principles. I guess Gore could re-invent himself again again (that's not a typo, he just keeps doing it) but no one would buy it, especially the Hard Left he needs to get nominated. After putting all their eggs in Kerry's basket in 2004, you might think they would know better by now. We'll see.

Running... And Spinning

Just saw a television commercial for Isaac for Mayor. Is she really selling the idea that she is in favor of local business?

In favor of stealing them, perhaps.

The ad was probably effective enough, though. Mayor Isaac should have little trouble getting past May and her ad looks like that of an incumbent. Challengers Bill Farmer and Jim Newberry are focused on each other, as they should be.

The hope here is that the anti-condemnation folks haven't forgotten what they worked the last few years on. The pro-cons definitely haven't forgotten. Should Bill Farmer get past the primary, the battle this fall will be about going backward on condemnation or concentrating on more important things, like anything else. If Newberry makes it instead, the race will inspire a stricter noise ordinance for Lexington.

Here is what I am talking about.

Is Mad Howard Running Out of Steam?

Oh, what a difference two years makes...

In the spring and summer of 2004, Howard Dean went from presidential front-runner to kingmaker, creating an unprecedented internet presence and ultimately riding his growing influence to the chairmanship of the Democratic Party.

Here in Kentucky, Dean arguably reached his zenith when his Dean for America group held candidate auditions at the Kentucky Horse Park in July of that year. The winners were to be labeled Dean's Dozen candidates for the state. Easily the most striking moment of the event had to be when Rep. Bob Damron followed Sen. Ernesto Scorsone to the microphone. Praising the openly liberal Senator for helping to stop "the Republican agenda," Damron seemed determined to fit in. Coming only weeks after Rep. Damron stood with Governor Ernie Fletcher at the signing of a fetal homicide bill and joining in on the selling of "tax modernization," (which Damron now calls "un-American"), it was a strong statement about Dean's allure that Damron hoped to be named a Dean's Dozen candidate.

He didn't make the cut, but twelve proud liberals did.

Dean for America is now Democracy for America, but the idea is still the same. Only in Kentucky, the well seems to have run dry. Go to this website and search throughout Kentucky. I only found one candidate who has expressed an interest in gaining the group's help, a state representative candidate from Louisville.

She is a proud liberal, indeed.

President Bush: Read The Blogs

President Bush today addressed the question of the MSM's failure to cover anything positive in the war. He said: “One of the things that we have to value is that that we do have a media… there’s blogs, there’s Internet, there’s all kinds of way to communicate which is literally changing the way people get their information and so if you’re concerned I would suggest that you reach out to some of the groups that are supporting the troops, that got internet sites and just keep the word moving.”

Westrom Upping The Ante

Rep. Susan Westrom (D-Lexington) filed an amendment to the Gambling Our Way to Prosperity Bill that would add another three casinos to the already requested eight.

In her amendment, she includes the wish list of government spending increases to go along with the anticipated revenue from all the losing gamblers. No mention of how to pay for the exorbitant social costs associated with the gambling losses.

Senator Speedbump Faces Rough Road Ahead

Senator Ed Worley (D-Richmond) has had a busy year. He is being sued for swindling a constituent and faces an ethics complaint for hiding this "business activity" and others from public view.

In fact, things have gotten so bad for Worley that he is resting his political future on a bill that would put speedbumps on one city street in Berea.

It doesn't look good.

The KEA Won't Like This One Bit

ABC's John Stossel is coming to Lexington to talk about how school choice helps bad schools become good schools.

He will be here May 25 and will speak at the Marriott Griffin Gate.

Union protestors need something to get their blood pumping, right? The Bluegrass Institute is hosting and should have details soon..

KY Senate Versus Jonathan Miller, Again?

It is March, that must mean it's time again for the Republicans in the KY Senate to smack Jonathan Miller's hand. Last year, they got after him for taking $13.7 million in taxpayer funds to prop up his money-losing KAPT program.

This year, the magic number is $6.6 million. And that doesn't include the $13.7 million of the people's money he still has from last year.

Who Needs Liberal Media Bias?

The people who want Kentucky's baby step toward socialized medicine to pass took heart today from at least one item in the Lexington Herald-Leader's description of key bills in Frankfort.

The chart on page A16 describes HB 445 as one that "Makes health insurance more affordable for small businesses."

The trick is that the bill only makes coverage "more affordable" by subsidizing employer health plans with tax dollars. Why not call it the "Medicaid for Everyone" bill?

Terry McBrayer: A Smart Political Hack

The following from this story this morning tells us Terry McBrayer is not only running for Governor, but that he isn't shy about scaring and manipulating innocent people to further his own cause:

St. Joseph Hospital and Associated Healthcare Systems of Jessamine County, which would be owned by the same company that owns Samaritan Hospital, both want to open ambulatory care clinics in Nicholasville.
Associated Healthcare Systems of Jessamine County previously filed an application to put a new hospital in Jessamine County through the Certificate of Need process.

So McBrayer's histrionics about Jessamine countians' immediate need for a 50 bed hospital seem to have already gone by the wayside. Yet Jessamine countians are circulating petitions and placing angry calls to the Governor's office for something no hospital company wants to build anymore. Or, as far as lobbyist McBrayer is concerned, it's Mission Accomplished.

Nice hachet job, Terry McBrayer. Jessamine countians and all Kentuckians would do well to remember that when you play with snakes you are likely to get bitten.

Think Tank Shocker: High Income Earners Make More Money

As Kentucky struggled today to stop charging income taxes to businesses with no income, the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities (a liberal propaganda mill) has figured out definitively that tax cuts benefit most those who pay the most taxes.

Will such wonders never cease?

Socialized Medicine In England

More evidence we don't need it here.

Howard Dean Crony Stirring in Jessamine County

DNC member and former chairman of the Kentucky Democratic Party Terry McBrayer is trying to get people in Jessamine county worked up and stampeding the Governor's office to demand a hospital in Nicholasville.

McBrayer is a lobbyist for Associated Health Care Systems and his name keeps coming up as a possible Dem candidate for Governor. So he is now in Jessamine telling people to panic because there is no hospital in the county.

So far, it seems to be working.

More on this here.

Brereton Jones Media Makeover

Former Governor Brereton Jones will be going on the Sue Wylie Show Thursday at 10 AM to try to spin his HillaryCare health plan that decimated the Kentucky health insurance market in 1994. He ran on it, he pushed it, he was warned what would happen, and we still see the effects today of his horrible plan. Should be interesting to see him do this rehab attempt on his reputation.

Media Appearance

I will be on the Sue Wylie Show in Lexington this morning at 11:00. That's 590 AM on your radio dial.

First Election Win of 2006

Senator Tom Buford(R-Nicholasville) just picked up the first election victory of the year when his opponent dropped out of the race.

Democrat Joe Walker, the scandal-plagued sheriff of Jessamine county, read the handwriting on the wall and decided to spend more time with his family.

Ed Worley's Egomaniacal Verb Tense/Sentence Structure Breakdown

"I'm the most wrote about guy in Madison county," Worley told the Richmond Register.

More Frankfort Democrat "Economic Development"

Rep. Rob Wilkey (D-Scottsville) is at it again. Bluegrass Policy Blog has the story.

Strange Bedfellows: Ed Worley And ???

Sen. Ed Worley (D-Richmond) got caught with his hand in the cookie jar, again.

Worley failed to disclose several banking relationships on his 2006 Statement of Financial Disclosure that all state legislators and candidates are required to file honestly.

On a tip from a reader, I spent about ten minutes in the Madison county courthouse yesterday verifying the existence of a $1.3 million loan Worley has with Citizens Bank of Cumberland County that he didn't disclose. The mortgage is on property in Madison county. Another hidden financial arrangement was a $900,000 loan with Cumberland Valley National Bank And Trust Company. The Madison county property purchased with this loan is the same land that is part of a federal racketeering lawsuit filed against Worley. I found other loans. Combined, there were about $10 million in hidden financial arrangements.

The purpose of financial disclosure forms for legislators is to keep potential conflicts of interest out in the open. I have no idea how many others are out there that I did not find. What else is Worley trying to hide? I have heard that he has hidden interest in one or more racetracks in Kentucky. How might that affect his vote on expanded gambling?

There are a lot more questions here than answers, but I did file a Legislative Ethics complaint against Sen. Worley yesterday. Maybe that will help shine a little light on some of Worley's activities. Of course, he will complain that this is just some kind of political attack, but the facts are what they are. The time for spinning and damage control are past. We need answers.

He might claim that he forgot to mention the $10 million in loans. I don't know, Senator, will it be better to claim an eight figure "oops" with several different banks as you ask the voters to trust you with their money for another four years, or are you ready to come clean about your financial dealings?

This could get pretty interesting.

Ethics Complaint Filed

I have filed an ethics complaint against Ed Worley. Details to follow...

Raise KEES Standards Now

Kentucky high school graduates are practically guaranteed scholarship money through a state program called KEES. A 2.50 GPA and a 15 on the ACT exam qualify for an award.

That is sending entirely the wrong message. We are sending kids to college (armed with grants and student loans, no doubt) when those students are almost guaranteed to fail. Giving them state money to complete the charade is utter foolishness. This benefits no one, except the colleges. And it helps them about as much as welfare helps individuals.

KEES scholarships based on minimal standards are nothing more than welfare for state colleges. The program will do more good if these standards are raised significantly.

And we are running out of time chasing our tails on education in this state. School choice legislation would help a lot.

Teachers Unions The Next Blogger Takedown

Nothing about this in the MSM.

Who Needs Liberals: We Have ICARE!

The ICARE Health Bill is supposed to come up for a vote in the Senate early this week.

This is just another government give-away program that will be demanded as a right of citizenship in a few short years. The idea is to subsize with tax dollars group health insurance plans for small business. This is HillaryCare in Kentucky II. What a mess. Kudos to Rep. David Floyd (R-Bardstown) for being the only House member with the courage to vote against this thing. With any luck, Sen. David Williams and Sen. Tom Buford will prevail as cooler heads in the Senate.

Eastern Kentucky Vote Buying Indictments?

Rumors are swirling that more indictments in the Eastern Kentucky vote buying scandal are imminent.

Could it be just about time to come up with an official name for this shameful affair?

Kentucky Sues Over Medicare Drug Plan

Good grief. The disastrous Medicare drug plan that President Bush had to campaign on because Al Gore campaigned on it, is now headed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

This is bad liberal politics smacking us across the face yet again. Not only are we faced with a very expensive entitlement that has been poorly conceived and very poorly implemented, we now have the Republican Governor of Texas serving as point man for the five state team fighting the plan in court. Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, and New Jersey joined Texas in the effort.

From what I have been able to glean from the coverage of the case so far, the states may have an uphill climb demonstrating they have been wronged the way they say they have. They say a "clawback provision" is making states pay for the drug benefit, when actually the plan calls for states to shares some of their savings with the federal government. Big difference. And it should come as no surprise that Greg Stumbo is

Right to Work Announcement Coming Monday

Supporters of Employee Choice legislation will be gathering in Frankfort Monday at 10 AM.

But the real fireworks will be on Tuesday, when the House Labor and Industry committee will vote on Right to Work and Prevailing Wage. There will be expert testimony from the good guys and gnashing of teeth from the other side. Expect to see thousands of union folks trucked in from every direction for this. Make sure you clock out first, boys.

We Need The Fair Tax

Here is my latest newspaper column.

The Best Governor In America?

Probably Mark Sanford. Expect him to be widely touted soon as a possible candidate for President in a weak '08 field.

Someone has to show America how to free itself from its addiction to government spending. Sanford is taking a lot of abuse at home for doing so on the state level. Keep an eye on him.

KY Department of Education Hates Sick Private School Kids

If your child gets hurt or sick and can't attend school, he or she can get private tutoring services at home, provided with taxpayer funds.

But this only applies to public school kids.

So let me get this straight: if you pay taxes to provide a public education for everyone's kids but your own and your child needs public school services in a pinch, you are out of luck.

Yes, that's right. Sends the wrong message unless the message is that they hate people who choose private schools, don't you think?

It's not like all private schoolers are millionaire Republicans.

Taxes In Kentucky: We're Number 44!

If the Bluegrass Policy Blog isn't part of your daily reading, it should be. Today they discuss state tax issues that seem to be too hard for either party in Frankfort to get right.

Here is the link to today's post. Important stuff.

UPDATE: Spoke with the folks at the Tax Foundation and learned that when they apply their current methodology to their 2004 survey, Kentucky was #33 then (prior to tax modernization). Not good.

Media Appearance

I'll be on WVLK-AM 590 this afternoon in Lexington on the Kruser and Krew program at 3:00 talking politics.

Doing Something About Health Care Costs

Democrats think socialized medicine is the answer. President Bush is doing this.

Republicans Starting To Come Around On Ports?

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) spoke in Lexington last night to 900 Republicans who spent at least $75 each to hear from the 2008 presidential hopeful.

Since Hillary Clinton wasn't involved, those many thousands of dollars should actually go to benefit Kentucky candidates.

Anyway, Ryan Alessi got the scoop when Frist told him he had been briefed on the UAE ports deal and that his concerns had been put to rest. I hesitate to add that this catches Senator Frist up with where Senator John McCain has been all week. The next GOP standard-bearer needs to be able to get these things right the first time and not succumb to liberal talking points. Security is not at issue with the ports deal. No amount of spin can change that fact. The spin only serves to energize the wacko left and to confuse too many of the rest of us. That is what we have seen this last week.

More Democrat "Economic Development"

Fresh off their expensive pro-union "victories" in Frankfort, Democrats now return with Son of Wal-Mart Bill. This one would prohibit companies with more than 25,000 employees from firing employees without "good cause."

Just like the previous Wal-Mart bill, this is just to get the ball rolling. If they can force union job protection rules on companies with 25,000 employees, next year it will be 5,000 and on down until you can't fire a bad employee for any reason whatsoever.

As Republicans are trying to make Kentucky more competitive in the world that is whizzing past us, these folks are pulling hard in the other direction.

Bill Frist Coming To Lexington

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) will be in Lexington Saturday night to talk to the state GOP members gathered for the state Lincoln Day.

Frist is making his case for the White House. He will have to drive home that Republicans have a de facto minority in the Senate, and that one of the top problem votes is rival Sen. John McCain (R-AZ).

The Joe Barrows Bill

Last year's HB 299 will become known as the Joe Barrows bill when he retires from the House this year and takes a much higher paying job with Greg Stumbo's AG office. This bill, which became law without Governor Fletcher's signature, will allow Barrows to become the first legislator to work three years at a state job and get a pension based on those three years' salary. This will be a major boon to Barrows and a huge cost to taxpayers.

Now This Is How You Report A Ballot Petition Screw-Up

The Lexington Herald-Leader went bonkers when their favored candidate for Lexington's 4th district council seat failed to obtain the required number of signatures on his ballot petition. Rather than blame the candidate who did not get enough signatures, they blamed his Republican opponent who did.

GOPUSA covers a candidate in Ohio who similarly failed to get the required number of signatures on his petition. Anyone who can't go out and get a few signatures to run for office has no business running.

Fly On The Wall

Heard recently at the Garrard County Courthouse:

"The people of Garrard county are kind of silly. A lot of them probably don't even know who the President of the United States is."

--Barry Peel, candidate for Garrard County Judge Executive

Bush Sticks By Port Deal

Good.

Advice To Vote Buyers And Sellers: Move To Pennsylvania

As Kentucky's growing vote buying investigation continues, Democrats like indicted Senator Johnny Ray Turner may be wondering how future Dems will get elected.

Here's a plan: move to Pennsylvania, where Governor Ed Rendell will make sure undocumented voters can make their voices heard over and over. Of course, this might be a problem for Gov. Rendell.

And Now, Another Reason For KY Liberals To Scream, Rant, and Rave

President Bush has made his nomination for U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Kentucky.

Here's a shock for the Left: He's a Republican with Republican friends and family.

Port Story Parallels KY Water Scare

Remember the phony stories after RWE bought KY American Water Co. that had evil Germans loading up their Benzes with our most precious resource and cackling triumphantly all the way back to Berlin?

Well, we are looking at the same nonsense on the issue of the six American ports being purchased by a company from the United Arab Emirates. Only now the politicians from both sides of the aisle are piling on the Bush administration.

Both parties screaming about this are wrong.

Arab ownership of U.S. ports is no more a threat than the end-of-the-world scenarios presented in the 1980's when Japanese investors were buying up New York real estate.

It is very simple. Terrorist infiltration of our ports won't be prevented by forcing American ownership. It is too easy to demagogue, so expect the issue to live on for a while, but this is much ado about nothing with regard to terrorism. It has a lot more to do with the value of foreign in-flows of capital. If we risk that, we face real self-inflicted harm. That is the greater danger here.

The Terminator Returns

There is a new bill before Congress that would scrap the U.S. Tax Code and require Congress to come up with a new, fairer way to fund the federal government. It's called the Tax Code Termination Act.

So while the Left continues to celebrate killing off Social Security reform and tax reform, the efforts are quietly starting anew.

Stay tuned.

Liberals, Big Labor Attack Wal-Mart

Bob Damron sure was upset when fellow House members wanted to post the words "In God We Trust" in their in Frankfort chambers. He said the action wouldn't hold up in court.

He may be right about that, but his support for the clearly discriminatory and certainly unconstitutional Wal-Mart Bill -- they gave it the hilariously transparent Fair Share Health Care Act monicker -- suggests that he cares less about doing what is right than he does about cozying up to the big labor goons who have grown tired of trying to compete with non-union retailers in the real world. Instead they have turned to their liberal legislative cohorts.

Bob Damron keeps talking about how conservative he is. Hey Bob: jumping in bed with big unions and socialized medicine proponents isn't conservative.

Friday Funny, Wednesday Edition

A friend spotted a bumpersticker in Washington D.C.:

"I'd rather hunt with Dick Cheney than ride with Ted Kennedy"

Local version?

"I'd rather fly with Ernie Fletcher than develop land with Ed Worley"

Democrats Win Special Elections

As expected, Democrats Perry Clark and Ron Weston won special elections today in Louisville.

Clark now goes to the Senate and Weston takes Clark's House seat he resigned from last month to run for the Senate.

Expect Kentucky Democrats to try to make this a rallying point moving toward the fall elections, despite their lack of new ideas.

PetitionGate Story Deepens

I called Fayette County Clerk Don Blevins this morning about the Julian Beard candidate petition story and got something I didn't expect.

There is more to the story than what you got from the Herald Leader on Saturday.

The water company fight from the last several years may raise its ugly head again in a possible lawsuit over Beard's incomplete petition to start his campaign for the Lexington 4th district council seat.

Lexington's requirement of 100 signatures on a ballot petition is unique in Kentucky. Meanwhile, several petition-related issues from the water company fight are pending resolution before the Kentucky Court of Appeals right now. So the need for 100 signatures could go away in the next few months when the court decision on repealed charter provisions comes down. And that would make Beard a legitimate candidate.

Or not.

The fact remains that Lexington's charter requires 100 signatures on petition to file for city office. And the charter specifies that signatures that are found on competing petitions are stricken from both. So current law leaves Mr. Beard without enough signatures to be a candidate.

But that isn't his only problem. If the law is changed and Beard is allowed on the ballot, he still has Mayor Teresa Isaac hanging around his neck. Beard is the Mayor's director of Economic Development.

Asked about the Mayor's divisive style, Beard said he didn't see the problem.

"She (Mayor Isaac) is extremely inclusive," Beard said.

It gets better.

Beard says the Mayor doesn't have a problem with the business community.

"She is exactly the opposite of anti-business," he said.

On the issue of a so-called "Living Wage" that would nearly double the federal minimum wage, Mr. Beard said "it's much more complex" than being for or against the issue. Under further questioning, though, he cleared the air.

"Yes, I'm for a 'Living Wage,'" Beard said.

Herald Leader Carries Liberal Water On Petition Issue

Liberal council "candidate" Julian Beard doesn't need a campaign spokesman this year. He has the Lexington Herald-Leader.

Beard got 112 signatures on his campaign petition to run for the Fourth district Urban County Council seat. He only needed 100. But the law says names that appear on two candidates' petitions for the same race must be voided on both. There were fifteen such signatures on both Beard's and Bill Roberts' petitions. That leaves Beard with an insufficient 97 signatures. End of story, right?

Enter the Herald-Leader.

The headline screams "Dirty Tricks." The story follows with a focus on the "allegation" that Roberts purposely sought out fifteen people in order to invalidate his opponent's application.

Whether he did or not only really matters to the bonehead who thought 112 names was enough to survive the inevitable mistakes and, of course, duplications. And it matters to a certain newspaper determined to revive their left-wing agenda in Lexington.

The real problem from their perspective is that Bill Roberts is the former two-term chairman of the Republican Party of Fayette county and not a liberal.

A companion story explored the immediate desire to prevent another "Beard" in future elections. It looks like they are now calling this provision in the law a "loophole."

Beard would have avoided this whole mess if he had just rounded up a couple hundred more comrades to sign his little petition. Since he didn't, he wants to fight the law after the fact.

From the first story we learn Beard does not plan to withdraw his illegitimate candidacy. His attorney is even quoted trying to goad Roberts into challenging his petition. Fayette county clerk Don Blevins is quoted in the second story as saying only that he thought the law invalidating duplicate signatures was unfair.

It is still the law Mr. Blevins. See that you follow it and send Mr. Beard packing. While I can't fathom the rationale for prolonging the 97=100 math from the locals, their desperation and disregard for inconvenient laws certainly is familiar.

Hottest Ticket In Town

A lot of attention will be centered on Madison county the evening of March 24. The Madison Republican Party Lincoln Day dinner is that night. Keynote speaker: Rep. Hal Rogers. Tickets are going fast.

Liberal Free-For-All In Committee Meeting

Tuesday's House Appropriation and Revenue committee meeting in Frankfort was a sight to behold. The hot topic was HB 506, Rep. Jim Wayne's Tax Increase Bill. Since no one in the MSM has reported on the festivities, here's a quick rundown:

--Rep. Wayne(D-Louisville) said "This is not radical legislation. What I am proposing is reasonable and modest." He was referring to his bill which is, according to LRC estimates, a $192 million tax increase. Rep. Wayne proceeded to get caught up in all the excitement and started quoting Wendell Berry's memorable economic philosophy: "Rats and roaches live by competition under the laws of supply and demand; it is the privilege of human beings to live under the laws of justice and mercy.” I am not making this up.

--Debra Miller of Ky. Youth Advocates said “The Earned Income Tax Credit is widely recognized as the number one poverty fighter at the federal level.”

--Rep. Mary Lou Marzian said "I don’t know how much longer we as a legislative body will sit here and talk about the budget being in the toilet. I’m prepared to vote on this bill today. We can take some bold steps and do something postive. It is time. The train has left. Be brave. Be courageous. Pass legislation that can help Kentucky families."

--Bill Stolte of Berea said “Many mornings I find myself asking myself, ‘Why am I here?’ You should ask why you are here."

Georgetown News-Graphic Pimps Charlie Hoffman

Calling it "media bias" just doesn't get it on this one.

Rep. Charlie Hoffman (D-Georgetown) will need all the help he can get in November after loudly supporting the labor union that constantly attacks workers at Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Kentucky. And now that he has signed on to the Attack Wal-Mart Bill, the paper does everything it can to obscure the issue in today's edition.

The story isn't available online, but the headline reads "Legislators consider bill on health care funding" and includes a picture of Rep. Hoffman with the following quote attributed to him: "Some of the so-called health care plans are just so the company can claim that they make those available, but the benefits are minimal." That's funny. Democrats in Frankfort wrote all the health plan mandates, including the bare bones version no one wants. So is Hoffman suggesting some kind of bill that would undo the damage his fellow Democrats did to the health insurance market with their 1994 HillaryCare initiative?

No, he wants to put a tax on Wal-Mart for hiring part-time workers.

To their credit, the News-Graphic does quote Republican Senator Damon Thayer on the issue, albeit way down in the story and without exploring his statement much. Kudos to Thayer for calling the bill what it is. "It's socialism," he said. Exactly.

So Hoffman wants to tax Wal-Mart shoppers extra because Wal-Mart doesn't pay, in his opinion, a fair share of health insurance costs. The way the bill is written, by the time Toyota adds another 1500 jobs in the state, Hoffman will be after them as well. The bill only applies to companies with 10,000 employees in the state.

Rep. Hoffman seems totally clueless about what is wrong with this bill. "I think it is well within the purview of government to increase the standard of living for its constituents," he said.

How do you figure that, sir? By killing part-time jobs or raising consumer prices? The Georgetown News-Graphic is doing no one any favors by propping up this guy.

Here Comes Right To Work!

Kentuckians overwhelmingly want Right to Work legislation in Kentucky. Union groups, the ACLU, and Democrats say they won't let it pass in Kentucky, but don't be too quick to buy their rhetoric just yet.

Wild liberal spin notwithstanding, Kentucky's competitiveness will be enhanced when we pull this unnecessary obstacle down.

Kentucky's Favorite Democrat

Here is a very interesting picture of Kentucky's Favorite Democrat: Hillary Clinton.

KY House Majority Whip Barrows To Resign

Rep. Joe Barrows (D-Versailles) is going to resign his House seat at the end of the current session and join the Attorney General's office to increase his pension, sources in the AG's office said this weekend.

Barrows enlisted Carl Rollins to file late for his 56th district seat, both hoping Rollins would stand unopposed for the seat. Republican Kevin Locke, however, frustrated their scheme by filing on the last day as well.

Locke is well-regarded in the district and likely to beat either Democrat. Other Democrats are expected to seek greener pastures soon as their fragile majority in the House appears less likely to survive the November elections.

We Need Truth-In-Hiring For Law Enforcement

In 2004, Rep. Stan Lee sponsored a bill that allowed employers to divulge information about former employees to prospective employers.

We need the same thing for our law enforcement agencies.

Most of our police officers in Kentucky serve valiantly and regularly go above and beyond the call of duty. But some of the few bad apples plague the system. The problems they present persist because they just bounce around from one department to another.

Public safety demands this be changed.

Currently, a problematic officer can leave his current position (or be fired) and go elsewhere. When the hiring agency calls for a reference, the former employer can only state the dates of employment. If the former employer tries to warn the prospective employer against making the hire, his agency would be open to legal action.

A truth-in-hiring law for law enforcement agencies would alleviate this potentially dangerous loophole in the system.

The "Hey, I Don't Have An Opponent" Act of 2006

Rep. Jim Wayne (D-The Hague) has filed a bill to raise taxes on everyone over $75,000 annual income and to give the money out in the form of an Earned Income Tax Credit. The bill would also have Kentucky ignore the federal phase-out of the Death Tax.

Dems Working The Felon Vote

Rep. Jesse Crenshaw (D-Lexington) and Rep. Tom Riner (D-Louisville) have competing bills to try to get convicted felons back in the voting booth.

Crenshaw's bill would allow all felons who have completed their sentence and probation to vote. The ACLU considers this a good bill and is encouraging their followers to support it. Their action alert says "a change in the Constitution would avoid any arbitrary use of the discretionary power, and instead provide certainty and predictability for those who have served their time." Sure, predictable as in predictable Democrat votes.

Rep. Riner's bill would simply allow anyone convicted of a felony to continue to vote. This would definitely open up a new avenue for Democrat prison vote buying in future elections. (Conjugal visits, anyone?)

And on the subject of conjugal visits, a Michigan legislator has filed a bill that would allow married prisoners to have conjugal visits in order to keep their families intact. How about suggesting people don't commit felonies in order to keep their families together?

Back in Kentucky: I just can't imagine why we want to allow more people who have been sitting around in prison trying to dream up ways to game the system to go out and vote for politicians of like mind.

Congressional GOP Determines Own Fate Today

In leadership elections today in Washington D.C., House Republicans pick a new Majority Leader. Reps. Anne Northup and Geoff Davis would do very well to select John Shadegg or even John Boehner. They have to know that Roy Blunt would not be a good choice.

My favorite is Shadegg. He is one of twenty five House Republicans who voted against the disastrous Medicare prescription drug bill.

Bill Farmer: Ready For Debate

The race for Lexington Mayor was kicked into high gear today when the conservative candidate, Councilman Bill Farmer, challenged his opponents to join him in a series of twelve debates.

“Lexington needs a leader that will unite us and get everyone working together and through these public forums, the voters of Lexington will be able to learn more about my proposals to unite our city,” Farmer said.

Dude, I Need A Car

An incompetent mechanic has killed my car. I need a new one.

Any help?

I can't very well count on my contact with Ben Chandler to get a sweet JD Byrider deal like his regulators at OAG used to get, but I am looking for a dependable used car (I've been a Ford man for years, but will switch for the right car.)

Thanks.

Oh, and I will talk about the incompetent mechanic at some point after the upcoming legal proceedings.

Did Hillary Clinton Lie, Or Did She Steal KY Money?

Remember when Hillary Clinton came in to Louisville last December and Kentucky Democrats said she raised $600,000 for the state Dem party in one night?

Well, the Kentucky Democratic Party filed their finances yesterday and it shows they raised $598,723.58 in total contributions for the entire year of 2005. And that should include the big John Edwards, Max Cleland, and Joe Biden fundraisers in the state. Where did the money from Hillarypalooza go? Did she take it back to New York? Did she invest it in set-up cattle futures contracts?

Watching this one unwind will be a scream! Expect state Dem chair Jerry Lundergan's head to roll for Hillary this time.

It looks like KDP has wiped their press release archive of any mention of the big night, but they left this news story.

Tim Moore: A Leader To Watch

When Rep. Mike Weaver (D-Elizabethtown) gave up his seat in the state House for a run at Congress, Democrats had to know they were going to lose his old seat.

Tim Moore of Elizabethtown will not only win the seat, he will become a quick leader in Frankfort.

Keep your eye on Tim Moore in the 26th district. If the GOP has any more like him, the Democrats who have held us back for so long are in big trouble.

Worley Is Toast, Lundergan Rocked. Bad Day For Dems

While Kentucky Democrats try to figure out which voice to use in the 2006 elections (and notwithstanding some wishful thinking in setting up Senate challenges) the big news is that Senate Minority Leader Ed Worley is in big trouble. There is no other way to view the Senate races this year. Senators Kerr and Buford drew interesting challenges, but should prevail rather handily. Barry Metcalf will dispatch newcomer Albert Spencer and then defeat what is left of Worley.

The House races will be a lot more difficult to handicap, but the year is definitely looking like a winner for the GOP. It won't stop the spinners from trying to prop up the Dems, but today will ultimately be just another case of close but no cigar as they lose the House this year.

Cindy Sheehan Rides Again (Herb Brock Version)

Herb Brock doesn't deserve to work at a conservative newspaper like the Danville Advocate Messenger.

I'm not even going to link to his stupid column printed in today's paper. It was a complete waste of newsprint.

Brock started his random walk with a recitation of the list of strange laws on the books in Kentucky. You know the one about carrying an ice cream cone in your pocket that the pro-expanded gambling ads keep telling us about? Well, Brock trots that one out again.

Then he steps way out on a ledge and attacks Senator Tom Buford for sponsoring SB 93, which would outlaw prostestors at funerals.

I'm used to Brock going off half-cocked in his columns, but this is insane. We have people protesting the funerals of Iraq War casualties and Herb Brock is too lazy or stupid (or both) to find out which end is up before puking all over them and their families.

And now I hear this bill is stalled in the Senate because of this one writer. I certainly hope that is not true.

Ed To The Woodshed?

Hide the Thorazine...

Phone lines were burning between Washington D.C., Frankfort, and Richmond today and the inferno is bearing down on one Senator Ed Worley(D-Richmond).

Tomorrow, insiders expect Worley to get a Republican opponent -- and a Democrat primary opponent to boot!

Ed's very shady land deal is getting ready to come around and bite him, hard.

Education Philosophy Needs Change: Here's How

As thousands of Kentucky high school seniors turn toward the home stretch on their secondary education, now might be an appropriate time to look at methods to improve the way we teach our kids. One simple step could make a big difference.

The time has come to break the mold on the way we educate Kentuckians.

Taxpayers have been mighty patient waiting for schools to improve as we pour in tax dollars year after year. If the goal for increasing school spending has been to graduate more students who can't do college-level work, then we are succeeding. Since it isn't, now may be past time to concede that a lack of funds is not holding us back so much as a problem with our philosophy.

We must now change our approach in order to change our future results.

The one thing that we can do to improve the prospects of our next group of high schoolers is to quit tying class credits to the amount of time spent sitting in a classroom.

Teachers get paid based on time spent in the classroom. But students benefit from what they learn. So if the question is "Who are schools for?" and if the answer we want is "educating students," then awarding class credits and diplomas the same way we pay teachers and administrators -- by the hour -- makes little sense.

A year spent in a high school class currently earns a student one Carnegie Unit. Mastery of a subject is not required -- a "D" is sufficient. You just have to put in your time.

That sounds a little like jail, doesn't it?

Nearly two in three of our high school graduates require remedial courses to even start college. We spend more money on education every year and get test results that do not reflect that increased commitment. Kentucky Economic Justice Alliance recently called for $337 million in annual spending increases for schools. For what? They don't say and I can't imagine.

This is getting a little ridiculous, don't you think?

Wiping out the Carnegie Unit would not cost taxpayers anything. If students could walk into a class and demonstrate mastery of the subject matter on Day One, they could move on to other academic pursuits at no cost to the taxpayer whatsoever.

I would love to hear a member of the education establishment try to prove why eliminating the Carnegie Unit system would be a bad thing. Actually, this approach could expose what is wrong with our public schools. Schools get money based on how many bodies are filling up their facilities and for how long. It should come as little surprise that this approach does not yield optimal results for students. Turning this old system on its head and promoting students on their learning schedule would put the focus where it belongs.

A good case can be made that very few students derive maximum benefit under a system that demands timing their learning curve to our agrarian-era school calendar. Better students tend to suffer under the Carnegie Unit system because the pace in the classroom is too slow for them. Struggling students suffer because the pace is too fast. It seems that we are paying a high price to keep the flow of education moving at a middling speed that doesn't fit -- and doesn't work for -- too many of our students.

We are already utilizing distance education in our high schools. This can be expanded at minimal cost to assist students in achieving subject matter mastery when they are ready.

Student misbehavior takes up an increasing amount of school resources. This could be turned into an advantage without the Carnegie Unit system. When students determine the speed at which their learning takes place, they will have less time or opportunity to be bored with school.

Our kids are capable of doing more in school and many of our dedicated teachers lose sleep trying to figure out how to help them succeed. The Carnegie Unit was established in 1907 and, clearly, doesn't fit in a world where everything else is customized by technology to fit the individual.

Like everything else in a free society, the Carnegie Unit can be done away with when the people demand it. What do you think?

Abortion-On-Demand Lobby Strikes Again

Next Thursday, the Kentucky House Health and Welfare Committee will vote to allow "morning after pills" to be made available over the counter.

I guess that would be so they can pass them out at middle schools, along with condoms and dental dams. Why else would the ACLU be so hot to see HB 353 get passed?

The "Let Them Eat Filet Mignon" Bill

Rep. Kathy Stein (D-Lexington) wants waiters and waitresses to be paid the federal minimum wage. Tipped employees must currently be paid at least $2.13 per hour by their employer. The federal minimum wage is $5.15, but Ted Kennedy wants it increased, so here we go.

I suppose she thinks all restaurant owners are multi-millionaire Republicans, but the businesses that aren't shut down by this will have to raise prices. So who gets to pay for Rep. Stein's largesse? You do. Oh, and the tipped employees who lose their jobs probably won't appreciate it much either.

Eat up.

International Communists Join Mayor Isaac Tonight

Mayor Teresa Isaac kicks off her re-election campaign tonight with a communist group she has formally pledged that the city of Lexington would support.

The ONE Campaign demands 1% of the federal budget be dedicated to "make poverty history."

"The ONE Campaign is an effort we can all support and be proud of because America is in the best position to eradicate poverty," Mayor Isaac said.

The ONE Campaign will have a rally tonight at 112 W. High Street in Lexington from 5 pm to 6:30.

Oh, and the guy who signs all the state's checks, State Treasurer Jonathan Miller, will be there demanding more of your money too.

Whither Harry Moberly?

After busting his campaign budget in 2004 to keep his seat, House Budget Chairman Harry Moberly (D-Richmond) seems to be looking around for something else to do. With less than a week before the filing deadline, no one has filed for the 81st district seat.

Look for a big surprise on this one.

House Digs Up Dead Law, Passes It Again

Back in 1990, Kentucky enacted a law called "No Pass, No Drive." It was an attempt to cut down drop out rates by suspending the drivers licenses of minors failing to make adequate progress toward a high school diploma.

It didn't work.

When the law was pulled off the books in 2003, it was found to be totally ineffective at keeping kids in school. In fact, the law was widely ignored by young drivers. Erstwhile students continued to drive until they were caught by police. Then they went to court to convince judges that a hardship necessitated keeping them on the road, despite the law.

So fast forward to 2006. Just yesterday the House voted 82-14 to dredge up this waste-of-time law. It is easier than actually doing something to improve education in Kentucky. Let's hope the Senate straightens this out.

Charlie Hoffman Can Run But Can't Hide

Charlie Hoffman clearly didn't want to run for the state House again. Rep. Hoffman (D-Georgetown) explored running for mayor of Georgetown and Scott county PVA. After failing the exam for PVA, he filed for the House seat.

His ardent support for union bosses could be problematic in the home of Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Kentucky. As House Democrats threaten to kill off a bill that would give workers the right to opt out of paying expensive union dues and seek to pad their own pockets with a minimum wage increase, Rep. Hoffman has much to fear from his Republican opponent Chuck Bradley.

First Conservative Victory of 2006; "Book of Daniel"

NBC has cancelled its much-celebrated anti-Christian "Book of Daniel" program after three pitiful weeks.

The active conservative Christians who shut down the program now need to turn their attention to calling for Congress to pass Rep. John Shadegg's "Health Care Choice Act."

This would allow Americans to buy health insurance across state lines, effectively neutering Kentucky Democrats' health insurance reform that destroyed our health coverage market sisteen years ago.

House Democrats Painting Selves Into Corner

House Labor and Industry Chairman J.R. Gray is expected to push an increase in the minimum wage through his committee today at noon. This comes only days after a resolution supporting socialized medicine was advanced by the same people.

Kentucky Democrats cling to a slim six seat advantage in the House of Representatives. They are expected to campaign this fall as being much more conservative than Washington D.C. Democrats who vote for fringe liberal issues like increasing the minimum wage and nationalizing our healthcare system.

Governor Fletcher Reaches Out To Teachers Union

... or maybe we should just call it "Brer Rabbit Says 'Howdy!' to the Tar Baby, Again."

Conceding the union talking point that teachers are underpaid in Kentucky will not earn Gov. Fletcher anything and will only leave him stuck in the tar. Fortunately, Speaker Jody Richards will come along soon to "knock his head clean off," so the Governor should be okay.

Ford Motor Cuts More Proof Old Ways Don't Work

The debate about big unions and money-losing defined benefit pensions took on a local dimension when Ford Motor Company said it would close fourteen U.S. plants by 2008.

Louisville's facilities weren't on the first list today, but the company said two more closings would be determined later this year.

This kind of thing will continue as more companies try to shift out of outmoded business practices.

And speaking of outmoded, Kentucky's House Democrats are joining the liberal bandwagon in thinking they are going to end poverty as we know it by forcing businesses to pay more than the federal minimum wage.

Proof The Left Is Killing "Civil Rights"

Days after the nationwide celebration of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., we have more evidence that liberal groups have bastardized King's movement.

Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, a socialist organization, has on their website a list of legislative priorities. Under "civil rights" at the bottom of the page, they promote "sexual orientation" laws and decry giving workers the right to opt out of paying onerous union dues.

Even worse, "Voting Rights" is now supposedly about restoring voting rights to convicted felons.

Here is the link.

Summing It Up Nicely

The Louisville Courier-Journal's John David Dyche got to the essence of what ails Kentucky Democrats with this description today:

Reactionary Democrats resist real change to inefficient, collectivist and financially unsustainable New Deal and Great Society relics like defined benefit pensions, monolithic Medicaid, and preferential treatment of labor unions.

Here is the whole column.

Worley Cheats Elderly Constituents

Senator Ed Worley left himself open to federal mail fraud charges during a Madison county land deal, a source with knowledge of the transaction said yesterday.

Worley currently faces a lawsuit in U.S. District Court over development of 27 acres of prime real estate previously owned by two of his own elderly constituents.

At issue is Worley's use of a dummy corporation he set up, an agreement with the two elderly victims to help develop their property, and a below-market offer from Worley's dummy corporation to purchase the property.

When Worley presented the offer as if it were from a third party -- and then recommended that his constituents accept the offer -- he was at least "pulling a fast one." When he used the U.S. Postal Service to consummate his ruse, he broke the law.

Here is the Herald-Leader coverage of this sorry episode. Expect to hear more about this fairly soon. If federal charges come down, Worley starts to look a lot like a ham sandwich.