Wanna Bet?

I'd sure like to have a piece of the action on House Budget Chairman Harry "Easy Money" Moberly's assessment of Governor Steve Beshear's casino gambling scheme.

"I think it's 50-50 now that casino gambling will get out of the legislature this year."

The source of this quote is the Lexington Herald Leader.

Good Thing Hypocrisy Doesn't Cause Cancer

I don't know anything about smokeless tobacco being safer than cigarettes, as Professor Brad Rodu says in the Lexington Herald Leader, but I think his column raises an important point about the economics of taxing people into various forms of compliance.

Radu says we should cut the tax on smokeless tobacco to encourage people to switch to it from cigarettes:

"Put in simpler and conservative terms, smokeless use carries less than 2 percent of the health risk of smoking. A rational tobacco tax policy would set taxes accordingly. If lawmakers raise the cigarette tax to $1, the tax on smokeless tobacco should be two cents."

Radu is a smokeless tobacco industry researcher, so we could be cynical and suppose he is just trying to keep his ox from getting gored. But that pales in comparison to the cynicism of those who claim in the same breath that higher cigarette taxes will cut smoking while raising revenues.

The cigarette tax increase bill also raises taxes on smokeless tobacco. For the children and, one imagines, the added revenue.

Wouldn't it be cheaper and more effective to refuse KCHIP benefits to children of smokers? That would be a serious incentive for some parents to either quit smoking or figure out a way to take care of their own kids.

Then we could keep cigarette taxes low to encourage border residents of other states to keep coming over to buy their smokes in Kentucky and we might have a few more welfare dollars to make sure those who really need the help can get it.

Defrauding Our Way To Prosperity

If casino gambling as a public policy were a fashion statement, it would be a white leisure suit. If Governor Steve Beshear continues to ignore our real problems like public employees benefits underfunding, out-of-control entitlements, and inefficient government spending practices, he will not only get his casino plan crammed down his throat by his own House of Representatives, but he will find his big labor constituency unable to keep him in office by itself.

Might as well face facts about the state's wasteful labor policies now. Then let's look at our welfare mentality. And then we absolutely must cut our lavish state employee/retiree health benefits.

Failure to address these issues when the necessity of doing so constitutes fraud. And while it might be fun for Team Beshear to blame Ernie Fletcher for not addressing these issues, it doesn't change anything.

What Is Jody Richards Hiding Now?

Why the new Governor hasn't gotten on board with the government transparency movement is quite a mystery. Kentucky's version of the Taxpayer Transparency Act of 2008 lies dormant in a House committee.

Speaker Jody Richards will have to tell taxpayers directly that how he spends their money is none of their business next week when he kills off the same act added as an amendment to HB 422.

For a group that is supposed to be interested in honesty and good government, these guys sure hold tight to their precious secrets.

Think about that the next time you send any tax money to Frankfort.

Stu Silberman Sued For Racial Discrimination

Fayette School Superintendent Stu Silberman was sued today in Fayette Circuit Court for racial discrimination. The suit charges Silberman and Carmen Coleman, Fayette Schools Director, with manufacturing evidence, creating an intolerable work environment, intentional infliction of emotional distress and violating the civil rights of former Booker T. Washington Academy Principal Peggy Petrilli. Petrilli was forced to resign in August 2007. She was the Kentucky Association of Elementary School Principals 2005 Principal of the Year.

The suit asks for compensatory and punitive damages. The Fayette County Board of Education is also listed as a co-defendant.

Market Expansion Open Thread

I'm headed to northern Kentucky this morning to tape a television program with political reporter Pat Crowley.

Gambling On Legislator Benefits And Paychecks

Now that casino gambling is dead, Rep. Jim Wayne(D) and Rep. Dwight Butler(R) want to remove accountability from the legislature for beefing up their pay and benefits and give it to a board they create and appoint.

Given the crappy way lawmakers increased pension benefits for themselves in 2005, I really can't imagine we would want to take on the risk of voting for the Make Legislator Pay Increases Easier Act of 2008.

Shades Of Barbara Erwin

The Louisville Courier Journal has a story about the Kentucky School Board loading up Commissioner Jon Draud's compensation with a bunch of sick days.

The "money" quote:

“Right now, I don’t have any sick or vacation time,” Draud said. “I don’t anticipate anything, but if I were to get sick, I would have nothing to fall back on.”

That should go over pretty well with the teachers.

Can't help remembering the dust up our last Ed Commissioner Barbara Erwin had about getting larded up on sick days.

Is it just an interesting coincidence that this little goody was slipped into HB 470 yesterday?

Notwithstanding any statute to the contrary, the executive branch of government shall accept from the Kentucky Teachers' Retirement System all accrued annual and sick leave balances and service credits of employees leaving the Kentucky Teachers' Retirement System and accepting appointments within the executive branch.

That's a pretty expensive benefit to be dishing out to political appointees or, in this case an appointee) when school districts are talking about laying off employees.

What Might We Do With Legislator Pay?

I'll report details when I have them, but the House is getting a bill today amending the Constitution's provisions relating to legislator pay.

Jody Richards Has A Decision To Make

(Thursday night update: the bill didn't come up for debate but Rep. Brinkman filed an amendment to lower the tax. Good move! Still tough for Jody.)


One of House Budget Chairman Harry Moberly's tax increase bills that may come up for a vote on the House floor this afternoon got a surprise amendment yesterday.

The tax Moberly wants to increase is the infamous Alternative Minimum Calculation Democrats agreed was an "un-American" income tax on businesses with no net income when Ernie Fletcher was governor.

There is no way Richards has the courage of his convictions to allow a vote on this amendment. He will, with a straight face, rule the amendment not germane. This will kill the amendment.

Or he can allow a vote and watch the tax increase he wants die a well-deserved death.

Gooch Wants To Tax Free Speech

Rep. Jim Gooch has filed a bill requiring editorial writers and cartoonists for "a news organization which engages for profit" to register with the state as lobbyists.

Senate To Consider Chris Thieneman Act

The state Senate is expected to vote tomorrow on a bill to prohibit city employees in Louisville from pushing ballot initiatives on the clock like they did in support of the doomed Louisville Library Tax.

Happy Ronald Reagan Day!

The state Senate just named today Ronald Reagan Day in Kentucky.

Enjoy!

Kathy Stein Time

The House Judiciary Committee has wasted an hour and a half listening to testimony on HB 304 that has had nothing to do with the actual bill.

There is no doubt legal immigration is great in a lot of ways, but the bill is about handling illegal activities of illegal aliens.

What a complete mess and embarrassment, Chairwoman Stein.

"Give Me Liberty Or Give Me A U-Haul"

The Lexington Herald-Leader wants to amend the state constitution to automatically restore voting rights to convicted felons. The bill stands no chance of passage, which is probably a good thing since we hardly need to expand the base of voters electing themselves bigger entitlements from taxpayers.

In fact, encouraging people to get with the program or get out of the state could become a theme in this General Assembly if we were to encourage suddenly civic-minded felons to find another state that wants their problems and their votes, along with sending illegal aliens and drug-abusing welfare recipients packing.

All Eyes On David Williams

Governor Steve Beshear continues to disappoint and now there is someone who can make him pay for it.

Now that Senate Republicans have picked up Dan Mongiardo's former seat, Senate President David Williams is the most powerful man in Frankfort.

Just don't screw it up like the Republicans in Washington D.C. did.

Entitlement reform, education reform, and transparency need to be at the top of the list.

That means this, this, and this. And then, for good measure, do this and this.

Lawmaker, Lawmaker, Give Me A Clue

In separate news stories today, we have young people getting involved in the legislative process. Unfortunately, they are both going about it in a way that misses the mark.

Matthew Spicer of Frankfort has put together an automated external defibrillator bill that will give the Kentucky Department of Education unwarranted control of private schools.

"Basically I want it in every public and private school in Kentucky," he said. "They should have AEDs and sporting practices and events."

If we want to mandate them in the public schools, that's fine. But the private schools probably all already have them, and don't need the state nosing around. Spicer and Graham should leave the private schools out of it.

Meanwhile, a Rockcastle county ten year old doesn't like high caffeine "energy drinks."

"I think it should be a law because there are a lot of kids that like them; they think it gets them up but it doesn't," Tate Clements said.

The fifth grader at Brodhead Elementary drank part of his sister's energy drink after hearing friends talk about the rush of energy the beverages can give.

"It was good at first but after a few minutes you start feeling all jumpy," Clements said.

A five minute discussion with this young man about liberty and purpose of laws would do him a world of good.

Who Is Leading The House?

Kentucky's House of Representatives is in disarray. The Democratic caucus hasn't even met once since the first week of the General Assembly. While they wait for Greg Stumbo to come and tell them what to do, some enterprising lawmakers need to start filing discharge petitions to get bills moving around the stagnant leaders.

House rule 48 describes the discharge petition procedure:

Whenever a committee fails or refuses to report within a reasonable time a bill submitted to it, a member may sponsor and file with the Clerk a written request, signed by twenty-five or more members, to call the same up for consideration on the next succeeding legislative day after the filing of the request. The effect of this petition shall be to bring before the House the question of whether the committee to which the bill has been assigned has held the bill for an unreasonable time.
Upon the motion of the member sponsoring the request, and if a majority of the members elected to the House concur that the bill has been held an unreasonable time, the bill shall be considered as though it had been regularly reported, and sent to the Rules Committee.

The Rules Committee's responsibilities are covered in House rule 41. The rule reads in part:

All bills and resolutions having been reported out of the committee to which referred and having received their second reading shall be referred to the Rules Committee. The Rules Committee may refer any bill or resolution before it back to a standing committee...
No bill or resolution shall be referred back by the Rules Committee on more than one occasion...
No bill may be kept in Rules Committee for longer than five legislative days. Within that time, each bill must be reported to the floor or referred back to a standing committee.

The House is sitting on their important bills and the rules provide discharge petitions to light a fire under House leaders. Let's get on with it.

Steve Beshear's Magic Carpet Ride

We are still waiting for Governor Steve Beshear to clue us in on how he is going to handle the public employee pension disaster. I'm guessing he has amended his earlier statement to a "no comment."

For the record, here is his earlier statement on the pensions.

Are We Almost Ready To Stop Screwing Around?

Governor Steve Beshear's casino bill probably doesn't even have the 60 votes to get out of the House. The cigarette tax as savior for the state is beyond ridiculous.

The only way out of our budget mess is to cut spending and the only question that matters is "where do we start?"

Cutting out prevailing wage, raising co-pays on Medicaid and state employee health plans enough to limit overutilization, stopping welfare payments to drug abusers, etc.

The answers are there. We just need a few more politicians with the courage to get it done.

Oodles Of Doodles On Google

For vanity's sake, I had to find out where I fit in to the 6.3 million Google entries bearing my name.

I'm number eight.

Queen Hillary In Your Spam Folder

If you have an email address, you have probably gotten a compelling message from the heir to some African fortune offering to share it with you. All you have to do is send your bank account information and, of course, turn your brain completely off.

It's not hard to imagine we are looking at the same kind of sucker's bet with Hillary Clinton's offer of free health insurance for everyone:

Clinton has not always specified the enforcement measures she would embrace, but when pressed on ABC's "This Week," she said: "I think there are a number of mechanisms" that are possible, including "going after people's wages, automatic enrollment."

Do you really have to think long and hard about whether you want Bill and Hillary Clinton to have control over your paycheck or your checking account or both?

Let The People Decide

Anyone hoping to kill off the casino gambling issue for 2008 might want to pick two or three of the constitutional amendment bills and start pushing lawmakers to pass them. Kentucky law prohibits more than two amendment questions on a November ballot.

As much as I would like to see shorter, more focussed legislative sessions and the abolition of the Treasurer's office, maybe I'll pick raising the homestead exemption and limiting a governor's pardon powers just to get it done.

Puff The Magic Draggin'

Anyone who really thinks raising the cigarette tax seventy cents more is going to stop teenagers from smoking has never been in a long popcorn line at a movie theater, or a fast food restaurant, or a mall.

And the other justification -- that it will provide needed revenue for the state -- is also just smoke and mirrors. The reality is people crossing over from other states to buy low-tax cigarettes bring other economic activity that will be sorely missed if the low taxes disappear.

It would be much cheaper and easier to decrease benefits for welfare beneficiaries who smoke. Raising the cigarette tax just cuts into the help that our money provides them anyway.

We Need A Transparent Transportation Cabinet

If you are looking for a part of state government that really needs to post its checkbook on the internet to keep everyone honest, look no further than the Transportation Cabinet.

Here is a bill filed yesterday that will generate some interesting discussions in the Senate. Someone in the House might at well stick an amendment on there making the Transportation Cabinet post all its financial transactions and contracts online.

Unless, of course, the most ethical government in Kentucky history is hiding something...

Are We Buying High And Selling Low?

Could it be Governor Steve Beshear is getting us into the casino business at exactly the wrong time? For the latest, we take you to New Jersey:

Last year, for the first time in the 29-year history of legalized gambling in Atlantic City, the casinos won less money than they did the year before, figures released yesterday show.

The 5.7 percent decline to $4.9 billion was hardly a surprise. For month after month in 2007, the gaming halls reported wins that were down from 2006 levels -- all attributed to new competition from slots parlors in Pennsylvania and New York, and new smoking restrictions on Atlantic City casino floors. (emphasis added)

Still, the first year-to-year decline provided a marker that the gambling mecca did not want. It also deprived the people of New Jersey of about $24 million in gambling tax revenue, which the state uses to benefit senior citizens and people with disabilities.

"It is a shock -- a slap on the side of the head for anyone who owns a casino in town," said Carlos Tolosa, president of the Eastern Division of Harrah's Entertainment Inc., which owns the Harrah's Marina, Showboat, Caesars and Bally's casinos in Atlantic City. Collectively, the four casinos made up 44 percent of last year's total revenue.

"This was a wake-up call for everybody that we have to continue to build nongaming attractions and convert this resort town into a destination," Tolosa said, "and that we have a long way to go."

Source: hotel-online.com

Professional Politicians' Pay Too High

Kentucky is moving more in the direction of having professional politicians like we have on the federal level. We should begin to correct this by repealing the 2005 bill that passed the legislature with only 2 No votes and included a provision allowing state lawmakers to jump to a state job and get an enormous pension boost.

And the rich health insurance benefits for part-time magistrates and city commissioners need to go as well.

Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Mo

Still looking for a presidential candidate? Might as well try this.

Vote chooser says Mitt Romney is my guy.

Fed Fair Tax Would Necessitate State Reform

If the Fair Tax were to be implemented at the federal level, Kentucky's tax system would have to change because you can't start filling out a Kentucky tax return until you have done a federal tax return. That wouldn't be possible if individuals were no longer paying income taxes, which is what the Fair Tax does. Rep. Mike Harmon has filed a resolution to start the legislature studying how we would handle this kind of tax reform.

Entitlement Reform In Kentucky

Members of the House Health and Welfare Committee this morning discussed a committee substitute for the drug testing for welfare recipients bill that would improve the bill by adding a probable cause element.

He's Just Like Ronald Reagan

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich will be on the Leland Conway radio show in Lexington this morning on 630 WLAP. Or you can listen on www.wlap.com.

Reminder: Businesses Don't Pay Taxes

Would you be willing to trade a cigarette tax increase for repeal of the income tax on unprofitable businesses?.

Did Beshear Sell Judicial Appointment For $200?

Governor Steve Beshear just appointed John Chappell as a District Judge in the 27th district today. Chappell, a London attorney, filed to run for the office on December 12.

This wouldn't be the John Chappell, Attorney at Law, of London who contributed $200 to Scott Alexander's Senate campaign on January 19, would it? That wouldn't be good.

CHAPPELL, JOHN
402 W. 4TH STREET
LONDON, KY, 40743
Employer : JOHN CHAPPELL, AAL
Occupation : ATTORNEY INDIVIDUAL Contribution
$200.00 on 01/19/2008
ALEXANDER, SCOTT for
STATE SENATOR - 30TH DISTRICT
SPECIAL - 02/05/2008

The impropriety of the contribution and subsequent appointment aside, I would think two hundred bucks isn't very much money for this sort of thing. Do we really want this governor to be in charge of selling casino licenses?

Who Do You Want To Get Your Tax Rebate?

The federal government this spring is expected to send back tax dollars to taxpayers as an "economic stimulus." Whether you like the economic rationale or not, you probably would be interested in a bill to keep that money away from Governor Steve Beshear, wouldn't you? Well, here you go.

Fastest Political Flameout In History

Louisville's Chris Thieneman nuked himself this morning.

Steve Beshear's Unnecessary Tuition Increases

Governor Steve Beshear's proposal to cut Kentucky's merit-based KEES college scholarship program and maintain spending for need-based aid is probably going to be a disaster.

Just as the legislature is considering a measure to lower the GPA to renew KEES scholarships, the proper cost-saving move would be to increase standards for getting the awards. Instead, Beshear will probably cut all awards the same amount in the name of "fairness."

Doing this and in effect raising the proportion of aid that is award exclusively on the basis of not having enough money to pay for college is a sure way to exacerbate the inflation problem.

Nice job, Steve. What's next? (Oh yeah, public employee benefits...)

Steve Beshear's Going Out Of Business Sale

Looks like Attorney General Jack Conway has found a rug to sweep his and Governor Steve Beshear's problems under.

Do you have Skippy Miller under there already?

How about R.D. Hubbard?


HUBBARD, R.
124 KOVENISH
PALM DESERT, CA, 92260
Employer : HOLLYWOOD PARK
Occupation : RACE TRACK OWNER INDIVIDUAL Contribution
$500.00 on 05/10/1999
MILLER, JONATHAN for
STATE TREASURER - STATEWIDE
PRIMARY - 05/25/1999

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HUBBARD, R.
73-405 EL PASO #32D
PALM DESERT, CA, 922600000
Employer : R. D. HUBBARD ENTERPRISES, INC.
Occupation : REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER INDIVIDUAL Contribution
$1,000.00 on 02/19/2003
CHANDLER, A. for
SLATE - STATEWIDE
PRIMARY - 05/20/2003

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HUBBARD, R.
124 KOVENISH
PALM DESERT, CA, 92260
Employer :
Occupation : RETIRED INDIVIDUAL Contribution
$1,000.00 on 03/21/2007
LUNSFORD, W. for
SLATE - STATEWIDE
PRIMARY - 05/22/2007

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HUBBARD, R.
73-405 EL PASO #32D
PALM DESERT, CA, 92260
Employer : RD HUBBARD
Occupation : DEVELOPER INDIVIDUAL Contribution
$1,000.00 on 04/16/2007
MILLER, JONATHAN for
SLATE - STATEWIDE
PRIMARY - 05/22/2007

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HUBBARD, R.
73-405 EL PASEO NO. 32D
PALM DESERT, CA, 92260
Employer : R.D. HUBBARD ENTERPRISES, INC.
Occupation : REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER INDIVIDUAL Contribution
$10,000.00 on 11/30/2007
BESHEAR MONGIARDO INAUGURAL COMMITTEE
FARMER, TRACY for
SLATE - STATEWIDE
GENERAL - 11/06/2007

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HUBBARD, R. D.
73-405 EL PASEO NO. 32D
PALM DESERT, CA, 922600000
Employer : R. D. HUBBARD ENTERPRISES, INC.
Occupation : REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER INDIVIDUAL Contribution
$1,000.00 on 05/08/2007
BESHEAR, STEVEN for
SLATE - STATEWIDE
PRIMARY - 05/22/2007

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HUBBARD, R. D.
73-405 EL PASEO NO. 32D
PALM DESERT, CA, 922600000
Employer : R. D. HUBBARD ENTERPRISES, INC.
Occupation : REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER INDIVIDUAL Contribution
$1,000.00 on 10/17/2007
BESHEAR, STEVEN for
SLATE - STATEWIDE
GENERAL - 11/06/2007

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HUBBARD, R.D.
73-405 EL PASEO / NO. 32D
PALM DESERT, CA, 922604214
Employer : R.D. HUBBARD ENTERPRISES, INC.
Occupation : CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER INDIVIDUAL Contribution
$1,000.00 on 10/10/2006
WORLEY, JAMES for
STATE SENATOR - 34TH DISTRICT
GENERAL - 11/07/2006

Second Time's A Charm?

Governor Ernie Fletcher's campaign against casino gambling wasn't going to work for reasons that had little or nothing to do with casino gambling.

The Senate 30 special election may not prove anything about casinos, either, but the race may turn out differently.

Have you seen this commercial (airing now in the district)?

This Is Probably Going To Be Quote Of The Day

Senate Bill 3 just got voted out of the State and Local Government Committee with amendments to add Kentucky to Super Tuesday in presidential primary elections and to remove the emergency clause so its provisions wouldn't take effect this year. Speaking for the bill, Senate President David Williams said:

"The main thing is that we have more transparency and accountability in the process."

Couldn't agree more. But if we really want transparency, we also need government expenditure transparency.

Steve Beshear Keeps A Campaign Promise

And it is going to cost you a bundle.

Ron Bishop Thinks He Isn't Going To Jail

FCDC Director Ron Bishop and his storm troopers in the Lexington jail think they have found their fall guys and are immune from criminal prosecution.

Well, they should think again. Ask your attorney down there on Main Street to explain this to you, fellas.

From Lexington-Fayette County Ordinance Number 255-94,1,12-13-94:

Sec. 25-29. Reprisals against persons disclosing violations prohibited.
(1) No officer or employee shall subject to reprisal, or directly or indirectly use, or threaten to use, any official authority or influence, in any manner whatsoever, which tends to discourage, restrain, depress, dissuade, deter, prevent, interfere with, coerce, or discriminate against any officer or employee who in good faith reports, discloses, divulges, or otherwise brings to the attention of the ethics commission, any law enforcement agency or its employees, or any other appropriate body or authority, anyfacts or information relative to an actual or suspected violation of any law, statute, executive order, administrative regulation, mandate, rule, or ordinance of the United States, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, or the urban county government, or any facts or information relative to actual or suspected mismanagement, waste, fraud, abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety. No officer or employee shall be required to give notice prior to making such a report, disclosure, or divulgence.
(2) No officer or employee shall subject to reprisal or discriminate against, or use any official authority or influence to cause reprisal or discrimination by others against, any person who supports, aids, or substantiates any officer or employee who makes public any wrongdoing set forth in subsection (1) of this section.

Penalties for violation include a fine and up to one year in jail.

Beshear Hints At Cutting Pension Benefits

In an advance copy of Governor Steve Beshear's budget address, he says he will offer a state employee pension reform proposal "in the coming weeks."

"What we can do now is address the increasing costs. These programs are not sustainable at current levels," Beshear said.

Smoke 'Em If You Got 'Em

Sounds like Rep. Fred Nesler just filed the cigarette tax bill to save us all.

10:00 pm Update: No, it was a false alarm. Stay tuned for tax increases though.

Jason Mays Versus United Auto Workers

Looks like the hottest ideological battle in central Kentucky among the 2008 state House races will be between pro-union Rep. Charlie Hoffman and former Georgetown College assistant basketball coach Jason Mays.

With non-union Toyota the economic engine of the district, a strong campaign against Majority Caucus Chairman Hoffman could get interesting.

And with Hoffman filing bills like this, Mays should be able to get a lot of help.

Busted, Now Pay Up

Governor Steve Beshear got caught breaking a campaign promise not to misuse state aircraft and now he is saying he will pay for it.

Is the check in the mail, Governor?

Maybe we should require the Executive Branch to set up a website to help us keep track of their expenditures of state money for political or personal purposes.

You know, like illegal raises for girlfriends and such.

Larry, Moe, and Curly Can't Find The Microphone

Harassment by top officials at the Fayette County Detention Center against some employees who have testified in the wage and hours class action lawsuit may be about to unleash a fresh batch of lawsuits.

Watch yourself, Mr. Kammer.

(And a personal note to Bishop, Leach, and Kammer: watching you guys try to figure out where I am getting my information is hilarious! Keep trying if you want, but you will NEVER figure it out until I am ready for you to figure it out. Fun stuff...)

Thieneman Versus Northup Day One

Congressional candidate Chris Thieneman said today he is against slipping earmarks into legislative bills.

Closing Libraries In Casino-Rich Illinois

Evanston, on Chicago's North Shore, should be close enough to the economic development opportunites brought by casinos that they would be swimming in cash by now.

Alas, it isn't so. They are negotiating instead how to get by on a combination of property tax increases and spending cuts, which include closing two public libraries.

Governor Steve Beshear is expected to lay out part of his plan tomorrow night to make Kentucky a rich casino state like Illinois.

One other interesting proposed cut I found was this one:

Carroll said she hopes to save $300,000 by dropping a contract with a health insurance brokerage firm and having the city negotiate health coverage contracts directly.

Why on earth is a city the size of Pikeville paying anyone $300,000 to help them pick out health insurance plans?

This is why I think a good solid fiscal crisis would be a great thing for Kentucky. Getting all the various interest groups to stop ravaging the taxpayers and to, instead, start in on each other is not only more fun than watching demolition derby, it is the only way we are going to get things out in the open and start cutting out the real waste.

Beshear Can't Even Lead On Dental Exams

A Lexington Herald-Leader story about a bill to require parents to get dental exams for their children exposes yet again Governor Steve Beshear's unwillingness to provide any of the "leadership" he promised before he was elected.

Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear is still reviewing the legislation and declined to comment, through a spokesperson.

The bill is less than one sentence long. It requires -- in addition to the pre-existing mandate for immunizations -- the following:

... a dental health certificate from a dentist licensed in any state indicating the health of the child's teeth, jaws, and mouth.

Beshear is really taking his do-nothingism too far. At this rate, I can't wait to see him tackle anything like the public employee benefits disaster. Slots at the tracks, right Steve?

By the way, the story indicates a reporter tried in vain to reach Senate President David Williams for his opinion. That was unneccesary. The same bill died in a Senate committee just last year.

You May Not Know Gordon B. Hinckley Yet...

Gordon B. Hinckley, prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, died tonight.

This just happened so it will be a little slow getting out in the news, but when it does it will stir up discussion again about presidential candidate Mitt Romney's faith.

A lot of people will be surprised by the national media coverage Hinckley's death will receive. He was very media savvy, a great interview, and was highly regarded by national media figures.

At this point in the race, it will be very interesting to see the impact a renewed focus on religion will have.

Make Way For Chris Thieneman

Former U.S. Rep. Anne Northup should resist the temptation to try to get her old seat in Congress back. Republicans already have Chris Thieneman, the man behind the effort to kill the Louisville Library Tax.

There is no way to change the old ways of Congress without new faces.

Norquist: Tax Increase To Smash Savings

Rep. Ben Chandler's favorite tax watchdog has an interesting take on the latest fiscal stimulus package and the coming tax increase that you probably haven't heard.

Senate President Trumps Governor

Internal polling shows Rep. Brandon Smith, a Republican, winning Lieutenant Governor Daniel Mongiardo's old Senate seat on Tuesday, February 5.

This will make Senate President David Williams more powerful than Governor Steve Beshear.

Williams should use his new power to push for government transparency, less welfare for drug abusers, and repeal of bad business taxes.

Republicans in power continue to shirk their fiscally responsible, better government mandates, though. Now is the time to reverse that trend.

Improving Kentucky's Welfare Policy Would Be A Great Way To Salvage Our Culture

Does it really make sense to you that we buy illicit drugs for Kentuckians and ask for nothing in return?

That is exactly what we do every time welfare recipients buy crack or abuse prescription drugs. If we subsidize their housing or their healthcare or food and they direct their limited funds toward illegal drugs, how are we not at the very least complicit in their drug problem?

The General Assembly already has a solution in front of it. The constitutional issues can be dealt with easily.

Another suggestion is requiring anyone who signs up for benefits to consent to random, periodic drug testing when they first request help.

How hard is it to understand that by incentivizing irresponsibility among our most vulnerable citizens that we are damaging ourselves voluntarily?

Tax Cutters In Paradise

Well, not exactly. There are two tax cut bills in Frankfort (here and here) and neither one has much chance of getting past House Budget Chairman Harry Moberly.

While reasonable people can disagree, though, on the value of cutting taxes and making government smaller, how in the world can they shut down the one commonsense bill that would allow taxpayers to know where the money is going?

I'd really like to know.

The Third Word In GED Isn't Diploma

Rep. Frank Rasche has a plan to dramatically reduce the number of high school drop-outs in Kentucky that sounds suspiciously like we are about to be paying people to hand out GEDs in convenience stores.

HB 294, which the House should vote on next week, sets a goal to lower the drop-out rate and the number of adult dropouts dramatically by 2010 mainly by throwing money around.

If we were talking about doing something new (for us) like raising standards in middle schools -- and we're not -- that would be one thing. But this plan is just more of the same feel-good nonsense from the education bureaucracy.

Poultry Alert: Chickens Coming Home To Roost

This morning former Lexington Mayor Teresa Isaac is being deposed about her role in the Fayette County Detention Center scandal.

This will be one hot transcript when it becomes available because she will have to come clean about some factual misstatements she made in the news media about this mess.

Current Mayor Jim Newberry gets his turn in two weeks.

Where Are The Taxpayers' Lobbyists?

Today is Day 13 of the legislators' strike in Kentucky. Meanwhile, taxpayers continue to pay them (and their pensions continue to grow) while we all wait for the candidate filing deadline to pass.

And it is apparently too much to ask that one effort to give taxpayers a break receive the consideration it deserves.

House Bill 221, which would simply make people stop spending public money to buy illegal drugs, is exactly the kind of thing we need to be looking at now.

The bill needs a little work, but there is no reason not to move forward on this.

I call this bill the "Make Junkies Move To Other States Act of 2008."

It Could Be Worse

Massachusetts is in the middle of busting its biennial socialized medicine state budget by $650 million. We can be thankful Kentucky's budget is already busted past the point of this kind of social engineering.

Like P.J. O'Rourke said, "If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when it's free."

An unhealthy shortage of good economics

The House of Representatives just passed a bill that would remove the cap on the number of beauty school licenses issued in the state. It is amazing that we can do that and risk a proliferation of hair cutters all over Kentucky, but we can't also allow an expansion of medical services by repealing Certificate of Need.

I guess they are saying to enjoy your cheaper haircuts in Kentucky, but don't get sick.

A Heaping Helping Of Gun Control

Now we have an answer to our one good gun bill this year: two fascistic gun control bills.

Giving The Governor A Year To Write Budget

One House bill and one Senate bill would enable a newly-elected Governor to take a year to put up his first budget proposal.

They are both constitutional amendments which would make odd-numbered year General Assembly sessions the ones in which we pass biennial budgets. Both bills strive to limit spending and revenue increasing bills, but the House bill does a much better job.

The Senate bill requires a three-fifths vote in both chambers to raise revenue or appropriate funds in non-budget years. The General Assembly almost always passes all these bills by very comfortable margins, often unanimously. So really, SB 105 goes to the trouble of changing the Constitution only to give a new Governor a full year before he has to present a budget proposal and to give that new Governor expanded powers to set the legislative agenda.

The House bill is much better. It cuts the 60-day sessions down to thirty days and prohibits appropriation and revenue bills from being passed in the even-numbered years.

House Dem Leadership Must Be Crazy

This is proof Jody Richards and friends learned nothing from the insurance debacle they created in 1994 in Kentucky.

Scorsone Drives In The Wrong Lane

Sen. Ernesto Scorsone has filed another bill to give drivers licenses to illegal aliens.

West Virginia Zooms Ahead Of Us

While Kentucky is figuring out how to promise education-related goodies we can't afford, West Virginia is setting itself up to kick our butts by simply raising math standards.

West Virginia will require some students who are already in high school -- and everyone, hereafter -- to earn four math credits in four years of high school.

This compares very favorably to Kentucky, where starting next year students will be required to take four math classes in four years but they only have to pass three of them.

Our shocking tolerance for failure here will be of little comfort when even West Virginia is eating our lunch.

Let Me Guess, She Wants More Money For Big Ed

Newly-elected Rep. Alecia Webb-Edgington reaped a benefit this morning of donating $1000 to Steve Beshear when she was appointed to a vice-chair position on the House Education Committee.

She faces Republican Will Terwort in the May primary.

Immigration Showdown At High Noon

There will be fireworks today in the House Judiciary Committee as they take up a discussion of bill that would prohibit sanctuary cities in Kentucky and shut down some employers who hire illegal aliens.

Ron Paul Supporter Takes On Mitch McConnell

Daniel Essek can beat his brains out from here to May and he will lose to Sen. Mitch McConnell in the primary election. Mitch won't break a sweat, but that isn't the point.

The battle for the heart and soul of the Republican Party rages on. Mr. Essek clearly isn't ready for prime time, but for a return to fiscal responsibility on the federal level to ever happen it will have to start someplace.

Thanks to tv blogger Mark Hebert for the heads-up.

End The Legislators' Strike

I can't find anyone with a good argument against Sen. David Williams' bill to move the filing deadline to after the end of the General Assembly.

In fact, here is one very active opponent of Republicans in general who is on board. Where are the rest of you?

My only question is will Speaker Jody Richards run this bill through the Labor & Industry Committee since it involves making the lawmakers work for their money an extra month every other year?

Bad Day For The Bald Guy

I'm trying to find a silver lining in the withdrawal of Fred Thompson from the presidential race, but not having much luck.

Any help?

2008: Year Of The Discharge Petition

Committee chairmen can kill bills by not bringing them up for discussion, but sponsors of the University Gun Bill and the Welfare for Drug Abusers Bill easily have the 25 supporters required to call a vote on a discharge petition in the House. If 51 members vote for overriding the committee action, the bill in question goes to the House floor for a vote.

While we are at it, the Ernie Fletcher Revenue Neutral Tax Increase Bill needs a discharge petition as well. And given Harry Moberly's affinity for government secrecy, we might as well go ahead and file one for the Government Transparency Bill.

Associated Press Botches Drug Bill Debate

UPDATE: Here is a little help on this issue from the Bluegrass Institute.

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The Associated Press picked up the bipartisan House effort to encourage drug abusers on welfare to stop using drugs or risk losing their welfare benefits.

The dismissive tone of the article is a little over-the-top, starting with the headline: "Welfare proposal has few fans."

The article fails to mention there are actually two bills (here and here) and only gets around to interviewing one of the sponsors. Napier's version has 27 co-sponsors.

I think what the Associated Press reporter meant was that he and Tom Burch don't like the bill.

Rep. Tom Burch should be the focus of this story for killing a commonsense measure to get people off drugs.

Instead, we get more of the mentality that hasn't worked for decades in fighting poverty or drug abuse:

The measure, House Bill 190, is languishing in the House Health and Welfare Committee. Committee Chairman Tom Burch, D-Louisville, said he doesn't intend to call it up for consideration.

"I don't think it's a good bill, and I don't think the intention behind it is good," Burch said. "Let's get treatment for the person rather than penalize the whole family."

House Republicans should easily be able to peel off enough Democrats for a discharge petition to work on this one. For the record, Napier co-sponsored Henley's bill. Let the Democrat's bill go through and get this done.

Steve Beshear Is No Scab

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

The Lexington Herald Leader reports:

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

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

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

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

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

Giuliani Panders In Florida

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

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

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

Mayor Jim Newberry is up Tuesday, February 8.

Fayette Jail Scandal Hits The Radio On Monday

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

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

City of Lexington Buying Bogus Diplomas

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

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

Big House Democrat Tax Increase Bill

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

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

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

You Can't Block This

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

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

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

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

Stroke Of Genius Meets Good Public Policy

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

Smoke-Filled Media Bias At Herald Leader

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

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

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

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

Still Looking For Ways To Cut Spending

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

A Better Idea For Improving Schools

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

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

Unexpected Twist On Blog Blockergate 2008

Didn't see this one coming.

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

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

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

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

Taking Care Of Their Own

Meanwhile, back at the ranch.

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

Attorney General Jack Conway, where are you?

Nine Minutes To See What America Needs

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

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

How About A Kentucky Stimulus Package?

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

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

Like Jim DeCesare.

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

Paying For Democracy One Addict At A Time

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

That Sneaky Obama Is At It Again!

KY Educrats, Your Bathtub Awaits

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

Sounds like we are headed in the right direction.

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

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

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

Cough Up A Lung On Your Own Dime

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

This Isn't The "Taxpayer Transparency" We Need

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

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

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

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

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

Et tu, Senator Borders?

It was bad enough when House Budget Chairman Harry Moberly filed a bill last week to raise the expensive Limited Liability Entity Tax, but today the Senate Budget Chairman Charlie Borders filed exactly the same bill with his name on it.

You are copying homework off the wrong guy there, Senator Borders.

Now that Republicans are on board, this must be another one of those "revenue-neutral tax increases" we love so much.

If you are keeping score at home, candidate Steve Beshear promised to support repeal -- not expansion -- of the LLET and keeps saying Kentucky doesn't need tax increases.

Are you watching this, Governor?

Putting Governor Steve Beshear To The Test

Why wouldn't Governor Beshear have the courage to sign an executive order Kentuckians of all political stripes want him to sign?

And no, it's not casinos.

Physician, Heal Thyself

What in the world are we doing waiting around for a bunch of career politicians to fix their own pension disaster when all they have done for decades is show a prodigious and embarrassing appetite for gorging themselves on our tax dollars?

First thing, they must repeal this bill. Here's more from BIPPS, including the soon-to-be state legislator with the highest "high three."

Preventing Courier Journal Embarrassment

You have got to the kidding me! Read this, from today's Louisville Courier Journal editorial page:

The current budget crisis is really a test of what legislative independence has become. For more than 30 years, lawmakers pushed for control. Now they have it. But when it comes to the budget, they squander it.

One frustrated legislative staffer recently described how some members operate. He fumed, "Once upon a time, you didn't even have to tell (legislator's name withheld to prevent embarrassment) what was in the budget. Now you have to give him a state park to get him to vote for it."

It's nothing new to see the Louisville Courier Journal (newspaper's name not withheld to maximize embarrassment) carry water for another bloated state legislator, but this is ridiculous and precisely why we need more government transparency than the bloated class wants to allow us now.

He Likes Mike (Huckabee)

Chuck Norris will be on Leland Conway's radio show this morning at 11:35 talking about what he will do to you if you aren't for Mike Huckabee.

You can listen on 630AM WLAP or just click here.

Governor Underwhelmer

Wasn't ANYONE impressed with the Beshear State of the Commonwealth speech?

We Can't Be Broke, We Still Have Checks!

The House Appropriations and Revenue Committee will discuss HB 87 tomorrow. The bill would give $20 million from the General Fund to tobacco farmers.

Who's Your News Daddy?

In our poll-driven world, the news that Fox News has overtaken CNN as a most-trusted news source will upset some people.

Do the math, though, and you will see CNN actually came in third. Number two was my favorite "None of the Above."