An Update on HCR 10 -- The State Sovereignty Resolution

An update on the status of HCR 10 from Lexington Kentucky We Surround Them:

Owens, the chair of the Elections Committee where this resolution is, stated that this may be heard on Tuesday February 9th. While they may not come up this time, we need to go down and make sure they do come up next time. Having a bunch of citizens lobby the legislature for a bill that is not even posted yet will send a message. We may get to testify even if the bills are not brought up if there is time at the end of a committee meeting. We are asking if you are available (AND WEATHER IS OK) to come out to the Capitol Tuesday February 9th and lobby for this resolution and sit in on this committee.

The resolution currently is not posted to be heard in the committee yet. It most likely will not come up Tuesday the 9th. When it is posted we will inform everyone so you can make arrangements to be there. In the mean time please still show up Tuesday if possible and lobby them in person. Also keep up the E-Mails, Phone Calls, & most importantly Personal Letters.

Let these members know we want them to prove they believe Kentucky knows better than Washington and that the constituents of this commonwealth demand a vote on HCR10.

Election and constitutional committee
• Rep. Darryl T. Owens [Chair] - (502) 564-8100 Ext. 685
• Rep. Joseph M. Fischer [Vice Chair] - Co Sponsor of Resolution
• Rep. Ron Weston [Vice Chair] - (502) 564-8100 Ext. 629
• Rep. Kevin D. Bratcher - Co Sponsor of Resolution
• Rep. Larry Clark - (502) 564-7520
• Rep. James R. Comer - Co Sponsor of Resolution
• Rep. Mike Harmon - Co Sponsor of Resolution
• Rep. Melvin B. Henley - (502) 564-8100 Ext. 611
• Rep. Mary Lou Marzian - (502) 564-8100 Ext. 643

Contact them and encourage them to hear HCR 10

Posted by Andy Hightower at February 08, 2010 | Permalink | TrackBacks

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Monday, February 8, 2010

Environmentalist attorneys tax Louisa: Judge orders fees of over $120 per citizen

Gerth discusses Senate shenanigans

Hardin County benefits from Ft. Know expansion

Alltech "Best Places to Work"

Chad Crouch files in primary against Buford

New Sen. Webb has rough week

County officials worry about budget shortfall

Posted by Andy Hightower at February 08, 2010 | Permalink | TrackBacks

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Julian Carroll is a Grumpy Man

From CNN, you really have to watch

Posted by Andy Hightower at February 03, 2010 | Permalink | TrackBacks

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Legislators Pretend Governor is Relevant

Last night, in a show of partisanship, the House Democratic leadership met with democratic Governor Beshear to pay lip service about how serious the budget situation is:

House Democratic leaders met with Gov. Steve Beshear for about 45 minutes Monday afternoon to see if they can work together on a plan to balance a state budget facing more than a $1.4 billion shortfall for the next two years.

"It went well," Beshear said after meeting with Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, Speaker Pro Tem Larry Clark of Louisville, Majority Leader Rocky Adkins of Sandy Hook, Whip John Will Stacy of West Liberty, Caucus Chair Bob Damron of Nicholasville and House budget chair Rick Rand of Bedford. He said he and lawmakers tried to find "common ground on the budget."

If you doubted that the legislators really didn't care about the Governor, Beshear himself explains that they ignored him:

Both said the discussions didn't delve into details about specific funding cuts or which programs or services might be hardest hit. Stumbo said there was no discussion of layoffs in the meeting.

"We really didn't talk about details," Beshear said. "We just talked about how serious the situation was and the fact we're facing a budget shortfall of about a billion and half dollars over the next two years."

That's right, 45 minutes of sitting in a circle agreeing that the situation is serious.

Maybe next time they'll talk about all the snow we've gotten, how the Cats are doing, and how nice it would be if the economy were better. What else passes for small talk these days?

Posted by Andy Hightower at February 02, 2010 | Permalink | TrackBacks

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Steve's Just a Gov Who Cain't Say No

New favorite website: the Editor's Notebook of the Nelson County Gazette's Jim Brooks. Someone wrote this song and he published it:

I'm Just A Governor Who Can't Say No

By A. Nonymous (with apologies to Rodgers & Hammerstein)

I'm just a Governor who can't say no
Gambling is my favorite thing,
With or without the people's votes
I'm gonna hear those slots ring!

For a while I tried to build sympathy,
By overstating our financial woes.
But I found that voters don't believe
An honest politician -- heaven knows!

I'm just a Governor who can't say no
I'll keep on hammering this cause
More gambling will cure our money blahs
We don't need to change the stinkin' laws
I can't say no!

That's just the beginning. Read (and listen) to the whole thing here

Posted by Andy Hightower at February 01, 2010 | Permalink | TrackBacks

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Monday, February 1, 2010

Legislative day 18

KU rate hike delayed until July

Magistrate candidates in Somerset want to give salaries back

Legislature to repay debt with more debt

Joe Gerth blames Senate for constitutional requirement to start budget in House

Tolling authority to meet

One of governor's dozens of taskforces offers useless instructions on energy

Stimulus spends over $74,000 per theoretical job in Kentucky

Al Cross urges TV news to do better

Homebuilders wait for rebound

Derby Museum to reopen

Obama unable to control spending for a decade

Richmond schools prepared for state cuts

City-owned golf part of Richmond's deficit

Very few Dems run in Boone County

Posted by Andy Hightower at February 01, 2010 | Permalink | TrackBacks

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Friday, January 29, 2010

Senate Republicans want to wreck political parties

Universities expect budget cuts

Ford and its Louisville workers profit without bailout

Beshear grumpily dismisses criminals food concerns

Budget plans taking shape

It's tough to be a state worker with secure employment and a defined-benefit pension

KU files 13% rate hike

Toyota recall hits Georgetown

New layer of management added to state parks

Education Department apologizes for identifying failing schools

Henderson Water District has big leak

Knott County has two felons running for CJE

Reps. Wayne and Marzian oppose central Kentucky

Thayer pushes accountability for KLC, KACo

Nicholasville passes audit

Posted by Andy Hightower at January 29, 2010 | Permalink | TrackBacks

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Snow Day For General Assembly

Just in to the H-L:

Leaders of both chambers of the General Assembly decided to call off meeting Friday because of reports of snow that could hit Kentucky overnight and early in the morning.

"That way members can get on the road tonight," said House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg. "We decided it was better not to have session."

Stumbo said he spoke with Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, who had come to the same conclusion independently.

The legislative day, which was supposed to be the 18th day of the 60-day session, can be saved for later -- either to handle bills on a Saturday or during a two-week break for the governor to consider vetoing legislation in early April. The session must end by midnight April 15.

So consider tomorrow a "Not-Spending-Your-Money" holiday!

Posted by Andy Hightower at January 28, 2010 | Permalink | TrackBacks

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A Tally of Partisan Opponents For State Office

Just for keeping track: a chart of incumbents, how many have primary challengers and how many have general election challengers

House
Incumbent	Total	Unopp	Prim Only	Pr & Gen	General
Dems	61	19	3	8	31
Reps	33	20	4	2	7
Open	6	1(R)	0	3	2
Senate
Incumbent	Total	Unopp	Prim Only	Pr & Gen	General
Reps	10	1	1	3	5
Dems	6	1	0	1	4
Ind	1	0	0	0	1
Open	2	0	0	2	0

Posted by Andy Hightower at January 27, 2010 | Permalink | TrackBacks

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Filing Deadline - Incumbents Who Did Not File

UPDATED: Here's a list of incumbents in state offices who have not yet filed for reelection, according to the Secretary of State. They have until 4PM today to do so.

Senate

2nd - Bob Leeper (I) filing deadline for independents is later
20th - Gary Tapp (R) retiring
34th - Ed Worley (D) retiring

House

10th - Eddie Ballard (D) retiring
32nd - Scott Brinkman (R)
37th - Ron Weston (D)
52nd - Ken Upchurch (R) retiring
81st Harry Moberly (D) retiring

Posted by Andy Hightower at January 27, 2010 | Permalink | TrackBacks

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Kentucky House And Senate Race Summaries

Barefoot and Progressive actually has a good summary of the potential state House and Senate races as of this morning's filings. He lists the candidates and the results of last cycle's elections. Check it out: House and Senate.

Posted by Andy Hightower at January 26, 2010 | Permalink | TrackBacks

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Bill Farmer Stands Up -- And Walks Out -- For Taxpayers

When we read of the "bipartisan workgroup" for tax reform consisting of Democrat tax-and-spenders Jim Wayne and Harry Moberly and token Republican Bill Farmer, we were concerned that it would be difficult to come up with a proposal that wasn't centered on raising taxes.

We were right.

Today Bill Farmer reports that the workgroup is simply creating new taxes where they can offering not even a whole percentage reduction in income taxes.

A Republican House member who has pushed for an overhaul of the state's tax code said Monday that he will no longer work with a group that is examining the issue in the House.

Rep. Bill Farmer, R-Lexington, said Monday that he decided to leave the group because it appeared that the group was looking at decreasing the state's income tax but not eliminating it. Farmer said in a written statement that he was pulling out because he was concerned that the Democrats were simply going to raise taxes.

"Instead of eliminating either income tax, the Democrats' plan would merely reduce the income tax eight-tenths of a percent, from 5.8 percent to 5 percent," Farmer said in a written statement.

Instead of engaging in real reform, the workgroup seems set on another round of tax-tinkering. Kudos to Rep. Farmer for standing up for taxpayers by exposing this flawed process.

Send him an email and tell him "thanks"!

Posted by Andy Hightower at January 26, 2010 | Permalink | TrackBacks

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Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Filing deadline today

Day 15 of Legislative Session

Louisville Mayor race missing Abramson

Louisville hikes alcohol taxes

Stimulus plan for E-town

Georgetown runs surplus

Populist conservative amendment fails Kentucky Senate vote

School's out in Glasgow for basketball tourney

Who pays for lunch?

"Kentucky Association of Constant Outrages"

AG Conway sees nothing wrong with voting for appropriations for your employer

Posted by Andy Hightower at January 26, 2010 | Permalink | TrackBacks

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Monday, January 25, 2010

Legislative day 14 of 60

Stumbo expects tax reform bill

Gerth: Beshear's bad week

House 26: Francis files against Rep. Moore

No one running for council in Georgetown

Elk upset SE Kentucky residents

Beshear makes seniors gamble on facility

Rep. Tilley thinks legislators accomplishing plenty early in session

Teachers get education in coal mining

Posted by Andy Hightower at January 25, 2010 | Permalink | TrackBacks

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