Politics
Kentucky Senate joins House to OK new process to fill US Senate vacancies?
FRANKFORT —?Kentucky senators approved a House bill that would end the governor’s power to fill U.S. Senate vacancies. This year’s change comes on the heels of a 2021 law that was sponsored by Republican Senate President Robert Stivers, of Manchester. While speaking on House Bill 622, Stivers called the new legislation “a better way to […]
Politics swirl around who will oversee Kentucky Fish and Wildlife
FRANKFORT — Thomas Ballinger, an Army veteran and Butler County beekeeper, wanted to make sure veterans have a voice on the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission, so he threw his hat in the ring for one of the nine seats. Anyone who holds a hunting or fishing license is eligible to vote at meetings in […]
School voucher proponents spend big to overcome rural resistance
AUSTIN, Texas — In rural Texas, public schools are the cultural heart of small towns. People pack the high school stadium for Friday night football games, and FFA classes prepare the next generation for the agricultural life. In many places, more people work for the school district than for any other employer. For years, many […]
Beshear’s In This Together PAC brings in almost $100,000 in latest report
FRANKFORT — Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear’s parents and several longtime donors to his political committees gave to his new political action committee in February. The new Beshear PAC is called In This Together, and it raised nearly $100,000 in contributions last month, according to a report it filed Wednesday with the Federal Election Commission. Beshear […]
Senate committee OKs bill to change Kentucky’s process for filling US Senate vacancies
A House bill that would change how Kentucky fills vacancies in U.S. Senate seats is moving in the Senate.? The Senate State and Local Government committee forwarded House Bill 622 in a vote of 10-1 Wednesday. Sponsored by House Republican Floor Leader Steven Rudy, of Paducah, the bill would end the governor’s power to fill […]
AG Russell Coleman’s biggest donor is a California pharmaceutical exec
The largest donor to the various political committees supporting Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman last year is a newcomer to Kentucky’s world of political giving and lobbying: FFF Enterprises Inc., of Temecula, California. FFF Enterprises describes itself on its website as a “leading supplier of critical-care biopharmaceuticals, plasma products and vaccines.” It first registered to […]
‘Power grab,’ says Beshear of bill to move Fish and Wildlife to agriculture department
LOUISVILLE — Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear on Monday called a Republican-backed bill that would move the state’s wildlife management agency from his administration to the agriculture department an unconstitutional “power grab.”? Beshear also called out Senate Republicans for refusing to confirm his appointees to the Fish and Wildlife Commission.? “It’s time for them to stop […]
Public money for nonpublic schools amendment meets bipartisan resistance but clears House
FRANKFORT —?After a couple hours of debate, 12 House Republicans joined Democrats in opposing a constitutional amendment that would allow Kentucky lawmakers to give public dollars to nonpublic schools.? However, 65 Republicans supported the priority legislation, House Bill 2, in a 65-32 vote on Wednesday.? If also approved by the Senate, voters would decide this […]
IVF controversy echoes memorable debate in Kentucky House 40 years ago
Veteran Kentucky lawmakers call it one of the most dramatic moments in the history of the state’s General Assembly.? Memory of it has revived this spring as the nation — and Kentucky lawmakers — weigh a controversy over in vitro fertilization, a way to help infertile couples have a baby. “What happened back in the […]
Looking toward November, Biden targets ‘shrinkflation’ in State of the Union speech
The White House retweeted Cookie Monster about it. The president made his own Super Bowl video about it. And then President Joe Biden made it a point in his State of the Union speech: “Shrinkflation” must be stopped. Biden said Thursday during his annual address that he is taking on corporations that are making more […]
House committee OKs bill to make interrupting legislative proceedings a crime in Kentucky
FRANKFORT —?Kentuckians could be charged with a new crime — “interference with a legislative proceeding” — under a bill backed Wednesday by Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee. The committee’s Democrats passed their votes on House Bill 626.? The bill’s primary sponsor, Rep. John Blanton, R-Salyersville, said the legislation was written with three scenarios in […]
McConnell endorses Trump as former president wraps up GOP nomination with Super Tuesday wins
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, often at odds with former President Donald Trump, endorsed him Wednesday for president. Trump sewed up the Republican nomination the day before with multiple victories in Super Tuesday primaries. Trump’s remaining GOP challenger, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, announced Wednesday morning that she was leaving the race. Shortly after, […]