http://http://www.kentucky.com/210/index.xml News, sports, and entertainment from Kentucky.com en-us Copyright 2009 Kentucky.com State Government and Politics 60 Sat, 14 Nov 2009 06:53:42 EST http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss McClatchy Interactive's Workbench interactive-ops@herald-leader.com http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1019348.html http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1019348.html Sat, 14 Nov 2009 06:53 EST
Terry D. Gilreath of Pulaski County was fired in October 2004 by then-Corrections Commissioner John Rees, who accused Gilreath of committing fraud upon the state.

However, the state later agreed to void the termination in a settlement that required Gilreath to drop an appeal of his firing. He also agreed not to seek future employment with the Department of Corrections.

Rees' dismissal letter to Gilreath was obtained by the Herald-Leader from the state Personnel Board through an Open Records Request.

Gilreath, who is running for the 85th House District seat in the May primary against fellow Republican incumbent Tommy Turner of Somerset, said he is "very concerned" that the 2004 letter from the corrections commissioner was made public.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1019341.html http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1019341.html Sat, 14 Nov 2009 06:50 EST
State Budget Director Mary Lassiter told agencies whose budgets have already been slashed that more cuts may be needed to resolve a $160 million to $170 million shortfall this fiscal year, which began July 1.

In the letters, Lassiter asks agencies to show how a possible six percent cut would affect programs, services and their workforce. Those plans are due to her office by Nov. 30.

The letters indicate that several state agencies will be exempt from cuts, as they were in previous budget reductions. Those include Kentucky Educational Television, public universities, the main funding formula for K-12 schools, prosecutors, public defenders, Medicaid and mental health services.

Kerri Richardson, a spokeswoman for Beshear, cautioned that Beshear's office was collecting the data for planning purposes and no final decision has been made.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1017773.html http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1017773.html Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:26 EST
Long said Thursday he has formed an exploratory committee to run as an independent and almost has the required 4,000 signatures to get his name on the ballot. The signatures are due by April 1.

Long, who ran unsuccessfully for Boyle County sheriff, said he decided to get in the Senate race "because no one in it so far is listening to the people." He described himself as a conservative.

Democrats in the race are Attorney General Jack Conway, Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo, former U.S. Customs agent Darlene Fitzgerald Price of McCreary County and Eastwood businessman Maurice Sweeney.

Republican candidates are Secretary of State Trey Grayson, Bowling Green eye surgeon Rand Paul, Todd County businessman Bill Johnson, Northern Kentucky consultant Roger Thoney and Oldham County teacher Brian Oerther.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1017772.html http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1017772.html Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:27 EST
Harley-Davidson officials said last week that the Shelbyville location is the only one it's considering if it relocates its York, Pa. plant.

The Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development has remained mum on what type of incentives the state is considering to lure the plant to Kentucky. The York plant employs 2,500. Harley-Davidson has also said it might stay in Pennsylvania.

The Kentucky Gazette, a Frankfort political publication, said on its Web site Thursday that Senate leaders have been told by Beshear that he might call a special legislative session the week of Dec. 13, just a few weeks before a regular legislative session begins Jan. 5.

Beshear's office would not confirm whether Beshear would call a special session, but Beshear said Thursday that economic incentives for Harley-Davidson would be the only item on the agenda if a special session is called.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1017771.html http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1017771.html Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:19 EST
Despite those increases, the report says Kentucky's spending for prisons is on par with many states with similar prison populations. The study was compiled by staff members of the legislature's Program Review and Investigations Committee.

The state's rising prison population has been the subject of other reports. In 2008, a Pew Center on the States report showed that Kentucky's prison population was growing faster than that of other states.

Cindy Upton, a staffer with the Program Review and Investigations Committee, told the legislative committee Thursday that from fiscal year 2000 to fiscal year 2009 a span of about 10 years the average number of inmates increased by almost 42 percent and annual costs increased by more than 53 percent.

On average, the state housed 21,473 inmates in 2009, compared to 15,164 in 2000.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1016185.html http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1016185.html Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:36 EST
Keep Our Jobs in Kentucky Inc., which praises candidates who favor expanded gambling at racetracks, will run TV and radio ads in Lexington and Louisville for at least five days, said Patrick Neely, who is on leave as executive director of Kentucky Equine Education Project to work with Keep Our Jobs.

Haydon, a former state representative from Bards town, faces Republican state Rep. Jimmy Higdon of Lebanon in a Dec. 8 special election to fill the 14th Senate District seat recently vacated by Springfield Republican Dan Kelly. The district includes Marion, Mercer, Nelson, Taylor and Washington counties.

"We were anticipating they would get in the race for my opponent," Higdon said. "I voted against their bill to allow slot machines at the race tracks."

Higdon said he had tried, but failed, to keep the issues group from becoming involved in the race. "I let them know that I wanted to let the people vote on a constitutional amendment to allow expanded gambling, but they wouldn't hear it," he said.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1014977.html http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1014977.html Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:14 EST
His comments came as President Barack Obama huddled with top aides and military advisers to discuss four options to ramp up the U.S. presence in Afghanistan.

Since March, Obama has been mulling the recommendation of Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the NATO commander in Afghanistan, for 40,000 troops to join 68,000 U.S. soldiers already fighting there.

McCain said he didn't know whether 40,000 was the right number, but he warned of disaster if Obama doesn't commit all the necessary resources, of which troops are just a part.

"The worst thing we can do is have half measures which send our men and women into harm's way but are not sufficient resources and sufficient numbers in order to get the job done," McCain said. "I fear that more than a complete pullout." ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1014527.html http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1014527.html Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:31 EST
The state's General Fund receipts have declined 5.2 percent during the first four months of the fiscal year, according to the Office of State Budget Director. To meet the state's official revenue estimate, receipts must increase 0.2 percent over the remaining eight months of the fiscal year.

October's poor performance was expected by the Consensus Forecasting Group, a group of independent economists who help the state predict how much revenue it will receive each year, State Budget Director Mary Lassiter said in a written release.

In October, the Consensus Forecasting Group projected there could be a revenue shortfall of $161 million in the current fiscal year, which ends June 30. The group will return in December to make official predictions for this fiscal year and the next two years.

"While the ($161 million shortfall) is unofficial at this time, we are very concerned about the ability of revenues to meet budgeted levels," Lassiter said. "The Beshear administration remains committed to tight fiscal management as the commonwealth endures what we hope is the tail end of this persistent economic downturn."]]> http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1014526.html http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1014526.html Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:31 EST
Garland "Andy" Barr, 36, promised a group of supporters at a Lexington hotel that he would bring fiscal conservative values to Washington if elected in November 2010.

"The American people deserve better," Barr said. "They want leaders that will stop spending money that we don't have."

The Lexington lawyer is the first Republican to formally announce his candidacy for the seat held by Ben Chandler, D-Versailles. Barr formed an exploratory committee in September and had raised more than $185,000 by the end of September.

Matt Lockett, a Nicholasville Republican, also has expressed interest in running.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1014752.html http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1014752.html Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:11 EST
Documents filed with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance show Haydon took in $64,855 while Republican Jimmy Higdon raised $31,655.

The two are running in a special election to replace former state Sen. Dan Kelly, who resigned when Gov. Steve Beshear appointed him as a circuit judge.

The election is Dec. 8. The race is considered key in a push by Beshear to sway the Senate's balance of power to improve his odds of getting a bill passed expand gambling in Kentucky.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1014525.html http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1014525.html Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:36 EST
"I knew going into this thing that I would be criticized no matter what I did. That's one of the problems when you take a moderate viewpoint in today's climate," said Chandler, a fourth-term Democratic lawmaker from Versailles. "You can't appease both liberals and conservatives. And I don't vote the way folks want me to vote all of the time."

Indeed, scarcely had votes been cast Saturday night when the conservative Americans for Limited Government sent an e-mail to its members and media outlets condemning Chandler for supporting the measure that would create a government-run health insurance plan. The organization, which sharply criticized Chandler earlier this summer, was forced to issue a hasty retraction and begrudging congratulations when it realized Chandler was one of 39 Democrats who voted against the measure.

The misstep spoke volumes about the difficulty some have had in pinning down Chandler's methodology when voting on major pieces of legislation.

"Look at Ben Chandler, and you see someone who voted for the Democratic energy bill, voted against health care, and he's one of the four Democrats with that voting pattern who gained a well-funded challenger between June and November," said David Wasserman, an editor at the Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan political analysis group in Washington. "It's a reflection that these members no longer have an aura of invincibility as the energy level on the Republican side has increased."]]> http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1014089.html http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1014089.html Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:29 EST
But, LaRue said, the thing that would help her efforts the most would be the Kentucky General Assembly passing a law to allow victims of dating violence to get protective orders.

Currently, 40 states extend that protection; in Kentucky, protective orders are given only to people who are married, have lived together or have a child together.

"My students can't get the protections they need," said LaRue, who directs the Prevention, Education and Advocacy on Campus and in the Community at U of L. "That is a lot of people who can't access services that we've worked so hard to enact."

Several advocates at the summit said the lack of dating protection is a big hole in a state that has been seen as progressive in the fight against domestic violence. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1013783.html http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1013783.html Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:30 EST
Edward S. "Ned" Bonnie, a member of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, said there is a potent "carrot" in breeders' incentives, which will be denied to those who intentionally harm walking horses to achieve an exaggerated performance gait.

"You do it right, you get the money," Bonnie told members of the horse farming subcommittee of the Interim Joint Committee on Agriculture.

In September, the racing commission restructured the incentives for walking horses, stripping the Kentucky Walking Horse Association of the ability to inspect shows as part of the state program. Instead, to qualify for the thousands in state tax money set aside for prizes, all walking horse shows beginning in 2010 are required to be inspected by one of three groups devoted to stopping training practices outlawed by the 1970 federal Horse Protection Act.

Although Bonnie said federal law has not been sufficient to halt the practices, he stopped short of calling for new state legislation to toughen penalties.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1013745.html http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1013745.html Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:30 EST
The grand jury also indicted Nunn for allegedly violating a domestic violence order of protection that Ross had received against Nunn in March. The indictment notes the violation is considered an "aggravating circumstance," which allows Fayette Commonwealth's Attorney Ray Larson to seek the death penalty if he chooses.

After the indictment, Larson declined to say whether he would seek the death penalty. "We will speak through our pleadings in this case," Larson said, referring to the court documents he will file.

Nunn will be arraigned in Fayette Circuit Court at 11:30 a.m. Nov. 19.

Court records indicate the grand jury heard from three witnesses Tuesday: Lexington police detective Todd Iddings and Nunn's two daughters, Mary and Courtney. Mary Nunn declined to comment to a reporter.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1012995.html http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1012995.html Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:48 EST
Republican U.S. Rep. Harold Rogers, whose Eastern Kentucky district is plagued by what one prosecutor called a "tsunami" of pills from out of state, favors one approach to track the flow of drugs. Reps. Ben Chandler and Ed Whitfield support an alternate plan, which competes with Rogers' for limited federal dollars.

From his seat on the powerful House Budget Committee, Rogers has had more success getting money for the program he favors, which is named after him.

Under that program, states get grants through the U.S. Department of Justice to set up or improve ways to monitor prescriptions for controlled substances, such as pain pills and anti-anxiety medication.

The program has funneled $48 million to 47 states and territories since 2002 for prescription-drug monitoring.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1012994.html http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1012994.html Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:12 EST
The business group said Kentucky no longer can afford to provide generous health benefits that dwarf what most private workers receive.

The average state worker pays for 3 percent of his or her health insurance premium, compared to 20 percent for the average private employee in Kentucky, said Dave Adkisson, president and chief executive officer of the chamber.

The total cost to provide health coverage for 258,169 teachers, state employees, state retirees and their dependents is more than $1.2 billion a year about $607 a month for each of 156,683 state workers and retirees, Adkisson said.

Since 2000, the percent of the state budget going to public employee health coverage has more than doubled from 6.5 percent to 12.5 percent this year, he said. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1011075.html http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1011075.html Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:46 EST
“I voted against the bill because I do not believe it is the best course of action for the people of Central Kentucky, specifically our working families, small businesses, and seniors,” Chandler said in a statement late Saturday night.

With the exception of Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Louisville, every House member of Kentucky's congressional delegation voted against a measure that would create a government-run health insurance plan in an effort to help Americans meet the measure's requirement of obtaining health insurance.

“The citizens of Louisville, Kentucky, sent me here to this body largely to help bring us to this historic moment,” Yarmuth said. “It is the day we take a giant step toward that more perfect union that we all seek. I am very proud to be a part of this day.”

In contrast to Yarmuth, whose district is largely comprised of a primarily Democratic urban center, Chandler hails from a region that includes both Democratic enclaves like Lexington and more rural and Republican-leaning towns and swaths of farmland. As a result, Chandler often found himself the target of conservatives who wanted him to reject a public health care option and liberals who wanted him to support it.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1011670.html http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1011670.html Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:28 EST
"I voted against the bill because I do not believe it is the best course of action for the people of Central Kentucky, specifically our working families, small businesses, and seniors," Chandler said in a statement late Saturday.

With the exception of U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Louisville, every House member of Kentucky's congressional delegation voted against a measure that would create a government-run health insurance plan in an effort to help Americans meet the measure's requirement of obtaining health insurance.

"The citizens of Louisville, Kentucky, sent me here to this body largely to help bring us to this historic moment," Yarmuth said Saturday. "It is the day we take a giant step toward that more perfect union that we all seek. I am very proud to be a part of this day."

In contrast to Yarmuth, whose district is largely composed of a primarily Democratic urban center, Chandler hails from a region that includes Democratic enclaves like Lexington and more rural and Republican-leaning towns and swaths of farmland. As a result, Chandler often found himself the target of conservatives who wanted him to reject a public health care option and liberals who wanted him to support it.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1011668.html http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1011668.html Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:55 EST
The Administrative Office of the Courts says the dozen employees who received increases from May until October got pay bumps because they took on more responsibilities as the judicial system was trimming its staff to save money.

But the salary increases don't sit well with some current and former AOC employees.

"When you know that you're going to have to lay off people, why give some people raises, especially during a budget crisis?" said Kathy Peach, who was laid off in September after nearly 13 years at the AOC. "I think it's an outrageous way to treat employees."

The court, which needs $308 million to cover annual expenses, was allocated $273 million this fiscal year. It is operating with a $35 million deficit.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1009527.html http://www.kentucky.com/210/story/1009527.html Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:30 EST
"It would have given Amanda Ross the opportunity to use a firearm that she had been trained to use and had a license to carry," Stumbo said after the first public hearing on his bill to provide a high-tech way to fight domestic abuse.

"It gives the victims what I call a fighting chance," he said.

Ross, 29, a state Department of Insurance employee, was gunned down outside her Lexington townhouse on Sept. 11, allegedly by her former fianc Steve Nunn.

Ross had taken out a protection order against Nunn, a former state legislator and son of the late Gov. Louie Nunn, earlier this year and had told friends and co-workers that she feared for her life in the days before her death. Nunn has pleaded not guilty to murder.]]>