Don’t punish Kentucky public servants for isolated problems | Opinion
There is a difference between solving real problems in government and passing sweeping laws that punish the people who keep government working. House Bill 10 crosses that line.
A stated goal of HB 10 is to prevent political favoritism and strengthen accountability during transitions between administrations. Those concerns should be taken seriously. But isolated concerns are not the same as widespread misconduct. We should not write broad policy based on anecdotes.
Instead, HB 10 casts suspicion and weakens protections for some state employees, including extended probationary periods tied to transitions between administrations.
Thousands of state employees serve Kentucky every day with professionalism and integrity, regardless of who is in office. They process benefits, protect children, inspect facilities, maintain roads, support public safety, and keep agencies functioning through changes in administration. They are not political pawns. They are public servants.
Kentucky’s merit system exists to protect that professionalism. It helps ensure hiring, promotion, and discipline decisions are based on qualifications and performance, not politics. That protects employees, taxpayers, and continuity of service. Those protections should not be weakened based on anecdotal concerns.
It is also important to recognize that not every non-merit position is political. Many are filled because agencies need specialized expertise and leadership in fields such as law, finance, healthcare, engineering, technology, and emergency management. Those hires are often about competence, not politics.
Treating all non-merit roles as patronage jobs ignores the reality of modern government and disrespects professionals who bring critical skills to public service.
The practical consequences matter. Laws like this damage morale, make recruitment harder, and push experienced employees away. At a time when government already competes for talent, that is the wrong direction.
Instead of the broad approach taken by HB 10, Kentucky deserves reforms that are fair, effective, and constitutional. If there are accountability gaps, the answer is to enforce ethics laws, increase transparency, strengthen targeted oversight, and hold actual bad actors accountable. That is how government should work. We fix real problems without punishing people who have done nothing wrong.
We can demand accountability without devaluing the people who serve this Commonwealth every day.
Rep. Erika Hancock represents Kentucky’s 57th House District in Franklin County.