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Some KY GOP party officials defend Jan. 6 rioters, echoing Trump rhetoric
On the third anniversary of the attack on the U.S. Capitol, some Republican activists in Kentucky rallied support for those who stormed Congress and asserted that information about the violence of Jan. 6, 2021 is being withheld from the public. The Republican Party of Kentucky’s central committee narrowly approved a...
Three questions to ask James Comer this week
This week, as members return to Washington after recess, the House GOP’s top priority will once again be bogus investigations of President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas – not addressing the important issues facing hard-working Americans across the country. Oversight Chairman James Comer has spent the past year investigating the President and his family, yet has not turned up a single shred of evidence of wrongdoing by President Biden whatsoever. MAGA House Republicans are clearly following Donald Trump’s direction with these inquiries, all to help him return to the White House in 2024, distract from Trump’s 91 criminal indictments and the millions he received from foreign entities while President, and deflect from their year of failures.
Louisville’s non-commitment to open records
Louisville Public Media’s Ryan Van Velzer recently reported on “affronts to transparency” that persist in Louisville Metro Government. Despite Mayor Craig Greenberg’s campaign pledge to address the city’s open record request backlog, that backlog continues to spawn mistrust – not to mention lawsuits – and to cast a long shadow over the Greenburg administration.
Kentucky Senate leader files bill to curb ‘divisive concepts’ in public higher education
Employees and students could sue public universities and colleges in Kentucky on grounds they were discriminated against for rejecting “divisive concepts” defined in a new bill introduced in the Kentucky legislature. Senate Bill 6 says students and employees whose claims are successful could be awarded up to $100,000.
Congressman Morgan McGarvey appointed to key position in House Democratic Caucus
Today, after only one year in Congress, Congressman Morgan McGarvey (KY-03) announced he has been named a Senior Whip, a key position in Democratic Whip Katherine Clark’s (MA-05) whip team, to champion House Democrats’ agenda in the 118th Congress. “I’m honored to be appointed by Whip Clark to...
Legislative bills would improve access to women’s period products
Kentucky is one of 21 states that taxes period products, according to the Alliance for Period Supplies, but several Republican and Democratic lawmakers in the state want to change that. They say the products shouldn’t cost more because they aren’t optional expenses. Kentucky's sales tax does not apply to prescription...
The 10 Dimmest Bulbs in Congress
Decades ago The Progressive had an annual article highlighting the 10 dimmest bulbs in Congress. Alas, they no longer do so, so I am forced to take up the mantle and produce a “10 dimmest” list of my own. The No. 1 spot would have been easily taken...
The ABCs of Kentucky’s economy
As the Kentucky General Assembly gathers in Frankfort, lawmakers will be looking for ways to lift Kentucky’s workforce participation rate, attract employers and usher in a more prosperous future. They’ll likely consider tax policy, infrastructure subsidies, and education’s role in growing an economy, making this a good time to...
Courier-Journal suing LMPD to get search warrant data
The Courier Journal has filed a lawsuit against Louisville Metro Government after the Louisville Metro Police Department failed to respond to a four-month-old request for search warrant applications cited in the critical March 2023 U.S. Department of Justice report on the department. Under the Kentucky Open Records Act, agencies have...
Bills impacting open government filed in week one of the Kentucky General Assembly
Transparency took center stage on the first day of the 2024 Regular Session as lawmakers debated the rules that will govern their proceedings. “Debated” is a generous term for the supermajority’s response to pleas for greater transparency in the bill passage process and expanded opportunities for public input. Their argument for maintaining the status quo was cynical and wholly unpersuasive. To no one’s surprise, the supermajority prevailed. In a 72 to 23 vote, the House of Representatives adopted rules that mirrored the rules of the 2023 Regular Session.
Repub AGs, incl Kentucky’s, petition SCOTUS to overturn Colorado decision to block Trump from ballot
Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman and 25 other AGs across the nation are imploring the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision to block former President Donald Trump from its presidential ballot. The U.S. Supreme Court said on Friday that it was taking up the case....
Overview of the candidate filings
The deadline to file for this year’s election was Friday, January 5th, at 4 PM. Once that passed, we could look at all the races and see just what is coming this year. Before I get into the stats and stuff, let me note that if you want to see the entire list of races and candidates, you can go to this page in Election Central. Remember, though, Election Central is only open to paying members – so if you aren’t a paying member, now would be a good time to become one!
Beshear wants lawmakers to expand number of conditions that qualify for medical marijuana
Gov. Andy Beshear wants Kentucky’s medical marijuana program expanded to include 15 additional conditions. Starting in 2025, Kentucky doctors can legally prescribe medical cannabis to patients with one of seven qualifying conditions, including cancer. But Beshear wants to expand the list to 21 to include ailments like Parkinson’s Disease, sickle-cell anemia, glaucoma, and severe arthritis.
Daniel Cameron to the rescue, tilting at ‘woke’ windmill to save the ‘American Way’
Apparently unable to find honest employment after his Failed with a capital F gubernatorial campaign, former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron has hopped aboard the think tank gravy train that will undoubtedly pad his wallet nicely while simultaneously providing him with a plethora of opportunities to hit the links in his early retirement.
Smirking in Frankfort
Transcripts of Bruce’s Take videos are emailed to Patron members who opt in to that newsletter. Want to get them? Upgrade to a Patron membership and then sign up for the “Bruce’s Take” newsletter. Bruce Maples has been involved in politics and activism since 2004, when...
This Week at the State Capitol
“This Week at the State Capitol” is a non-partisan newsletter published by the Legislative Research Commission, and posted here with permission. Lawmakers filed more than 200 bills this week on issues ranging from milk safety to the death penalty as the Kentucky General Assembly rolled through the first four days of the 2024 legislative session.
Previews for Filing Deadline and Legislative Session
The session kicks off today (1/2) and the filing deadline is a few days away. While there are still lots of news to be made on both fronts, Robert talked about both issues on this episode. Robert is a graduate of UK's Martin School for Public Policy. He works as...
Aaaand They’re Off!
Aaron, Kimberly and Doug share a few new year's resolutions, and dive into a legislative advocacy preview, including the Kentucky Together effort for a compassionate state budget, a few state house races that still deserve candidates and a political news roundup from Ms. Kimberly. Thanks for checking in on our first show of 2024!
Beshear puts human faces to his budget proposals in State of the Commonwealth address
While Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear has long brought attention to health care, education and rebuilding after natural disasters, he put human faces to those issues in the first State of the Commonwealth address of his second term Wednesday night. In his speech to a joint-session of the Republican-controlled Kentucky House...
Top Ten open government stories of 2023 (part two)
This is the second part of a two-part story. The first set of five stories is here. 6. The 490 Project settles a first-of-its-kind open records lawsuit against Louisville Metro Police Department. On April 19, a Louisville-based community organization focusing on police accountability – The 490 Project – announced the...
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