Republican gubernatorial candidate Billy Harper has lost his campaign manager. Stan Pulliam has gone back to his home in Oregon, accordiing to Harper's spokesman. Sam Edelen says Alois Moore, who's been serving as the campaign political director, will take over management of Harper's campaign.

Edelen says Pulliam resigned and was not asked to leave. He says it was a personal decision. Moore is a former county PVA from Hazard. Edelen says she's a personal friend of Harper's. Harper has spent more than $3 million of his own money in a campaign against Ernie Fletcher and Anne Northup. The Paducah businessman has failed, so far, to break 15% in the polls, though he was a virtual unknown when he began running campaign commercials in October 2006.

Question: Do you believe Fletcher cannot win and are you uninterested in policy?

If you answer YES to this, then Anne Northup is your candidate on May 22nd.

Another week and Kentucky Republicans are opening their mail box to find another glossy mail piece from the Ernie Fletcher campaign.

This time the topic is Health Care.

Ernie Fletcher actually wants you to believe that he has lowered the cost of Health Care!

Take the Kentucky Health Care Challenge!

Question: Do you think Ernie Fletcher has fixed the problems with Health Care and lowered the cost for Kentuckians?

If you answer YES to this, then Ernie Fletcher is your candidate on May 22nd.

If you answer NO to this, then Anne Northup is your candidate on May 22nd.

Question: Have your Health Care insurance premiums skyrocketed while Ernie Fletcher has sat back and done nothing?

If you answer YES to this, then Anne Northup is your candidate on May 22nd.

If you answer NO to this, then Ernie Fletcher is your candidate on May 22nd.

So make sure when you open your mail box and see Ernie Fletcher’s next glossy mailer that you check for the facts…you’ll have to look past the mailer because they won’t be on there.

Anne Northup has a better plan! Click here to read her position on Health Care or watch her discuss the issue by clicking here.

Next time you see Ernie Fletcher make sure you ask him what is his plan is for Health Care! He has lots of glossy mailers but not a lot of plans.

From the Louisville Courier-Journal:

The odds that Ford Motor Co.'s Louisville Assembly Plant will survive the next round of plant closures improved this week after union workers approved a set of cost-cutting moves, analysts said yesterday. But it's too soon to predict whether the plant and its more than 3,000 jobs are safe - even with the added promise of $200 million in state incentives available if Ford invests in its two Jefferson County factories.

Winning the United Auto Workers concessions, which had already been approved at 35 of Ford's 42 plants in North America, "improves the chances of the plant's staying open," said Art Spinella, president of CNW Marketing Research in Bandon, Ore. The agreement at least lets Louisville Assembly "stay in the game" as it competes against other plants for survival. Having the cost-cutting agreement is better than not having it, said Catherine Madden, an analyst with market-research firm Global Insight in suburban Boston. "Unfortunately, I don't believe it guarantees a facility will stay open. … Nothing can change the fact that Ford is not selling enough vehicles to fill the capacity that they have," Madden said.

The Dearborn, Mich., automaker wants to reduce North American employment by 29 percent, to about 92,000 by the end of next year, from about 130,000. Ford has said it will close seven assembly plants across the country by 2009, but hasn't identified two of them. "I would think that Louisville would be one of the last on the list to go," Spinella said, calling it a historic linchpin for Ford. But that's no guarantee of security, he said.

"You hate to give up on something that has such longstanding history with the company - but they've done it before," he said. "Ford has a long history of closing down plants that they've had for a long time." The Louisville Assembly Plant on Fern Valley Road opened in 1955. Ford lists the Edsel, LTD and Ranger among the products in its history. "The auto industry has just changed so dramatically in the U.S.," and Ford "has gotten the brunt of that change," Spinella said. "That being the case, they have to make some decisions as to what they can and can't afford." Madden said she thinks a more car-like version of the Explorer will be made at the Chicago Assembly Plant, but Louisville Assembly could be assigned production of a different vehicle.

The 2007 Kentucky General Assembly approved an incentives package that would cover much of the cost of retooling the Explorer plant for a new vehicle even if employment doesn't increase. The measure, signed into law last week by Gov. Ernie Fletcher, provides tax incentives for investments in both Louisville Assembly Plant and Kentucky Truck Plant operations and retraining local employees to work there. The Kentucky Truck Plant, Ford's largest factory, builds the F-Series Super Duty trucks.

While F-Series sales have suffered from high fuel prices and a downturn in home construction, analysts believe the Chamberlain Lane plant is safe. Louisville Assembly is considered vulnerable because of the weak sales of the Explorer, Madden said. Unless the plant gains a new product line, it could face a shutdown, she said. "Overall, the state incentives are all well and good, and obviously they have a place in the decision-making," Spinella said. "But the reality is that Ford has too many plants. And all the concessions in the universe won't keep that plant running if they don't have the sales to back it up."

Despite Fordfare’s passage, employment remains unstable. The aforesaid codifies the incentives’ absurdity. No workers were saved. No employment was assured. The plant was not guaranteed. Fletcher merely passed legislation for legislation. Ultimately, his egotism will devastate Kentucky and Ford.

The state care population is nineteen percent. The African-American population is seven percent. The problem is obvious. Why is a study necessary?

From the Louisville Courier-Journal:

Concerned about the disproportionate number of black children in state care, Kentucky officials are launching a project to determine why so many are being removed from homes and what can be done about it. About 19 percent of the 7,000 children in state care are black, yet African Americans make up only 7.3 percent of Kentucky’s population.

"This is an opportunity to make a difference and do what’s right,"" said Tom Emberton Jr., who oversees the state social-service system for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. African-American lawmakers from Jefferson County — which has the highest rate of black children removed from homes because of alleged abuse and neglect — welcome the initiative.

More than half the Jefferson County children in state care are black, although African Americans make up only 19 percent of the population. "The numbers are disturbing,"" said state Sen. Gerald Neal, D-Louisville. "We must find out exactly what’s going on and how to correct it. Neal said he believes there is "clearly a racial component" but said the issue probably is more complex — involving poverty, housing, services for families such as counseling or drug treatment and other issues.

State Rep. Darryl Owens, D-Louisville, said he is concerned about the problem, particularly in Jefferson County. "The numbers are staggering," he said. "This is a very serious problem, and we have to find out the reason for it."

Emberton said that’s what the state intends to do in coming months. It has identified 11 counties with the highest rates of black children in state care and will spend about $500,000 over the next year to try to find out why. At the same time, the state is launching more training and education on possible biases by those involved in child welfare and how to overcome them.

While Anne Northup's most fervent online supporters have been quick to call mine and Brett Hall's credibility into question regarding the GOP primary, they rarely have facts to back up their assertions of a Northup surge. Now, there is certainly no lack of name calling and anger, but that is usually not the basis for a persuasive argument. So, would it be to much to ask, since I have been assured by the Northup supporters that momentum is building for her, what the factual basis is, for the assertion. Could you give us fund raising facts? How much? From whom?

How many fund raisers have been held? As well, which counties other than Jefferson seem to be in the Northup column? At what Lincoln Day Dinners have Northup supporters out numbered Fletcher supporters? How about internal polling numbers. Do you have any of those? After all, the last Survey-USA poll showed an 8 point drop for Northup from her previous internal poll. What has changed since then? I'll be happy to post the information. I'll even buy your theory that momentum is building for Northup. It's just that you'll have to provide more than talk. Is that to much to ask, for people questioning others credibility?

State prepares for possibility of runoff election

The state Board of Elections has taken action in hopes of helping Kentucky's military service people and overseas citizens vote in case of a primary runoff election in this year's race for governor. The runoff would occur if no gubernatorial candidate in one of the May 22 primary elections receives at least 40 percent of the vote. The runoff would be 35 days after the primary.

A runoff election which should have never been challenged. A runoff election I advocated. Victory is mine. Victory is mine. Great day in the morning people, victory is mine.

Session gets mixed reviews

Coal miners, minimum-wage workers and the Ford Motor Co. met with success in the 2007 legislative session that ended Tuesday night. But university students, women without health insurance and numerous nonprofit agencies were among those who struck out after bills to help their causes failed to pass. "It was a session that substantive things were accomplished, but I still think it was a session that, in my opinion, constitutes a missed opportunity," said Rep. Scott Brinkman, R-Louisville.

We passed corporate welfare, an unemployment initiative, and were virtually stagnate on mine safety. Session, guess my review.

Lawmakers spar on pension plan

Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, accused House Speaker Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green, of dodging the issue to smooth his campaign for governor, and Richards responded by essentially calling Williams a liar. The Republican leadership plan to change the retirement system for state and county employees, which passed the Senate on March 6 with the dissent of only two among the Senate's 14 Democrats, would have sold $828 million in bonds to get the current program out of debt, put half the current employee contribution into an employer-matched 401(k), and raise the length of service needed to retire with full benefits from 27 years to 32. The changes would apply to state or county employees hired after July 7, 2007, and would not affect teachers' benefits at all. But it stalled in the House, though Senate leaders called for its consideration up to the General Assembly's last two days in session.

They are debating the pension plan now?

Fletcher uses discretionary funds for design of Horse Park stadium

Gov. Ernie Fletcher said today he is considering using his executive authority to pay for some of the "urgent needs" that legislators declined to fund in the legislative session that ended Tuesday. Fletcher said he believes he has the power to use the state's "rainy day fund" to help several South-Central Kentucky counties with expenses related to ongoing repairs of a leaky Wolf Creek Dam and to pay all the costs of an expected runoff election in the Democratic primary for governor.

Discretionary funds? I would have preferred them elsewhere. With that stated, the legislature was lazy. Governor Fletcher’s decision was correct.

I missed this Al Cross story from the March 18th edition of the Courier Journal on the Northup campaign. Here's the real interesting part of the story in which a "leans Northup" Republican was interviewed: The 60-second ad seems to be aimed at people like Hughes -- Republicans who think the hiring investigation and prosecution by Democratic Attorney General Greg Stumbo was "overkill," as Hughes calls it, and who still have personal regard for Fletcher but remain uncertain about their vote.

Republicans who put a premium on maintaining GOP control of the governorship are unlikely to be persuaded by the appeal to sympathy, given Fletcher's low job ratings in polls. But most voters in the primary, which also includes businessman Billy Harper, are likely to have less partisan priorities -- such as who they think would be the best governor. And as we wrote in January, they need to hear reasons to be for Northup, not just against Fletcher.

Hughes said likewise after hearing her litany and discussing it with the locals. "Not anything about what she's going to do, that didn't go over too well with those people there," he said. "Some of those little old ladies, they were ready to whip Anne Northup."

I'd say your campaign is not going well, when you incite "little old ladies" within your own party to do you bodily harm. Of course, I am a Fletcher supporter. But still, that can't be a good sign.

Where is our Governor? Thirty one days, three children dead? Where is his statement? Where is a commission? Where is a special investigation? Where are new safety measures? Governor Fletcher, society survives via our children. If you cannot protect them, why serve or seek re-election?

From the Lexington Herald-Leader:

When 2-month-old Brianna Brown died yesterday morning, she became the third Central Kentucky child in 31 days to die of injuries apparently caused by abuse. Parents have been charged with murder in the deaths of all three.

The deaths illustrate what many advocates and some in state government have known for years: The number of kids in Kentucky who die as a result of abuse and neglect has been increasing. "This isn't just a blip on the radar," said Jill Seyfred, executive director of Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky. "There are children in Kentucky who are subjected to fear every day."

Caleb Bishop, 1 month old, died Feb. 25 after suffering blunt-force trauma to the head. Fourteen days later, Michaela Watkins, a chatty 10-year-old who dreamed of being a cheerleader, died in a Winchester apartment. Brianna's death at University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center came 16 days after Michaela's.

In one of the three deaths it is clear the state had been involved in the child's care. Family members have said the Watkins family had had several visits from social workers. Statistics show that the number of children who died as a result of abuse and neglect in Kentucky has nearly doubled from 2000 to 2004. And the number of children who have died while being monitored by state social workers has also increased. In 2004, the last year for which national figures are available, Kentucky ranked fifth among all the states in the number of children who died as a result of abuse and neglect.

Child advocates and state legislators say the three deaths in such a short time should be a wake-up call that the state needs to devote more resources to child protection. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates, said advocates and some members of the legislature have said for years that child protection has been underfunded. Yesterday, one state lawmaker said she would push in the 2008 legislative session for more investigation into abuse and neglect deaths. It's not enough for the cabinet to do an internal investigation if a child dies while under its care, said Rep. Ruth Ann Palumbo. There should be outside scrutiny, she said.

The cabinet investigates all deaths due to child abuse. Palumbo, D-Lexington, says she will file legislation requiring the cabinet to release a summary of any internal review conducted in response to abuse or neglect that results in a fatality or near fatality. Palumbo filed similar legislation in 2004, but it was not passed. She also intends to draft legislation that would allow lawmakers on the Health and Welfare committee to review cases twice each year to track the decisions social workers make. "I want to go as far as we can go. As a policy maker, I want to talk to social workers about what we can do," Palumbo said.

Other advocates applauded Palumbo's efforts, saying more oversight is needed. "I would like for more outsiders to look at how these children die, people and agencies who don't have a contract with the cabinet," said David Richart, executive director of the Louisville-based National Institute on Children, Youth and Families. "These incidents go underground by virtue of confidentiality. It erodes public confidence."

From 2000 to 2004 in Kentucky, child fatalities due to abuse more than doubled -- from 16 to 36. During that time there was an increase in fatalities in which the children had prior contact with state social workers, from 16 to 25. Those numbers decreased slightly in 2005, and cabinet officials say the preliminary numbers in 2006 are lower than those in 2004. The cabinet has launched a host of initiatives to cut the number of abuse and neglect deaths in Kentucky, including a program with the non-profit Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky. Also, more than 700 physicians and other medical personnel have been trained to spot signs of abuse and neglect, Seyfred said. Better training in spotting abuse may be behind some of the uptick in both reports of abuse and investigations into child deaths, child advocates say. The number of reports of suspected abuse and neglect increased from about 44,000 in 2000 to 65,000 in 2006, although the number of substantiated cases remained flat.

Kosair Children's Hospital in Louisville started a series of child abuse prevention programs and an educational seminar for medical professionals to help spot abuse. Dr. Stephen Wright, professor of pediatrics at the University of Louisville and medical director at Kosair, said that about four years ago the hospital saw about a child a month who died as a result of abuse or neglect. "We noticed of the kids who came here ... almost half of them had seen a physician or some other health care professional within a couple of weeks prior to them having this catastrophic event," Wright said.

Child advocates hope others, not just police or medical professionals, will watch out for children's well-being. "If there is any hope that can emerge from a tragedy, maybe these kinds of headlines can make these kids the focus of the governor's race rather than a forgotten issue," Brooks said. "Kids should be a topic of conversation of every candidate."

Key legislation collapses as legislature adjourns

Lawmakers adjourned this year's legislative session late Tuesday night without appropriating $9 million for a new runway at Blue Grass Airport or $38 million for a new outdoor stadium and other improvements at the Kentucky Horse Park. Afterward, Gov. Ernie Fletcher, who is seeking re-election, again promised to recall lawmakers to address what he called "urgent needs," but said lawmakers need a "cooling-down period" that might last beyond the May 22 gubernatorial primary.

What occurs when legislators slack? Miners are not safe. Critical tourism measures are not addressed. College students are slighted. Should we mock applaud our pathetic legislature or offer a moment of silence?

House balks on repealing runoff election law

The House and Senate yesterday refused to back down from their respective positions on the governor's race runoff, meaning Kentucky will probably have an overtime election and counties will have to pick up the tab. Senate Republican and Democratic leaders told the House Monday that they favored repealing the runoff provision -- the last remnant from 1992 election law reforms. The House's position would have left the runoff in place but provided $5 million to cover the counties' costs of holding such a special election. The state already is responsible for about $2 million for a runoff. The House didn't budge from that stance yesterday.

For months, I denounced the runoff. I said Kentucky politicians should play the ball as constituted. Victory is mine. Victory is mine. Great day in Kentucky people, victory is mine.

Social worker safety bill passed

The House and Senate passed a social worker safety bill and one other measure late last night and then adjourned the 2007 session -- without acting on other major issues. An impasse between the two bodies prevented action from being taken on the Senate's plan to bail out the financially ailing state retirement systems or bills that would fund scores of university construction projects and spending priorities of Gov. Ernie Fletcher.

Social workers deserve protection. Governor, sign this legislation.

Groups disagree on merits of special legislative session to address retirement systems

A day after lawmakers ended their 2007 session, several groups weighed in with various opinions on a possible special legislative session to address money problems in retirement systems that cover state and local government employees and public school teachers. The Coalition for Sustainable Benefits -- made up of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, the Kentucky League of Cities and the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence -- urged Gov. Ernie Fletcher and lawmakers yesterday to begin working immediately toward a special session this year to overhaul the state retirement systems. But the Kentucky Public Pension Coalition -- made up of the Kentucky Education Association, the Kentucky State AFL-CIO, the Kentucky Association of State Employees and the Technical Faculty and Staff Alliance -- urged interested parties to study the issue over the next nine months and consider it in the 2008 General Assembly, which begins in January.

During their term, legislators were lazy. How will they act when they have no desire to govern?

Legislative deadlock leaves university projects in limbo

At Northern Kentucky University, 200 students are on a waiting list for housing, and they'll keep waiting now that the General Assembly ended without approving money for a new dorm. NKU President Jim Votruba said he understands that the building -- along with $218 million in other university projects -- is merely a hostage to a political fight over the state pension fund. But NKU has to buy the new dorm, a former nursing home, by Monday, and he's not sure how they will do it without state funding. "We're disappointed we couldn't bring closure to this," Votruba said. "My hope is that can be done in a special session." In the meantime, it will "take some creativity" to figure out what NKU will do.

Clearly, Ernie is the education Governor.

Personnel officer recommends reinstating fired merit employee

The hearing officer for the state Personnel Board issued an order for Gov. Ernie Fletcher's administration to reverse the firing of Mike Duncan, a former staff assistant in the Transportation Cabinet's inspector general's office. The board's hearing officer, John C. Ryan, issued a 54-page recommendation that concluded that Duncan's firing was "excessive, erroneous and improper under the circumstances." Under the term's of the order, Duncan is to be returned to his previous position with the same pay and back pay.

Obviously, the merit hiring scandal was warranted.

Fletcher says state will sponsor 2007 Bluegrass Games

Gov. Ernie Fletcher announced plans to sponsor the 2007 Bluegrass State Games through his Get Healthy Kentucky initiative. Through the initiative, Fletcher will donate a $100,000 grant to the games, which will be July 20-22 and 28-29. "I can't think of any better ambassadors to help us spread the Get Healthy Kentucky message than the athletes that participate in the 2007 Bluegrass State Games," Fletcher said at a press conference Wednesday at Rupp Arena.

Kentucky is the Bluegrass state. Who else would sponsor these games?

Let us be up front -- we heartily support Ernie Fletcher's re-election campaign (if that's any great secret). We believe that the policy accomplishments of his administration, made in the face of overwhelming political opposition, have earned him a second term. We also believe that the merit system hiring investigation was overblown, unnecessary and politically motivated.

We are further saddened to see Republicans whom we originally believed to be intelligent and reasonable buying into the partisan allegations made by Greg Stumbo and his accomplices on the stacked grand jury and hanging their opinions on the nails driven by selective leaks by the prosecution and the press' subsequent gobbling them up like emaciated dogs who find a 5-pound pack of ground beef lost by the roadside.

We agree with the Fletcher administration's contention that mistakes were made in the hiring of new state employees to fill vacancies, but there was no criminal intent. Those mistakes were properly dealt with by the firing of those who made them. We also note that none of the indictments was for the improper firing for political purposes of an existing merit system employee with status.

We believe that much of the damage done by the merit system investigation could have been blunted or avoided had this state's top Republican officeholders, officials and unofficial party leaders immediately denounced the investigation and instead turned the mirror on the investigator. That list most certainly includes Sens. Mitch McConnell and Jim Bunning, as well as most of the state's Republican members of the House of Representatives. Had they swiftly defended Fletcher, criticized Stumbo and then flexed a little political muscle, Fletcher would be cruising to renomination and we wouldn't even be having a discussion about a Republican primary. We can give Anne Northup a pass for not originally standing tall for Fletcher, while we hold that against the others.

After all, Northup represented a district that is overwhelmingly Democrat and she knew that she would be in for a tough re-election battle. But there is no excuse for McConnell, et. al, to have left Fletcher hanging. We were wholeheartedly behind Northup in her Congressional re-election campaign and we were saddened when she lost. We want to see Northup back in public service sometime in the future. But we definitely cannot support her candidacy for governor.

Not only do we not endorse her candidacy, we do not even endorse the concept of her challenging the incumbent of her own party. No thinking Republican could have ever imagined that the Democrats would give a Republican administration a free pass, considering that Democrats think that running this state is their birthright and the top two investigative offices were occupied by D's. The press has never seen fit to print the real stories behind the merit system investigation because they don't reflect negatively on the Republican incumbent.

Had there been a Democrat governor, any complaints about hiring practices would have been handled administratively, as they had been for more than four decades since Kentucky's civil service system was established. But because this state has a Democrat attorney general, suddenly administrative actions became criminal misdemeanor indictments. It hasn't helped matters that most of those responsible for the missteps in the Fletcher administration were hired at the behest of the federal delegation.

It's particularly disgusting to hear Northup out on the campaign trail, parroting many of the same things Greg Stumbo has been saying -- the same Greg Stumbo that dropped the charges against Fletcher with prejudice. We applaud Northup for her service in Congress and before that, in the General Assembly.

At another time, she might make an excellent governor. But not now. At a time when she should have been standing behind her former friend and Congressional colleague, she turned her back on him. Doesn't she wonder what will happen at the first sign of trouble if she is elected? Will Jim Bunning defend and support her, or will he desert her the way he did Fletcher?

That's why we say Ernie Fletcher deserves better than he has gotten from his own party -- and why we say that if Fletcher is defeated in the primary, we aren't sure that the Republican Party of Kentucky deserves to win the race in the fall. If we can't support our governor in the eye of the Democrat siege he's been under for two years, we aren't much of a political party. We say we value loyalty and integrity, yet as a party we've shown neither.

From Pol Watchers:

For the second time this legislative session, state Sen. Julian Carroll, D-Frankfort, railed against Lt. Gov. Steve Pence for his "disloyalty" to Gov. Ernie Fletcher and challenged him to repay taxpayers for his salary and expenses. In a speech on the Senate floor, Carroll questioned Pence's use of a "new Chevy Tahoe" and communication equipment provided by the state. "Where is he driving that Tahoe?" Carroll asked. "I want to know whether or not he's using it for political purposes around the state."

Carroll also alleged that Pence is transported by Kentucky State Police in a limousine.Pence, a Republican, has endorsed former Louisville congresswoman Anne Northup in the Republican primary for governor. In an interview, Pence described Carroll's comments as "out of touch." "Perhaps he forgot that he gave this speech once already," Pence said.

As lieutenant governor, Pence said his loyalties lie with the voters and the state Constitution, not Fletcher. "I was not indicted. I did not take the 5th. I didn't pardon anybody. I don't have a secret legal defense fund," he said.

Pence has said Fletcher pardoned his administration from any charges related to an investigation of state hiring practices in an effort to cover up actions taken by workers in the governor's office. Pence said he has driven the same Chevy Tahoe for more than two years. He said he drives himself to events and has no limousine. Pence said he uses a private cell phone and has not made a call from his state-provided Blackberry in several months. Carroll, a former governor, said Pence should resign because "the people of Kentucky elected Ernie Fletcher governor, not Steve Pence. He didn't get a single vote."

Carroll said he understands why Fletcher has not assigned Pence any tasks in recent months. "Anybody who is disloyal as he is, it certainly wouldn't be carried out to the governor's instructions," he said. Sen. Tim Shaughnessy, D-Louisville, defended Pence, saying the lieutenant governor is "a man of great character." "We should perhaps take a good look at ourselves before we start throwing rocks at others," Shaughnessy said.

"Shaughnessy said he is "embarrassed" that lawmakers have not completed important work this year, including restoring $370 million of building projects vetoed from the budget last year by Fletcher.

"I don't have a Chevy Tahoe, but we've all been paid to be up here and I don't want people telling me to write a check," he said.

As previously stated, Pence has no staff, no political responsibilities, and no reason to remain Lieutenant Governor. He should resign. However, Pence has neither humility nor character.

Fletcher: politics partly the cause of deadlock

Gov. Ernie Fletcher this morning attributed the deadlock between the House and Senate in the current legislative session partly to gubernatorial politics. "You’ve got a couple of candidates in the House that are running for governor or lieutenant governor. You have some issues there that are challenging," Fletcher said. "And I think there’s some political posturing that’s going on. That’s unfortunate, but it is part of the political process." House Speaker Jody Richards of Bowling Green is a candidate for governor in the May 22 Democratic primary.

Campaigning stalls legislation? Politics creates gridlock? I never knew this.

Lawmakers reach agreement on Boni Bill

The state would hire as many as 80 new social workers under an agreement reached by the House and Senate on the Boni Bill Tuesday, said Rep. Tom Burch, D-Louisville, and Rep. Jimmie Lee, D-Elizabethtown. But, with the late hour of the legislative session and the political maneuvering that goes with it, the bill could still fail to become law. The agreement has to be approved by the two chambers, and disagreements over other bills could hold it up.

The bill passes. The bill does not pass. Why not protect our social workers?

Military leader appeals for tax break in Senate speech

In a highly unusual move, Adjutant General Donald Storm addressed the Kentucky Senate today, issuing a last-minute appeal for a tax break for military personnel stuck in the House. Storm, head of the National Guard in Kentucky, profusely thanked senators for passing a measure that would exempt Kentuckians in the military from the state income tax.

These men and women are American heroes. They deserve every break possible.

The spin would have you believe that Anne Northup is a day late and a dollar short in unveiling her political platform. She should have released details statements on dozens of major issues with actuarial analysis to back them up, goes the thinking of Fletcher supporters. But what was Ernie Fletcher’s strategy back in 2003 when he was a candidate for Governor?

From the archives of the Kentucy Post, snippets from this op-ed by John David Dyche: The May primary is less than seven weeks away, but so far the primary characteristic of Kentucky's campaign for governor has been its sterile superficiality.

The six serious contenders have made a hodge-podge of public pronouncements, which the press has partially and selectively reported. But citizens search in vain for systematic statements of candidates' plans and positions. Nobody in either party has put forward anything approaching a comprehensive program for Kentucky's future. […] At www.fletcher2003.com, Ernie Fletcher backs medical malpractice reform and calls for "fiscal discipline that reduces waste, while ending the political patronage."

Fletcher wants to "cut political paybacks, not raise taxes" and believes "this can be accomplished while maintaining strong support for education, healthcare, public safety and other vital services." While his site shows him praying with President Bush, browsers' prayers for substance on issues go unanswered.

The articles themselves are paid access only, but the headlines are free… and speak volumes:

Lexington Herald-Leader (KY)
April 8, 2003
GOP Hopefuls Vow To Restore Integrity... Say Little on Platforms

Lexington Herald-Leader (KY)
May 4, 2003
Governor's Race Clogged With Visionless Clones, Everyone's Running on 'Me, Too' Platform

Lexington Herald-Leader (KY)
May 22, 2003
Now To Find The Issues, Candidates Have Yet To Outline Real Differences

Courier-Journal, The (Louisville, KY)
July 3, 2003
Gubernatorial candidate outlines ethics- reform proposal

Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer (KY)
October 26, 2003
Fletcher's platform is more about style than substance

Fletcher: lawmakers should avoid special session

Gov. Ernie Fletcher today urged lawmakers to use to their final hours in Frankfort to pass pending bills so he won’t have to call a special legislative session. "Clearly it would be in the best interest of the taxpayers,’’ Fletcher said, speaking to reporters at the Capitol.

Governor, would your Blue Ribbon Commission recommend the special session?

Actuary: Pension plan won't mean big savings

The actuary for the Kentucky retirement systems testified this morning that proposed changes in pension benefits for future state employees would not result in significant savings to the state. "It’s surprising to me that the commonwealth is considering the comprehensive nature of the changes here in a very tight time frame," the actuary, Tom Cavanaugh, said. "It looks like we’re doing an awful lot to gain very little."

Politicians fudging the numbers. I am stunned.

Senate committee votes against secrecy measure

A Senate committee turned back a third attempt today to pass a measure that would make it easier for a handful of leading legislators to effectively change the law without first holding a public debate. Some Republican members of the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee went against the recommendation of their leaders and voted against an amendment to House Bill 400 that would have given lawmakers the ability to set aside existing laws and create new laws within the executive branch budget bill, which appropriates billions of dollars once every two years.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Grayson says leadership needed on runoff

Secretary of State Trey Grayson said today that an absence of political leadership has doomed a proposal to either eliminate the gubernatorial runoff or help counties pay for it. He said he points the finger at all elected officials, including himself, for not being able to find a compromise on an issue that almost everyone agrees needs to be fixed. "The voters are the ones who are going to be harmed by it, I don’t care who is to blame," he said during a press conference this afternoon.

Leadership is required. Leadership must state: “Don’t pass this ridiculous proposition.”

Governor signs horse sales bill

Gov. Ernie Fletcher has signed a bill pushed by winemaker and breeder Jess Jackson that is aimed at strengthening horse-sales integrity. House Bill 367 amends a law that requires an agent representing both a buyer and a seller to disclose the position before many sales. The new bill says that an agent’s compensation cannot be enforced in court unless put in.

Governor Fletcher endorsing integrity? Again, stunned.

For three years, two men have mired Kentucky in mediocrity.
One dismissed, one remaining.