From the (Lexington, Kentucky) Herald-Leader:

Official denied mining permits, got fired

FORMER HEAD OF DIVISION SAYS HE REFUSED TO APPROVE ILLEGAL MINING

The Kentucky Gazette is reporting that Gov. Steve Beshear told legislative leaders this week to keep some time next month free for a possible special session.

From the report -

  Gov. Steve Beshear has told legislative leaders keep the week of Dec. 13 open for a possible special session of the Kentucky General Assembly, Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, told The Kentucky Gazette on Thursday (Nov. 12) morning.
    Senate Minority Floor Leader Ed Worley, D-Richmond, confirmed the tentative special session and said the topic would be an economic incentives package for the possible relocation of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle plant to Shelbyville. …

One other state senator said he’s heard chatter that video slots may be added to the call as well.

Thanks to Page One Kentucky for the heads up.

The Courier-Journal is reporting that Gov. Steve Beshear said this morning that he would consider an additional increase in Kentucky’s tobacco tax to help the state’s budget and reduce smoking rates.

From the article -

In answering a question about Kentuckians’ relative unhealthiness at a breakfast with Louisville business people, Beshear said the state should “continue to look at increasing our cigarette tax.”

“No question it makes a lot of difference,” he said, referring to the tax’s effect on habits. “We have got a lot of teens smoking in this state.”

The comment comes the same day that his budget director released figures showing state general fund revenues down 4 percent in October compared to the same time period last year.

Beshear along with several legislative leaders, including House Speaker Greg Stumbo and Senate President David Williams, have previously said that tax increases likely wouldn’t be part of the budget discussions set to begin in January.

“Christmas” it is.

And so it shall be that the tree that will soon sit on the front lawn of Capitol Building in Frankfort, Kentucky will be officially referred to as a “christmas tree.” It has been confirmed that the imbecilic term “holiday tree” is being dropped.

It has kind of a nice ring to it, don’t you think?

Christmas tree.

(That sound you hear may be the armies of the ACLU mobilizing).

From the Associated Press:

A spokeswoman for Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear says he’s calling the tree on the Capitol’s front lawn a “Christmas” tree this holiday season. A statement from the administration last week sparked Christmas consternation by referring to the yet-to-be-chosen evergreen as a “holiday” tree.

Some Christians were perturbed by the terminology.

Spokeswoman Kerri Richardson says the administration received a steady stream of e-mails and phone calls about the “holiday” tree. She says it’s always been a Christmas tree to the governor, and it will be this year, too.

The governor is inviting critics of the “Christmas” tree to a lighting ceremony Nov. 30.

I expect all non-Christians in Kentucky to be rounded up and sent to Tinsel And Garland Indoctrination Camps - also known as You Will Obey Jesus Realignment Centers - by November 25th.

‘Holiday tree’ terminology is “intended to be inclusive” says Gov. Steve Beshear spokeswoman

SCROOGE ALERT LEVEL: HIGH

AP: Christmas jeer: Kentucky governor’s ‘holiday tree’ angers critics

FRANKFORT, Kentucky — Gov. Steve Beshear has angered some Christians with his yuletide terminology.

A giant evergreen that will brighten the Capitol lawn this winter won’t be called a Christmas tree. Instead, the Beshear administration has dubbed it a “holiday tree.”

The Rev. Jeff Fugate, pastor of Clays Mill Baptist Church in Lexington, said Christians find the change troubling.

“If you call it a holiday tree,” Fugate asked, “which holiday are you talking about? We don’t put up a holiday tree for Easter or New Year’s or Thanksgiving. We put a tree up for Christmas.”

Beshear administration spokeswoman Cindy Lanham said the tree will be in celebration of a variety of winter holidays, including Christmas and Hanukkah…

FULL STORY

Helen Mountjoy has resigned her position as secretary of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet effective Nov. 30, citing “a long commute and a desire to spend more time with her family,” Gov. Steve Beshear’s office announced today.

Helen Mountjoy

Mountjoy, an Owensboro resident, was appointed secretary in 2007 and previously worked with the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corp. She served on the Kentucky Board of Education, and chaired that body from 1998 to 2004.

From the press release -

“Education and workforce development are the issues closest to my heart, and it’s been a privilege to serve as cabinet secretary,” Mountjoy said.  “I am looking forward to continuing some of that work, and I’m also looking forward to spending more time with my family in Owensboro.”

Mountjoy noted that because of the importance of education and workforce issues facing Kentucky, she continued in this position a year longer than she had committed to originally. She will continue to be active in promoting these issues in the Commonwealth.

Gov. Beshear said he will immediately begin a search for Mountjoy’s replacement.

Mountjoy will continue to serve on the Transforming Education in Kentucky task force recently created by Beshear.

The Courier-Journal editorial board today defends the move by Gov. Steve Beshear to appoint state Sen. Dan Kelly to a judgeship and in doing so, help pave the way for changing control of the state Senate.

From the editorial -

But governing effectively sometimes requires doing what’s necessary to overcome unyielding obstruction. In this case, the Governor in good faith had exhausted other, less drastic options to combat the unwillingness of Senate President David Williams to permit the full Senate to debate and vote on expanded gambling — the one achievable measure with the potential to offer state government meaningful financial relief and to reverse devastating harm to the state’s signature horse industry.

The editorial does make a good point – the Republican Kelly, who until recently was majority floor leader, or before him former state Sen. Charlie Borders, who Beshear appointed to the Public Service Commission, weren’t forced to take the appointments. And in the case of Kelly, it wasn’t as if Beshear was appointing a butcher to a judgeship, but rather “an experienced attorney and legislative leader,” as the C-J put it.

But I think this editorial goes a bit far to imply that Beshear was forced to resort to these questionable tactics by Williams and the opposition of Senate Republican leadership to expanded gambling.

From the editorial -

If Sen. Williams and other Republican leaders want to halt the raiding, they could start by allowing full and overdue consideration of an issue Mr. Beshear has a popular mandate to pursue.

Expanded gambling is an issue that should be debated on its merits, and the maneuverings of Williams aren’t alone in keeping Kentucky from handing the horse industry the golden goose.

Any thoughts?

Reporter Ronnie Ellis with CNHI News Service has a great column today about the criticisms recently leveled by Gov. Steve Beshear and Democratic leaders that Senate Republicans were “playing politics.”

The criticism followed an announcement this week by Senate President David Williams, a Burkesville Republican, and Sen. Damon Thayer, a Georgetown Republican, that they would offer companion constitutional amendments next year relating to expanded gambling.

Taken together, the two amendments would establish that gambling couldn’t be expanded in Kentucky except by changing the state constitution, and then amend the constitution to allow slot machines to seven licensees, with one license awarded in each of the seven counties that hosts live horse racing.

Beshear, who now prefers allowing slots at tracks through legislative action, not amending the constitution, said in a statement this week that “this move (by Williams and Thayer) is about politics, not progress. It is about spin, not the substance of critical issues confronting Kentucky and our signature industry.”

As Ellis notes, of course it’s about politics, but so are many of the recent maneuvers by Beshear to create a state Senate, which now has a Republican majority, more receptive to his gambling proposal. And in doing so, Beshear is possibly going to appoint a Republican to the judicial bench – current state Sen. Dan Kelly of Springfield – based on politics, not policy.

From Ellis’s column -

Appointing a judge whose rulings can determine the life, liberty and property rights of citizens is another. I’m not an attorney or an expert on the law. I don’t know whether Kelly is a good attorney or if he’ll make a good judge. I don’t know who the other possible nominees may be or how well they know the law or whether their judgment and temperament are appropriate to sit in judgment of others.

Judges are elected in Kentucky and anytime an election determines who sits on the bench, politics come into play. Kelly has said he intends to run for the seat when it is next on the ballot. But at least the people who live in that circuit and who may face that judge in court will make that decision. And they will have a choice between two candidates.

But it’s a bit disconcerting to think someone who sits in judgment of those accused – sometimes falsely – of crimes which can lose them their liberty and property, might have gotten there because a governor wanted another vote for gambling.

Yes, Williams and Thayer are playing politics with their amendments. But the governor and Democrats are in no position to criticize them for that.

Apparently two politicians couldn’t wait to find out for certain if state Sen. Dan Kelly, a Springfield Democrat, will be leaving the Kentucky Senate for the judicial branch.

Many predict that Kelly, the majority floor leader in the Republican-controlled Senate, will be appointed to fill an open circuit court seat by Gov. Steve Beshear. If Beshear makes the appointment, it will be the second high-profile Republican he has named to state office in moves that help free up the Senate for a Democratic takeover in the chamber.

In anticipation of Kelly’s departure, Republican state Rep. Jimmy Higdon and former state Rep. Jodie Haydon, a Democrat, have already filed papers to seek Kelly’s seat in 2010.

From the Herald-Leader -

A former Democratic state representative from Bards town and a current Republican state representative from Lebanon have filed papers signaling their intent to run for the state Senate seat held by Republican Sen. Dan Kelly in 2010.

That 14th Senate District seat has emerged as a political hot spot in recent months. Kelly, the Senate GOP floor leader from Springfield, is being widely mentioned as a candidate to fill an open circuit court judgeship, which would create an open spot in the 38-member chamber that Republicans control with 20 seats.
Jodie Haydon, a Democrat who retired from the legislature in 2004, filed paperwork with the Registry of Election Finance on Wednesday that allows him to raise money to run.

“The money part is not the issue. It was my way of letting people know that I am interested in the seat,” said Haydon, who said he plans to run regardless of whether his opponent is Kelly or someone else.
On the Republican side, Rep. Jimmy Higdon of Lebanon filed Sept. 14 to raise money for the Senate seat. But Higdon said Thursday he’ll bow out and seek a fifth term in the House if Kelly runs for re-election next year.
Higdon said he filed because he’s preparing for Gov. Steve Beshear to appoint Kelly to the bench, which probably would trigger a special election.

“You could say I’m putting the cart before the horse by getting out and asking people to vote for me in an election that doesn’t exist,” Higdon said. But he said he wanted to lay groundwork for a campaign because he expects to have to raise at least $100,000. He said he’s raised about $15,000.

After filing with the registry, Higdon and Haydon can amend their paperwork to start raising money for a special election, if one is called.

Beshear just MAY just be good for something, and that thing is giving months different names. Stevie B’s Press Release:

Gov. Steve Beshear today honored Kentucky’s signature bourbon industry for its tremendous economic and tourism impact by declaring September “Bourbon Heritage Month” in the Commonwealth.“From jobs to investment to tourism, bourbon is a vital part of the Bluegrass economy that benefits all of Kentucky’s citizens,” Gov. Beshear said. “It’s also a key export and a proud symbol of our heritage that’s known and acknowledged around the world.

“It’s a privilege to proclaim September ‘Bourbon Heritage Month’ in recognition of our historic distilling industry. My administration is committed to working with our distillers to help this essential part of our economy grow and thrive.”

I love that, “grow and thrive”. Which is why you approved of the new alcohol tax that has the potential to cripple the very same industry. AWESOME.

But, uh, I’m sure a lot of people are happy or give a durn about this. Right? Right? No? Then why am I writing this?

“I’m not worried about it because they have never said Coach Cal did anything wrong at all.  I think he’s a very upstanding guy. I think that’s his reputation and I think that reputation will be with him here. I really don’t foresee any problems.” – Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear

Memphis has to vacate its 38 win season that brought it to the men’s basketball Final Four in 2008.  Just like my UMass had to vacate its victories in its one-and-only Final Four season in 1996.  (L’affaire Marcus Camby.)

Both teams were coached by John Calipari, who departed Memphis and UMass just ahead of the long arm of the NCAA.

Former UConn athletic director Lew Perkins tried to warn me way back when, but I was blinded by the light. 

Good luck, Kentucky.  Calipari at UK and Pitino at Louisville.  Wow, wow, wow.

So says an email from the Conway camp and Miller’s Twitter, anyway:

We are thrilled to announce former State Treasurer, State Party Chair, author and current Secretary of Finance Jonathan Miller endorsed Jack Conway in the 2010 United States Senate race. Jonathan and Jack first made their announcement on Twitter and Facebook (www.facebook.com/JonathanMillerKY or http://twitter.com/MillerKY).

This endorsement comes on the heels of U.S. News and World Report (8/10/09) calling Conway the “Democratic favorite” in the Kentucky Senate race.

“I am deeply honored to have Jonathan Miller’s endorsement,” said Jack Conway. “Jonathan  is one of Kentucky’s best and brightest public servants.  Jonathan and his entire family have worked hard to make Kentucky a better place to live, work and raise a family.”

“I am endorsing Jack Conway for the United State Senate because I believe he is the most qualified person to represent Kentucky in Washington.  Jack’s record of protecting Kentucky children from cybercrimes, Kentucky seniors from elder abuse, and Kentucky’s consumers from fraud demonstrates his ability to tackle 21st century problems with traditional Kentucky values.  That is why we need Jack Conway in the United States Senate, and why I am dedicated to helping him win,” said Miller.

Miller currently serves as Governor Steve Beshear’s Chief Financial Officer.  He served two terms as Kentucky State Treasurer, served as Chair of the Kentucky Democratic Party in 2007, authored The Compassionate Community: Ten Values to Unite America, worked for former Vice President Al Gore, and pioneered the use of new media in Kentucky politics.

Miller ran a spirited race for Governor in 2007 and eventually endorsed Steve Beshear. Miller’s endorsement of Beshear is widely viewed as providing Beshear’s campaign the necessary boost to avoid a run-off election in the Democratic primary and putting Democrats on the road to winning back the Governor’s office. Jonathan and I share the goal of making Kentucky a land of opportunity so our children and all Kentucky children can stay in Kentucky, receive a world-class education, find a great job and eventually raise their families,” added Conway.

Governor Stevie B. broke the news this morning that Kentucky did not receive the funding from the Department of Energy for a battery manufacturing plant for western Kentucky. In Hardin County, a not for profit company alliance, NAATBatt hoped to build a plant with federal and state dollars. Now $1 billion is going to projects in Michigan, nearly half of the $2.4 billion total.

The not-so-stimulus strikes again! Seriously, though, we need the jobs (the plant possibly would’ve employed 2000) but this smelled of BS all along. This further proves the benefits of Free Enterprise. If companies had the money rather than the government, things may get done. I wonder how far the $1 billion will go in Michigan? My guess, not terribly far. Here’s the Guvnuh’s response:

“We are, of course, disappointed by today’s announcement that the NaaTBatt consortium’s proposal did not receive a grant award from the Department of Energy. However, we knew at the start that we were entering an extremely competitive process as evidenced by the fact that only 20 percent of applicants received awards. The bottom line is that we cannot and we will not let a brief setback deter us from our goals. You can’t win in economic development, ultimately, if you are not willing to compete. We will continue competing and we will win more than our share. With respect to today’s announcement, we plan to meet soon with our consortium partners to discuss what steps we may be able to take in the future together. With the continued strong bipartisan support that this initiative garnered, I am convinced Kentucky can and will be a central player in advanced auto manufacturing in the future. We have made significant strides already to that end. We are developing a federal lab with Argonne National Laboratory to conduct research on the car batteries of the future. Kentucky will serve as host this fall to a national battery conference and we are continuing discussions with several companies that are extremely interested in our efforts in this emerging area. Finally, our actions in this administration already have helped secure for the long term many of the 80,000 jobs related to the auto industry in Kentucky through our close partnership with Ford, Toyota and General Motors. That will be strengthened as Kentucky continues its role as one of the country’s major auto manufacturers.”

Ol’ Charlie Borders goes to the Public Service Commission, Beshear calls a special election for his State Senate seate, and all heck busts loose. Then, Jack Ditty jumps in the race for the Republican Party to face off against the Democratic Robin Webb. Then along comes some random guy from my hometown who plunges in the race. According to Bluegrass Politics, Guy E. Gibbons, Jr. of Greenup County (the same as locale as Jack Ditty) is set to run as an Indy.

Gibbons said he is a semi-retired construction worker and farmer, a member of the Kentucky Farm Bureau board and a former member of the Flatwoods City Council. He also said he once ran for county commissioner.

Asked why he is running, Gibbons said, “I want to see some difference made in Frankfort. I don’t think the job is getting done.”

He’s right there.

The bigger issue here is, what are his views apart from making a difference?

So, today was a normal day for the Dealership. I had a meeting at 9am, and then didn’t have to come in until noon. Or it would have been a normal day, except for the fact that the Governor was signing a bill in our store, and we had boatloads of news and politicians inside the store. We had people from other dealerships, we had security, and we had everyone who works here all together in the showroom. The only thing missing would be a customer.

But, I got to meet the governor, I got to shake his hand, and I got to look him in the eye and introduce myself. And in doing so, I got a very strange impression of him. Like all politicians, he was smiling all the time he was here, always friendly with everyone, but the smile never touched his eyes. Not only that, but everything he said had that political doubletalk strewn all throughout it. And when I shook his hand, I felt like I was shaking hands with a dead fish. His handshake was limp, lifeless, and when I looked into his eyes, all that I saw was my reflection.

I saw nothing that looked happy or friendly at all. I have looked into the eyes of a career political democrat, a democrat who has reached high political office. And I saw nothing good in those eyes, nothing friendly, and nothing at all pleasant.

I am proud of the fact I did not vote for him, and after meeting him today, I would go back and vote against him again in a heartbeat. I am a political junkie, I eat this kind of stuff up for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Yet this bit of politics… it disgusted me. Now I understand why his critics who have met him are so harsh. He is a picture perfect example of the soulless politician.

That’s the question reporter Ronnie Ellis with CNHI News Service has asked folks around the state.

Gov. Steve Beshear and Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson, Beshear's new running mate (AP photo)

Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson joined Gov. Steve Beshear at press conferences in Frankfort and Louisville on Monday as the pair officially kicked off their 2011 campaign. Beshear had announced Sunday that Abramson, who has been mayor of the state’s largest city since 1985, would be his running mate when he runs for re-election in two years.

“His Kentucky roots, just as deep and just as strong, are in Jefferson County,” Beshear said, according to Ellis. “I really believe Kentuckians care a lot less about where you’re from than about where you’re going.”

Ellis rightly notes the “rural/urban” divide that can often color politics in this state.

Beshear touts his western Kentucky roots in Hopkins County, but has become more associated with Lexington and Frankfort during his career in the private and public sectors.

Beshear gained support in eastern Kentucky and more rural areas with current Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo, a native of Hazard in Perry County. That won’t be the case with Abramson, who has been an enthusiastic and successful mayor, but who has become nearly synonymous with Louisville.

Abramson has developed a reputation for getting things done, but as Herald-Leader’s Larry Dale Keeling noted in his Sunday column, the mayor has run afoul of many organized labor groups and some of his recent comments have prompted a rebuke by two black lawmakers.

The Herald-Leader, in an editorial  today, says Abramson is a “dynamic choice” by Beshear, stating that “We are confident that the kind of dynamic and progressive leadership that Abramson has provided Louisville, especially in economic development, could serve the rest of Kentucky well.”

It’s going to be an interesting campaign to watch, and beyond this initial round of press conferences, voters will get a look at how Abramson handles campaigning in a statewide race during his visit to the Fancy Farm picnic in August. He plans to attend, but is not listed as one of the speakers. Beshear will miss the event, opting instead for a family vacation .

Abramson is an energetic speaker and quick of his feet, which should make for the politics of the 2011 race fun to watch.

From The News & Observer:

WASHINGTON — Republican insiders are hedging their bets on the fate of Sen. Jim Bunning’s 2010 re-election bid as the rift between Kentucky’s junior senator and GOP leaders widens.

For the better part of a month, Bunning, a Hall of Fame pitcher, has thrown Republican leaders curveballs by feuding with his fellow Kentuckian, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and the National Republican Senatorial Committee’s chairman, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, over support for his re-election efforts.

Original DVD cover.

Bunning also made a headline-grabbing blunder by predicting that U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg would be dead by year’s end.

Bunning apologized Monday for the Ginsburg statement. However, some Republican analysts want Bunning benched.

…snip…

On Tuesday, Bunning threatened to sue the National Republican Senatorial Committee if it tries to recruit a GOP candidate to challenge him. He then went on to accuse state Senate President David Williams of owing him $30,000 and questioned Cornyn’s honesty.

On Friday, Williams met with NRSC officials in Washington about a possible run for the U.S. Senate, a move that infuriated Bunning.

…snip…

This isn’t Bunning’s first brush with verbal faux pas.

During the 2004 campaign, Bunning said Democratic challenger Daniel Mongiardo, then a state senator from Eastern Kentucky and now the state’s lieutenant governor, looked “like one of Saddam Hussein’s sons.” Mongiardo is an Italian-American.

Bunning later apologized for the statement, and the two may face off again in 2010.

Mongiardo issued a statement Wednesday calling on Bunning to withdraw from the Senate contest because Bunning is an “embarrassment to Kentuckians.”

…snip…

In the 2004 election cycle, Mongiardo lost to Bunning by a 1.4 percentage point margin.

Other Democrats considering the race include state Attorney General Jack Conway and state Auditor Crit Luallen. U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler, D-Versailles, has not ruled out a run.

In the meantime, the state’s Republicans are hoping to avoid a replay of the 2007 Kentucky governor’s race, when GOP Gov. Ernie Fletcher refused to step aside and lost in a landslide to Democrat and current Gov. Steve Beshear.

Ultimately, the true test of Bunning’s ability to mount a viable bid for a third term will depend on whether he is able to raise funds and fortify support, said Jennifer Duffy, a senior analyst with the Cook Political Report.

“It’s up to him. He promised to raise $2 million and they’ll hold him to it,” Duffy said.

So far, Bunning has banked only $150,000 in what could be a race that demands $10 million or more per candidate.

In a telephone press conference with reporters on Tuesday, Bunning had just four words for naysayers:

“I’m going to run.”

Oh goody! You have to run, Senator Bunning! Think of the children!

* Europe fetches the monetary helicopters at long last (Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, Telegraph)

* CHINA’S DOLLAR JITTERS (Irwin M. Stelzer, New York Post)

* Northern areas of Phoenix not spared from sales slumps (Michael Clancy, Arizona Republic)

* Skeptical Beshear signs payday loan bill (Joseph Gerth, Courier-Journal)

* Fewer new jobless claims beats prediction (Christopher S. Rugaber, Denver Post)

* Obama aide had stint at Freddie (Bob Secter, Los Angeles Times)

* Obama administration seeks to regulate large financial corporations (Jim Puzzanghera, Los Angeles Times)

* Should You Dip Into Your 401(k)? (Craig Clough, KFOX)

* Something of Historic Propotion is Happening (Pam Geller, North American Hunter)

* Plugging the Brain Drain (Jeremy Alford, The Independent)

Kentucky governor Steve Beshear stopped by campus today to help announce the new WKU Energy Policy regarding the conservation of electricity and other utilities on the Hill. We are hoping to set the standard for the state energy sustainability efforts… this year we have already saved more than 2,300,000 kWh over last year!

-Clinton