Archive for February, 2009

Bunning denies alleged threat to resign

WASHINGTON — Politically embattled Kentucky Sen. Jim Bunning on Friday denied media reports that he will resign from the Senate if he continues to face obstacles in his 2010 re-election bid.

“It’s not true. I intend to fulfill my obligation to the people of Kentucky. If you are going to write something like this, you’d better make your sources known because they are lying,” Bunning said of the anonymous reports that peppered both the mainstream media and the blogosphere on Friday.

Lexington still determining its share of stimulus money

It’s still unclear how much Lexington will receive from the federal stimulus package.

So far, the city has determined it will receive at least $17.6 million in stimulus money based on federal formulas for housing and transportation.

Len Simon of Simon and Co, the city’s lobbyist in Washington, said the city will get about $4.3 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

O’Mara named Lexington’s acting commissioner of finance and administration

Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry named Bill O’Mara, the city’s director of revenue, as the acting commissioner of finance and administration on Friday.

O’Mara replaces Kyna Koch, who resigned on Feb. 17 to take a state job as a staff member of the Legislative Research Commission. Her resignation was effective Friday.

Koch was the city commissioner that Newberry wanted to give a 12.7 percent salary increase, which would have raised her pay from $110,947 to $125,000 a year. Rather than taking action on the proposed salary increase, the Urban County Council tabled the issue.

Beshear promotes incentives to land NASCAR race

FRANKFORT — Gov. Steve Beshear touts legislation to lure a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race to Kentucky Speedway in his weekly Web commentary released Friday.

In his remarks, Beshear noted that the race track in Gallatin County plans to spend about $70 million in improvements in hopes of attracting the NASCAR race.

He said legislators are working on a tax incentive plan for the project. Beshear said Kentucky is on its way to becoming known far and wide in the sport.

Click here to listen to his comments.

–Jack Brammer

Legislative leaders support tuition proposal

FRANKFORT — The top two legislative leaders said Friday they are pleased with a tuition proposal from higher education’s coordinating board and won’t likely pursue a cap on tuition through legislation.

Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, said the Council on Postsecondary Education “has taken a good step toward capping and keeping more affordable higher education in the state.

Ethics bill clears Senate

FRANKFORT — Proposed ethics legislation that would impose new restrictions on Kentucky’s executive branch cleared the state Senate on Friday.

The measure, sponsored by Georgetown Republican Sen. Damon Thayer, cleared the Senate on a 32-4 vote. It now heads to the House for consideration. The proposal addresses some concerns that have sprouted in recent gubernatorial administrations, including the use of state aircraft and use of the Kentucky Governor’s Mansion.

‘Comment’ announces guests for weekend show

Joining host Ferrell Wellman on this weekend’s “Comment on Kentucky,” a public affairs show on the Kentucky Educational Television network, will be Ronnie Ellis, Frankfort reporter for CNHI, Inc.; Mark Hebert, political reporter for Louisville’s WHAS-TV; and Jenna Mink, a reporter for the Bowling Green Daily News.

The show will begin at 8 p.m. Friday on KET1.

House plan to reform CATS unveiled

FRANKFORT — A House bill to revamp Kentucky’s controversial CATS student testing system got its first public airing late Thursday before the House Education Committee.

House Bill 508′s many provisions include: replacing the CATS system, but not until after the 2010-2011 school year; revising all state academic standards in a phased process starting next year; and aligning core content at all levels, as well as aligning high school academic core content with college requirements.

Overhaul of state’s job-creation programs moves forward

FRANKFORT — An overhaul of the state’s programs to attract businesses and keep jobs in Kentucky cleared a key legislative committee Thursday, despite questions on how much the program could cost.

The powerful House budget committee voted 24 to 1 to pass the economic incentive program dubbed Kentucky INK, or Incentives for a New Kentucky. Gov. Steve Beshear, who campaigned on the promise of overhauling the state’s economic incentive programs, said after the committee vote Thursday night that he thought there was enough support in both chambers to get HB 229 passed.

House signs off on sale of alcoholic beverages at state parks

FRANKFORT — Kentucky’s 17 resort parks with dining areas and nine recreational parks with golf courses could sell wine, liquor and beer under a bill the state House approved Thursday.

House Bill 308, sponsored by House Speaker Pro Tem Larry Clark, D-Louisville, could generate more than $4.5 million a year, says a study prepared for the state.