Senate panel approves new conservative ‘Bill of Rights’ on partisan vote
State Sen. Brandon Smith, R-Hazard
FRANKFORT — A Senate panel split on party lines Wednesday in approving a constitutional amendment that backers called “the 21st Century Bill of Rights.”
Senate Bill 3, sponsored by Sen. Brandon Smith, R-Hazard, would create a new section of the Kentucky Constitution that would say no law could force Kentuckians to participate in health insurance systems, provide abortion services or surrender their firearms. It also would ban laws that prevent posting the Ten Commandments and coal mining.
If approved by the legislature, the amendment would be presented to Kentucky voters at the polls in November.
Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, denied charges by some Democrats that the measure’s true purpose is to attract more evangelical conservatives to the polls this fall in hopes they would support Republican nominees for the U.S. Senate and state legislature.
Williams said he believes some Democrats in the Senate will support the measure, which the Senate State and Local Government approved on a 7-5 partisan vote.
–Jack Brammer
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annie | Jan 20, 2010 | Reply
JUST PLAIN SICK!!
annie | Jan 20, 2010 | Reply
ANOTHER GOOD REASON TO OPPOSE A UNICAMERAL LEGISLATURE!!
IMAGINE NOT HAVING ANOTHER HOUSE TO CONTROL THE LOONIES WHEN THEY RUN WILD!!
Susan Dunaway | Jan 20, 2010 | Reply
You have got to be kidding me!?! With all the issues we face in this state, I absolutely can’t believe THIS is what our tax dollars are spent on. Outrageous!
conservativeBob | Jan 20, 2010 | Reply
What a waste of time. We have to vote these yahoos out of office, regardless of party. Good grief these people sicken me. Nothing like more laws on top of more laws….
Rob Powers | Jan 20, 2010 | Reply
It is past the time for a 2nd American revolution. This 2 party system is leading us, this country and this state into chaos. Let’s vote them all out! All of them and start over. What a waste.
Stumpy Sevenfingers | Jan 20, 2010 | Reply
Does this spell out what kind of snakes we have to handle in church? I’m partial to the ones without fangs.
Two-Timer | Jan 20, 2010 | Reply
I wonder if the sponsor and supporters of this bill of rights/ten commandments dealey thingie have been faithful to their wifeys and husbands….Not naming names, but if some of those motel room walls over in them eastern parts of the state could talk, well….
View from the Taliban | Jan 20, 2010 | Reply
This is the hope and change conservatives will give this country unless the pitchforks come out and people are hoisted on pitards.
Welcome to the American Al Qaeda.
Bill Adkins | Jan 20, 2010 | Reply
This wasn’t Smith’s idea - he’s not too intelligent. Someone else put the crayon in his hands.
Vietnam1971 | Jan 20, 2010 | Reply
Up next: A constitutional amendment to affirm our love for Mom and apple pie. And the Bible thumpers will fall for it, too.
Vietnam1971 | Jan 20, 2010 | Reply
I think you must know the sponsor, right?
Paul | Jan 20, 2010 | Reply
Guess this kind of stuff is more important than considering insignificant legislation such as the budget, funding education, children’s services. If GA members think they’re scoring any points with the voters, they are dead wrong. This falls in the category of trivia, sort of like picking the state dog!
KYIndependent | Jan 21, 2010 | Reply
I wonder if this “bill of rights” would allow people to drop their government health insurance plans like Medicare, Medicaid, and the VA? Are the KY Republicans trying to kill Medicare for Kentuckians?
gracchus | Jan 21, 2010 | Reply
So if it becomes unconstitutional to force anyone to surrender their firearms, does that mean that police cannot take guns from criminals?
gracchus | Jan 21, 2010 | Reply
And does Sen. Smith understand that no state constitutional amendment can conflict with federal law?
patrick | Jan 21, 2010 | Reply
anybody point out to this fool that the US Supreme Court has overturned the 10 commandment posting laws numerous times, the most recent 3 being IN KENTUCKY, while guns are traded in interstate commerce, and therefore the constitution specifically says the feds have the authority to regulate (as in not allowing them for felons and sex offenders)?
Jason | Jan 21, 2010 | Reply
THIS IS RIDICULOUS. Talk about our leaders WASTING more time. This is typical WILLIAMS leadership, nothing really done at the end of the day just a lot of staging.
NO WONDER THIS STATE RANKS LOW IN THE NATION.
kycol1 | Jan 21, 2010 | Reply
It seems that Kentucky is not satisfied with its deplorable standing among the other states. Our leaders seem to be determined to gain us the position of the most ignorant state in the Union. We now stand along with Texas and Idaho but gaining on them every time an official body meets. Our colleges continue to get some of the best ratings in the country. Where in the h$$$ do the graduates go. They obviously do not enter politics here in the Commonwealth.
Michelle Nicholson | Jan 22, 2010 | Reply
Ah–the beauty of having an illiterate constituancy: They can’t understand what this bill really means, so they will vote for it.
Kentuckians, you must not let your devotion to your gods blind you to the civil rights upon which this great country was founded. If you can post the 10 commandments, I can post the cries of Cthulu. Do you really want this?
B | Jan 22, 2010 | Reply
Michelle, I believe you are wrong. Please read Pleasant Grove City v. Summum (2009).
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/07-665.ZS.html
…if this reading is too heavy, here is the wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleasant_Grove_City_v._Summum
Anna Turney | Feb 17, 2010 | Reply
I am so glad that I am a FORMER KENTUCKIAN.