Archive for November, 2010

Beshear seeks exemption for 81 appointees scheduled to lose jobs

By John Cheves – jcheves@herald-leader.com

Gov. Steve Beshear is asking the Kentucky Personnel Board to exempt 81 political appointees from a new budget-cutting law that would abolish their jobs Dec. 31.

The appointees are midlevel officials across state government. Beshear did not submit their names to the board, just job titles and agencies. They include “policy advisers,” who start with a $75,729 salary on average under Beshear, and “special assistants,” who on average start at $61,980.

The request rankles a group representing rank-and-file state workers.

“Many of these jobs don’t actually do anything that serves the public,” said Melissa Jan Williamson, vice president of the Kentucky Association of State Employees. “Most of the public service is performed by the merit workers, who are paid less and who are being furloughed.”

Beshear spokeswoman Kerri Richardson said the administration remains committed to reducing the cost of non-merit, or appointed, positions by $5 million by the end of the fiscal year on June 30. But all of the 81 jobs in question are necessary, Richardson said.

“While some of these non-merit positions are called ‘assistants,’ they include deputy commissioners, deputy directors, general counsels, policy advisers and the chief public health nurse — positions that remain essential to the service of the agency or cabinet,” Richardson said.

Shelby County Judge-Executive files for Ag Commissioner

By Beth Musgrave – bmusgrave@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT — Shelby County Judge-Executive Rob Rothenburger has filed to run for the Commissioner of Agriculture.

Rothenburger, a Republican, has led Shelby County for eight years.

Rothenburger, 51, said if he is elected Commissioner of Agriculture he would do more to promote healthier lifestyles by encouraging people to buy Kentucky-grown products. Rothenburger said he would also work with the state’s Cabinet for Economic Development to promote and expand agriculture-related businesses throughout the state.

The farmer and paramedic also said he would expand the department’s educational programs and promote once-a-month regional meetings.

“We have an excellent opportunity with our rich agricultural heritage and geographic position to recruit and expand agriculture-related businesses that would benefit Kentucky’s farms and families,” Rothenburger said.

Legislation calls for more scrutiny of nursing home deaths

UPDATED AT 7:30 P.M.

By Valarie Honeycutt Spears – vhoneycutt@herald-leader.com

An overhaul of the system for investigating deaths in Kentucky nursing homes is proposed in a bill pre-filed by state Rep. Tom Burch, D-Louisville, for the 2011 General Assembly.

Central to Burch’s legislation is a provision that would require a specific staff member at long-term care facilities and hospices to report all deaths to the county coroner within 24 hours.

BR 67 also requires coroners to involve police or prosecutors if they suspect maltreatment. But Burch said Monday the bill is intended to give coroners discretion in choosing which deaths need review by other officials.

Currently, state law does not require nursing homes to report most deaths to coroners, who are rarely called even when abuse or neglect is suspected.

Burch’s proposal acts on recommendations made by Gov. Steve Beshear’s administration following an internal review earlier this year of how nursing home abuse and neglect allegations are investigated. The review came after the Herald-Leader published a series of reports this summer about gaps in the system used to investigate nursing home abuse.

State pension agency hires new investment chief

By John Cheves – jcheves@herald-leader.com

The Kentucky Retirement Systems is getting a new chief investment officer on Tuesday.

Timothy “T.J.” Carlson will oversee investments at the agency that handles $13 billion in assets to provide benefits for state and county retirees. Carlson replaces Adam Tosh, who resigned in July for a private sector job.

“I am excited about the wonderful opportunity to come to Kentucky, and I look forward to working with the seasoned KRS team to help navigate these interesting and challenging times for our pension and insurance programs,” Carlson said in a prepared statement.

Last year, Carlson was named a principal at investment consultant Ennis, Knupp & Associates in Chicago. Prior to that, he was chief investment officer and treasury director for the Marshfield Clinic in Marshfield, Wisc. He also worked for the West Virginia Investment Management Board and the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System.

In May, acting on behalf of Ennis, Knupp & Associates, Carlson defended higher management fees that were paid by the North Carolina Teachers and State Employees Retirement System to a firm, Relational Investors, that hired the state treasurer. Previously, the state treasurer had invested state funds with Relational Investors, according to Carolina Journal.

Lawsuit shines a light on issues with Fish and Wildlife department

By Beth Musgrave – bmusgrave@herald-leader.com

A lawsuit has brought to light criticisms of the head of Kentucky’s Department of Fish and Wildlife and prompted the legislature to ask for an investigation of an agency that some say may be out of control.

Earlier this month, a legislative committee turned down a request by Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Jonathan Gassett to pay his personal legal expenses to defend a lawsuit brought by Louisville radio talk show host James Strader.

At that same meeting, the committee — Government Contract Review — voted unanimously to send the lawsuit to Attorney General Jack Conway’s office for further investigation. The suit alleges Gassett retaliated against Strader for reporting on alleged improprieties at the department.

A spokeswoman said the attorney general’s office is reviewing the request but declined further comment.

“In reviewing the allegations, it looks like personal bad behavior,” said Rep. Brent Yonts, D-Greenville, a member of the contract review committee. “It looks like an agency out of control.”

But Gassett, in a written statement, defended Fish and Wildlife and said the agency — which is tasked with enforcing the state’s wildlife statutes — must balance a multitude of interests. “I believe we do a good job of being responsive, balancing these interests and carrying out the duties prescribed by the law and regulations.”

Chandler blames Obama, Pelosi for Democrats’ losses in election

By Halimah Abdullah – habdullah@herald-leader.com

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler said last week he partially blames the Obama administration and U.S. House leadership for Democrats’ election losses and his extremely narrow re-election.

“If not there, where else does the responsibility lie?” said Chandler, D-Versailles, who had endorsed Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential election. “You’re talking about the loss of 60 or something seats held by capable public servants. There had to be something going on at a level above them. If that isn’t the lesson, I don’t know what is.”

In a wide-ranging Herald-Leader interview last week, Chandler said Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi should have focused on the economy before attempting to reform health care.

“I think it was a serious strategic error on the part of the administration to take on health care when the public was agitated about the economy,” he said.

In 2011 governor’s race, candidates offer different routes to more jobs

By Linda B. Blackford – lblackford@herald-leader.com

As the 2011 governor’s race picks up speed, Kentucky voters worried about jobs and debt face a fork in the road — the three top contenders offer wildly divergent views about the route to economic prosperity.

Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear is already touting his economic development record, which he says has expanded existing businesses in Kentucky and brought thousands of new ones.

Two Republicans hoping to unseat Beshear suggest that his administration is a big part of the problem and that state bureaucrats need to get out of the way of private businesses trying to create jobs.

But state Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, and Louisville businessman Phil Moffett also don’t agree on how best to jump-start Kentucky’s economy.

Former LRC employee receives Hellard Award for public service

FRANKFORT — Peggy Hyland, who had a 26-year career with the state Legislative Research Commission, is the recipient of the 2010 Vic Hellard Jr. Award for excellence in public service.

The award, named in honor of the late LRC executive director from Woodford County, has been given annually since 1997. This is the first year the recipient was selected by the 16 state legislative leaders.

Hyland, of Louisville, retired in 2002.

In announcing the award, Senate President David Williams and House Speaker Greg Stumbo said Hyland’s selection was well-deserved, given her long service on behalf of millions of Kentuckians who’d never heard her name.

‘Comment’ will feature student journalists

Three college journalism students will join host Ferrell Wellman on this weekend’s “Comment on Kentucky,” a public affairs show of the Kentucky Educational Television network.

They are Lyndsey Gilpin, a reporter for The Cardinal at the University of Louisville; Logan Todd, editor of The Trail Blazer at Morehead State University; and Katie Perkowski, managing editor of The Kentucky Kernel at the University of Kentucky.

The show will air at 8 p.m. EDT on KET1.

–Jack Brammer

Grayson says he will not run for any office in 2011

FRANKFORT — Secretary of State Trey Grayson, who lost the Republican primary election for U.S. Senate last May to Rand Paul, said Wednesday he will not be a candidate for any office next year.

Grayson had been mentioned as a possible candidate for attorney general next in 2011. He is in his second four-year term as secretary of state and cannot legally seek a consecutive third term.

In a statement, Grayson said, “After many hours of reflection, conversations and prayer with family, friends, advisors and others, I want to announce today, that I will not be a candidate for attorney general — or any other office — in 2011. While I am not ruling out a campaign in future years, I am confident that this is the best decision for my family and me.”