Author Archive for Jack Brammer

Beshear appoints Bob Stewart to head Tourism Cabinet

HERALD-LEADER FRANKFORT BUREAU

FRANKFORT — Tourism and marketing veteran Bob Stewart will be the new state secretary of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, Gov. Steve Beshear said Tuesday.

Stewart, who has been an aide for three former governors, will start his new role in the $137,865-a-year post on June 1. He will replace Marcheta Sparrow, who announced her retirement last week after serving more than five years as tourism secretary for Beshear.

Possible U.S. Senate candidate backs out of KET show on 2014 elections

HERALD-LEADER FRANKFORT BUREAU

FRANKFORT — Former state Democratic Party Chairman Bill Garmer, who is considering a possible bid for the U.S. Senate next year if Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes does not run, will not appear on Monday night’s “Kentucky Tonight” program on the Kentucky Educational Television show.

The show is to discuss the 2014 elections in Kentucky and was scheduled last week to feature Garmer as a panelist. Louisville Metro Councilman David Tandy, former treasurer for the state Democratic Party, will take his place, KET said Monday. Other scheduled panelists with host Bill Goodman are state Republican Party Chairman Steve Robertson, former GOP Chair Ellen Williams and former Democratic Party Chair Jonathan Miller.

Garmer, a Lexington attorney, said last Friday that he might run for the U.S. Senate against Republican incumbent Mitch McConnell if Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes does not make the race. Grimes has not yet said whether she will enter the contest.

Garmer could not be reached for comment Monday about the KET show but a person answering the phone at his Lexington office said he had a prior engagement.

Goodman, host of the show, said he got a telpehone message late Friday from Garmer saying he would not be able to make the show with no explanation why.

Asked if anyone had objected to Garmer’s scheduled appearance on the show, Goodman said Kelsey Cooper, a spokeswoman for the state GOP, had called to make him aware of Garmer’s interests in the Senate race and “express concerns.”

State GOP Chair Roberston said there was “no formal objection on our part” about Garmer’s scheduled appearance on KET but noted that the party had some concerns about it “since he is a potential candidate.”

The show is to be broadcast live at 8 p.m. on KET.

–Jack Brammer

Stumbo responds to redistricting lawsuit; Stivers asks for more time

By Jack Brammer
jbrammer@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT — House Speaker Greg Stumbo said Monday he would ask Gov. Steve Beshear to call an immediate special legislative session on redistricting if the Senate offered a valid plan.

Stumbo’s comments came in response to a federal lawsuit filed April 26 by several Northern Kentucky officials and residents who want the court to force lawmakers to draw new legislative districts or allow a federal court to draw the boundaries.

“No one wants to preserve legislative independence more than I do,” said Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg. “That’s why the House passed a solid redistricting plan last session (this year) and urged the Senate to do the same.

“Sadly, continued inaction pushes us closer to the brink of federal intervention. I can’t imagine why anyone would want federal judges to do our job.”

Stumbo urged the Republican-led Senate to offer a “valid” redistricting plan.

“The House plan has been public for months, and it is time to wrap this up,” Stumbo said. “The Senate knows I stand ready to act.”

Stumbo included in his response a proposed redistricting map for the Senate.

Judge pledges prompt decision on Beshear request to dismiss lawsuit challenging health exchange

By Jack Brammer
jbrammer@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT — Franklin Circuit Judge Philip Shepherd said Monday he plans to make a ruling as soon as possible on Gov. Steve Beshear’s request to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the legality of the Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange.

Tea Party activist David Adams filed a lawsuit against the exchange earlier this year, claiming that Beshear did not receive “proper approval” from the Kentucky General Assembly to create the exchange. He is seeking an injunction against Beshear’s executive order until the Democratic governor receives legislative approval.

Beshear issued an executive order last July to establish the online marketplace without the input of state lawmakers. The exchange will offer health insurance plans for Kentuckians beginning Jan. 1, as called for by the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Beshear said last week that the exchange will help 332,000 Kentuckians in need of health care coverage. The exchange will be financed entirely with federal dollars until Jan. 1, 2015, after which Beshear has said it will be wholly financed with revenue it generates.

After a hearing Monday in Franklin Circuit Court on the exchange lawsuit, Adams said he filed another lawsuit Monday challenging Beshear’s recent decision to expand the state’s Medicaid rolls under the federal health law. Adams was surrounded by about 25 Tea Party supporters as he announced the lawsuit.

Tourism Secretary Sparrow to retire May 31

By Jack Brammer
jbrammer@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT — Tourism, Arts and Heritage Secretary Marcheta Sparrow is to retire from her $137,865-a-year state post May 31, Gov. Steve Beshear said Friday.

“Secretary Sparrow has done a fantastic job of continuing to improve and develop Kentucky’s tourism through some very challenging times,” Beshear said in a news release, mentioning the recently announced 4.4 percent growth last year in tourism’s economic impact to the state.

“I want to thank her for her steady leadership and her lifelong contributions to Kentucky’s travel and hospitality industry, which have played an important role in maintaining tourism as a major economic force for Kentucky.”

Beshear said he will name a replacement soon.

Former Kentucky Democratic Party chief mulling possible bid for U.S. Senate

By Jack Brammer
jbrammer@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT — Former Kentucky Democratic Party Chairman Bill Garmer said Friday he is considering running for the U.S. Senate next year if Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes declines to enter the race against Republican incumbent Mitch McConnell.

“A lot of people have talked to me about the race,” said Garmer, a Lexington lawyer, in a telephone interview. “But Alison is the center of discussion. In my mind, if she wants the nomination, she has my support. She is one of the bright stars in the Democratic party and she wants to serve Kentucky. I would be the first in line to support her.”

Asked if he would consider running if Grimes decides not to run, Garmer said, “that sounds like a lawyer’s question but that would be fair.”

Grimes said April 23 that she is pondering whether to run for the U.S. Senate next year against McConnell. She said she would “take the time to reflect with my family, my supporters on how I can best continue to serve the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”

Veteran national and state consultant joins Kay campaign in special House race

By Jack Brammer
jbrammer@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT – Veteran political consultant Jim Cauley is working for the Democratic campaign of James L. Kay II in the special state House 56th District race in Central Kentucky.

Kay, a Woodford County attorney, confirmed Wednesday that Cauley, a former chief of staff for Gov. Steve Beshear, is his campaign consultant in the race.

That drew an immediate response from state Republican Party Chairman Steve Robertson, who noted that Cauley was campaign manager for President Barack Obama’s 2004 U.S. Senate campaign in Illinois.

‘Comment’ and ‘KY Tonight’ focus on politics

“Comment on Kentucky” and “Kentucky Tonight” will discuss political news in the state on their next shows on the Kentucky Educational Television network.

Joining host Ferrell Wellman on this weekend’s “Comment” will be three journalists — Bill Estep, Somerset bureau reporter for the Lexington Herald-Leader; Kenny Colston, Frankfort bureau chief for Kentucky Public Radio; and Don Wilkins, editorial page editor for The Messenger-Inquirer in Owensboro.

The show will air live a 8 p.m. Friday on KET.

On the Monday, May 20, edition of “Kentucky Tonight” at 8 p.m. on KET and at www.ket.org/live, host Bill Goodman and guests will discuss the 2014 elections.

Scheduled guests are Steve Robertson, chair of the Republican Party of Kentucky; Jonathan Miller, former chair of the Kentucky Democratic Party; Ellen Williams, former chair of the Republican Party of Kentucky; and Bill Garmer, former chair of the Kentucky Democratic Party.

Viewers with questions and comments may send email to kytonight@ket.org or use the message form at ket.org/kytonight. Viewers may also submit questions and comments on Twitter @BillKET, #kytonight, or on Kentucky Educational Television’s Facebook page. All messages should include first and last name and town or county. The phone number for viewer calls during the program is 1-800-494-7605.

“Kentucky Tonight” programs are archived online, made available via podcast, and rebroadcast on KET and KET KY. Archived programs, information about podcasts, and broadcast schedules are available at ket.org/kytonight.

“Kentucky Tonight” is a weekly KET production, produced by Deidre Clark. Goodman is host and managing editor.

–Jack Brammer

Maysville, Bardstown named Kentucky Cultural Districts

FRANKFORT — The cities of Maysville and Bardstown have joined the list of official Kentucky Cultural Districts, bringing the total number of state-certified communities to six.

“Kentucky Cultural Districts are proven cultural destinations for visitors and provide a high quality of life for residents,” First lady Jane Beshear said Tuesday in making the announcement abouit Maysville and Bardstown. “Arts and culture in these communities play a vital role in creative and economic development, not only for the cities but for the entire Commonwealth.”

The Kentucky Cultural District Certification Program is an initiative of the Kentucky Arts Council.

For first time ever, Kentucky has 3 women on state Supreme Court

By Jack Brammer
jbrammer@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT –For the first time in Kentucky’s history, three female justices will serve simultaneously on the state’s highest court.

Former Kentucky Court of Appeals Judge Michelle M. Keller of Ft. Mitchell was formally invested Tuesday as the fifth woman ever to serve on the Kentucky Supreme Court and the third currently serving on the seven-member court.

In a ceremony in the crowded Supreme Court chambers in the Capitol, Gov. Steve Beshear called Keller “a woman for all seasons.”