http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com Covering Kentucky politics and government Tue, 22 May 2012 21:44:15 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2012/03/30/beshears-will-take-state-plane-to-final-four-but-democratic-party-will-pay-for-it/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2012/03/30/beshears-will-take-state-plane-to-final-four-but-democratic-party-will-pay-for-it/#comments Fri, 30 Mar 2012 17:55:06 +0000 Jack Brammer http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=21410 By Jack Brammer jbrammer@herald-leader.com FRANKFORT — Gov. Steve Beshear will use a state plane to take his family to New Orleans for the NCAA Final Four. The Kentucky Democratic Party will reimburse the state for use of the plane because Democratic Party activities will be involved on the trip, said Beshear spokeswoman Kerri Richardson. Richardson did not immediately know what state political party activities will occur in New Orleans or what family members will be going with the governor other than first lady Jane Beshear. The Beshears used a state plane March 9 to go to the Southeastern Conference basketball tournament in New Orleans and to take a side trip to Ocala, Fla., for Jane Beshear to visit friends.]]> http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2012/03/30/beshears-will-take-state-plane-to-final-four-but-democratic-party-will-pay-for-it/feed/ 1 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2012/03/08/medical-review-panel-to-get-further-study/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2012/03/08/medical-review-panel-to-get-further-study/#comments Thu, 08 Mar 2012 22:20:40 +0000 Beth Musgrave http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=21097 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2012/03/08/medical-review-panel-to-get-further-study/feed/ 2 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2012/02/27/british-marketing-firm-paid-expenses-of-ky-official-who-oversees-its-contract/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2012/02/27/british-marketing-firm-paid-expenses-of-ky-official-who-oversees-its-contract/#comments Tue, 28 Feb 2012 02:22:39 +0000 Accountability Editor http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=20725 By John Cheves jcheves@herald-leader.com FRANKFORT — Kentucky Tourism Commissioner Mike Cooper allowed a state contractor to pay $735 for his meals, party tickets and other expenses in June during an unauthorized trip to London, England, in violation of state ethics laws, public records show. Cooper's superiors at the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet instructed him to repay the money to the contractor, Gosh P.R., a British marketing firm that gets $179,900 a year to promote Kentucky tourism in the United Kingdom. Cooper helped award Gosh's contract in 2008 and signs off on its monthly billing. However, Cooper was not disciplined for taking the gratuities and he told the cabinet it was an isolated incident, cabinet spokesman Gil Lawson said. A 2007 campaign organizer for Gov. Steve Beshear and the Kentucky Democratic Party, Cooper remains in his $111,353-a-year appointed post, from which he travels widely on state business. The state's executive branch ethics law prohibits government officials from taking more than $25 a year in gifts from contractors. Tim Pollard, head of the cabinet's finance office, quoted the ethics law in his letter to Cooper and Gosh P.R. last year, after the company submitted bills for Cooper's expenses so it could be reimbursed. Pollard's staff quickly flagged the money spent on Cooper.]]> http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2012/02/27/british-marketing-firm-paid-expenses-of-ky-official-who-oversees-its-contract/feed/ 3 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2012/02/22/kentucky-labor-leader-democratic-activist-dies-in-georgetown-house-fire/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2012/02/22/kentucky-labor-leader-democratic-activist-dies-in-georgetown-house-fire/#comments Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:05:06 +0000 Accountability Editor http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=20648 By Josh Kegley and John Cheves jkegley@herald-leader.com Charles Britton Wells, 52, a longtime state labor leader and Democratic Party activist, has been identified as the victim of a Tuesday evening house fire in Georgetown. An autopsy was scheduled for Wednesday to determine the cause of death. Scott County Coroner John Goble said foul play was not suspected. "We think it is just an accidental fire," Goble said. The fire broke out about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in one room of Mr. Wells' home at 156 Lakeview Drive. In 2008, Gov. Steve Beshear appointed Mr. Wells as a special assistant in the Kentucky Personnel Cabinet, where he was a liaison between the state and the labor groups representing its employees. Mr. Wells held that post until his death.]]> http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2012/02/22/kentucky-labor-leader-democratic-activist-dies-in-georgetown-house-fire/feed/ 2 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2012/01/06/20049/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2012/01/06/20049/#comments Fri, 06 Jan 2012 23:01:29 +0000 Accountability Editor http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=20049 By Jack Brammer jbrammer@herald-leader.com FRANKFORT — House Speaker Greg Stumbo said Friday that the redrawing of state legislative district boundaries may not be completed this year. “As far as the House and Senate districts are concerned, it would be my opinion, not a suggestion, that yes, it could wait until 2013 from a legal perspective,” said Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg. He added that the redrawing of the state’s six congressional districts must be done this year. Stumbo’s comments to reporters came as rank-and-file House members learned more about leadership’s plans to redraw their district boundaries.]]> http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2012/01/06/20049/feed/ 0 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2012/01/05/plan-would-put-hal-rogers%e2%80%99-home-county-in-two-congressional-districts/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2012/01/05/plan-would-put-hal-rogers%e2%80%99-home-county-in-two-congressional-districts/#comments Thu, 05 Jan 2012 23:42:31 +0000 Accountability Editor http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=20032 PDF: House plan for congressional districts By Jack Brammer jbrammer@herald-leader.com FRANKFORT — A state House committee voted along party lines Thursday to split the home county of Republican U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers of Somerset into two congressional districts as it redraws the boundaries of Kentucky’s six districts. The plan contained in House Bill 2 also moves Boyle, Garrard and part of Jessamine counties from Central Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District to south-central Kentucky’s 2nd District. It also makes Northern Kentucky’s 4th District a more urban district and moves Daviess County from the 2nd District to the 1st District. House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, acknowledged after the House State Government Committee approved the bill that it is likely to change before becoming law. “I assume it will go through some vigorous debate and likely transformation,” he said.]]> http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2012/01/05/plan-would-put-hal-rogers%e2%80%99-home-county-in-two-congressional-districts/feed/ 0 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/12/09/november-receipts-down/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/12/09/november-receipts-down/#comments Fri, 09 Dec 2011 18:38:43 +0000 Beth Musgrave http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=19888 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/12/09/november-receipts-down/feed/ 0 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/12/01/rep-cherry-decides-not-to-seek-re-election/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/12/01/rep-cherry-decides-not-to-seek-re-election/#comments Thu, 01 Dec 2011 20:27:43 +0000 Beth Musgrave http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=19846 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/12/01/rep-cherry-decides-not-to-seek-re-election/feed/ 0 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/11/15/beshear-senior-campaign-staffer-to-join-lobbying-firm/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/11/15/beshear-senior-campaign-staffer-to-join-lobbying-firm/#comments Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:36:35 +0000 Beth Musgrave http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=19751 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/11/15/beshear-senior-campaign-staffer-to-join-lobbying-firm/feed/ 0 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/11/14/new-out-takes-video-posted-of-grimes-famous-granny-ad/ http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/11/14/new-out-takes-video-posted-of-grimes-famous-granny-ad/#comments Mon, 14 Nov 2011 19:44:08 +0000 Beth Musgrave http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/?p=19720 http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2011/11/14/new-out-takes-video-posted-of-grimes-famous-granny-ad/feed/ 0