All Entries in the "Steve Beshear" Category

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.

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.”

Tourism is $12.2 billion business in Kentucky

HERALD-LEADER FRANKFORT BUREAU

FRANKFORT — The economic impact of tourism in Kentucky amounted to more than $12.2 billion in 2012, a 4.4 increase from 2011, state officials said Monday.

“The Kentucky tourism industry continues to do well, which is good news for all of us,” Gov. Steve Beshear said in a statement Monday.

“These figures illustrate the importance of tourism in Kentucky as well as in communities big and small across the Commonwealth.”

Beshear indicates special session on redistricting likely this year

By Jack Brammer and Beth Musgrave
jbrammer@herald-leader.com
bmusgrave@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT — Gov. Steve Beshear indicated Tuesday that he is likely to call a special legislative session this year to redraw the boundaries of state legislative districts.

“I hope to deal with redistricting sometime before the next regular session in January so that it will not become a distraction when we’re preparing the budget for the commonwealth for the next two years,” Beshear said. “I will continue to discuss this possibility with legislative leaders.”

Beshear’s comments came after House Speaker Greg Stumbo told him in a letter Tuesday that the Democratic-controlled House “stands ready” to tackle redistricting if he should decide to call a special session.

Lawmakers are not scheduled to meet again in session until the 2014 General Assembly begins in January. Only the governor can call a special session and set its agenda.

“I believe this is an issue better resolved sooner than later,” Stumbo said in his letter to Beshear. “We need to avoid costly litigation that, no matter how it is decided, will end with the same result: new legislative districts for the House and Senate.”

Beshear declares state of emergency in 12 Kentucky counties

By Beth Musgrave
bmusgrave@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT — Gov. Steve Beshear declared a state of emergency Friday in 12 Kentucky counties that suffered flooding and other damage from severe storms over several weeks.

The counties, most of which are in Eastern Kentucky, include: Bell, Clay, Crittenden, Harlan, Jackson, Knox, Laurel, Lee, Leslie, Owsley, Rockcastle and Whitley. The strong system of storms began April 15, Beshear said.

Federal and state emergency officials will begin collecting damage estimates caused by the storms. That information will be turned over to federal officials to determine if local and state governments could be eligible for federal disaster assistance.

Beshear encouraged residents to contact local emergency management officials if they have suffered storm damage. A list of emergency management officials can be found at the Kentucky Department of Emergency Management website at http://kyem.ky.gov/sitecontacts/Documents/County%20EM%20Directors.pdf.

Grimes weighing possible bid for U.S. Senate against McConnell

By Jack Brammer
jbrammer@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT — After a busy legislative session and a business trip to Taiwan, Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes is pondering whether to run for the U.S. Senate next year against Republican incumbent Mitch McConnell.

Grimes, a Democrat, said Tuesday she is “now going to take the time to reflect with my family, my supporters on how I can best continue to serve the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”

Grimes did not set a timetable for making a decision, saying only that she will “give it the due diligence it deserves.”

Political observers differ on how quickly Grimes should decide.

Beshears invite visitors to free Derby celebration event

HERALD-LEADER FRANKFORT BUREAU

FRANKFORT — Gov. Steve Beshear and First Lady Jane Beshear are inviting the public to historic downtown Frankfort for the 77th annual Governor’s Derby Celebration on May 4.

It will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

“Jane and I are thrilled to host visitors once again to our historic capitol city for this family-friendly Derby Celebration,” Beshear said in a statement.

Beshears added Social Security to income in 2012

By Jack Brammer — jbrammer@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT — Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear and his wife, Jane Beshear, picked up an extra source of income last year: Social Security checks.

The Beshears listed retirement income from the Social Security Administration in their latest financial disclosure form filed with the Executive Branch Ethics Commission.

Gov. Beshear will turn 69 on Sept. 21. Mrs. Beshear turned 66 last December.

The Beshears listed five sources of gross income exceeding $1,000 in 2012 other than his $133,644 annual salary as governor. They included four from the previous year: a Schwab One investment account in Lexington, two Hilliard Lyons investment accounts in Hopkinsville, and income from Hourglass Farm in Lexington.