‘Comment’ schedules guests; ‘KY Tonight’ will feature 4th CD candidates
Three journalists will join host Ferrell Wellman on this weekend’s “Comment on Kentucky,” a public affairs show of the Kentucky Educational Television network.
They are Russ Cassady, editor of the Appalachian News-Express in Pikeville; Bill Estep, Somerset Bureau reporter for the Herald-Leader; and Tom Loftus, Frankfort bureau chief for The Courier-Journal.
The show airs live at 8 p.m. Friday on KET1.
On the Monday, May 14, edition of Kentucky Tonight at 8 p.m. EDT on KET and at www.ket.org/live, host Bill Goodman will talk with candidates in the 4th Congressional District Republican primary.
State revenues dip in April, but on pace to meet estimates
By Beth Musgrave
bmusgrave@herald-leader.com
FRANKFORT — The state’s revenues dipped slightly in April, coming in $6.3 million less than April 2011 collections.
State Budget Director Mary Lassiter said Thursday that despite April’s numbers, state revenues are expected to meet or exceed the official revenue estimate, which lawmakers use to craft the state’s budget. If revenues are below projections, the state will have to make more cuts.
Challenger questions conservatism of Thayer in state Senate primary election
By John Cheves
jcheves@herald-leader.com
Editor’s note: This is one in a series of stories previewing Kentucky’s May 22 primary election.
Ricky Hostetler is trying to squeeze to the political right of state Sen. Damon Thayer, one of the General Assembly’s most vocal conservatives.
Hostetler is challenging Thayer in the May 22 Republican primary for the 17th Senate district, which represents Scott, Owen and Grant counties and part of Kenton County. The winner will face Democrat David Holcomb on Nov. 6. All three men live in Georgetown.
Hostetler says Thayer — who is seeking a fourth term — has become part of the Frankfort political establishment that drives up government spending while enjoying public pensions and cozy relationships with lobbyists. Hostetler pledges to limit himself to two terms, which he said he would use to slash taxes and regulations, giving the private sector the freedom it needs to grow.
“Just take a look at the numbers. In the last 10 to 12 years, our state’s debt has increased ten-fold to about $40 billion, if you count the state pension system liability,” Hostetler, a 53-year-old electrical contractor, said in an interview. “Senator Thayer has been there most of that time. I think he has to accept some of the responsibility.”
Thayer, 44, responds by calling Hostetler “a little desperate.” Thayer touts his conservative support from U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., the National Rifle Association, the pro-business Kentucky Club for Growth (which ranks him best among 38 state senators) and the anti-abortion Kentucky Right to Life.
State sets voter registration record; GOP gaining on Democrats
FRANKFORT — More Kentuckians than ever will appear on the voter rolls in the May 22 primary election, Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes announced Wednesday.
The total number of registered voters – 2,980,009 – beats the previous record of 2,944,603, set during the 2011 general election, by more than 35,000 voters, Grimes said in a news release.
Kentucky will get about $4.6 million from settlement with drug company
FRANKFORT — Kentucky will get about $4.62 million in a settlement with Abbott Laboratories involving civil and criminal allegations that the drug company illegally marketed the drug Depakote.
Attorney General Jack Conway announced Monday that Abbott has settled with 49 states, including Kentucky, the District of Columbia and the federal government in reaching two independent settlements totaling $1.6 billion.
Economic impact of Kentucky tourism up slightly in 2011
By Jack Brammer
jbrammer@herald-leader.com
FRANKFORT — Tourism had a nearly $11.7 billion impact on Kentucky’s economy last year, an increase of 3 percent from 2010, state officials said Monday.
“Despite a tough economy, the Kentucky tourism industry continues to shine,” Gov. Steve Beshear said in a statement.
An annual survey showed that tourism was responsible for 169,932 jobs in Kentucky in 2011, up slightly from the previous year. Those jobs generated more than $2.6 billion in wages for Kentucky workers, an increase of $76 million from the previous year.
Tourism generated $1.22 billion in tax revenues for local and state governments in 2011, an increase from $1.19 billion in 2010, the survey found.
‘Comment’ will discuss Farmer audit, judicial budget cuts
The audit of former Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer’s administration and cuts in the state judicial budget will be topics on this weekend’s “Comment on Kentucky.”
The public affairs show on the Kentucky Educational Television network will air live Friday at 8 p.m. ET.
Beshear waiting on court ruling before ordering state health insurance exchange
By Jack Brammer
jbrammer@herald-leader.com
FRANKFORT – Gov. Steve Beshear will wait until the U.S. Supreme Court rules on President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act before issuing an executive order to set up a Kentucky health benefit exchange.
The exchange is envisioned as an online marketplace where consumers can shop for competing health insurance plans. It is intended to reduce coverage costs for individuals, small businesses and local governments, and would operate like Travelocity or Orbitz.
Each state must have an exchange by 2014 under the federal health reform act enacted by Congress.
The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to decide in late June on the constitutionality of the federal act.
If it is upheld, the state will have until the end of this year to demonstrate its readiness to run a health insurance exchange or the federal government will take responsibility for it.
Kentucky courthouses will close for three days in 2012 to cut costs
By Jack Brammer
jbrammer@herald-leader.com
FRANKFORT – Kentucky court workers will be furloughed three days this year, closing courthouses statewide on Aug. 6, Sept. 4 and Oct. 15, Chief Justice John D. Minton said Wednesday.
The cost-cutting move is the result of cuts the Kentucky General Assembly made to the court system’s budget, Minton said.
This is the first time since Kentucky’s modern court system was formed in 1976 that the judicial branch must close courthouse doors to balance its budget, he added.
Court spokeswoman Leigh Anne Hiatt said the furloughs will affect all judicial branch employees except elected officials. The state court system has about 3,300 employees and 404 elected justices, judges and circuit court clerks, she said.
Furloughs are one of several measures included in the judicial branch’s budget reduction plan for fiscal year 2013, which begins July 1.
Common Cause questions tax status of conservative group
By Jack Brammer
jbrammer@herald-leader.com
FRANKFORT – An ethics watchdog group is asking Attorney General Jack Conway to investigate the tax status of a conservative group made up of state lawmakers and business interests involved in legislation.
Richard Beliles, state chair of Common Cause of Kentucky, said in a letter Tuesday to Conway that the American Legislative Exchange Council enjoys tax-exempt status because it is registered as a charity in Conway’s office and at the federal level.
But ALEC is primarily a lobbying organization and may be in violation of its tax-exempt status, Beliles said.
“ALEC is a corporate lobby front group masquerading as a public charity on the taxpayers’ dime,” Beliles said. “Kentuckians shouldn’t have to subsidize ALEC’s agenda to limit voting rights, undermine our public schools, spread Stand Your Ground gun laws and weaken laws protecting our environment.”
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- Voters select finalists in three Lexington council districts
- Two in five Kentucky Democrats vote for 'uncommitted' instead of Obama
- VIDEO: Andy Barr's primary election victory speech
- Chris Girdler gets GOP nomination in 15th Senate District
- Damon Thayer defeats Ricky Hostetler in GOP primary for 17th Senate District
- Lawless, Spires are top finishers in four-way race for Lexington's District 3
