by Josh James, Kentucky Public Radio The seventh straight special session in Frankfort has ended with agreements on a transportation budget and House Bill 1, dubbed the “pill mill bill.” The former survived after eleventh hour negotiations between the House and Senate produced a watered down compromise. The revised bull keeps KASPER, the state’s drug tracking […]
Tag Archives: 2012 General Assembly
Local Media Criticizing Special Session
In the wake of another special session after the 2012 General Assembly, the Louisville Courier-Journal is encouraging readers to add a “Kentucky Held Hostage” button to their Twitter of Facebook profile in protest. The newspaper asks residents if they are frustrated that state lawmakers have returned to Frankfort and gives them the option to post […]
Beshear Signs Road Plan, Vetoes Projects in Williams’s District
Governor Steve Beshear signed Kentucky’s six-year road plan this afternoon and vetoed several projects in the state’s two-year road plan. According to a release from Beshear’s office, the line item vetoes in the two-year plan are only in Senate President David Williams’s district. This comes on the heels of a public feud between the two […]
Grayson: Beshear and Williams Are Embarrassing Kentucky
Former Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson criticized both Governor Steve Beshear and state Senate President David Williams, saying their ongoing rivalry is embarrassing the commonwealth. “It’s a continuation of the last several years of the governor not being able to develop strong positive relationships with not just the Republican-controlled Senate, but also the Democratic-controlled […]
Lawmakers Return for Special Session
Kentucky lawmakers are returning to Frankfort today to begin a special session called by Governor Steve Beshear. Beshear has ordered lawmakers to take up a funding bill for the state’s road plan and one addressing prescription pill abuse. Those were the two major bills that died in the final hours of the 2012 regular session […]
Conway Disappointed Over Prescription Drug Bill Failure
In a statement, Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway expressed disappointment with state lawmakers for failing to pass legislation to combat prescription drug abuse. The initial proposal required doctors to use KASPER, which is the state’s prescription monitoring system set up to crack down on “pill mill” operators. It also required that pain management clinics be […]
Beshear Denounces Planned Neo-Nazi Demonstration
Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear responded to a planned rally by a Michigan-based neo-Nazi group, which claims it will march on the state Capitol in Frankfort on April 21. The National Socialist Movement announced the demonstration will focus on “illegal immigration, rampant crime, the recession and white civil rights.” According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, […]
Stein Calls Out Williams for SEC Tournament Trip
Adding more fuel to their burning rivalry, state Sen. Kathy Stein, D-Lexington, continued her criticism of state Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, over his recent trip to New Orleans for the NCAA’s Southeastern Conference basketball tournament during the legislative session. The Senate changed its schedule and did not take up any legislation last Thursday or […]
House Committee Jousts Over Bill to Drug Test Welfare Recipients
A bill that would allow for drug testing of adult Kentuckians who receive public assistance will receive a hearing this week, but the legislation’s sponsor and committee chairman are jousting over the proposal. The bill would set up random blood and urine testing for those who get welfare benefits, food stamps, Medicaid and other state […]
ACLU-KY to Hold Death Penalty Discussion
The American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky will host a discussion on the collateral consequences of the death penalty later this month. Death penalty opponents are also drawing attention to legislation in the Kentucky General Assembly that would prohibit the execution of severely mentally ill inmates and another bill that would abolish the practice altogether. […]