Don’t forget. Comment comes on at 8:00 P.M. Eastern. Tonight. KET.
Scheduled guests:
Should be lots of interesting discussion. Maybe they’ll delve into the Mountain Water scandal?
→ No CommentsTags: Mainstream · Journalism
Remember that special legislative session we just had in Frankfort? Yeah, sure you do. It’s the one where we didn’t bother to solve the budget shortfall or any of the economic disasters coming our way. Told ya so. [Bluegrass Politics]
If you’re going to attack Julie Denton, just do it, don’t roll into some diatribe about the hypocrisies of David Williams. And really, taking the opportunity to praise Steve Beshear for doing NOTHING? Really? We support hating Republicans (and Democrats) who do stupid shiz, but let’s get a grip. All the lay-offs must have the Courier-Journal’s editorial board in a tizzy. [C-J]
What kind of known homosexual goes to a place called Chico’s Tacos, anyway? Of course Texas po-leece men think it’s illegal for the gays to kiss. [Daily Kos]
The UofL spin job has ginned up again. Apparently, UofL’s leadership has decided to push the talking point that transparency and “ease” have taken over the College of Education and Human Development in the wake of the Robert Felner scandal. Guess that’s why so many faculty members continue to leak nasty junk to us and why we’re continually met with resistance in trying to determine what’s going on at UofL, eh? [C-J]
Again, this is why Kentucky can’t have nice things. Jim Gooch style. [Fat Lip]
What do you think of the Robert Felner situation? [WFPL]
We just cannot believe that Sarah Palin cold made stuff up. [HuffPo]
This is who Trey Grayson and other Young Republicans want as their leader? Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. [The Daily Beast]
According to the White House, Kentucky is now eligible to receive $4,840,932 for H1N1 and seasonal flue preparedness efforts. The grants will support work to protect public health, prepare for H1N1 outbreaks and seasonal flu. $3,598,068 is for Public Health Emergency Response and $1,242,864 is for Hospital Preparedness. [Press Release]
→ 1 CommentTags: Discrimination · Economy · Robert Felner · Trey Grayson · Humor · Mainstream Mistake · UofL · Budget · Health Care
We told you about it earlier. But. Joe Gerth beat the Herald-Leader to the punch:
AFL-CIO opposes Abramson for lieutenant governor
The head of Kentucky’s largest labor federation has asked Gov. Steve Beshear not to consider Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson as his running mate if he seeks re-election in 2011.
“I am writing to express our strong opposition to Mayor Abramson for Lt. Governor,” Bill Londrigan, president of the Kentucky State AFL-CIO, said in a letter dated Thursday. “Mayor Abramson has established a long record of antipathy towards organized labor, both during his tenure as Mayor of Louisville as well as the merged Metro Government.”
-SNIP-
Abramson has had a difficult relationship with labor unions during his three terms as mayor of the old City of Louisville and his two terms leading the merged Louisville Metro Government.
Londrigan said in an interview that Abramson has a long record of opposing unions and that some unionized metro government workers have gone years without contracts.
And he noted that Abramson vetoed union-friendly legislation tied to downtown arena construction and even crossed a picket line several years ago when the Aegon Tower was being built.
Click here to read the rest.
UPDATE:
It just gets worse.
Check this from the H-L:
“He’s a ‘Jerrycrat,’ more concerned about himself than working people,” Willman said. “He asked us to rescind our 2 percent raise and he’s closed a fire house. He wants to create jobs but doesn’t want to pay for them.”
-SNIP-
“I’d be excited to see him leave as mayor of Louisville but sorry for the state,” Harris said.
Oh snap.
→ 6 CommentsTags: Mainstream · Labor · Steve Beshear
Holy Jeebus this is getting amazing.
You read for this?
Arnold denies making the charge and has provided the committee with his phone records to show he did not call any number associated with Campus Cuties, a Lexington-based escort service that bills under the name Calypso Enterprises.
On May 16, 2007, Arnold’s card was used to charge $270 for Calypso services. That was during the three-day Spring Conference of Southern County Associations, hosted by KACo at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Lexington.
“I am baffled how it got there,” Arnold said in an interview with the Herald-Leader on Thursday. “I have never heard of Calypso ’til you brought it up.”
-SNIP-
“Obviously, there’s something going on here to have two charges to the same entity in two separate years,” said Chris Harris, a Pike County magistrate who is KACo’s second vice president. “It certainly doesn’t look good for the organization, and we want to find out as much information as possible.”
-SNIP-
Arnold said Central Bank officials reported that the Campus Cuties charge was made over the phone.
Calls to Campus Cuties requesting comment haven’t been returned.-SNIP-
Managers of the two Louisville strip clubs whose charges appeared on Jenkins’ card said they have strict policies that require patrons who use a credit card to provide a drivers’ license.
The Godfather II strip club, where $168 was charged on Jenkins’ card in February 2008, has had a machine for several years that takes a photo of the credit card, license and person making the charge, said Scott Lindsay, Godfather’s co-owner. He said the establishment doesn’t have any records from 2008, but he said it would have been against the club’s long-standing policy for anyone to manually enter a credit card number without the actual credit card or an ID.
“I won’t even take the card if the gentleman has an ID and it’s his wife’s card,” Lindsay said, adding that the club is trying to avoid refunding money to people who later dispute charges.
OMG. Can’t stop laughing.
Thanks to Ryan Alessi for this hilarity. What a beautiful Friday.
→ No CommentsTags: Investigation · Humor · Wasted Money
This week Governor Steve Beshear spends a minute and a half discussing the homebuyer tax credit Kentuckians (probably aren’t) eligible for if they purchase a newly-built, never before inhabited home:
All right for sustainability! Let’s build more McMansions.
→ No CommentsTags: Taxes · Steve Beshear
Jerry Abramson is for gun control and the homosexuals. Did you know that?
Apparently a story’s gonna be in this weekend’s Herald-Leader that talks all about it. FEAR!
Larry Clark says (to everyone who will listen, starting with today’s L&O meeting) that the AFL-CIO is sending a letter to Steve Besher about it all. Apparently organized labor doesn’t want to support Abramson because he’s not a homophobic gun nut. Imagine that.
Will this cause Steve Beshear to back off selecting Abramson as his #2?
→ 8 CommentsTags: Rumor · The Gays · FEAR! · Labor · Steve Beshear
Last night on My View Matters, David Adams - an employee of Rand Paul’s “exploratory” campaign - had some interesting things to say.
For all intents and purposes, he admitted that Rand Paul is running for the U.S. Senate. And that his “exploratory committee” is just an FEC formality more than anything else.
Won’t say I told ya so.
→ 15 CommentsTags: Senate · Spotted · Campaign Finance · Mainstream
Something like that.
Here’s the latest from the Appalachian News-Express:
FRANKFORT — A final decision on the eligibility of two Mountain Water District commissioners has not been reached by the Kentucky Public Service Commission, but may be soon.
-SNIP-
The source of that controversial measure, which was placed in the House’s budget bill during last month’s special session, has never been publicly stated. But, during the hearing, a question arose about the new law.
-SNIP-
“Our commission staff will respectfully submit three issues: What are the boundaries of the water district? Do the commissioners reside within those boundaries, and, if not, are they a customer who receives water service from the water district?” he said.
-SNIP-
However, questioning by the PSC Thursday, and from Wuetcher indicated the PSC may be skeptical about whether akers and litafik’ business connections qualify them as “customers” of the district.
The new law did not define what a “customer” of the district is.
Akers testified she believes she is a customer of the district through businesses owned by her husband.
-SNIP-
However, during the hearing Thursday, Akers admitted that the bills for water service are paid by the corporations owned by her husband and she is not an officer of the corporations.
The same line of questioning met Litafik, who testified he is an owner of L & M Mart in Kimper, which receives water service from Mountain Water District, which qualifies him as a customer.
But, under questioning by Wuetcher, Litafik testified that the water bills are paid by that corporation, not directly by him.
PSC Chairman David Armstrong also said the issue of Akers and Litafik’s was brought before the PSC prior to the change in law, which brought up more questions.
Keith Hall is shaking in his boots, busily wondering if he’ll be discovered or not.
Meanwhile, Kentuckians everywhere suffer thanks to unethical legislation brought forth by unethical legislators who lie and deceive them in an attempt to personally benefit.
Woe unto the corruption of Frankfort.
→ No CommentsTags: Embarrassing · Hypocrisy · Corruption · Eastern Kentucky
The latest newsletter from the Legislative Branch Ethics Commission is out.
Let’s examine some highlights.
As of the end of the last reporting period, which includes the 2009 Regular Session but not the special session in June, health care interests spent $1,358,578 lobbying the General Assembly.
The total for health care lobbying includes amounts spent by a wide array of groups, including hospitals (about $289,000), pharmaceutical interests (about $186,000), mental health interests ($83,421), and provider groups such as the Kentucky Medical Association ($63,500) and chiropractors ($36,116), but does not include most insurance industry lobbying.
And….
Energy and utility groups spent $561,896. $96,170 by coal interests including $41,828 spent by Coal Operators & Associates, Inc. E.On US (owns LG&E & KU) spent nearly $27K.
Racing and gaming interests spent $418,783 lobbying in the first four months of 2009. Horse racing organizations spent $267,120. KEEP Spent $50K. Keeneland spent $45,539. Kentucky Downs spent $38K. $24K from International Game Technology. $18K from GTECH Corp. $20K from Columbia Sussex, the Crestview Hills company.
Education lobbying totaled $344,837.
Tobacco interests spent $342,462. $98,572 spent by Altria Client Services (Phillip Morris). Reynolds American spent $75,355. National Tobacco Co spent $30K.
Banking and financial services spent $334,339. $58,735 from the Kentucky Bankers Association. $33,094 from the Kentucky Deferred Deposit Association, a group that represents the payday loan sharking industry. AIG spent $20K.
Insurance industry groups spent $329,491. Wellpoint (Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield) spent $36,500. Assurant Solutions spent $33,748. Humana spent $30,458. American Insurance Association spent $29,099.
Business development groups spent over $300,000. Chambers of commerce spent $207,352. Kentucky Chamber spent $98,375. Greater Louisville, Inc. spent $50,080. Kentucky Retail Federation spent $51,931.
Total lobbying spending by employers in Kentucky in the first four months of 2009? $6,786,274, including $6,426,068 in lobbyist compensation and $281,936 for receptions, meals and events to which legislators were invited.
Total spending for 2008 was $15,678,211, including $14,738,149 in lobbyist compensation.
We’re about ready to puke. With this kind of lobbying, uh, Kentucky has no hope.
→ 2 CommentsTags: Corruption · Taxes · Frustration · Education · Gambling · Wasted Money · Health Care · Kentucky Business · Stats
Well, will he? Will Lt. Dan release his non-elitist campaign finance numbers today? Or will he be too busy giving us free publicity by telling everyone he meets how awful we are for discussing facts about his political career? Only time will tell.
What the hell is wrong with you, John Yarmuth? Sponsoring THOUGHT CRIMES LEGISLATION? REALLY?! You’ve gotta re-think this cyberbullying prevention act. Don’t be stupid. You’re *this close* to losing your support base. [HR 1966]
Even monkeys can recognize poor grammar. It’s official: monkeys are smarter thank Frankfort. [National Geographic]
Sadly, lots of folks at the Courier-Journal are getting the axe. [Stephen George]
While we all hate the Courier-Journal, we can support them for fighting against the Jefferson County Public Schools board of education’s crap. Really? Declaring that it’s legal to hold evaluations of Sheldon “I’m Just Taking Late Night Runs With Her” Berman in secret? This will not end pretty. We’ve proved that Berman has lied to us on several occasions. And the Attorney General’s opinion has the power of the law behind it. So… get ready for fireworks. [C-J]
Illinois embarrassment Roland Burris isn’t going to run for re-election! America just got really lucky. [WaPo]
Gosh, Alaska just got really lucky. We’re not sure how that woman got elected. [Think Progress]
Louisville is ranked the #21 most sustainable large city in the U.S. and A. [Lookit]
JD Sparks is at it again. Now he believes Barack Obama was taught white hatred and brought up by “stalinists.” Really. [Facebook Hilarity]
Murray State University was recognized as a great place to work by the Chronicle of Higher Education. [Murray State]
Don’t worry, Republicans, the tooth fairy will not be visiting Jim Bunning. [EITB]
To national pundits, Jim Bunning is more embarrassing than Roland Burris. [Politico]
→ 11 CommentsTags: Jobs · FEAR! · Dan Mongiardo · Senate · Barack Obama · Congress · Campaign Finance · Jim Bunning · Education · First Amendment · Mainstream · John Yarmuth · Stats
