by John Cheves, jcheves@herald-leader.com – Several House members filed a bill Friday to clarify that a contested consumer-protection law was meant to cover all life insurance policies, not just those sold after the law was approved in 2012. House Bill 408 would add language to the Unclaimed Life Insurance Benefits Act to clearly state that it applies to all…
by Stu Johnson, WEKU NEWS – Discussions about Kentucky tax reform have circulated around the state capitol for decades but no comprehensive tax measure has passed. Two state lawmakers say major pension shortfalls could help move the issue along. Governor Matt Bevin says his proposed spending cuts across state government aim to deal with the more than $30…
by Kevin Wheatley – Republicans in three of four special House elections hold a collective 3-to-1 cash advantage on their Democratic opponents, with pro-GOP groups enjoying a $872,377 edge on their counterparts across the aisle with the March 8 contests upcoming, campaign finance filings show. The cash disparity comes less than a month until voters in Scott, Owen, Fayette,…
by Curtis Tate, ctate@mcclatchydc.com – Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that the next president should be able to choose a successor for the Supreme Court vacancy created Saturday by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. Both the Senate Judiciary Committee and the full Senate must vote to confirm any nominees to the court, but with the Senate…
by James Bruggers, @jbruggers – The Kentucky Supreme Court decided not to take up the matter after Bluegrass appealed a lower court ruling. STORY HIGHLIGHTS U of L professor calls ruling significant but said companies can find a work-around. Ruling upholds earlier decisions by Judge Phillip Shepherd and a panel of appellate judges. The Kentucky Supreme…
by Phillip M. Bailey, @phillipmbailey – The fiber network, if installed, would greatly increase the speed for downloading material from the Internet, streaming movies, gaming and more. Marty Pearl, Special to The C-J Metro Council could take two significant steps at Thursday’s meeting to bring faster Internet speeds to Louisville but one of their ideas to streamline construction is…
by Deborah Yetter, @d_yetter – From November 2015 — Kynect “adds no value” that the federal exchange doesn’t provide, said Matt Bevin at a press conference in Frankfort. Matt Stone, The Courier-Journal Seeking to preserve Kentucky’s “dramatic success” in expanding health care coverage to more than half a million Kentuckians, former Gov. Steve Beshear today is launching a…
by Deborah Yetter – FRANKFORT, Ky. – Gov. Matt Bevin has appointed accountant Stephen P. Miller as Medicaid commissioner. “As we work to redesign the Medicaid program and transition it to a more affordable, sustainable model tailored to Kentucky’s needs, it is important to have someone with a deep understanding of the healthcare industry leading the Department of Medicaid,” Bevin…
by Don Weber – FRANKFORT – A bill that would double individual campaign contribution limits in Kentucky has passed the Kentucky House by a vote of 71 to 22. House Bill 147, sponsored by House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, would double the limit on individual campaign contributions from $1,000 to $2,000 as of this July and double the…
by Jacob Ryan – Kentuckians with concealed carry permits could bring firearms into schools, college halls and government offices where they may currently be banned under a bill proposed recently in the state House. Under the proposal, any Kentuckian with a valid concealed deadly weapons license or a temporary permit could bring a concealed gun onto public elementary and secondary school…