FRANKFORT, Ky. — A Kentucky task force Thursday discussed recommendations that encourage the Kentucky General Assembly to phase out hundreds of state tax exemptions and credits by mid-2020. Task Force on Tax Expenditures Co-Chair Rep. Ken Fleming, R-Louisville, said the recommended phase-out – which would have to be introduced and passed in a future session…
BY MICHON LINDSTROM KENTUCKY LEXINGTON- Rep. Derrick Graham, D-Frankfort, is making history as the first African-American to serve in Democratic leadership in the Kentucky House of Representatives. The House Democratic Caucus voted him in as Democratic Caucus Chair Wednesday. “I want to thank my fellow caucus members for their support and look forward to hitting the ground…
BY MICHON LINDSTROM | KENTUCKY – LOUISVILLE- The General Assembly will be back in session in January–with new leadership teams in place. Louisville Sen. Morgan McGarvey will be leading the Democrats in the Senate as Minority Floor Leader. While the upcoming session is a short one, there are plenty of issues to tackle. Sen. McGarvey says a…
by Tom Loftus, Louisville Courier Journal – STORY HIGHLIGHTS New teachers will continue to be placed in the state’s traditional pension system. Teachers will continue to be able to use accrued sick days when determining their pension benefits. Educators can retire with full benefits at 60. FRANKFORT – In a rebuke of the General Assembly and blow…
BY LESLEY CLARK AND EMMA DUMAIN lclark@mcclatchydc.com edumain@mcclatchydc.com WASHINGTON — Mitch McConnell had been defying the president and the president’s son-in-law — along with the Republican party in his own home state — as he refused to allow a vote on an overhaul of the nation’s criminal justice laws. The Senate Majority Leader relented Tuesday…
By AARON MUDD amudd@bgdailynews.com Ahead of a ruling from the Kentucky Supreme Court, state Attorney General Andy Beshear said Gov. Matt Bevin is “fear-mongering” about the prospect of overturning a pension reform bill that was approved this year. “When Senate Bill 151 was passed, he said it was hardly a drop in the bucket,” Beshear…
BY ANNIE ANDERSEN | KENTUCKY FRANKFORT– Representative Jason Nemes has decided he will not be running for Attorney General in 2019. The Louisville attorney had been considering a run, but Tuesday announced he has decided against it. Nemes said after thinking it over, he thought it would take too much time from his family. The Republican…
by GINA KINSLOW gkinslow@glasgowdailytimes.com GLASGOW — Gov. Matt Bevin was in Glasgow on Monday for a community forum at the T.J. Health Pavilion, during which he answered questions from the audience on a variety of topics starting with him soon leading a U.S. delegation to India. Bevin was asked to lead the delegation by the…
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Karen Wilson, a 22-year employee of Kentucky state government, has joined the staff of the Kentucky Public Service Commission as its legislative liaison and executive advisor to the commissioners. Wilson most recently served a policy advisor in the Department of Energy Policy in the Energy and Environment Cabinet (EEC). She previously held several…
by MICHON LINDSTROM | KENTUCKY FRANKFORT- The Kentucky House Republican caucus announced the members chosen to chair the budget subcommittees and co-chair ten statutory committees. Of the 18 positions–none are female. The House Budget Review Subcommittee determine how state dollars should be allocated in the biennium budget. While the statutory committee co-chair has a counterpart…