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Kentucky Political Update
(July 7, 2008) - The Governor and legislative leaders managed to get in some bipartisan credits this past week as they were able to pass the pension reform bill in special session without a hitch. The agreed to bill passed in five days, the minimum for a special session.
The bipartisanship was short lived as the Governor announced he was filing a counter suit against Senate President Williams on the vetoed transportation plan. Senator Williams had challenged the Governor’s ability to veto the transportation plan and the ability of a Governor to choose projects for construction that had not been included in the plan. The Governor’s action pretty much guarantees there will be no quick resolution. In the meantime all transportation funding is frozen on any new projects.
The Governor seems to have settled in and is focusing on reorganization, and filling out his administration.
New laws to take effect on July 15
Most new laws approved during the Kentucky General Assembly’s 2008 regular session will go into effect on July 15. Here is a list links to all bills from the 2008 session that have become law. CLICK HERE New laws slated to go into effect on July 15 include measures on:
Adventure Tourism. Senate Bill 196 will boost the Kentucky's adventure tourism industry by allowing the state to enter agreements with private property owners for the use of their land for recreational activities. The agreements would allow property owners to permit public use of the land without facing the liability issues they otherwise would.
Alcohol vaporizers. House Bill 202 will ban the sale, purchase or use of alcohol vaporizing devices, which can be used to inhale intoxicating fumes of alcohol.
Amusement park safety. SB 203 will require more frequent inspections of amusement park rides and prevent anyone under 18 from operating the rides.
Booster Seats. SB 120 will require young children who are too big for infant car seats to be placed in booster seats when riding in vehicles. The bill states that children under 7 years old and between 40-50 inches tall must use the boosters. (Police will only issue courtesy warnings to violators until July 1, 2009. After that, a violator will face a $30 fine, which can be dismissed if the violator shows proof that a booster seat has been acquired.)
Drive-Off Legislation. SB 136 establishes a system of civil penalties for driving off from the pump without paying for gas. Criminal penalties already exist.
Early voting. HB 479 will give citizens greater access to the voting process by allowing them to request absentee ballot applications via email. The bill also allows members of the military to return unused absentee ballots and still be allowed to vote on Election Day.
Elections. HB 370 will erase the requirement that runoff elections be held in gubernatorial primary races if no candidate receives at least 40 percent of the vote.
Long Term Care Partnership. HB 259 establishes the Kentucky Long-Term Care Partnership Program upon approval of a Medicaid Waiver. Permits Medicaid eligibility with disregards upon the exhaustion of the benefits.
Transparency Bill. HB 44 will require information on charges, quality, and outcomes of health care services to be reported to the Cabinet for Health & Family Services and made available to the public for use in making health care decisions. This legislation was previously passed in the 2006 Budget, and would have no longer been law after July 1, 2008 had it not been passed in HB 44 this session.
Louisville Gas Price Investigation
Governor Beshear, Attorney General Conway and the Mayor of Louisville announced that they will be investigating the price differential between Louisville and the rest of the state. Louisville gas prices have been running 20-25 cents higher than other areas of the state.
Louisville is a reformulated gasoline area along with the Northern Ky area across from Cincinnati. The Northern Kentucky prices have also been running 20 cents lower than Louisville. The Governor stated that RFG shouldn’t be used as an excuse.
Click HERE for the article.
Appointments
Beshear's chief of staff resigns, Homeland Security Director Assumes Post
By Jack Brammer – Herald-Leader
Gov. Steve Beshear's chief of staff, Jim Cauley, is resigning to pursue his own political consulting business and will be replaced by Adam Edelen, a Lexingtonian who heads the state Office of Homeland Security.
For the article Click HERE
William M. Cox Sr. resigned as commissioner of Ky. Dept. of Revenue.
The Courier-Journal
The Beshear administration announced this morning that William M. Cox Sr. has resigned as commissioner of the Department of Revenue. The resignation was effective yesterday. Some blogs are reporting that he is going to work for Sen. David Boswell’s Congressional Campaign.
For the article Click HERE
Beshear names Blanton communications chief
By John Cheves – Herald-Leader
Seven months into his term, Gov. Steve Beshear announced Thursday that he has hired a new communications director: Jay Blanton, 40, who runs public relations at the University of Kentucky. Blanton begins Aug. 1.
For the article Click HERE
Kentucky state government veteran named insurance commissioner
Business First of Louisville
Sharon P. Clark, an administrator in the Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet has been selected as commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Insurance.
For the article Click HERE
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