For years, the Kentucky General Assembly has been sliding down the slippery slope of secrecy, into a hole that shields it from public scrutiny. Last week, 71 members of the state House doubled down on darkness, and expanded it to make just about every other part of government in Kentucky less transparent.
In one of the more ironic but emblematic moves I’ve seen in more than 40 years of watching our legislature closely, the House passed a bill to reduce government openness in a manner that was far from open.
They started with a bill that bore the bland title “An act relating to financial institutions,” supposedly to remove three gender-specific references in banking law. It was one page plus one line.
Transparency Groups Cry Foul Over Proposed Open Records Reforms wuky.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wuky.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Editor s note: This story was updated at 3 p.m. on Feb. 4 to include comments from retired Franklin Circuit Judge Roger Crittenden.
The legislature Tuesday overrode Gov. Andy Beshearâs veto of House Bill 3, which will allow civil lawsuits against the state to be heard in the area of original jurisdiction rather than in Franklin Circuit Court.
The House voted 71-23 and the Senate 30-7 to override Beshearâs veto. The law goes into effect immediately.
Previously, all civil actions involving the commonwealth were assigned to the Franklin Circuit Court judges, currently Phillip Shepherd and Thomas Wingate, because Frankfort is the seat of state government.
Lawmakers advance bills to limit governor s COVID response | Covid-19 somerset-kentucky.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from somerset-kentucky.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Lawmakers advance bills to limit governorâs COVID response
By: Bruce Schreiner and Piper Hudspeth Blackburn, Associated Press
Posted at 5:45 PM, Jan 06, 2021
and last updated 2021-01-06 17:45:39-05
FRANKFORT, Ky. â Rebuking the Kentucky governorâs handling of the COVID-19 crisis, Republican lawmakers advanced bills Wednesday to limit his emergency powers and to keep businesses open amid the pandemic.
The measures, put on the fast track in the opening days of the 2021 session, reflect mounting GOP frustration with Gov. Andy Beshearâs use of his executive authority. His moves to put restrictions on businesses and individuals to try to contain the spread of the coronavirus have increasingly become politicized.