Retiring Rep. Mike Denham says political partisanship can get in the way of progress
04/17/2016 09:15 AM
MAYSVILLE — Rep. Mike Denham, D-Maysville, who has served since 2001, decided not to seek re-election back in December because of health concerns. Denham says that current political partisanship has, in some cases, stifled progress in the House. During his 15 years in the legislature Denham says partisanship has grown in the General Assembly, especially as Republican members have grown in the chamber, resulting in a battle of which direction to go. “You know, you’ve got one side trying to keep the... Read more 
Gov. Bevin, legislative leaders say they're pleased with session's results
04/16/2016 06:00 PM
FRANKFORT — After a blitz of legislative activity by the General Assembly before lawmakers adjourned sine die on Friday, Gov. Matt Bevin offered one tidbit that he learned in his first-ever session. “It takes a long time to make the sausage,” he said as state representatives filed out of the House of Representatives before midnight. The first-year Republican governor had visited the chamber and shook hands and chatted with a number of lawmakers, including House Speaker Greg Stumbo, as their work... Read more
Biennial budget, road plan on path to governor's desk after passing House, Senate
FRANKFORT — Gov. Matt Bevin will soon consider a $21.5 billion biennial budget and a two-year road plan that maps out $3.6 billion in state and federal highway projects after both bills overwhelmingly passed the General Assembly on Friday, the final day of the legislative session. The House of Representatives passed the two-year spending plan, House Bill 303, on a 98-1 vote, with Rep. Jim Wayne, D-Louisville, the lone dissenter. That followed a unanimous vote in the Senate. HB 303 blends... Read more
Constitutional amendment granting victims' rights will not move forward in House
04/15/2016 10:23 PM
FRANKFORT — Senate Judiciary Chair Whitney Westerfield says the move to amend Kentucky’s Constitution to afford victims of crimes the same rights afforded to the accused has failed to garner support of legislative leaders in the House. Westerfield, who sponsored Senate Bill 175, met with House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, and other leaders in a private meeting on Friday evening — where he said leaders offered several reasons the amendment would not move forward. “Their response was, we like the... Read more
Sine die update: Senate passes state road funding plans
04/15/2016 09:19 PM
FRANKFORT — With a 38 – 0 vote the state Senate passed legislation funding road projects across Kentucky for the next two-years. The Legislation “over programs” federal projects by about 10 percent, but Sen. Ernie Harris, R-Prospect, said the state projects are also over programmed but they don’t know by how much. Harris said that state funding was a “matter for conjecture.” Three months ago, Harris said the state thought they were over programmed 300 percent. At that time the... Read more
Sine die update: Budget bill clears state Senate
04/15/2016 05:34 PM
UPDATED: FRANKFORT — The Kentucky Senate has passed the $21 billion state budget, revenue bill and the work ready scholarship program in a flurry of afternoon activity on Friday, the final day of the 2016 legislative session. The legislation represents the culmination of weeks of negotiations between House and Senate leadership. With an unanimous vote, the Senate passed the full budget through the upper chamber and sends the bill to the House for its consideration. Despite requests from Pure Politics, that... Read more
Senate honors the late former Sen. Georgia Davis Powers with bronze plaque
04/15/2016 03:22 PM
FRANKFORT – The Kentucky state Senate honored the late Georgia Davis Powers with a bronze plaque which was affixed to her former desk in the chamber on Friday, the last day of the 2016 legislative session. Powers, the first African-American and the first woman to be elected to the Kentucky State Senate in 1967, died on January 30 at the age of 92. As a state lawmaker and activist, Powers worked for fair housing, equal rights and became a close ally
The 2016 General Assembly achieved its main goal—passing a two year state budget—at the last minute of the session, but the legislature also passed well over 100 laws that have been signed by Gov. Matt Bevin so far. Bevin has ten days to veto bills once they’ve reached his desk. He also has the power to strike out portions of bills through his line-item veto power. Unless they’ve been designated “an emergency,” new laws will take effect 90 days after Bevin signs them–mid-July for most. Here’s a rundown of some of the major bills that passed this session, and some that didn’t make it. Passed [...]
Mon, Apr 18, 2016 2:43:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
In another indication of growing economic momentum in Portland’s emerging warehouse district, Heine Brothers’ Coffee announced on Monday it is renovating a 100-year-old building on 13th and West Main Street to house its headquarters. The coffee company, which has 13 locations, will house its corporate offices, roastery and training operations in the facility at 1301 W. Main St. It said 15 employees would work there. Heine Brothers’, which sells organic and fair trade coffee, will also lease space in the 40,000-square-foot warehouse. Its target opening is late this summer. The company is looking to piggyback on the planned expansion of Waterfront Park westward, [...]
Mon, Apr 18, 2016 1:30:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
With thousands of people expected to attend Thunder Over Louisville this weekend, TARC is ramping up its service to meet the demand. About 10,000 passengers are expected to take the bus during the annual fireworks extravaganza, according to the transit agency. Signs will be posted on all TARC buses and certain bus stops in the coming days to alert passengers of the changes, which are listed below. Some trips that normally cross the Ohio River to Indiana will be rerouted or cut before, during and shortly after the event, per the agency. Routes heading into downtown will be bolstered with extra buses beginning at 3:30 p.m. [...]
Mon, Apr 18, 2016 12:00:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
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