Sen. Damon Thayer said Gov. Andy Beshear has failed to work with legislators as well as his father, former Gov. Steve Beshear, did when he served from 2007 to 2015.
Noting that his executive branch is masked up, the Democratic governor said, "We have not had a major outbreak that I think they’re seeing on the legislative side. That’s because masks work."
The Kentucky Democratic Party, Rep. Derrick Graham and four residents announced they would sue to block the maps, arguing they violate the Kentucky Constitution by splitting counties into multiple districts “without legitimate purpose” and more times than is necessary to create districts of roughly equal size.
The most notable feature of that bill, would extend Hopkinsville's 1st Congressional district from the westernmost tip of Kentucky all the way to Frankfort in central Kentucky.
Most Ky. children who die or nearly die from abuse or neglect are under 3. They’re disproportionately Black. And more than 70% were part of a family that had been assessed or investigated by the state.
First Amendment advocates point out that such information is already blocked by privacy laws — and the new legislation could create a chilling effect for those making and responding to open records requests because of the penalties.
The governor had already unveiled many of his proposals over the last week after House Republicans broke tradition and released their spending plan early.
Lawmakers are considering bills that would ban teachers from talking about race in ways that make students feel “discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of his or her race or sex.”
Beshear's budget plan includes money for nursing homes, the recruitment and retention of nurses, meals for seniors, mental health programs, and the state's Medicaid program.
The bill directs the state’s Cabinet for Economic Development to recoup the funds from Braidy Industries — now known as Unity Aluminum — by the end of the year unless the company gives back the money on its own.
