Capitol Gains

On the Move: Pitts Named VP of Comms/Marketing at KY Chamber

Creating a communications department last week, the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce named Jacqueline Pitts as their first Vice President of Communications and Marketing. Pitts has worked with the Kentucky Chamber since December of 2014, creating and managing ‘The Bottom Line,’ a resource for business-related news. In February 2017, Pitts was named director of communications for...

Rep. Bam Carney Back in the Hospital

Days after returning home to Taylor County from more than a year in the hospital and Rep. Bam Carney, R-Campbellsville, is back under the care of medical professionals, according to his family. Carney returned to the hospital earlier this week according to his son, Ethan, in a Facebook post. “Last 24 hours has been busy,...

Capitol Will Re-Open July 1, With Restrictions

Nearly all restrictions have been lifted in the Commonwealth, restaurants are allowed at full capacity again, but the Capitol and Capitol Annex remain closed because of security concerns.  In response to a question at a news conference last week, Gov. Andy Beshear said “a full Capitol re-opening” would occur on July 1, but would include...

Republicans Throw Down the Gauntlet with Investigative Committee

Republican leadership in the General Assembly has stocked a committee full of former law enforcement and legal professionals and given them an investigative aim and subpoena powers.  The Legislative Oversight and Investigations Committee kicked off their business last week, but the real fireworks should arrive post-Independence Day as Republicans are expected to begin to dig...

Overheard in the Annex: Top Stories in KY Politics This Week

News outlets around the state carried the news this week that 37 state workers collected more than $116,000 in state and federal jobless benefits, according to a report from state Auditor Mike Harmon.  The Lexington-Herald Leader’s John Cheves reports that 10 of those workers accessing unemployment benefits were employed by the Office of Unemployment Insurance...

Kentucky Fried Politics Top 20 Power Brokers

We all know the elected politicians at the heart of our state government, but those influencing legislation, putting lawmakers in the seats, and pulling the strings are true brokers of clout. They can open doors or close them, they pass legislation or ensure a bill dies a slow death in the committee-on-committees, in short – they are the people who pull the strings and if the time arises, collect scalps.

Stepping Away From Slates

Kentucky’s second in command, the Lieutenant Governor, AKA a warm body in the event of disaster, has been elected in a pairing or slate alongside the governor since 1995, but this upcoming gubernatorial election that is about to change.  Newly enacted legislation will effectively change the gubernatorial primary process. The net effect is yet to...