This week in Kentucky politics, Kentucky State Troopers shut protesters out of the state Capitol, allowing only two people to enter the building at a time. Attorney General Andy Beshear is suing Walgreens, saying the company helped fuel the opioid epidemic in the state. And a high-powered lobbyist was in federal court as prosecutors try to prove he bribed a former state official to help a client get state contracts. Capitol reporter Ryland Barton has this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Dist...
Jun 15, 2018•5 min•Ep. 23
This week in Kentucky politics, the lawsuit over the new pension law was argued in court. Kentucky’s new commissioner of education laid out his priorities, which include helping charter schools open up and taking over Louisville’s public school system. And Mitch McConnell continued to express concern about President Trump’s tariffs leading to a full-blown trade war. Capitol reporter Ryland Barton has this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
Jun 08, 2018•4 min•Ep. 22
This week in Kentucky politics, Gov. Matt Bevin said he’s partnering with a former Democratic congressman to help people navigate the state’s new Medicaid rules. We found out that lobbyists set a new spending record at the state legislature as lawmakers made changes to the tax code. Plus, a state-funded aluminum mill broke ground in northeastern Kentucky and Gov. Bevin asked for a judge to recuse himself from the lawsuit over the new pension bill. Capitol reporter Ryland Barton has this week’s e...
Jun 01, 2018•4 min•Ep. 21
This week in Kentucky politics, lawmakers retreated behind closed doors to begin hammering out a compromise on the state budget for the next two years. A bill that would shield personal cell phones and computers from records requests drew fire from open government advocates. And a common type of abortion would be banned under a bill that is nearing final passage out of the legislature. Capitol reporter Ryland Barton has this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
Mar 23, 2018•4 min•Ep. 20
This week in Kentucky politics, students marched on the state Capitol to call for lawmakers to come up with solutions to school shootings; during a radio interview, Gov. Matt Bevin lashed out at teachers for protesting a plan that would take some of their retirement benefits away; and the pension bill that teachers have been protesting, well, it’s on life support. Capitol reporter Ryland Barton has this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
Mar 16, 2018•4 min•Ep. 19
This week, Sen. Mitch McConnell and Congressman Andy Barr came back home to jeering crowds of protesters at town hall-type meetings. Meanwhile the General Assembly advanced controversial bills including a bill giving more power to Louisville’s metro council and another that would create a social studies course about the bible.
Feb 25, 2017•4 min•Ep. 18
Controversial proposals like the “blue lives matter” bill and a scheme to defund Planned Parenthood advanced in the General Assembly this week. Legislation stiffening drug penalties and changing public education also made their way through the Republican-led legislature. Capitol reporter Ryland Barton has this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
Feb 17, 2017•4 min•Ep. 17
Lawmakers returned to Frankfort this week after a month-long break in the legislative session. Governor Bevin announced that the state might have to raise taxes to fix the state’s ailing pension system. Plus, a sweeping criminal justice reform proposal was proposed and a bill making it a hate crime to attack police officers is making its way through the legislative process. Capitol reporter Ryland Barton has this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
Feb 10, 2017•4 min•Ep. 13
Kentucky Politics Distilled: Budget Compromise by KY Politics Distilled
Apr 15, 2016•3 min•Ep. 12
A little over a month ago Gov. Matt Bevin unveiled Benefind, a one-stop shop for entitlement benefits like food stamps, cash assistance and Medicaid. The rollout of the program has had huge problems, with thousands of people losing services and thousands more getting false notices that they had lost services. There’s been a lot of confusion over what caused the problems and who’s to blame. In this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled, capitol reporter Ryland Barton tells us what happene...
Apr 08, 2016•4 min•Ep. 14
This week in the Kentucky General Assembly, budget negotiations ground to a halt. But Gov. Matt Bevin still cut higher education budgets for the current fiscal year. In the latest edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled, capitol reporter Ryland Barton recaps what happened and what could be next.
Apr 01, 2016•3 min•Ep. 13
This week in Kentucky politics lawmakers started the final negotiations of the state budget. At stake is how to fix the state’s ailing pension systems, whether to start funding state universities based on “performance metrics” and how much money to leave aside for the future. Capitol reporter Ryland Barton has the latest edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
Mar 26, 2016•4 min•Ep. 11
This week in Kentucky politics the state House of Representatives finally presented its version of the state budget, restoring some spending cuts proposed by Gov. Matt Bevin. The Kentucky Senate is considering a bill that would some people clear felonies from their records. And the Senate also passed a bill that would allow business owners to deny services based on their religious beliefs. Capitol reporter Ryland Barton has this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
Mar 18, 2016•4 min•Ep. 10
This week in Kentucky Politics, Democrats held on to their majority in the state House after Republicans fell short of expectations in four special elections. Lawmakers are divided between two competing bills intended to curb dogfighting in the state. And once again, the state Senate passed a bill to tighten regulations on abortion providers in the state.
Mar 11, 2016•4 min•Ep. 9
This week in Kentucky politics, the Trump Show came to town ahead of the Kentucky Republican caucus. A new bill would add restrictions to abortion facilities and details of Gov. Bevin’s budget are still slowly coming. Capitol reporter Ryland Barton has the latest edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled
Mar 04, 2016•3 min•Ep. 8
This week at the Kentucky legislature, we heard a lot about the budget, but still few details about how proposed cuts will be implemented. Also, a religious freedom bill threatens to override local anti-discrimination laws. Capitol reporter Ryland Barton has this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
Feb 26, 2016•4 min•Ep. 7
This week in Kentucky Politics, Gov. Matt Bevin’s administration is suing Planned Parenthood for allegedly conducting abortions illegally at its new Louisville clinic. A bill to create different marriage licenses for heterosexual and homosexual couples advanced in the legislature. And the Bevin Administration released new details of how the Kynect health insurance exchange will be replaced.
Feb 19, 2016•4 min•Ep. 6
This week in Kentucky politics, former Governor Beshear returned to confront current Governor Matt Bevin, lawmakers took another crack at the Local Option Sales Tax and once again, anti-abortion legislation maneuvered its way through the state legislature. Capitol reporter Ryland Barton has all that and more in this week’s installment of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
Feb 12, 2016•4 min•Ep. 6
This week in Kentucky politics, Rand Paul dropped out of the presidential race to focus his Senate re-election bid, the state lost two visionary politicians and, once again, the legislature advanced anti-abortion policies. Capitol reporter Ryland Barton has this week’s installment of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
Feb 05, 2016•4 min•Ep. 5
This week Governor Matt Bevin delivered his first budget address. His proposal for how to fund state operations included a mix of across-the-board cuts and some surprises. Meanwhile, week four of the Kentucky General Assembly brought more big moves on anti-abortion legislation. Capitol reporter Ryland Barton has this update of the goings on in Frankfort in this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
Feb 05, 2016•4 min•Ep. 4
Despite the holiday off, the Kentucky state Capitol was bustling this week ahead of worries about the impending snowstorm. Among the happenings, lawmakers moved forward on anti-abortion legislation, and the state House’s tenuous political balance continued to provide intrigue.
Feb 05, 2016•4 min•Ep. 3
Lawmakers began considering controversial bills in legislative committees during Week 2 of the Kentucky General Assembly. And Gov. Bevin made some big moves on health care. Capitol reporter Ryland Barton has this break down of the goings on in Frankfort, in a new weekly segment we’re calling Kentucky Politics Distilled
Feb 05, 2016•4 min•Ep. 2
Week one of the Kentucky General Assembly is in the books and Kentucky lawmakers began to reveal what their priorities for the legislative session. Capitol reporter Ryland Barton has this breakdown of the goings on in Frankfort, in a new weekly segment we’re calling Kentucky Politics Distilled.
Feb 05, 2016•4 min•Ep. 1
