This week in Kentucky politics…lawmakers passed a flurry of conservative bills ahead of the veto deadline. Democratic Governor Andy Beshear now has the chance to sign or reject what’s passed out of the legislature, but Republicans can easily override him. WFPL's Bec Feldhaus Adams joins Capitol reporter Ryland Barton for this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
With less than a week before a critical deadline during Kentucky’s legislative session, lawmakers have been rushing bills through the process. And while Democratic Governor Andy Beshear can veto anything that passes, Republicans can easily override him. WFPL's Bec Feldhaus Adams joins Capitol reporter Ryland Barton for this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
This week in Kentucky politics…it’s crunch time for this year’s legislative session. Republican lawmakers continued the push for “business friendly” bills, which critics say will hurt the poor and disconnected. Jonese Franklin from member station WFPL joins Capitol reporter Ryland Barton for this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
This week in Kentucky politics…lawmakers advanced bills banning mask and vaccine requirements and ending the coronavirus state of emergency. Another anti-abortion bill popped up, this one mirrors the law currently before the U.S. Supreme Court. And the medical marijuana bill is back. WFPL's Clare Roth joins Capitol reporter Ryland Barton for this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
This week in Kentucky politics…House Republicans quickly advanced a bill to restrict abortion even further in the state. And lawmakers continued a string of antisemitic statements at the legislature. Jonese Franklin from WFPL joins Capitol reporter Ryland Barton for this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
This week in Kentucky politics…Republicans want to get rid of the income tax and lean more on sales taxes. Critics say that’ll help the rich and hurt the poor. Mitch McConnell blamed President Biden for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. And a Louisville woman will become the first openly-LGBTQ member of the state House. Clare Roth from member station WFPL joins Capitol reporter Ryland Barton for this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
This week in Kentucky politics…Republicans advanced a bill to set new requirements for how teachers talk about race and history in the classroom. And some lawmakers want to tighten up bail restrictions after a man tried to shoot a candidate for mayor in Louisville. WFPL's Jonese Franklin joined Capitol reporter Ryland Barton for this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
This week in Kentucky politics…Republicans quickly advanced a bill to cut benefits for unemployed people. A bill banning trans girls from girls sports passed out of a legislative committee. And the lawsuit challenging Kentucky’s redistricting maps got its first hearing. Jonese Franklin from member station WFPL joined Capitol reporter Ryland Barton for this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
This week in Kentucky politics: A new poll shows Gov. Andy Beshear with a high approval rating. The stage is set for who’s running in this year’s elections. And lawmakers want the power to call themselves in for a special legislative session. Jonese Franklin from member station WFPL joined Capitol reporter Ryland Barton for this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
This week in Kentucky politics, Democrats sued to try and block Republican-drawn redistricting maps. Mitch McConnell insinuated that African Americans aren’t Americans. And lawmakers pushed the state budget a little farther through the process. Jonese Franklin from partner station WFPL joined Capitol reporter Ryland Barton for this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
This week in Kentucky politics…Governor Andy Beshear unveiled his budget plan. The legislature passed a redistricting plan during a rare-Saturday session. And in a bipartisan moment, lawmakers passed a $200 million relief bill to help communities affected by last month’s tornadoes. Jonese Franklin from member station WFPL joined Capitol reporter Ryland Barton for this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
This week in Kentucky politics, legislators unveiled redistricting maps and began rushing them through the lawmaking process. The plans bolster Republican seats in the legislature and Congress and make it harder for Democrats to get elected. And, while everyone was focused on redistricting, House Republicans released their budget proposal.
This week in Kentucky politics…communities came together after a tornado ripped through western Kentucky, killing dozens and destroying hundreds of homes and businesses across a wide swath of the state. President Joe Biden came to survey damage. And state leaders put partisanship aside for the moment to help the state rebuild. Derek Operle from WKMS joined Capitol reporter Ryland Barton for this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
This week in Kentucky politics…Gov. Andy Beshear gave raises to social workers after they sounded the alarm on low pay and high caseloads. Attorney General Daniel Cameron’s search warrant task force wrapped up, recommending a training video for police officers. And Congressman Thomas Massie posted a gun-filled Christmas photo days after the fatal school shooting in Michigan. WFPL's Clare Roth joined Capitol reporter Ryland Barton for this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
This week in Kentucky politics, an anti-abortion legislator is running for the state Supreme Court as Roe v. Wade hangs in the balance of the U.S. Supreme Court. Attorney General Daniel Cameron notched two legal victories as federal vaccine mandates were struck down in the courts. And a Democratic legislator has filed a bill to decriminalize cannabis possession. WFPL's Jonese Franklin joins Capitol reporter Ryland Barton for this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
This week in Kentucky politics…Gov. Andy Beshear announced he’s merging two major cabinets in state government. Republican legislators expressed skepticism about Louisville’s new police review board. And the state’s ethics commission alleged that former Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes misused her office for political purposes. Jonese Franklin from member station WFPL joined Capitol reporter Ryland Barton for this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
This week in Kentucky politics…Mitch McConnell celebrated the passage of the infrastructure bill, even though Kentucky’s other Republicans in Congress voted against it. Legislators are drawing new political maps for the state behind closed doors. And Charles Booker got a big endorsement ahead of his run for Senate next year. WFPL's Jonese Franklin joined Capitol reporter Ryland Barton for this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
This week in Kentucky politics…Republicans snubbed Gov. Andy Beshear’s request to work together on bonuses for essential workers. A big race is brewing in Frankfort—a judge who reviews many lawsuits against the state government--has drawn a challenger. And federal election officials have dropped the Republican Party of Kentucky’s complaint against a Democratic radio host. WFPL's Jonese Franklin joins capitol reporter Ryland Barton for this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
This week in Kentucky politics, Congressman John Yarmuth announced he won’t run for reelection. Legislators still haven’t weighed in on how they’ll draw new political maps during the upcoming redistricting process. And the U.S. Supreme Court heard Attorney General Daniel Cameron’s request to defend a defunct abortion law.
This week in Kentucky politics, a former chair of the Kentucky Democratic Party was ordered to prison for making illegal campaign contributions. A judge struck down the state’s new tax-credit scholarship program. And lawmakers once again heard pitches for the state to legalize medical marijuana.
This week in Kentucky politics, almost all Kentucky school districts have announced they’ll require masks after the legislature scrapped the statewide mandate. The Senate president says the governor might call another special legislative session to attract and retain healthcare workers. And a court heard arguments over the new tax break for donating to private school scholarships.
This week in Kentucky politics, Gov. Andy Beshear called a special legislative session to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. Lawmakers got rid of the school mask mandate and gave schools slightly more flexibility to go to remote learning during the pandemic. And the virus continues to surge across the state and strain hospital capacity. WFPL Education Reporter Jess Clark joins Ryland Barton for this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
This week in Kentucky politics, the coronavirus continued to slam hospitals across the state, but Gov. Andy Beshear isn’t imposing any new restrictions. A Republican lawmaker filed a bill to ban businesses from requiring employees to get the vaccine. And Mitch McConnell said he’s perplexed by people who don’t want to get the vaccine.
This week in Kentucky politics, Gov. Andy Beshear and the state Board of Education issued mask mandates for public schools as the coronavirus delta variant continues to spread. U.S. Senator Rand Paul disclosed (long after he should have) that his wife invested in a coronavirus treatment drug. And new census data shows rural populations declining in Kentucky.
This week in Kentucky politics…politicians have been gearing up for Fancy Farm, which is still happening this weekend despite the spread of the COVID-19 delta variant. Mitch McConnell started airing radio ads urging people to get the vaccine. And Gov. Andy Beshear hasn’t issued a new mask mandate, but says he’s not taking it off the table.
This week in Kentucky politics, former state Representative Charles Booker launched his campaign for the U.S. Senate seat held by Rand Paul. Paul says he’s confident he’ll win reelection. And two lawmakers say they’ll pass a bill allowing student athletes to make money off their name, image and likeness.
This week in Kentucky politics, Mitch McConnell blocked the commission investigating the January 6th Capitol riot. Several labor unions and nonprofits called on Gov. Andy Beshear to keep the $300 supplement to unemployment benefits. And Attorney General Daniel Cameron argued that courts can’t waive the $300 fee to expunge felony records. We talk about it all on this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
This week in Kentucky politics, Mitch McConnell came out AGAINST creating a commission to investigate the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. A Baptist adoption agency refused to renew its contract with the state because of a nondiscrimination clause. And a state legislator got his DUI dismissed due to a recent state Supreme Court ruling. Amina Elahi and Ryland Barton recap it all on this week's episode.
The Department of Justice launched an investigation into Louisville’s police department. Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron said he doesn’t think the country is systemically racist. And the state found out it won’t lose or gain any congressional seats during the reapportionment process. We cover it all on this episode.
This week in Kentucky politics, Mitch McConnell said the state doesn’t need the most recent round of federal coronavirus aid. That’s even though the Republican-led legislature already spent more than $1 billion of the relief funds. He also criticized companies boycotting Georgia after passing new election restrictions.
