The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

I'm talking about the way the GOP majorities in Frankfort passed an unusual one year budget  this week.


OK, they were absolutely right to make it only one year, instead of the traditional two. No one knows what the future of state revenue is in the time of Covid-19. I might quibble about their unusual voting plan, but if the Dems or the ACLU think that was illegal, let them sue.  (Not that they did before when the legislature refused to follow the Constitution and pass a budget at all by April 15th only a few years back.)


End of most "Good"


No raises  for state employees, including teachers. (Take that, Andy Beshear!) No funds for libraries, no  funds for school textbooks, and no funds for any new social workers, at a time when everyone knows there will be many more demands on them in the weeks ahead due to the virus, when present workers are already way above the national standards in caseloads. That is truly ugly.


Why is it so easy for Republicans to raise "sin taxes?" But do nothing about real, basic revenue. No taxes on casino gambling, or even expanding casinos here when multimillions flow out of our state each year to every surrounding state that has gambling parlors. Stoopid! (More later) No taxes on medical marijuana.


Let me agree entirely with senate minority leader Morgan McGarvey, truthfully chastising the majority when he said.."Since 2008, when the economy collapsed the last time, the cupboard has been bare and we haven't restocked it." Even a broader tobacco tax the guv proposed went down, tho an increased vaping tax passed. While we wait a year, other states will  reap revenue from Kentuckians traveling to their casinos. Sports betting, in this sports-crazy state, was also rejected. Makes no sense.


Will we know more in a year? Probably. Can the GOP majority be counted on to do better? Probably not.



Now let me add a few words of objection to some acts of our governor, who has been doing extremely well in his late afternoon virus news conferences. (Can anyone really see these conducted as well by Matt Bevin??)


You have overreached yourself guv, in closing so many places. Please reconsider and keep checking on places that might reopen, as well as others that may need closing. OK, this is personal, but I have a pair of glases that need repairs. Optical goods stores are closed. I also need a haircut. Every time I went to get one, social distancing was enforced, even informally. Are we to go back to Dan'l "Beard?"


But what is this crap about closing our borders to people from other states (any other states, not just hot spots apparently) I think that is beyond your powers, good goal tho it may be, and most likely UNConstitutional. Hope someone challenges it. Do we really want turn away all those people who come to buy our cheap bourbon, by quarantining them. And what about Kentuckians who go to Nashville or Illinois casinos, and come back? Are they to be put away for 2 weeks? Makes no sense either.


But, as Mr. Beshear said, this MAY be a small price to pay in the midst of a unique tragedy we are living through, but together, we will make it.


I'm just sayin'...