House Adjourns Special Session

[Habib]

The House leadership has given the governor a bit of a slap in the face by adjourning his special session. My question: can they? According to the state constitution, the House and the Senate must agree on adjournment. Additionally, under the governor’s power of calling the extraordinary session in Section 80, if the House and Senate disagree, he can adjourn them to a different time. When questioned, speaker Richards said “Anybody that wants to go to court over it, have at it,” then something to the effect of “it will be thrown out immediately.”

 

I don’t believe it will go that far, I find it more probable the Governor will adjourn them and work out some agreement on legislation. But, what are your thoughts?

[Jim Schue]

I think it's freakin' hilarious that the move by the Gov. was called out for what it is …

[SKINPIG]

I think it's nothing other than political propaganda on Jody Richards & the Dem's part. Yes, political gain can be made by Fletcher with the special session but, Kentucky can gain also. When will we stop excepting the fact that our elected officials have their best interest in mind and not that of the voters? In my opinion it's a "slap in the face" for sure, not Fletchers face, the taxpayers of Kentucky took another one on the chops today. Mr. Richards & his cohorts could be the biggest sore losers of all time.

[Jim Schue]

I think it's nothing other than political propaganda on Jody Richards & the Dem's part. Yes, political gain can be made by Fletcher with the special session but, Kentucky can gain also. When will we stop excepting the fact that our elected officials have their best interest in mind and not that of the voters? In my opinion it's a "slap in the face" for sure, not Fletchers face, the taxpayers of Kentucky took another one on the chops today. Mr. Richards & his cohorts could be the biggest sore losers of all time.

 

Many of the bills that were on the agenda for this session had already been passed by the GA but vetoed afterward by the Gov. Why is it so urgent to pass this stuff now as opposed to when he turned it down before?

 

It's a slap in the face by Fletcher to expect the taxpayers of Ky to foot the bill for a wholly unnecessary meeting of the General Assembly in order to pass things the Gov. already had a chance to act on.

[SKINPIG]

Many of the bills that were on the agenda for this session had already been passed by the GA but vetoed afterward by the Gov. Why is it so urgent to pass this stuff now as opposed to when he turned it down before?

 

It's a slap in the face by Fletcher to expect the taxpayers of Ky to foot the bill for a wholly unnecessary meeting of the General Assembly in order to pass things the Gov. already had a chance to act on.

 

The cost of the special session is a mere drop in the bucket compared to what ANY General Assembly will waste, weather it's overpowered by Dem's or Republicans. The only reason I think this is a big deal is because it's viewed as a political move instead of a "must have" session. The cost of such a session wouldn't be a concern of Mr. Richards if it wasn't an election year, a Republican incumbent wasn't in office and his candidate didn't need all the help he can get.

 

Honestly, how many worthless special sessions can you remember Mr. Richards and Mr. Patton having in their 8 years together in Frankfort? Money wasn't an issue then (even though they claimed the state was broke) and it isn't really the issue now. It's a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black. I'm just calling it the way I see it. If this was happening in 1999, there wouldn't even be a thread started on the subject, it would be business as usual. The "slap in our face" is the "good ole boys" politics of the past and present that unfortunately will not change in our lifetime.

 

I'm not taking sides on the issue, I'm just getting sick and tired of the rhetoric.

[Jim Schue]

The cost of the special session is a mere drop in the bucket compared to what ANY General Assembly will waste, weather it's overpowered by Dem's or Republicans. The only reason I think this is a big deal is because it's viewed as a political move instead of a "must have" session. The cost of such a session wouldn't be a concern of Mr. Richards if it wasn't an election year, a Republican incumbent wasn't in office and his candidate didn't need all the help he can get.

 

Honestly, how many worthless special sessions can you remember Mr. Richards and Mr. Patton having in their 8 years together in Frankfort? Money wasn't an issue then (even though they claimed the state was broke) and it isn't really the issue now. It's a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black. I'm just calling it the way I see it. If this was happening in 1999, there wouldn't even be a thread started on the subject, it would be business as usual. The "slap in our face" is the "good ole boys" politics of the past and present that unfortunately will not change in our lifetime.

 

I'm not taking sides on the issue, I'm just getting sick and tired of the rhetoric.

 

In other words, in spite of all Fletcher's rhetoric to "clean up the mess in Frankfort," he has done nothing but engage in more of the same as what his predecessors did.

[SKINPIG]

In other words, in spite of all Fletcher's rhetoric to "clean up the mess in Frankfort," he has done nothing but engage in more of the same as what his predecessors did.

 

Sort of Jim. Here's my point. In a sense, every candidate claims he/she's going to "clean up the mess in Frankfort". They may not say it in those exact words, but they say it. For whatever reason, some people took it to heart when Fletcher made his claim to do the impossible (clean up the mess in Frankfort). Anyone that thinks one person or one Governor can "clean up the mess in Frankfort" is confused. Anyone that would literally believe ANY of today's candidates claim to clean up any state government must be mesmerized. I believe there were some of those confused and mesmerized voters out there that voted for that reason "to clean up Frankfort", but I believe the biggest part of the gripers that have jumped on the "clean up the mess in Frankfort" bashing wagon knew better all along, and it's the only leg they have to stand on while trying desperately to win the capitol back so they continue Fletcher's predecessors ways.

 

I have worked in state government for many many years Jim. I have seen both good and bad from every Gov elected. Of the 5 Govs I worked under, one group or another always had the shoe on their foot while the other foot done without. That's just the way it is, or should I say was. Now that a different party has the shoe on their foot, everything has changed. If anyone has ever got a Bum Rap, it's E. Fletcher. Mr. Richards and company can't stand the fact that the shoe is on the other foot for a while. Not only do they want their shoe back and want it now, they want it on both feet. I hope they get it back so Kentucky can bask in the bliss for another 30 years.

[SilverShadow]

First we went to annual sessions to AVOID all the special sessions and it was suppose to save the state money in the long run. THEN we have annual sessions with a streak of not passing any state budgets. THEN a special session to pass something that is mandated to be done in regular session, a budget.

 

The history of prior special sessions is clear. In the past the need was cleared and agreed upon by all parties before the session was called. This time, without prior notice or agreeement, the Fletcher administration rolls out over 60 agenda items without agreement.

 

One of the items on the agenda to PASS is an item that passed both sides of Congress and VETOED by Fletcher, himself. That is the zoo funding in Louisville. NOW it is a priority when it was vetoed a few months ago?!

 

Senator David Williams, the one who looks for any fight against Democrats has already conceeded by quote to cancel the session if the house does not return. This tells me there is legal footing of the house actions.

 

One question regarding all these financial items in this special session. Where did all the money come from, all of the sudden? Or should it not have been vetoed first time around? So in best Republican leadership, we will spend more money to be in special session instead of doing the job for the exact same items in a regular session?

 

The other item that bothers me is this could be a horrible slope to start on with such a loaded agenda and that is the advent of a full time legislature and that is the last thing we need or can afford.

[Hip-Hop Box]

The thing is everything on the agent but one thing could have waited till jan 8. There may have been one that could have been discussed...

 

60,000 dollars down the poopshoot.

[Habib]

What I was looking for

 

Thoughts?

[Fastbreak]

I know I'm swimming against the current here, but I agree with Williams. The House democrats were so sure the governor was making a political power play, they pulled a bigger one themselves instead of simply taking care of business and then going home and telling everyone what a jerk they think the governor is. As a result, they have not only lost any moral high ground for making such statements, they may have indeed broken the law to boot.

 

Which when you boil it right down is kinda funny... :lol:

 

We need new players in the game.

[SKINPIG]

I don't see any players worth putting in the game Fastbreak, especially out of the ones that are available.

[Fastbreak]

I don't see any players worth putting in the game Fastbreak, especially out of the ones that are available.

Sad but all too true.

 

I will say this much for Fletcher... regardless of what folks think of him or his politics, he has put some true pros in key positions. The Department of Transportation has made significant strides to bring Kentucky into the 21st century... especially the Aviation Cabinet. It's amazing what these folks are getting done that will benefit Kentuckians for years to come, and yet most folks will never know. :thumb:

[Jim Schue]

Sad but all too true.

 

I will say this much for Fletcher... regardless of what folks think of him or his politics, he has put some true pros in key positions. The Department of Transportation has made significant strides to bring Kentucky into the 21st century... especially the Aviation Cabinet. It's amazing what these folks are getting done that will benefit Kentuckians for years to come, and yet most folks will never know. :thumb:

 

Perhaps, but he has also put rank amateur clowns in most other positions. That's why he got in trouble to begin with.

[All Tell]

Richards says session is over

 

Richards acknowledged yesterday that the Legislative Research Commission would continue to pay legislators until the session ends.

 

Now if Richards was REALLY interested in not wasting taxpayer dollars would he not be better served letting this session go on and debating the merits of the agenda on the floor? That way they would actually be doing SOMETHING to earn their pay and MAYBE, just MAYBE some legislation that would actually *GASP* be beneficial to Kentucky would get passed. But wait, we can't let that happen because it may reflect well on the governor (who is from a different party) who he is trying to unseat. As it stands all this is going to accomplish is to hack off Williams and the Republicans. Then if Beshear is elected, a Republican controlled Senate will stop anything from passing that could reflect well on him. Then the Democratc will cry foul because the Senate Republicans can't stop playing partisan politics and the whole vicious circle will continue. Isn't it about time for someone (anyone) to break that circle. There's no doubt in my mind that this special session was a political ploy be Fletcher but someone please point out to me ANY incumbent candidate who doesn't use the power of incumbancy to their benefit. Richards is just as guilty of playing politics here and has no right to claim moral high ground. Maybe it's time for the legislature to amend the state constitution limiting the power of the governor to call special sessions. No, because then when/if a Democrat is back in the office he/she wouldn't be able to call politically motivated special sessions.

 

Also, regarding the automated telephone calls. When Anne Northup was in office I was regularly "called" by one Democratic group or another and told by a machine that I should contact Northup and "demand" she do this or that. Now the Dems cry foul when their tactic is used against them. Well too bad.