Pol Watchers

Jefferson County teachers endorse Fletcher

The Jefferson County Teachers Association today endorsed Gov. Ernie Fletcher's re-election bid in the May 22 Republican primary.

“Governor Fletcher believes in public education and is committed to raising the salaries of Kentucky’s teachers to match those in surrounding states," the association said in a statement released by Fletcher's campaign. "His efforts to support reading and math are another example of this commitment.  Simply put, Ernie Fletcher is the best choice for Governor in the Republican Primary.”

One of Fletcher's opponents, Anne Northup, is a former teacher from Louisville.

Northup and Fletcher both have TV ads airing across the state that focus on education.

Fletcher takes credit for increasing education funding 25 percent since July 2004 and increasing teacher pay by 10 percent in the current two-year state budget. Although Fletcher supported the increased funding, state lawmakers actually voted on the measures.

Northup takes a different approach in her ad, saying Kentucky has fallen behind in education during Fletcher's tenure. Among other things, she sites a 2006 national report card on higher education that gives Kentucky an "F" for college affordability.

- John Stamper

Northup calls on Fletcher to disclose campaign trips and reimbursement amounts

The campaign of Republican candidate for governor Anne Northup called on Gov. Ernie Fletcher today to disclose his use of state-operated vehicles to attend political events and to repay the state for those trips before the May 22 primary election.

"Ernie Fletcher has been caught abusing the taxpayers' money to travel around doing fund-raisers," Northup campaign spokesman Barry Peel said in a news release. "We challenge the governor to give the public a full accounting of those trips and the cost he is planning to refund to taxpayers before the May 7th cut off for the next campaign finance report."

Those campaign finance reports must be made public by midnight on May 15th.

Fletcher campaign manager Marty Ryall said he hopes to have all the documentation needed to reimburse the state by Friday, which would allow the campaign to cut a check before the May 7th cut-off date.

"That's certainly our goal, as long as we have the information to take care of it," he said.

Ryall accused the Northup campaign of attacking Fletcher on the travel issue because "she has no legitimate issues to talk about, so she'll probably spend the next three weeks with daily attacks."

Since starting his re-election bid in August 2005, Fletcher scheduled at least 21 of his 39 fund-raisers for the same day as an official trip to each of those communities, according to a Herald-Leader analysis.

For example, Fletcher took a two-night trip to New York in December to visit with bond-rating agencies and hold a fund-raiser. The trip cost $11,620.32 plus $2,312.50 to fly the state's airplane with Fletcher, first lady Glenna Fletcher, Robbie Rudolph -- the governor's running mate -- and his wife, Lisa, from Frankfort to Teterboro, N.J.

Of the 16 fund-raisers held since March 1, Fletcher used a state aircraft for transportation to eight of those cities. The cost of flying to those locations was $7,819.50, according to the newspaper's analysis.

When first questioned about the airplane expenses by the Herald-Leader on Wednesday, Ryall said the campaign had no plans to reimburse the state for trips that mixed official business and campaign events.

On Friday, Fletcher reversed himself and said he would reimburse the state on a proportional basis for any flights taken this year. After being questioned about similar trips in previous years, Ryall said the campaign would also make reimbursements for those trips.

"After all the times they changed their tune, how can the public trust them," Peel said in the news release. "The only thing that would satisfy the public is for them to throw open both Ernie Fletcher and Robbie Rudolph's schedules and answer to the voters."

Ryall called the Northup news release "comical," noting a line that says Fletcher decided to reimburse the state "under intense pressure from the Northup campaign."

"We haven't felt any pressure from them," Ryall said.

The reimbursement formula to be used by Fletcher takes into account the number of political and official stops per trip, Ryall said. For instance, the governor made five official stops for funding announcements and ribbon cuttings from McKee to Leitchfield on Saturday before speaking at the Republican Lincoln Day dinner in Grayson County. Thus, the campaign would reimburse the state for one-sixth of the cost.

- John Stamper

'I retained all employees, including my mother'

By Sarah Vos
Herald-Leader Staff Writer

• PVA personnel documents (PDFs) for Renee True's husband, mother

Eight days before Steve Henry and Renee True announced they were running for governor and lieutenant governor, True, who is Fayette County's property valuation administrator, approved her husband's resignation from her office.

The resignation, dated Jan. 15, was effective Jan. 1, 2007, according to state records. That was the day True's husband, William Harper, was supposed to start working for the PVA as a real property supervisor, according to the Request for Personnel Action signed by True on Dec. 15.

Harper was replacing a man named Greg Richardson. He would have been a permanent, full-time employee and would have earned almost $3,000 a month, according to the document.

True says she wasn't trying to hire her husband. He helped out on a couple of projects. "What he actually did was work for free," True said. "For weeks and weeks, he went in for free. He is not a hired employee."

True says she filled out the paperwork for Harper because it was unclear whether he needed to be in the system, even as a volunteer. She turned in his resignation once she realized that he would get paid, she said. The office does not have any other volunteers.

Jill Midkiff, a spokeswoman for the Revenue Cabinet, said Harper never received a paycheck from the state. A check was issued to him, but it was recalled because it had the wrong Social Security number, she said.

State conflict of interest rules prohibit public servants from hiring, promoting or supervising family members, said John Steffen, general counsel for the Executive Branch Ethics Commission. PVAs fall under the jurisdiction of the ethics commission.

It's not the first time that nepotism questions have been raised in regard to True. True's mother, Linda Taulbee, works for the PVA office. She started there when True's husband at that time, Rene' True, was PVA.

"When I became PVA, I retained all employees, including my mother," Renee True said recently.

But, according to Revenue Cabinet records, Taulbee retired in 2004. Two months later, True hired Taulbee back as a seasonal employee. When that five-month position ended, True hired Taulbee again, this time as a full-time, permanent employee with a salary of $2,100 a month.

True says she does not remember her mother retiring and then being rehired. In addition, she was not aware of any laws prohibiting the hiring of family members.

"That is not something that has been brought to my attention," True said.

Henry said he was not concerned that True's mother works in her office or that True had rehired her mother after her mother retired.

"I would not be critical of anyone who would win their office and not fire their mom," Henry said.

True got her first job at the PVA thanks to a family connection. Her then-husband, Rene' True, hired her as an administrator when he was elected to office in 1985. At the time it wasn't unusual. Her father, then the Fayette County sheriff, employed her mother, Linda Taulbee, as a deputy sheriff. Her brother-in-law, Bobby True, then the Fayette Circuit Clerk, employed his wife as a bookkeeper.

True says she has no plans to hire family members if she becomes lieutenant governor. But she also doesn't have a problem with the arrangement.

"My experience of working with family members is that they are held to a higher standard than anyone else," True said. "We go above and beyond, making certain that there is absolutely no favoritism played."

Candidates discuss E. Kentucky issues

PIKEVILLE -- Kentucky should return to coal-producing counties all of its proceeds from the coal-severance tax, House Speaker Jody Richards, a Democratic candidate for governor, said today at a forum dominated by topics about Eastern Kentucky.

Richards was the only candidate at the forum to call for giving back to coal counties 100 percent of the tax proceeds.  Six of the seven Democratic campaigns for governor participated in the event moderated by former Democratic Gov. Paul Patton at the 20th annual East Kentucky Leadership Conference.  Former Lt. Gov. Steve Henry did not appear and did not send his running mate, Fayette County Property Valuation Administrator Renee True.

Richard said after the forum that it would cost the state between $100 million and $125 million to return all the coal tax proceeds to coal counties, phasing it in over four years.  Kentucky now gives back to coal counties 50 percent of the tax proceeds.

Richards did not say how the state would recoup the money under his plan but said it was an important move.

“Once coal is depleted, you have a resource that is gone,” Richards said.  “They should take all that money now and build it for infrastructure so not to leave it as a vast wasteland.”

Attorney General Greg Stumbo, who is running for lieutenant governor on the gubernatorial ticket of Louisville businessman Bruce Lunsford, said he doubts state legislators would increase the percentage of coal-tax proceeds to coal counties.

He noted that it would be a hard sale to lawmakers, especially those in Jefferson County who often say Kentucky’s most populous county gives more to the state in taxes than it receives.

Jefferson County Irv Maze, who is the running mate for state Treasurer Jonathan Miller, declined to put a specific figure on how much coal-tax proceeds should be returned but said Miller and he would open up to the public the state budgetary process.

Lexington attorney Gatewood Galbraith said the state should return at least 50 percent of the coal tax proceeds.  Former Lt. Gov. Steve Beshear said he wants to make sure the coal counties are getting at least 50 percent from the tax.  Harlan demolition contractor Otis Hensley Jr. said he would not reduce the funding to coal counties from the tax.

The candidates also were asked about mountaintop removal, a controversial mining method in which large sections of mountains are leveled to make it easier to extract coal.

Richards and Beshear said current regulations, if enforced properly, are sufficient.  Stumbo said he would consult with engineers to improve the process.  Galbratih said he would not stop mountain removal, and Hensley said in a written statement that he does not favor any new restrictions.

Maze said Miller and he would consult with all parties involved to reform the practice.

On other topics, Richards said he would put a governor’s office in Eastern Kentucky and would finish four-laning the Mountain Parkway.  Stumbo also said Lunsford and he would make the parkway four lanes.

Galbraith repeated his pledge to give every high school graduate a $5,000 voucher for additional education expenses, and Hensley noted that he is the only Democratic candidate for governor who opposes expanded gambling.

Maze said Miller and he would make Kentucky “the clean-coal center of the United States.”

--Jack Brammer

Fletcher agrees to reimburse state for travel

Gov. Ernie Fletcher’s campaign reversed course and now will voluntarily reimburse the state coffers for a portion of travel costs when the governor attends political events, such as fund-raisers, while on a trip for official business.

The campaign issued a statement today saying that it’s working on creating on a “pro-rated reimbursement rate” based on the number of political stops on a trip compared to the number of official events, such as check presentations, ribbon cuttings and announcements.
“This is new ground for Kentucky politics as it is the first time an incumbent governor has campaign extensively while in office,” said campaign manager Marty Ryall.

The decision comes after the Herald-Leader reported that 11 of Fletcher’s 16 campaign fund-raising events since March 1 occurred in or near a Kentucky city in which the governor made a public appearance that same day. The cost of flying the state airplane to eight of those cities was $7,819.50, according to the Herald-Leader’s analysis.

And initially, the campaign said it had no plans to reimburse any of that because state law — unlike other states and the federal guidelines for the U.S. president — doesn’t require it.

“We’re following the law as it’s written in Kentucky,” Ryall said at that time.

Ryall said today the campaign has reconsidered and is working with the governor’s office to calculate how much the campaign would owe dating back to Jan. 1. The forumla takes into account the number of political and official stops per trip. For instance, if the governor attended one campaign function and two meetings on state business, the campaign would cover one-third of the travel costs.

The campaign’s statement also points out that federal laws for members of Congress don’t require a U.S. representative’s re-election campaign to reimburse travel costs from Washington to the legislator’s home state as long as the trip includes at least one official event.

One of Fletcher’s rival in the Republican primary for governor is Anne Northup, a former congresswoman from Louisville, whose campaign for governor criticized Fletcher for not reimbursing the state.

“That begs the question of how much she has reimbursed the federal government for travel to and from Louisville during her congressional campaigns,” Ryall said.

Northup lost her bid for a sixth term last fall.

UPDATE 3:34 p.m.: The Northup campaign dispatched a statement dismissing that question, saying Fletcher "in typical fashion is making an excuse and playing the victim."

The statement did not include any data as to Northup's travel from Congress. 

"Ernie Fletcher campaigned on going to Frankfort to clean up the waste, fraud and abuse yet this is a perfect instance of how he has wasted taxpayer dollars and found every way possible to abuse the system for his own political gain," the statement from Northup's campaign manager, Michael Clingaman said.

- Ryan Alessi

Tonight's guests on 'Comment on Kentucky'

The state's poet laureate will join host Al Smith and two others on this week's "Comment on Kentucky," a public affairs show on the Kentucky Educational Television network.

This week's guests are poet laureate Jane Gentry Vance, a professor of English at the University of Kentucky who began her writing career as a reporter for the Lexington Herald-Leader; Ronnie Ellis, Frankfort reporter for CNHI; and John David Dyche, a Louisville attorney and political commentator for The Courier-Journal.

The 30-minute show will air live at 8 p.m. Friday EDT on KET1.

- John Stamper

Northup remark reveals loyalties of GOP leaders

By Ryan Alessi
Herald-Leader Political Writer

An offhand comment by Anne Northup has caused a political squall within the Republican hierarchy, fueling speculation about just how neutral two of the Kentucky GOP's most prominent officials really are in this primary race for governor.

The names of state Senate President David Williams and U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell -- both of whom have insisted they are not endorsing in the Republican primary for governor -- neverthelesshave been dragged into the strange saga that started Tuesday in Manchester while Northup was campaigning there.

Northup, that afternoon, spotted on the street state Sen. Robert Stivers, who is backing Gov. Ernie Fletcher's re-election bid instead of her candidacy. When she approached Stivers, Northup said she had heard some Republicans were considering challenging Stivers' re-election in 2008.

"It was just a little joking matter, which Anne probably shouldn't have done," said Republican state Rep. Tim Couch of Hyden, who was escorting Northup around Clay and Leslie counties. "I wouldn't have done it. But it was a joke."

Once word reached Stivers' Senate colleagues, including Williams, it raised concerns about whether Northup was recruiting challengers to officials who weren't supporting her in this primary. [...]

But the remark, however, touched off a chain of calls through the GOP's ranks, culminating with a teleconference Wednesday among Republican state senators.

On that call, Stivers described the encounter with Northup. And Williams, the Senate president from Burkesville, explained that he called McConnell's state office director, Larry Cox, in Louisville to ask him to tell Northup "not to threaten" senators, said Sen. Tom Buford, R-Nicholasville, who was on the call.

"In my personal opinion, that connects Anne Northup to Mitch McConnell," said Buford. "If you call Larry Cox to get to Anne Northup, that tells you where Mitch is. I believe 100 percent that McConnell got her into this (the race) and now he can't figure out how to get her out."

Cox did not return a call for comment. And Williams declined to discuss their conversation.

But McConnell's chief of staff in Washington adamantly denied that the state's senior senator and Republic

COMPLETE STORY

Gubernatorial Debate: Answers to Question 11

We're asking the candidates for governor a series of questions leading up to the May 22 primary. If you'd like to submit a question, please send me an email or leave it in the comment section below. Please provide your first name and hometown.

We'll announce our next question on Monday. Click here to see previous installments of our cyber debate.

- John Stamper

QUESTION

The University of Kentucky's Board of Trustees approved a plan Tuesday to offer health benefits to unmarried couples of the opposite sex and same sex. The University of Louisville already offers similar domestic-partner benefits. As governor, would you support or oppose legislative attempts to ban public universities from offering these benefits?

DEMOCRATS RESPOND

GATEWOOD GALBRAITH:

Under certain conditions I believe domestic partner benefits are appropriate.  However, the benefits offered by our Universities should not be used as bargaining chips for short-term relationships by anyone. If these partners enter into a civil contract where their property is treated like a married couples, then that indicates a real commitment. Therefore, they should be treated fairly and with the same benefits awarded anyone else. This contractual agreement is a more appropriate solution than asking individuals about their sex life.

STEVE HENRY:

Kentucky’s universities can best prepare our students for the future when we let educators educate. My policy as Governor would be to oppose politicians’ efforts to try to run university personnel offices from Frankfort.

Instead, I believe that university personnel policies are best determined by the universities through their respective Board of Trustees.

Though I’ll note that, as a physician, I’m generally supportive of efforts to get more Kentuckians access to affordable health care. As a rule, the more people we can cover, the better off we’ll be.

OTIS HENSLEY:

I will support such attempts. University benefit costs will soar at a time when we must find ways to reduce costs to control rising tuition. I have a proposal to cover the uninsured (see www.otisbullmanhensley.com) as do other candidates, so this action is not about insuring the uninsured. These domestic partner benefits are a veiled attempt to promote the homosexual lifestyle and undermine our religious culture, which, today, is under assault from abortion, gambling, and homosexuality. I will stand up for our religious culture. I will not promote the homosexual lifestyle and will not allow casino gambling into Kentucky.

BRUCE LUNSFORD:

Public universities should be allowed to make their own decisions to hire the best and most talented professors, researchers and other staff. The Legislature should not have a role in dictating hiring practices for UK and UL, and other public universities. Visit www.LunsfordStumbo2007.com to learn more about my campaign for change.   

JONATHAN MILLER:

Oppose. Like the dozens of major employers in Central Kentucky offering such benefits, our universities should have that option. We shouldnʼt micromanage university leadership.

JODY RICHARDS:

No response.

STEVE BESHEAR:

Our colleges and universities should be able to handle these types of personal issues without interference from state government. Because they are competing with colleges and universities around the world, they must be free to take the necessary steps to attract the most talented faculty and staff.

REPUBLICANS RESPOND

ANNE NORTHUP:

I strongly supported the ban on Same Sex Marriage and the people of Kentucky spoke loud and clear that domestic partners should not be treated like married couples. I also do not believe that the Governor or the General Assembly should micromanage our universities. Our schools are focused on competing to get the best and brightest faculty and students and, to do so, they make decisions independently. However, if the General Assembly does not choose to ban these benefits and universities decide to offer domestic partners’ health benefits, our state government should not spend one cent to support domestic partners.

BILLY HARPER:

ERNIE FLETCHER:

I believe that our university boards of trustees are independent bodies and they should have the autonomy to set their own policy. However, from the taxpayers who fund our universities we are getting an overwhelming amount of push back on the issue of paying domestic partner benefits. They do not want their tax dollars used for this purpose, and would prefer they be used to help hold down tuition costs. I am personally opposed to the addition of these benefits. We are consulting with the legislature to see if this issue should be added to a special session. 

We're asking the candidates for governor a series of questions leading up to the May 22 primary. If you'd like to submit a question, please send me an email or leave it in the comment section below. Please provide your first name and hometown.

We'll announce our next question on Monday. Click here to see previous installments of our cyber debate.

- John Stamper

QUESTION

The University of Kentucky's Board of Trustees approved a plan Tuesday to offer health benefits to unmarried couples of the opposite sex and same sex. The University of Louisville already offers similar domestic-partner benefits. As governor, would you support or oppose legislative attempts to ban public universities from offering these benefits?

DEMOCRATS RESPOND

GATEWOOD GALBRAITH:

Under certain conditions I believe domestic partner benefits are appropriate.  However, the benefits offered by our Universities should not be used as bargaining chips for short-term relationships by anyone. If these partners enter into a civil contract where their property is treated like a married couples, then that indicates a real commitment. Therefore, they should be treated fairly and with the same benefits awarded anyone else. This contractual agreement is a more appropriate solution than asking individuals about their sex life.

STEVE HENRY:

Kentucky’s universities can best prepare our students for the future when we let educators educate. My policy as Governor would be to oppose politicians’ efforts to try to run university personnel offices from Frankfort.

Instead, I believe that university personnel policies are best determined by the universities through their respective Board of Trustees.

Though I’ll note that, as a physician, I’m generally supportive of efforts to get more Kentuckians access to affordable health care. As a rule, the more people we can cover, the better off we’ll be.

OTIS HENSLEY:

I will support such attempts. University benefit costs will soar at a time when we must find ways to reduce costs to control rising tuition. I have a proposal to cover the uninsured (see www.otisbullmanhensley.com) as do other candidates, so this action is not about insuring the uninsured. These domestic partner benefits are a veiled attempt to promote the homosexual lifestyle and undermine our religious culture, which, today, is under assault from abortion, gambling, and homosexuality. I will stand up for our religious culture. I will not promote the homosexual lifestyle and will not allow casino gambling into Kentucky.

BRUCE LUNSFORD:

Public universities should be allowed to make their own decisions to hire the best and most talented professors, researchers and other staff. The Legislature should not have a role in dictating hiring practices for UK and UL, and other public universities. Visit www.LunsfordStumbo2007.com to learn more about my campaign for change.   

JONATHAN MILLER:

Oppose. Like the dozens of major employers in Central Kentucky offering such benefits, our universities should have that option. We shouldnʼt micromanage university leadership.

JODY RICHARDS:

No response.

STEVE BESHEAR:

Our colleges and universities should be able to handle these types of personal issues without interference from state government. Because they are competing with colleges and universities around the world, they must be free to take the necessary steps to attract the most talented faculty and staff.

REPUBLICANS RESPOND

ANNE NORTHUP:

I strongly supported the ban on Same Sex Marriage and the people of Kentucky spoke loud and clear that domestic partners should not be treated like married couples. I also do not believe that the Governor or the General Assembly should micromanage our universities. Our schools are focused on competing to get the best and brightest faculty and students and, to do so, they make decisions independently. However, if the General Assembly does not choose to ban these benefits and universities decide to offer domestic partners’ health benefits, our state government should not spend one cent to support domestic partners.

BILLY HARPER:

ERNIE FLETCHER:

I believe that our university boards of trustees are independent bodies and they should have the autonomy to set their own policy. However, from the taxpayers who fund our universities we are getting an overwhelming amount of push back on the issue of paying domestic partner benefits. They do not want their tax dollars used for this purpose, and would prefer they be used to help hold down tuition costs. I am personally opposed to the addition of these benefits. We are consulting with the legislature to see if this issue should be added to a special session. 

We're asking the candidates for governor a series of questions leading up to the May 22 primary. If you'd like to submit a question, please send me an email or leave it in the comment section below. Please provide your first name and hometown.

We'll announce our next question on Monday. Click here to see previous installments of our cyber debate.

- John Stamper

QUESTION

The University of Kentucky's Board of Trustees approved a plan Tuesday to offer health benefits to unmarried couples of the opposite sex and same sex. The University of Louisville already offers similar domestic-partner benefits. As governor, would you support or oppose legislative attempts to ban public universities from offering these benefits?

DEMOCRATS RESPOND

GATEWOOD GALBRAITH:

Under certain conditions I believe domestic partner benefits are appropriate.  However, the benefits offered by our Universities should not be used as bargaining chips for short-term relationships by anyone. If these partners enter into a civil contract where their property is treated like a married couples, then that indicates a real commitment. Therefore, they should be treated fairly and with the same benefits awarded anyone else. This contractual agreement is a more appropriate solution than asking individuals about their sex life.

STEVE HENRY:

Kentucky’s universities can best prepare our students for the future when we let educators educate. My policy as Governor would be to oppose politicians’ efforts to try to run university personnel offices from Frankfort.

Instead, I believe that university personnel policies are best determined by the universities through their respective Board of Trustees.

Though I’ll note that, as a physician, I’m generally supportive of efforts to get more Kentuckians access to affordable health care. As a rule, the more people we can cover, the better off we’ll be.

OTIS HENSLEY:

I will support such attempts. University benefit costs will soar at a time when we must find ways to reduce costs to control rising tuition. I have a proposal to cover the uninsured (see www.otisbullmanhensley.com) as do other candidates, so this action is not about insuring the uninsured. These domestic partner benefits are a veiled attempt to promote the homosexual lifestyle and undermine our religious culture, which, today, is under assault from abortion, gambling, and homosexuality. I will stand up for our religious culture. I will not promote the homosexual lifestyle and will not allow casino gambling into Kentucky.

BRUCE LUNSFORD:

Public universities should be allowed to make their own decisions to hire the best and most talented professors, researchers and other staff. The Legislature should not have a role in dictating hiring practices for UK and UL, and other public universities. Visit www.LunsfordStumbo2007.com to learn more about my campaign for change.   

JONATHAN MILLER:

Oppose. Like the dozens of major employers in Central Kentucky offering such benefits, our universities should have that option. We shouldnʼt micromanage university leadership.

JODY RICHARDS:

No response.

STEVE BESHEAR:

Our colleges and universities should be able to handle these types of personal issues without interference from state government. Because they are competing with colleges and universities around the world, they must be free to take the necessary steps to attract the most talented faculty and staff.

REPUBLICANS RESPOND

ANNE NORTHUP:

I strongly supported the ban on Same Sex Marriage and the people of Kentucky spoke loud and clear that domestic partners should not be treated like married couples. I also do not believe that the Governor or the General Assembly should micromanage our universities. Our schools are focused on competing to get the best and brightest faculty and students and, to do so, they make decisions independently. However, if the General Assembly does not choose to ban these benefits and universities decide to offer domestic partners’ health benefits, our state government should not spend one cent to support domestic partners.

BILLY HARPER:

ERNIE FLETCHER:

I believe that our university boards of trustees are independent bodies and they should have the autonomy to set their own policy. However, from the taxpayers who fund our universities we are getting an overwhelming amount of push back on the issue of paying domestic partner benefits. They do not want their tax dollars used for this purpose, and would prefer they be used to help hold down tuition costs. I am personally opposed to the addition of these benefits. We are consulting with the legislature to see if this issue should be added to a special session. 

We're asking the candidates for governor a series of questions leading up to the May 22 primary. If you'd like to submit a question, please send me an email or leave it in the comment section below. Please provide your first name and hometown.

We'll announce our next question on Monday. Click here to see previous installments of our cyber debate.

- John Stamper

QUESTION

The University of Kentucky's Board of Trustees approved a plan Tuesday to offer health benefits to unmarried couples of the opposite sex and same sex. The University of Louisville already offers similar domestic-partner benefits. As governor, would you support or oppose legislative attempts to ban public universities from offering these benefits?

DEMOCRATS RESPOND

GATEWOOD GALBRAITH:

Under certain conditions I believe domestic partner benefits are appropriate.  However, the benefits offered by our Universities should not be used as bargaining chips for short-term relationships by anyone. If these partners enter into a civil contract where their property is treated like a married couples, then that indicates a real commitment. Therefore, they should be treated fairly and with the same benefits awarded anyone else. This contractual agreement is a more appropriate solution than asking individuals about their sex life.

STEVE HENRY:

Kentucky’s universities can best prepare our students for the future when we let educators educate. My policy as Governor would be to oppose politicians’ efforts to try to run university personnel offices from Frankfort.

Instead, I believe that university personnel policies are best determined by the universities through their respective Board of Trustees.

Though I’ll note that, as a physician, I’m generally supportive of efforts to get more Kentuckians access to affordable health care. As a rule, the more people we can cover, the better off we’ll be.

OTIS HENSLEY:

I will support such attempts. University benefit costs will soar at a time when we must find ways to reduce costs to control rising tuition. I have a proposal to cover the uninsured (see www.otisbullmanhensley.com) as do other candidates, so this action is not about insuring the uninsured. These domestic partner benefits are a veiled attempt to promote the homosexual lifestyle and undermine our religious culture, which, today, is under assault from abortion, gambling, and homosexuality. I will stand up for our religious culture. I will not promote the homosexual lifestyle and will not allow casino gambling into Kentucky.

BRUCE LUNSFORD:

Public universities should be allowed to make their own decisions to hire the best and most talented professors, researchers and other staff. The Legislature should not have a role in dictating hiring practices for UK and UL, and other public universities. Visit www.LunsfordStumbo2007.com to learn more about my campaign for change.   

JONATHAN MILLER:

Oppose. Like the dozens of major employers in Central Kentucky offering such benefits, our universities should have that option. We shouldnʼt micromanage university leadership.

JODY RICHARDS:

No response.

STEVE BESHEAR:

Our colleges and universities should be able to handle these types of personal issues without interference from state government. Because they are competing with colleges and universities around the world, they must be free to take the necessary steps to attract the most talented faculty and staff.

REPUBLICANS RESPOND

ANNE NORTHUP:

I strongly supported the ban on Same Sex Marriage and the people of Kentucky spoke loud and clear that domestic partners should not be treated like married couples. I also do not believe that the Governor or the General Assembly should micromanage our universities. Our schools are focused on competing to get the best and brightest faculty and students and, to do so, they make decisions independently. However, if the General Assembly does not choose to ban these benefits and universities decide to offer domestic partners’ health benefits, our state government should not spend one cent to support domestic partners.

BILLY HARPER:

ERNIE FLETCHER:

I believe that our university boards of trustees are independent bodies and they should have the autonomy to set their own policy. However, from the taxpayers who fund our universities we are getting an overwhelming amount of push back on the issue of paying domestic partner benefits. They do not want their tax dollars used for this purpose, and would prefer they be used to help hold down tuition costs. I am personally opposed to the addition of these benefits. We are consulting with the legislature to see if this issue should be added to a special session. 

We're asking the candidates for governor a series of questions leading up to the May 22 primary. If you'd like to submit a question, please send me an email or leave it in the comment section below. Please provide your first name and hometown.

We'll announce our next question on Monday. Click here to see previous installments of our cyber debate.

- John Stamper

QUESTION

The University of Kentucky's Board of Trustees approved a plan Tuesday to offer health benefits to unmarried couples of the opposite sex and same sex. The University of Louisville already offers similar domestic-partner benefits. As governor, would you support or oppose legislative attempts to ban public universities from offering these benefits?

DEMOCRATS RESPOND

GATEWOOD GALBRAITH:

Under certain conditions I believe domestic partner benefits are appropriate.  However, the benefits offered by our Universities should not be used as bargaining chips for short-term relationships by anyone. If these partners enter into a civil contract where their property is treated like a married couples, then that indicates a real commitment. Therefore, they should be treated fairly and with the same benefits awarded anyone else. This contractual agreement is a more appropriate solution than asking individuals about their sex life.

STEVE HENRY:

Kentucky’s universities can best prepare our students for the future when we let educators educate. My policy as Governor would be to oppose politicians’ efforts to try to run university personnel offices from Frankfort.

Instead, I believe that university personnel policies are best determined by the universities through their respective Board of Trustees.

Though I’ll note that, as a physician, I’m generally supportive of efforts to get more Kentuckians access to affordable health care. As a rule, the more people we can cover, the better off we’ll be.

OTIS HENSLEY:

I will support such attempts. University benefit costs will soar at a time when we must find ways to reduce costs to control rising tuition. I have a proposal to cover the uninsured (see www.otisbullmanhensley.com) as do other candidates, so this action is not about insuring the uninsured. These domestic partner benefits are a veiled attempt to promote the homosexual lifestyle and undermine our religious culture, which, today, is under assault from abortion, gambling, and homosexuality. I will stand up for our religious culture. I will not promote the homosexual lifestyle and will not allow casino gambling into Kentucky.

BRUCE LUNSFORD:

Public universities should be allowed to make their own decisions to hire the best and most talented professors, researchers and other staff. The Legislature should not have a role in dictating hiring practices for UK and UL, and other public universities. Visit www.LunsfordStumbo2007.com to learn more about my campaign for change.   

JONATHAN MILLER:

Oppose. Like the dozens of major employers in Central Kentucky offering such benefits, our universities should have that option. We shouldnʼt micromanage university leadership.

JODY RICHARDS:

No response.

STEVE BESHEAR:

Our colleges and universities should be able to handle these types of personal issues without interference from state government. Because they are competing with colleges and universities around the world, they must be free to take the necessary steps to attract the most talented faculty and staff.

REPUBLICANS RESPOND

ANNE NORTHUP:

I strongly supported the ban on Same Sex Marriage and the people of Kentucky spoke loud and clear that domestic partners should not be treated like married couples. I also do not believe that the Governor or the General Assembly should micromanage our universities. Our schools are focused on competing to get the best and brightest faculty and students and, to do so, they make decisions independently. However, if the General Assembly does not choose to ban these benefits and universities decide to offer domestic partners’ health benefits, our state government should not spend one cent to support domestic partners.

BILLY HARPER:

ERNIE FLETCHER:

I believe that our university boards of trustees are independent bodies and they should have the autonomy to set their own policy. However, from the taxpayers who fund our universities we are getting an overwhelming amount of push back on the issue of paying domestic partner benefits. They do not want their tax dollars used for this purpose, and would prefer they be used to help hold down tuition costs. I am personally opposed to the addition of these benefits. We are consulting with the legislature to see if this issue should be added to a special session. 

We're asking the candidates for governor a series of questions leading up to the May 22 primary. If you'd like to submit a question, please send me an email or leave it in the comment section below. Please provide your first name and hometown.

We'll announce our next question on Monday. Click here to see previous installments of our cyber debate.

- John Stamper

QUESTION

The University of Kentucky's Board of Trustees approved a plan Tuesday to offer health benefits to unmarried couples of the opposite sex and same sex. The University of Louisville already offers similar domestic-partner benefits. As governor, would you support or oppose legislative attempts to ban public universities from offering these benefits?

DEMOCRATS RESPOND

GATEWOOD GALBRAITH:

Under certain conditions I believe domestic partner benefits are appropriate.  However, the benefits offered by our Universities should not be used as bargaining chips for short-term relationships by anyone. If these partners enter into a civil contract where their property is treated like a married couples, then that indicates a real commitment. Therefore, they should be treated fairly and with the same benefits awarded anyone else. This contractual agreement is a more appropriate solution than asking individuals about their sex life.

STEVE HENRY:

Kentucky’s universities can best prepare our students for the future when we let educators educate. My policy as Governor would be to oppose politicians’ efforts to try to run university personnel offices from Frankfort.

Instead, I believe that university personnel policies are best determined by the universities through their respective Board of Trustees.

Though I’ll note that, as a physician, I’m generally supportive of efforts to get more Kentuckians access to affordable health care. As a rule, the more people we can cover, the better off we’ll be.

OTIS HENSLEY:

I will support such attempts. University benefit costs will soar at a time when we must find ways to reduce costs to control rising tuition. I have a proposal to cover the uninsured (see www.otisbullmanhensley.com) as do other candidates, so this action is not about insuring the uninsured. These domestic partner benefits are a veiled attempt to promote the homosexual lifestyle and undermine our religious culture, which, today, is under assault from abortion, gambling, and homosexuality. I will stand up for our religious culture. I will not promote the homosexual lifestyle and will not allow casino gambling into Kentucky.

BRUCE LUNSFORD:

Public universities should be allowed to make their own decisions to hire the best and most talented professors, researchers and other staff. The Legislature should not have a role in dictating hiring practices for UK and UL, and other public universities. Visit www.LunsfordStumbo2007.com to learn more about my campaign for change.   

JONATHAN MILLER:

Oppose. Like the dozens of major employers in Central Kentucky offering such benefits, our universities should have that option. We shouldnʼt micromanage university leadership.

JODY RICHARDS:

No response.

STEVE BESHEAR:

Our colleges and universities should be able to handle these types of personal issues without interference from state government. Because they are competing with colleges and universities around the world, they must be free to take the necessary steps to attract the most talented faculty and staff.

REPUBLICANS RESPOND

ANNE NORTHUP:

I strongly supported the ban on Same Sex Marriage and the people of Kentucky spoke loud and clear that domestic partners should not be treated like married couples. I also do not believe that the Governor or the General Assembly should micromanage our universities. Our schools are focused on competing to get the best and brightest faculty and students and, to do so, they make decisions independently. However, if the General Assembly does not choose to ban these benefits and universities decide to offer domestic partners’ health benefits, our state government should not spend one cent to support domestic partners.

BILLY HARPER:

ERNIE FLETCHER:

I believe that our university boards of trustees are independent bodies and they should have the autonomy to set their own policy. However, from the taxpayers who fund our universities we are getting an overwhelming amount of push back on the issue of paying domestic partner benefits. They do not want their tax dollars used for this purpose, and would prefer they be used to help hold down tuition costs. I am personally opposed to the addition of these benefits. We are consulting with the legislature to see if this issue should be added to a special session. 

Jim and Mary Bunning cut ad for Northup

U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning and his wife Mary appear on a new television spot for Republican candidate for governor Anne Northup, in which they say Kentucky “needs a fresh start.”

Bunning, the Hall of Fame pitcher and the state’s junior U.S. Senator, has been the most prominent GOP official to take sides in the spring primary race that pits Northup against Gov. Ernie Fletcher, as well as Paducah businessman Billy Harper.

The ad — posted tonight on Northup’s campaign Web site — will air only in the Cincinnati media market covering Northern Kentucky start either Friday or Saturday, said Barry Peel, spokesman for the campaign.

“Northern Kentucky needs a governor who will fight for our values,” said Bunning, who represented the region as a state and U.S. Representative. “That’s why Mary and I are proud to support Anne Northup for governor.”

The camera then turns to Mary Bunning, who says that Northup “values education and the pro-life cause.”

Bunning notes that he served in Congress with Northup and says she will “fight for our Republican values.”

Specifically, Bunning highlights an issue that Northup has raised throughout the campaign: a call to repeal the alternative minimum calculation, which was a part of Fletcher tax code change plan the General Assembly approved in 2005.

Bunning refers to it as “unfair tax increases on small businesses.”

The General Assembly altered that calculation in a special session last summer so that small businesses with less than $3 million of sales don’t have to pay.

Fletcher notes that his tax code changes also removed about 500,000 low-income Kentuckians from the rolls and significantly lowered the overall corporate income tax rate.

- Ryan Alessi

Miller, Beshear and Galbraith receive endorsements

Three candidates for the Democratic nomination for governor picked up endorsements today.

Jonathan Miller was endorsed by the farmer and author Wendell Berry, who said “I think he's honorable, and I am grateful for his courageous stand against mountaintop removal.”

Steve Beshear was endorsed by Dave Armstrong, a former attorney general, Louisville mayor and Jefferson County Judge-executive; and Robert Matthews, who was attorney general in the 1960s.

Gatewood Galbraith was endorsed by Take Back Kentucky, a coalition of gun rights, property rights, educational issues, veterans rights and sanctity of life groups.

- Andy Mead