Roughly six hours after appearing with President Joe Biden in Covington to celebrate the $1.6 billion in federal funding for the companion Brent Spence Bridge without tolls, Gov. Andy Beshear delivered his State of the Commonwealth address to a joint session of the Kentucky legislature Wednesday night. Occurring in a gubernatorial election year, and giving […]
Author Archives: Mark Payne
Mark Payne is the government and politics reporter for LINK nky. Email him at mpayne@linknky.com.
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Posted inFrankfort
Here’s who is running for governor and secretary of state
Despite some last-minute teasing before Friday’s filing deadline, former Gov. Matt Bevin will not be running for governor. Even without the controversial former governor, the Republican primary for governor will feature 12 candidates, including two Northern Kentuckians. Whoever emerges from that field will most likely face Democratic incumbent Gov. Andy Beshear in the general election. […]
Posted inFrankfort
Senate passes resolution to study issues in juvenile justice department
On Friday, the Kentucky Senate passed a resolution to create a legislative workgroup to study the issues in the state’s juvenile justice centers. Senate President Pro Tem David Givens (R-Greenburg) filed the resolution, citing the reported issues in the juvenile justice system throughout the state of Kentucky. Reports over the past few months from the […]
Posted inFrankfort
Turns out former Governor Matt Bevin ISN’T running for governor
In an unusual turn of events, former Republican Governor Matt Bevin, after teasing his gubernatorial announcement on Twitter, showed up at the Capitol, gave a nearly 20-minute speech, walked out the front door to the parking lot, got in his van, and drove off. Earlier in the day, Bevin Tweeted a picture driving on the […]
Posted inFrankfort
House passes income tax reduction legislation
The Kentucky House of Representatives passed legislation to further lower the income tax to 4% on Thursday. House Bill 1 is a key piece of Republican legislation during the 2023 30-day session. The new bill codifies language from 2022’s House Bill 8, which sought to eliminate the income tax slowly. The first reduction occurred on […]
Posted inFrankfort
Changes to Campbell County Juvenile Justice Center an ‘unworkable’ situation, NKY senator says
Speaking on the Senate floor Wednesday, Northern Kentucky Sen. John Schickel (R-Union) raised concerns about changes to the juvenile justice system in Kentucky — chiefly bringing attention to the Campbell County Regional Juvenile Justice Center that was turned into an all-female facility in December. Schickel said he recently received a call in the middle of […]
Posted inFrankfort
Beshear lays out legislative agenda during election year
Roughly six hours after appearing with President Joe Biden in Covington to celebrate the $1.6 billion in federal funding for the companion Brent Spence Bridge with tolls, Gov. Andy Beshear delivered his State of the Commonwealth address to a joint session of the Kentucky legislature Wednesday night. “Despite everything we’ve been through, including the pandemic, […]
Posted inFrankfort
Gov. Beshear and Kelly Craft top fundraisers in gubernatorial race
Gov. Andy Beshear is still the top fundraising gubernatorial candidate, but Republican challenger Kelly Craft is slowly gaining ground. Beshear raised $646,700 in the final quarter of 2022. This brings the total to $5.18 million raised for his reelection campaign, and he has $4.7 million on hand, according to the Kentucky Registry for Campaign Finance […]
Posted inFrankfort
House seeks to lower income tax this week
Kentucky lawmakers expect to move legislation to lower the income tax further through both chambers of the legislature this week. “I think the triggers have been hit. It will take place,” said Senate President Robert Stivers on the continued income tax reduction. “By next year, we will be down to 4%.” The reductions each year […]
Posted inFrankfort
Democratic lawmakers take three-tiered approach to cannabis in Kentucky
Democratic legislators are taking a three-tiered approach — legislation, executive action, and constitutional amendment — to cannabis in Kentucky in 2023. On the first day of the 2023 Legislative Session, Northern Kentucky Rep. Rachel Roberts (D-Newport) filed a near duplicate of the bill she filed in 2022 which seeks to fully legalize recreational cannabis in […]