1. One of the major accomplishments attributed to former Gov. Ernie Fletcher’s administration by even his critics was reform of the Medicaid system, a change that he claimed saved Kentucky taxpayers $120 million. Turns out, though, that proof of the savings couldn’t be found in an audit of the system by state Auditor Crit Luallen’s office. Maybe the savings were real. Or maybe the claim of $120 million in savings was just a different form of Medicaid "fraud."
2. I think Gov. Steve Beshear may be making a mistake by not personally addressing the personnel issues Finance Cabinet Secretary Jonathan Miller had when he was state treasurer.
Larry Dale Keeling, a columnist for the Lexington Herald-Leader, has spent most of his 35-plus years in journalism reporting on or writing editorials and columns about Kentucky’s politics and political issues. He now brings his experience and expertise on those topics to the KyKurmudgeon blog.
Report on the “needy assistance” of BTU.
Peabody Energy (BTU) is $60.00.
Stock is at all time high.
Peabody wants to expand to a mining operation in China. Wonder what kind of government sanctions China will offer Jody?
We are tired of reading about Fletcher..
I think he may just be getting the facts straight before he addresses the issue. While I doubt the truth will ever be fully known, it is definately in the best interest of the Democrat Party to stand up and make sure the truth is revealed as much as is possilbe.
Governor Beshear was elected as a rejection of the idiotic ways of the Fletcher administration more so than as a vote for Beshear himself. Traveling down the same path as the Fletcher follies will surely lead to a change in adminstration four years from now.
If the Governor does not have the courage to stand up then the party leaders should, for the good of every Democrat in the state.
It looks like the Governor may have just been waiting on the facts before making a comment.
Personnel Cabinet clears ex-treasurer over 2004 raise
The Courier-Journal
FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Personnel Cabinet of Gov. Steve Beshear’s administration found “no evidence of intentional wrongdoing” by former state Treasurer Jonathan Miller in granting raises to one of his employees in 2004.
Former Personnel Secretary Brian Crall, who left the agency when Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher’s term ended, had questioned raises given to one of Miller’s top aides, Rebecca Brooke Parker.
In a letter yesterday, the Personnel Cabinet’s top lawyer, Daniel Egbers, said that while Parker’s promotions were improperly processed, they could have been done properly through a different mechanism called an Award for Continuing Excellence, for which she qualified.
Egbers called the original raises “honest processing errors.”
Beshear’s spokeswoman, Vicki Glass, said the governor is glad the cabinet found the raises justified and he considers the matter resolved.
“Secretary Miller continues to have his full confidence,” Glass said.
I think if Miller and Beshear want to clean this mess up they ought to let this woman go, or offer her a merit job at a normal starting salary like any other state employee, if she is qualified. I don’t know of any merit positions that start at $71,000 a year.
Cover-up, cover-up! And the HL just goes along with it! NO ONE will accuse you of being fair and balanced! It is so obvious that if Miller were a Republican, he would be hounded out of office, the “truth” notwithstanding! The double-standard is nauseating!
You know why no impropriety was found? Because a Democrat is now in charge of the Personnel Cabinet. Someone made sure of it.