Comments for KyKurmudgeon

Comment on Derouen moving to PSC by Jim Anderson Stivers

Jim Anderson Stivers — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 04:55:25 +0000

Isn’t this same kind of personality, ego, that lead to the downfall of Ernest?

Young Lions are sometimes too hungry for recognition and sometimes move too quickly for their superiors and many times without knowing what has occurred by super egos and lap dogs.

Comment on Beshear’s vision limited to current crisis by Clay

Clay — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 03:06:34 +0000

An expanded article about the insurance fund’d background and the proposed raiding of the fund would be appreciated

Comment on Could McConnell loss take Williams down? by liger

liger — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 08:30:09 +0000

hello…

Thank you! I would now go on this blog every day!…

Comment on Derouen moving to PSC by Robert

Robert — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 17:02:58 +0000

Jeff’s move was “voluntary” as in go to the PSC or hit the street! Jeff’s never been one for detail and my money is on him failing to do his homework say..when it came to getting proper permitting before blazing a three-wheeling trail through eastern Kentucky. Not good - especially when you end up making Mongiardo and the First Lady look like idiots. Jeff’s always enjoyed throwing his (hefty) weight around and “act” important. Looks like the bosses finally got his number!

Comment on Beshear’s vision limited to current crisis by Bill Huff

Bill Huff — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 09:40:13 +0000

Only New York and New Jersey’s debt per capita is higher than Kentucky! New York’s and New Jersey’s 2006 populations were $19,306,183 and 8,724,560, respectively compared to Kentucky’s 4,206,074!

When one realizes Kentucky’s per capita debt is larger than California’s and California is facing bankruptcy in March, 2009, this speaks volumes how Kentucky stewards have been spent Kentucky into pending insolvency in 2009!

Today, as we watch another year become history you and I know past & current steward action places Kentucky at the doorstep of insolvency.

Governor Beshear’s plan does not eliminate entire deficits nor exploding appropriations.

Governor’s recommended tax resource enhancement ignores national recession since tax resource he chose to enhance mirrors recessionary behavior of sales and income tax,i.e., inadequate, unfair, unstable and costly to enforce equally. His plan cut’s K-12 to high school budgets while permitting overspending to continue adding more debt to be paid by Kentucky’s children and grandchildren.

Once General Assembly officially receives his plan legislators should reject it. However, this means that legislature must get busy and come up with their own plan that incorporates following:

TO ELIMINATE DEFICITS IN ROAD AND GENERAL FUNDS THE FOLLOWING MUST TAKE PLACE DURING THIS UPCOMING GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION:

REIMBURSE CURRENT ROAD FUND DEFICIT BY TRANSFERING $350 MILLION FROM GENERAL FUND USED IN PAST ‘80 & ’90’s TO COVER GENERAL FUND DEFICITS!

USING “REVENUE NEUTRAL” STRATEGY ELIMINATE TWO TAXES & SALES TAX EXEMPTIONS: i.e., WEIGHT-DISTANCE & INCOME TAXES

(1)CUT APPROPRIATIONS IN 2009-2014 BUDGETS BY $2 BILLION, AND

(2)EQUALIZE TAX BURDEN BY ELIMINATING TRUCK WEIGHT DISTANCE TAX ENHANCING MOTOR FUELS TAX AND TRUCK REGISTRATION FEES TO RECOUP LOST WDT REVENUES, WHILE

(3)ELIMINATING $400 MILLION OF CORPORATE TAX SHELTERS, AND

(4)REPLACING INCOME TAX AND SALES TAX EXEMPTIONS WITH SELECTED SERVICES TAX

Other suggestions:

cut state tax expenditures $200 million;
cut statutory and non-merit personnel by $100 million;
collect $200 million of usage and property tax evasion;
increase H.B. 44 tax rate cap to 6%;
consider local option legislation for local governments;

Comment on The Sarah effect by appeasement

appeasement — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:40:09 +0000

appeasement…

Using a debt consolidation service might sure enough help consumers to pay off a large part of their outstanding bills and numerous former duties likewise….

Comment on Downtown Lexington’s future by larrykeeling

larrykeeling — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 10:25:32 +0000

I don’t have an answer for you on the engineering issue, but I have alerted our news department to your concern.

ldk

Comment on Downtown Lexington’s future by Frustrated

Frustrated — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 09:12:52 +0000

Dear Mr. Keeling,
I am a civil engineer in Lexington. My firm submits proposals to the LFUCG on sanitary and storm water projects. In the last several years we have notticed a trend in the award process. First, the firm awarded the project is not always one of the low bidders. In fact they may not even be the most qualified to do the work. For example, a local architectural engineering firm was awarded a storm water project RFP#41 for $95,000. There were several(9) local civil engineering firms well below that price. Prices from these firms ranged from $38,000 to $82,000. I just do not understand how LFUCG could justify paying more than double and in some cases triple the fee for simple storm water design work. Unless it was polical. Times are tough and LFUCG needs to spread the work around to local firms.

Comment on Beshear’s vision limited to current crisis by larrykeeling

larrykeeling — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 11:03:10 +0000

I believe a lot of that $40 million comes from an anticipated surplus in from the state health insurance plan. The insurance year is about to expire, and there is quite a bit of extra money left.

ldk

Comment on Beshear’s vision limited to current crisis by HUGOO

HUGOO — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:50:28 +0000

Larry
You can probably tell us what the $40000000.00 from restricted funds
means.
I suspect they will take from all licensure boards. Maybe Fish and
Wildlife.
I think everybody realizes how serious this situation is. Maybe we
just have to fold and become South Indiana.