Jan 11 Politics Bevin Notifies Federal Government He’ll Dismantle Kynect Republican Gov. Matt Bevin has notified the federal government that Kentucky will dismantle its state health insurance exchange, Kynect. The move will direct Kentuckians seeking health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, to use the federal health insurance site, healthcare.gov. More than 500,000 people have gotten health insurance through Kynect. In […] By Ryland Barton Jan 11 Politics Bevin Notifies Federal Government He’ll Dismantle Kynect Ryland Barton
Jan 7 Politics Kentucky Senate President’s Wife Hired as Deputy Cabinet Secretary Gov. Matt Bevin’s administration says Regina Stivers, the wife of Senate President Robert Stivers, has been hired as a deputy cabinet secretary. Bevin spokeswoman Jessica Ditto said Thursday that Regina Stivers will serve as deputy secretary of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet. Regina Stivers has worked with several of the state’s most prominent Republicans. […] By Associated Press Jan 7 Politics Kentucky Senate President’s Wife Hired as Deputy Cabinet Secretary Associated Press
Jan 4 Politics Does the South Show Kentucky’s Conservative Future? For decades, Republicans have predicted that Kentucky was becoming a Red State. The prediction seemed more reliable than ever late last year, when Matt Bevin was elected governor. Bevin, a Republican businessman, promised reforms seen currently in much of the conservative South. “I think Kentucky is now moving into that red column, and we are joining our […] By Ashley Lopez Jan 4 Politics Does the South Show Kentucky’s Conservative Future? Ashley Lopez
Dec 30 Politics State: No Voting Rights Automatically Restored to Ex-Felons A state official says no convicted felons had their voting rights automatically restored before Gov. Matt Bevin rescinded an executive order by his predecessor allowing the process. Department of Corrections spokeswoman Lisa Lamb told the Messenger-Inquirer that 180 applications were under review to make sure they met criteria in former Gov. Steve Beshear’s order, including that […] By Associated Press Dec 30 Politics State: No Voting Rights Automatically Restored to Ex-Felons Associated Press
Dec 24 Politics Legislator: Bevin Contradicts Himself on Voting Rights, Marriage Licenses A key state legislator on the ex-felon voting rights issue says Gov. Matt Bevin contradicted his own logic on two high-profile issues addressed through executive orders. On Tuesday, Gov. Matt Bevin rescinded former Gov. Steve Beshear’s executive order that granted voting rights to about 180,000 Kentuckians with non-violent felony convictions, saying that the issue “must be […] By Ryland Barton Dec 24 Politics Legislator: Bevin Contradicts Himself on Voting Rights, Marriage Licenses Ryland Barton
Dec 22 Politics Bevin Rescinds Voting Rights to Ex-Felons, Changes Kentucky Marriage Licenses Gov. Matt Bevin issued five high-profile executive orders on Tuesday on issues ranging from same-sex marriage licenses to voting rights for ex-felons. “Today, I took action to uphold several commitments I made during my campaign so that we can implement real solutions that will help the people of Kentucky,” said Bevin said in a press […] By Ryland Barton Dec 22 Politics Bevin Rescinds Voting Rights to Ex-Felons, Changes Kentucky Marriage Licenses Ryland Barton
Dec 22 Politics Kentucky Child Care Subsidy Boost Put on Hold Kentucky’s Health and Family Services Cabinet is reviewing whether a reimbursement rate increase can move forward for child care centers that are part of the state’s subsidy program for low-income families. Earlier this month, then-Gov. Steve Beshear announced he would dedicate a federal fund surplus of $15 million to the Child Care Assistance Program, which offers […] By Ashley Lopez Dec 22 Politics Kentucky Child Care Subsidy Boost Put on Hold Ashley Lopez
Dec 17 Politics Bevin Mum on Vetting Of New Revenue Commissioner Gov. Matt Bevin’s administration is refusing to provide details of its vetting of Daniel Bork, who the governor recently appointed as commissioner of Kentucky’s Department of Revenue. Bork left his job as vice president of tax at Lexmark International in September, within a year of the company reporting that it had found a host of problems in its […] By Ryland Barton Dec 17 Politics Bevin Mum on Vetting Of New Revenue Commissioner Ryland Barton
Dec 16 Politics Gov. Matt Bevin’s Tax Chief Left Lexmark Amid Accounting Mess Gov. Matt Bevin’s newly appointed commissioner of revenue left his last job, at Lexmark International, after the Lexington-based technology company found a host of accounting errors and declared its internal financial controls to be deficient and in need of remediation. Bevin named Daniel Bork to the Department of Revenue job on Monday. In a news […] By James McNair Dec 16 Politics Gov. Matt Bevin’s Tax Chief Left Lexmark Amid Accounting Mess James McNair
Dec 11 Health Most Kentuckians Want to Keep Medicaid Expansion and Kynect, Poll Says More than two-thirds of Kentucky residents don’t want the state to roll back its expanded Medicaid system, according to a poll released Friday. The Kaiser Family Foundation poll also shows that half of Kentucky residents hold unfavorable views of the Affordable Care Act, the federal law that allowed the state to expand Medicaid. “Most of them […] By Ja'Nel Johnson Dec 11 Health Most Kentuckians Want to Keep Medicaid Expansion and Kynect, Poll Says Ja'Nel Johnson
Dec 10 Politics Bevin Appoints Democratic State Rep As Justice Secretary Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin announced Thursday morning he has appointed state Rep. John Tilley secretary of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. Tilley, a Democrat who represents Hopkinsville, has been the chair of the state House Judiciary Committee since 2009. He is serving his fifth term in the House. His appointment further diminishes Democrats’ majority in the […] By Staff Dec 10 Politics Bevin Appoints Democratic State Rep As Justice Secretary Staff
Dec 9 Politics Bevin Inauguration Delights Attendees, Especially Religious Ones Frankfort is a city where the state’s daily business — much of it tedious — is the focus during the work week. But not Tuesday. On this day, the state capital buzzed with excitement surrounding the inauguration of Gov. Matt Bevin, especially from Republicans who have been locked out of the governor’s mansion for 57 […] By Ryland Barton Dec 9 Politics Bevin Inauguration Delights Attendees, Especially Religious Ones Ryland Barton
Dec 8 Politics Gov. Matt Bevin Pushes Political Goals and Unity In Inaugural Speech Gov. Matt Bevin on Tuesday touted policy goals ranging from health insurance reform to charter schools in his inaugural address, saying they will give Kentucky a “fresh start.” Speaking on the Capitol steps before about 2,000 supporters on an unseasonably warm afternoon, Bevin alternated in tone between politically charged and conciliatory. “I’ll tell you what I […] By Ryland Barton Dec 8 Politics Gov. Matt Bevin Pushes Political Goals and Unity In Inaugural Speech Ryland Barton
Dec 8 Politics Matt Bevin Sworn in As Kentucky’s 62nd Governor Matt Bevin has taken the oath to become the 62nd governor of Kentucky during a private ceremony just after midnight in the state Capitol. Bevin succeeds Democrat Steve Beshear, who could not seek re-election because of term limits. Bevin is only the state’s ninth Republican governor in its 223-year history and the second since 1971. […] By Associated Press Dec 8 Politics Matt Bevin Sworn in As Kentucky’s 62nd Governor Associated Press
Dec 7 Politics In Last Hours in Office, Beshear Pardons 201 As his term ends, Gov. Steve Beshear has issued 201 pardons to people convicted in Kentucky of a variety of offenses, including several sent to prison for drug crimes or for committing crimes against abusive partners. Beshear also granted six commutations, reducing a sentence to time already served in jail. He leaves office at midnight, […] By Ryland Barton Dec 7 Politics In Last Hours in Office, Beshear Pardons 201 Ryland Barton