Joe Gerth’s latest story about Jody Richards and the powerful rift among House leaders is a great read. And a good synopsis of what’s gone down in Frankfort the past several weeks.
Looks like there’s enough bitter blood to oust Larry Clark as Speaker Pro Tem and install Joni Jenkins and it sounds more and more like Greg Stumbo will be pushing Jody out as Speaker of the House. One can only hope, right?
Maybe we could finally move Kentucky forward without all of the bitter infighting and incompetence that House leadership has been responsible for the past, oh, forever.
From the C-J:
“That leadership is so divided and so split that there is a yearning in state government for somebody that can put it together and make it work,” said Senate Minority Leader Ed Worley, D-Richmond.
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Rep. Joni Jenkins, D-Shively, appears poised to run for speaker pro tem, and Rep. John Will Stacy, D-West Liberty, for whip. Both are aligned with the Richards faction.
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Stumbo, of Prestonsburg, is unlikely to challenge Adkins for floor leader, but many members think he will wind up in the mix somewhere.
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But the budget negotiations may have hurt him (Richards). Several members — including normally low-key Democratic legislators such as Larry Belcher of Shepherdsville and Derrick Graham of Frankfort — complained on the House floor that leadership had failed them.
6 responses so far ↓
1 David Adams // Apr 5, 2008 at 3:36 pm
The discussion of leadership churn in the House is imcomplete without mentioning Caucus chairman Charlie Hoffman. But it is pretty easy to understand how you might want to forget to include him.
2 notmarknickolas // Apr 5, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Tthere is nothing better to benifit the minority than when the young eat their old. Long live the coming Republican majority in the House.
3 jake // Apr 5, 2008 at 6:36 pm
notmarknickolas: I’d say that would come into play if not for the fact that Jody Richards does nothing and has no spine. Anybody would be an improvement.
4 anonymous // Apr 5, 2008 at 9:27 pm
John Will Stacy is a temper tantrum waiting to happen. He put the “ick” in “prick.”
5 Terri // Apr 6, 2008 at 4:57 pm
There was also a Keith Lawrence (?) commentary in Sunday’s M-I calling for the ousting of Richards and Williams.
6 Steve Bittenbender // Apr 6, 2008 at 11:21 pm
You know what would be really nice? Comprehensive legislative reform. That includes, but is not limited to:
1. Remove the April 15 deadline for General Assembly sessions to end. Let them stay until their work is done.
2. Eliminate the ridiculously early election filing deadline.
Lawmakers need to focus on improving our state and need not worry about re-election. Sadly, too many lawmakers think of their interests before they consider ours.
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