Isn’t it entertaining to watch reporters act surprised to find out Hal Rogers has earmarked more than $7 million since 2002 to directly benefit his family? [H-L]

Mitt Romney’s mormon cultism or whatever it is he’s calling it doesn’t sell well with the American people. Here’s just one tiny example of why people will think he’s crazy when the time comes for him to really campaign. [Wonkette]

Do you trust Republicans in Warshington to put an end to insider trading in Congress? You shouldn’t – not if you don’t trust the Democrats. [HuffPo]

Papaw Beshear says there’s plenty of time remaining in the legislative session to address the expansion of gambling. [Bluegrass Politics]

Why is it the current state of affairs that we’re forced to shop around for surgery in the United States of America? Making health care costs transparent is a good thing but let’s get real. [The Economist]

Meet the obscure regulator who is not helping homeowners. This is why America can’t have nice things. [Pro Publica]

The payroll tax cut extension isn’t just a mess in the making. It’s been a nightmare for a long time. [Politico]

Here’s a shocker: second-hand smoke in cars with kids is a bad thing. [NPR]

It’s still hilarious to us that there are communities in Kentucky that refuse to allow alcohol sales. [H-L]

Just because the woman that crazy constable guy shot got arrested for drugs? Doesn’t mean his actions are okay. [C-J/AKN]

Lawwwd, you can’t even drive around near Georgetown College these days without getting car jacked. [WLEX18]

How do you feel about Sylvia Lovely getting to continually play with your tax dollars? [Page One]

Since there’s no compromise on congressional redistricting in and no one in Frankfort is mature enough to do what’s best for Kentucky? It’s likely going to be decided in court. [H-L]

The 9th Circuit Court says Proposition 8 in California is unconstitutional. So you know the mouth-breathers are crapping their pants. Even in Kentucky. [The Advocate]

In a new teevee interview, Daniel Mongiardo basically admits he didn’t like being lieutenant governor because he didn’t get to make decisions and didn’t get to make anything happen. [WYMT]

Ruth Ann Palumbo and the bullshiz brigade are on a mission to spin like crazy over her multiple types of voter fraud. It’s okay, though, because she’s a Democrat. [We Get Comments]

Is Kentucky saved now that Janie Miller has been sacrificed at the Cabinet for Health and Family Services? Of course not. But her ignorance and assholery sure won’t be missed. [Press Release]

Circuit Judge Thomas Gill is criticizing Steve Beshear for fighting the release of child abuse death records. [H-L]

Here’s how the Bowling Green Daily News is looking at Miller’s resignation. She’s merely moving on to seek other opportunities. Ha. [BGDN]

Meanwhile, the governor is working to strangle the judiciary in Kentucky. Which shouldn’t surprise a single person in Kentucky. [Debby Yetter]

Mitch McConnell is queening out like Princess Damon Thayer over the potential end of the electoral college. Because it’s just absurd to them that the popular vote may count for something. [Salon]

Here’s Mitch McConnell getting angry over birth control. I mean, can you imagine a world where birth control has to be provided to people under their health insurance plan? So silly that the U.S. would try to prevent the sex pervert catholics from discriminating, isn’t it? Mitch is all angry over birth control because he’s never had to worry about it. You can speculate about the reasons why. [CBS News]

What’s that? Huh? Oh, you mean the catholic big whigs are now saying they regret apologizing for the child sex abuse scandals? And trusting them is crazier than trusting Sylvia Lovely with a $5 bill? [HuffPo]

On a scale of 1 to a certain closet case Republican state senator mixed with a closet case Northern Kentucky Democrat who wishes he could run for office, how gay is Rick Santorum? [Wonkette]

It’s just a shame that Mitch didn’t mention that senators get way more flexibility in reporting than congresscritters. Particularly when it comes to matters of campaign finance.

It’s a perfect illustration of why fair, equal and comprehensive tax reform is necessary both in Kentucky and nationally.

Ruh ro.

FRANKFORT –If you Google ‘How often do redistricting plans end up in court?’ you get 134,000 hits in 0.37 seconds.

Somewhere in all those hits, you’ll likely now find ‘Kentucky redistricting 2012.’ A lawsuit challenging the recent state legislative reapportionment has not only been filed, but resulted in a Franklin Circuit Court judge ordering the filing deadline for this year’s House and Senate primary elections be moved back at least a week, to Feb. 7, as he reviews the facts of the case.

For the average citizen, the every-decade drama over redistricting may be slightly mystifying. It sounds like the sort of inside baseball politicians play that doesn’t really affect them.

Why should they care?

Because redistricting determines representation, which is what American democracy is based upon. The end goal is to draw cohesive and population-balanced districts so every Kentuckian has an equal voice in Frankfort and in Washington.

To ensure what the courts have called ‘one person/one vote,’ state and federal law requires legislative district lines to be redrawn every 10 years, after the U.S. Census has been taken and reported. Legal requirements are stiff.

Read the rest after the jump…

Redistricting (not just here, but nationwide, everywhere) has historically been the most highly politicized and deeply personal work any legislative body, at any level, undertakes. Parties hang their hopes and fears for future majority or minority status on it. That’s pretty political. Individual legislators’ careers can be extended or abruptly ended by it. That’s pretty personal. For citizens, it could also mean an old, trusted voice they’ve counted on to speak for them for years is shifted away from them. That’s pretty personal too.

Communities, counties, or regions can see their influence ebb and flow with each ten years’ realignment. Ethnic or majority-minority districts can wax or wane in influence. It all depends on how populations of common interest are concentrated or dispersed when lines are drawn.

Redistricting’s central role in making representative government good government is one reason the courts have taken such a keen interest in it, and laid down so many rules for what’s permissible and what isn’t. For example, splitting counties (which obviously is sometimes necessary) is, still, almost always a bone of contention. That’s one of the central complaints in the pending court challenge, which was initially brought by House Republicans, although others have joined the lawsuit and the Senate plan is part of the case too.

But the impact of the controversy is more than just long-term and philosophical.

As a practical matter, any even-year Legislature rarely takes up divisive or difficult issues until the filing deadline passes and potential electoral opposition (or lack thereof) is known. With this year’s redistricting delay, and resultant uncertainty, that effect is multiplied.

A number of this winter’s marquee items probably won’t be addressed at least until the court speaks next week. That includes most notably the long-awaited casino-gambling bill, said to be written and ready, yet still cloaked. Its presumed sponsor in the Senate said as much Wednesday, and the governor confirmed it Thursday: Redistricting first, then we see the bill.

In fact, the General Assembly didn’t meet at all Friday, to avoid losing a precious (and constitutionally limited) legislative workday from the 60-day session, while things were largely in what one top leader called ‘limbo.’

Meanwhile, another redistricting matter clogged the pipes too this week. Lawmakers themselves voted to extend by one week this year’s campaign-filing deadline for Kentucky’s six congressional seats, as work continues to resolve a House-Senate impasse on a plan to redraw those electoral districts.

Extension of the congressional filing deadline from Jan. 31 to Feb. 7 was inserted into a stripped-down version of this session’s initial congressional redistricting bill, House Bill 2, which in its original form ran aground when the Senate substituted its own substantially different plan that the House found wanting . The bill went to conference committee where the two chambers couldn’t agree on a compromise before the filing deadline.

The version of HB 2 that emerged from the conference committee and passed now contains no actual congressional redistricting. It only affects this year’s filing deadline for those federal races.

To begin moving the hoped-for congressional plan through the legislative process again, the House placed its original blueprint in HB 302, and sent it to the Senate so negotiations could resume. Good progress has been hinted at. The House and Senate hope to reach agreement on a final bill before the extended congressional-filing deadline Tuesday afternoon.

Oh, and Lonnie Napier’s hair made an appearance. Forgot about that.

Andy Barr

Notable Disbursements

• $13,835.38 on staff
• $2,562.97 on telephone & internet
• $1,582.91 on travel
• $932.65 on equipment, supplies, rent
• $784.80 on food & events
• $10,890.23 on printing
• $1,230.75 on postage
• 77 refunds of “anonymous” contributions totaling $7,196

We’re not sure why Barr didn’t bother reviewing his report prior to allowing staffers to file it with the FEC. Because we’re not sure how it’s possible they could think it’s, you know, possible to refund contributions to “anonymous” individuals without raising the ire of the FEC.

Ben Chandler

Notable Disbursements

• $26,151.07 on staff
• $4,705.31 on telephone & internet
• $119.35 on travel
• $2,834.92 on equipment, supplies, rent
• $5,019.25 on food & events
• $76.61 on printing
• $2,181.71 on postage

At this point, it’s clear – based on campaign finance reports alone – that Ben Chandler is more serious about running for Congress. At least when it comes to professionalism.

Looks like Kentucky is going to get a No Child Left Behind waiver. [WFPL]

Is this really one of Steve Beshear’s top priorities or is he merely trying to save face with disabled people in Kentucky? [Page One]

Today House Republicans in Warshington earned their salary by worrying about strip clubs. [Wonkette]

Mittens Romney literally said he is “not concerned about the very poor.” That’s how your mormon cultist overlord feels about a huge swatch of the United States of America. [WaPo]

Quietly, the U.S. is moving to block lawsuits filed by military families over medical malpractice. [The Atlantic]

Ruh ro, here comes everybody freaking out about the Republicans they have to pick between. [NPR & Politico]

We still can’t believe it requires legislation to keep some uptight homeowners association from freaking out over a child’s playhouse. The House panel rejected the bill. [WKYT]

A for-profit college regulator bill is proceeding to the State House. Remember when Jack Conway was feigning concerned about this when he was in the fight of his life? [H-L]

Aww, look how concerned Denise Harper Angel got over her new Democratic opponent, Curt Morrison. [The 'Ville Voice]

What was that, again, about Greg Fischer saving Louisville Metro Government money? Look what Metro Council had to deal with and look at the excuses offered by Fischer’s office. [C-J/AKN]

Oh, look, how Republicans in Warshington are having journalists arrested. Sounds like something Kentucky Democrats would try to pull. [HuffPo]

• Anne Braden Institute – UofL
• Bridgehaven
• CASA
• Center for Women and Families
• Crane House
• Elderserve
• Family and Children’s Place – Child Advocacy Center
• Family Scholar House
• Harbor House
• Home of the Innocents
• Jewish Community of Louisville
• Kentucky Center Governor’s School for the Arts
• Kentucky School of Art
• KET Commonwealth Fund
• The Library Foundation
• Louisville Fund for the Arts
• Louisville Urban League
• Louisville Zoo
• Maryhurst
• Muhammad Ali Center
• NAACP
• Simmons University
• United Way
• Volunteers of America
• Youth Build Louisville

“With our economy in recovery, a lot of really wonderful organizations are being forced to cut already lean budgets,” Yarmuth said. “I am very fortunate to be in a position to offer this small assist as these groups work so diligently and effectively to enrich the Louisville community.”

Yarmuth, for whatever reason, never releases the amounts given to each group.