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]

Another grocery store in the poorer end of Bowling Green has closed. The food deserts are growing all over the state. [BGDN]

A bunch of Kentucky’s school districts are run by absolute brainless whackadoos, as we’ve proved here time and again. So leaving the drop-out age up to school districts? Really? Well, you get what you pay for. [CN|2]

How long have we been yelling about Frankfort not doing enough to promote the bourbon industry in Kentucky? [H-L]

Remember William Shackleford? He’s got a documentary coming out about black metal called Out of the Black. [Site & Video]

The more things play out in Frankfort, the less likely a gambling bill that will pass seems realistic. Primarily because Steve Beshear still has not met with legislators. [C-J/AKN]

Do America’s infrastructure problems go beyond crumbling roads and bridges? [HuffPo]

How can a police chief in a city the size of Georgetown be “relieved” of his duties without an explanation? [H-L]

Because it seems this story is about to spiral out of control unless some folks in Georgetown start talking about what went down. [WKYT]

A forum is being held on Monday, February 6 from 10:00 A.M. to noon in Booth Auditorium at the University of Pikeville to discuss its potential move into the state system. [News-Express]

Rick Santorum, the political genius, says you will have health care if you stop buying iPads and such. Because you have money for that and all. [Wonkette]

He really is a genius, warning of America’s demise and scaring meemaw and poppop half to death. [HuffPo]

Publisher of A Kentucky Newspaper, Arnold Garson, is retiring on March 2. You knew this was just a temporary dumping ground for him. Did he even bother putting Kentucky plates on his vehicle? [Deep Newspaper Thoughts]

A million dollar lottery ticket was sold in Frankfort. Probably to some dirtbag legislator who will use it to buy more hookers and coke. [H-L]

Steve Beshear says the gambling amendment is a done deal. Princess Damon Thayer says it’s merely close. [C-J/AKN]

Alison Lundergan Grimes has some sort of slogan contest poll thing going on. Don’t pick something stupid. [SoS]

Sam Sifton, national editor for the New York Times will be at Bellarmine on the 9th to discuss presidential campaign coverage. [Press Release]

Get a grip, bar owners, and quit it with the racist crap. You may not be a racist but what you do and say can most certainly be racist. [Curt Morrison]

On top of the earlier story about 27 people getting indicted in Franklin county, 15 were arrested in Lee County. The pill problem isn’t going away like Jack Conway says it is. [H-L]

State House Democrats say the Congressional redistricting map is very close. Which means more cat fights are on the way. [CN|2]

Senate Bill 21 was okayed today. It’s maybe a good move. Would allow school districts to stay open on election days if no schools are being used as polling locations. [Deep Senate Thoughts]

You know these new stem cell research developments are going to drive the mouth-breathers so insane they can’t stand it. [The Economist]

The Cabinet for Health and Family Services is soliciting nominations for the Governor’s Volunteer Awards. [Click the Clicky]

Are fewer people seeking unemployment aid because the job market is improving or because their benefits are running out and they have to stop looking for work? [WKYT]

So he’s spamming this Legislative Ethics Commission opinion all over the place:

KENTUCKY LEGISLATIVE ETHICS COMMISSION
22 Mill Creek Park
Frankfort,.KY 40601
Phone 502-573-2863
Fax 502-573-2929

January 31, 2012

Sen. Damon Thayer
Capitol Annex, Room 209
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601

Dear Sen. Thayer:

Thank you for contacting the Legislative Ethics Commission with your question regarding whether a legislator who has business clients such as thoroughbred horse farms is allowed by state law to support a proposed constitutional amendment relating to casino gaming, which if adopted, may benefit horse racing and other areas.

The short answer to your question is “yes”a legislator in such a situation may sponsor, discuss, and vote for or against a proposed constitutional amendment relating to casino gaming.

In 2008, the Legislative Ethics Commission issued an opinion (OLEC 08-01), which addressed a similar question regarding a proposed constitutional amendment on casino gaming, except in that situation, the legislator’s employer was interested in operating a gaming facility if an amendment was adopted. OLEC 08-01 states as follows:

On potential conflict of interest questions, such as. this, the relevant statute in the Kentucky Code of Legislative Ethics is KRS 6.761. That statute forbids a legislator from participating in the discussion of a question in committee or on the floor of the General Assembly or from voting or making any decision in his legislative capacity on any matter in which he, a member of his family, or a “business associate” will derive a direct monetary gain or suffer a direct monetary loss as a result of his vote or decision. KRS 6.611 (5) defines “business associate” to include an employer.

Assuming that clients of a legislator’s business may be considered “business associates”, within the meaning of the Ethics Code [See KRS 6.611(5)], neither the clients nor the legislator would derive a direct monetary gain or loss from legislation which would submit a proposed constitutional amendment to the voters for their acceptance or rejection.

What this empty opinion doesn’t address – because we all know the LEC has absolutely no strength (Keith Hall much?) – is that Thayer’s clients are the very people pushing for the expansion of gambling solely so thoroughbred race tracks and the horse industry in general can reap the financial benefits.

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Ole gurl needs to come clean so folks like us who support gambling can know he’s not a run-of-the-mill crook.

Have you seen this hilarity? Damon Thayer is attacking the Herald-Leader for “misleading” despite everything reported by John Cheves being 100% accurate. Damon IS refusing to release the identify of his horsey and gambling clients. So, naturally, he’s gotta queen out about being held to the same standards that everyone else is held to. [Twitter]

According to the latest polling, Binack Nobama wins against both Mittens and Toot. [Daily Kos]

While Chris Hightower had some problems in 2010 over MySpace, the postings weren’t his and Kenny Coleslaw’s decision not to include those details is unfortunate. While it really was stupid of Hightower to have left the comments made by others on his profile for as long as he did, that should be detailed in a mainstream story. The real issue is that Hightower was stupid enough to leave bait like that for me to find. The even more real issue is that Rand’s staff (David Adams, who later threw Hightower under the bus with me) was too inexperienced to vet everything. [WFPL]

Prosecutors are warning of layoffs and furloughs if budgets are cut again. So, of course, budgets will be cut again. This is why Kentucky can’t have nice things. [H-L]

This needs to happen to Kentucky’s fetal seance legislation! Hero Virginia state Senator Janet Howell responded to another one of these stoopid bills requiring women seeking an abortion to first undergo a medically pointless ultrasound with a very smart amendment: every man seeking treatment for erectile dysfunction would also by law have to undergo a rectal exam and heart test to get a Viagra prescription. [Wonkette]

Walter Blevins, Jr. and the Senate Democrats thought they were pulling a fast one. They’d planned for him to withdraw at the last minute so no one could get their ducks in a row to file for the spot. Now they’re complaining about making a mistake. [Ronnie Ellis]

Human services are in peril for elderly and disabled Kentuckians. Frankfort does not respect its elders. [Debby Yetter]

Your favorite mormon cultist, Mittens Romney, won the Floriduh primary last night. He’ll soon share details of the white salamander and the planet(s) he believes he will rule in the afterlife or whatever. [HuffPo]

Uh, this burglar was nude and had food rubbed all over his body when police arrived at the Food World in Neon. [WYMT]

A paramedic in Louisville is being ignored by Greg Fischer and most of his administration after an amputation. Meanwhile, the Parks director was allowed to keep his job after driving drunk in a city-owned vehicle, Metro Animal Services is killing more than ever before, the head of the Metro Sewer District was excoriated in an audit but allowed to keep a $200,000 bonus. You can see where their priorities are. [The 'Ville Voice]

Every time we mention Ruth Ann Palumbo and the lack of real legislative ethics in Kentucky, we get threatened. So we’re mentioning the mess again. If Ruth Ann lived in Indiana, she’d probably be facing indictment right now. [Page One]

Some old West Liberty man pleaded guilty to selling mountains of cocaine. Really. Cocaine. All over Eastern Kentucky. [H-L]

Growing inequality, environmental decline and “teetering” economies mean the world must change the way it does business, a UN report concludes. [BBC]

KC Crosbie isn’t running for re-election in Lexington. Will she try running for something else at the last minute? [H-L]

How would Steve Beshear know if there are 23 needed votes for a gambling amendment? He hasn’t spoken to legislators. [WFPL]

Hurry and put up that pay wall, Gannett, so your first quarter earnings can fall another 33%.Hurry up! [C-J/AKN]

Some people are trying to “occupy” Mitch McConnell again because it got them so far the first… 10,000 times. [Press Releases]

Rand Paul isn’t the only U.S. Senator to return unused portions of his office funds to the federal government. He’s not even the first. [Politico]

Damon Thayer claims he’s a man of the people. So why won’t he name his clients in the horse industry as he takes part on the push for casino gambling – which most of us actually support? Transparency would go a long way. But Damon doesn’t have the balls. [John Cheves]

Rick Santorum wants everything he does to be illegal for everyone else. That’s how it works in his mind, apparently. [Wonkette]

Ralph Baze killed these two law enforcement officers 20 years ago. But giving him death is the easy way out. Why shouldn’t murderers be kept alive so they have to actually suffer for what they have done? [WKYT]

Almost half of U.S. households are just a single crisis away from the bread line. [HuffPo]

A former employee of Louisville Metro Animal Services spoke out yesterday against a letter that appeared in A Kentucky Newspaper. Naturally, the paper wouldn’t publish her response. [The 'Ville Voice]

FRANKFORT – Each session has its own rhythm. But speaking generally, January has a quick burst of early legislative news, then lawmakers gear down for a long uphill grind that builds to a late-March/mid-April peak. The process takes a while, as it should.

With the unhappy terms of this year’s budget discussion now known, its own redistricting done (though the separate Congressional reapportionment remains hung up), and a still-unspecified proposal on gambling said near-ready for introduction in a show-me Senate, the Legislature settled into early-session get-the-process-moving mode this week, as committees started bills on the long road to becoming law.

A few bills have already trickled to the floor of each chamber for a vote. But, at this writing, only the aforementioned in-state redistricting bill has passed both, and been signed into law by the governor.

As January fades, and the one-quarter mark of the 60-day session passes and the one-third point approaches, here’s a snapshot – three snapshots, in fact — of where big things stand:

Read the rest – about the budget, redistricting and gambling – after the jump…

The budget: THE issue of this and every long session.

This week, the state budget director outlined for lawmakers the specifics of a tax-amnesty plan proposed by the governor in his Budget Address last week, amnesty is one leg of the administration’s four-legged stool, on which it looks to balance a budget it says starts out more than $700 million out of whack.

The amnesty program – which would remove penalties for tens of thousands of delinquent taxpayers, and also forgive half the interest on what they owe if they come forward now and settle up — could raise $61.2 million over the next two years, the administration says (with historical justification).

Statewide amnesty was last offered ten years ago, and took in $40 million. An earlier and even more successful program in 1988 netted over $60 million. Delinquent taxpayers would have an added incentive to take advantage of this year’s offer – there’d be higher penalties and interest on those who don’t.

The governor’s budget-balancing plan also includes taking $102 million from the state’s Rainy Day Fund, $245 million in other fund transfers, and 8.4 percent in agency spending cuts across a broad swath of state government, with some few areas (like SEEK school funding, Corrections and Medicaid) exempted.

Redistricting: House and Senate reapportionment is done, now signed law.

But House Republicans have challenged that plan in Court, unhappy that it forces at least a half-dozen GOP incumbents to run against each other, should all decide to seek re-election. The House-passed, Senate-approved, gubernatorially signed plan also pits a third-year Republican incumbent against the Democratic Majority Floor Leader (a 25-year veteran). One of the main Republican technical objections is what they call excessive splitting of counties.

Democrat leaders insist the new lines meet all Constitutional requirements; Republicans say they don’t, and let’s let the courts decide if that’s true.

Such minority-party challenges are not uncommon in redistricting battles, the most partisan and (if you find yourself in the crosshairs) personally wounding issue any Legislature ever takes up.

Meanwhile, the two chambers remain at odds on Congressional redistricting, which didn’t fall under their ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ to pass without objection the other chamber’s plan for itself.

Lawmakers came to Frankfort with a felt need to wrap up redistricting quickly, before next week’s filing deadline for the November elections. But that’s a practical and political concern, not a legal one. A plan emerged at mid-week to possibly move the Congressional filing deadline back, as a House-Senate conference committee works toward compromise.

Gambling: Historically, pretty clear lines have been drawn. This governor has wanted expanded gaming. The Legislature has not fully bought into the idea, not in the majorities needed to pass both chambers.

This year, the governor has proposed casino gambling, in the form of a constitutional amendment submitted to the voters for an up-or-down vote. Actual details have been vague. But the news this week was that language for such a bill had been settled on, for possible introduction in the Senate soon.

Like so many issues at this point in the session, this one is still developing.

The office of State Treasurer needs to be abolished. Democrats are costing this state tons of money by voting against it. If Todd Hollenbach is in Jake’s neighborhood every day at random hours, there’s not a snowball’s chance in hell there’s work that he’s actually doing. Especially when he’s spotted at Kroger with… people… [Bluegrass Politics]

It’s time for the rest of the pain clinics in Eastern Kentucky to get raided. Rowan and Morgan Counties are loaded down with shady medical providers that allow doctor shopping and pharmacies that willingly comply. [WKYT]

Damon Thayer has taken his princess hat off for a bit and is trying to help Papaw Beshear fail at gambling for the fourth year in a row. [Ronnie Ellis]

Steve Beshear says an agreement has been reached on language for the gambling bill. But he’s still only spoken with Damon Thayer and maybe two other legislators. Hasn’t even bothered to conference with his own party’s members. [C-J/AKN]

No one can figure out if Michele Bachmann is going to run for Congress again. The world will be sad without her and her gay husband on television all the time. [Wonkette]

The Mine Safety and Health Administration has cited three Kentucky coal mines for safety violations. [WFPL]

American banks are apparently now only able to cheer for their own survival. It wouldn’t make sense, apparently, for them to do much else. Yay America. [The Economist]

Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund says that the global economy is deeply in the danger zone over risks from the euro crisis. [BBC]

Unions in Louisville are unhappy with the way Greg Fischer is trying to “save” the city from overtime costs. He has no idea that all it takes is proper management and he wouldn’t be wasting umpteen millions of dollars per year. [FOX41]

Don’t queen out like you’re a run-of-the-mill meth head in the state capitol and you won’t get your ass arrested. [Bluegrass Politics]

Niger and El Salvador beat the United States when it comes to freedoms of the press. Your country dropped 27 places in just a year, thanks to harsh treatment of reporters covering protests. [Slate]

The U.S. Conference of Mayors quietly led efforts to coordinate responses to protests. Oh, what? You’re shocked? [HuffPo]

Maybe the Franklin County Humane Society needs to come up with an option for people who don’t want to drop animals off during the day if it’s becoming such a problem. [WKYT]

A 190 million-year-old dineysore nesting site was uncovered in South Africa. This is sure to upset Papaw Beshear and his fellow Ark Parkers. [HuffPo]

Kentucky should expect more from Frankfort. Obviously. But the editorial board can’t act like it doesn’t carry some of the blame because it’s partially responsible for those folks getting elected. [C-J/AKN]

Frankfort has turned into a literal cesspool. Now everyone is peeing all over everybody else when it comes to Congressional redistricting. [H-L]

Raise your hand if you believe Steve Beshear is going to lose gambling – again – in this legislative session. [WTVQ]

Students at Western Kentucky University remind Steve Beshear that there’s life beyond the University of Kentucky. You should give this editorial a read. [WKU Herald]

Whattya mean that simplifying regulations is not so simple? Surely not! [WaPo]

Oh, look, it’s MItch McConnell trying to blame Barack Obama for his problems again. Gridlock in Warshington is likely more Mitch’s problem than Obama’s and he knows it. [CNBC]

Tennessee teabaggers want schools to stop teaching historically accurate bits about the founding fathers owning slaves. It’s only a matter of time before the dumb spreads to Kentucky. [Wonkette]

Mittens Romney paid less than 14% in taxes in 2010. How much did you pay? More than twice that amount? Closer to three times? [HuffPo]

But he’s not Rick Santorum, who, despite his wife having an abortion, believes rape victims should “make the best out of a bad situation.” Sluts should pay the price, right?! [Think Progress]

“State capitalism” is apparently the new terminology for communism. Here’s a look at how it’s spreading, so be sure to scare your meemaw. [The Economist]

Here are a few of the questions:

CLICK TO ENLARGE

The text, if you can’t load the image at work or on your mobile phone:

Kentucky State law says the Kentucky Lottery cannot advertise where the money goes. Do you think the Lottery should be allowed to advertise where the money is spent? Yes, No, I don’t know.

Next question:

CLICK TO ENLARGE

The text:

There has been legislation proposed that would allow video lottery and/or slot machines at the horse tracks. These would be run by the Kentucky Lottery and the money they earned would benefit the state. How favorable would you be to this? Very favorable, Somewhat favorable, Neutral, Somewhat unfavorable, Very unfavorable

And this question, which seems to be leading toward online gambling:

Text:

Do you like the idea of playing a lottery game on your computer? Yes, No, I don’t know

It’s really interesting to come across this during the legislative session, to say the least. Copyrighted Kentucky Lottery imagery was used for the poll/survey/research, so we can’t help but assume the Lottery Corp is involved and spending Lottery money to fund the effort.

So let the speculation begin.