While typically silly for Yarmuth to be a lobbying the press instead of legislating, we can 100% get behind this. So can you. Because you know you are having a chuglet or two of Maker’s 46 right now.

Here’s some of John’s “interview” about bourbon in the Washington Post:

EK: So what’s your favorite kind of bourbon?

JY: That would be political suicide. [Laughs.]

EK: Then how about this: Which bourbons are currently in your office?

JY: Right now, we have Maker’s Mark, Woodford Reserve and Elijah Craig.

Your fears can be put aside. John drinks decent bourbon.

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

• 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.

At least Kentucky has an elected official in Warshington who isn’t wholly embarrassing.

Glad to have Yarmuth calling people out?

Tomorrow, Susan “chickens in the yard” Westrom will file legislation pushing a statewide smoking ban. This is a good thing. [Press Release]

Make your own racist newsletter with this fancy magnetic Ron Paul Kit! It is terrific. [Gawker]

Today Congressman John Yarmuth introduced the Muhammad Ali Legacy Act in Warshington. [The 'Ville Voice]

The Legislative Ethics Commission chimes in saying everyone backed the Keith Hall fine. Unfortunately, Ethics folks still privately tell us that state law doesn’t allow them to go far enough with their punishment. [Page One - We Get Comments]

Julian Carroll has apparently gotten so old and forgetful that he believes Steve Beshear got the tax reform effort in Kentucky started. [State-Journal]

Here’s Jim Ramsey complaining about budget cuts. He still wants a hospital merger or a management contract for University Hospital. Note that there was no discussion of his massive pay raise. [FOX41]

Looks like the teabaggers have caused the tea party to start going cold. [The Hill]

The Supreme Court holds the fate of Medicaid in its hands. Which could spell bad news for states like Kentucky. [Politico]

In a positive move, that same court rejected an appeal over predominantly christian prayer at public meetings. Something that is sure to outrage the faux family set. [HuffPo]

You should probably go tell your meemaw that there’s some fancy strain of TB in India that can’t be cured. [BBC]

What this Mitt Romney 15% tax rate headline fails to mention is that he’s only taxed 15% on investments. An important clarification. He probably pays way less than that in actual income taxes. [Reuters]

A majority of Americans believe that former President George W. Bush is more responsible than President Obama for the current economic problems in the country, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. [WaPo]

That’s how Greg will get his way.

But there are all kinds of rumblings about the map being jacked up. Particularly when it comes to Louisville and the 3rd Congressional District. Almost to the point of it being unconstitutional.

All the rumblings are coming from Stumbo’s fellow Democrats.

Could this mean trouble’s afoot?

Jeff Hoover on the House redistricting plan: “The proposal on Congressional redistricting drawn up by House Democrats and passed today is nothing more than a political document to protect Congressmen in the 3rd and 6th Congressional Districts, and a negotiating ploy since they know this plan will never pass the Senate. Unfortunately for Hoover, it has nothing to do with John Yarmuth. He’ll always win Louisville and Louisville won’t be split up. [Press Release]

Adding the University of Pikeville to the state system runs counter to national trends. And this map of “geographic responsibility” is the dumbest thing we’ve ever seen. [H-L]

Social workers in Jefferson County are buckling under overwhelming workloads. One of the many things Frankfort needs to get right this session. [Debby Yetter]

The University of Louisville says Steve Beshear’s rejection of a hospital merger plan will lead to cuts in indigent care. Which means it’s time for Steve Beshear to finally grow a set of balls, fire Jim Ramsey, empty out the board of trustees, nix the foundation board and get some folks hired who can solve whatever problems exist without making threats with our tax dollars. [WFPL]

Papaw is in Detroit with Greg Fischer and Jim Gray to tout Kentucky and such. Fortunately, Beshear and Gray aren’t embarrassing anybody. [FOX41]

It’s time for a reality check on the meth problem in Kentucky. If we’re gonna get a handle on this issue, we at least need to keep the facts straight. [Page One]

Mittens Romney is now the princess of New Hampshire, where he won the pretzeldential funtimes last night. [Wonkette]

Charter schools aren’t going to happen in Kentucky this legislative session. The Hal Heiner push is a total waste of secretive money. Until those folks realize this isn’t a partisan issue and stop pushing only the conservative bits and pieces, it’s dead and the water and should remain dead in the water. [H-L]

The RNC is fighting to take Citizens United one step further. The push to aid corporations in their attempts to fund candidates and candidate committees directly is heating up. [HuffPo]

Is everything in Lexington just burning down now? Is that the new thing for the Bluegrass region? [WKYT]

Wait. Now everything in Kentucky is just burning down left and right. This is why we can’t have nice things. [WLEX18]

Advisers are working to put MIttens Romney’s career in corporate buyouts (read: firing everybody) in a positive light. But you know that’s not going to fly on a national level. Also, magic underwear and sister wives. [NYT]

Remember when Jonathan Miller was pushing these things left and right? Turns out they’re a disaster. [Reuters]

Kentuckians already know there’s going to be a wild Republican primary to replace Geoff Davis in the 4th District. [Roll Call]

Kentucky’s getting $4,577,316 from the feds to cover April 2011 storm damages to roads & bridges. [Press Release]

What a travesty! Alison Lundergan Grimes appointed communications staffers but did not appoint the meemaws to anything! [Facebook]

Congressman John Yarmuth filed for re-election today and unlike other outlets, we don’t see what’s major or newsworthy about it to warrant an entire story. You’d think it was earth-shattering news with all the hoopla today. [Press Releases Galore]

How many people has Mitt Romney fired? Fifteen billion? Something like that? Let’s just pray he doesn’t get eated (intentional spelling) by that mob guy in New Jersey. [Wonkette]

Maybe Republicrats are realizing Jon Huntsman is the least nutty of all candidates currently running for pretzeldent. [HuffPo]

Even Former President Bill Clinton thinks Occupy Wall Street needs to simplify its messaging. And the folks in Louisville should take note. [The 'Ville Voice]

Meanwhile, that city’s Metro Sewer District scandal is raging out of control and there is apparently no real accountability. Just a bunch of smoke blowing. [Page One]

Looks like copper thieves may be responsible for the latest home explosion in Kentucky. This is why the Commonwealth can’t have nice things. [WKYT]

Woah, Cecil New admitted to drowning four-year-old Cesar Ivan Aguilar Cano. This nightmarish story has haunted Louisville for several years. [FOX41]

Instant racing revenue in Kentucky continues to climb. Up a whopping 17% in the month of December. [H-L]

Americans drastically overestimate how many unauthorized immigrants are in the United States and they don’t want to know the truth. [Slate]

“Gategood Galbraith missed some chances” is how A Kentucky Newspaper decided to weirdly headline Joe Gerth’s column about Galbraith’s death. [C-J/AKN]

What? Yet another way to evolve? Yet another way to piss off the Ark Parkers? [The Economist]

Papaw Beshear wisely rejected the University of Louisville Hospital merger request. Again. [WHAS11]

Yes, we, too, had to watch the clip twice to get over the fancy hipster glasses.

Today John Yarmuth introduced an amendment to nix Citizens United. We can go ahead and assume it’ll go nowhere, sadly. [Press Release]

Everybody’s up in arms over the Henry County property that contained roughly 200 animals in poor conditions. They’re still turning a blind eye to Greg Fischer’s NIGHTMARE – not just 200 animals, we’re talking tens of thousands – with Louisville Metro Animal Services. Here’s a deep look at some statistics. [The 'Ville Voice]

Juvenile Justice Commissioner Ron Haws is retiring and the Justice Cabinet today announced that Hasan Davis has been named acting commissioner of the department. [Press Release]

The Ohio River Bridges Debacle is still a debacle and now no one is showing up to meetings in Louisville. [C-J/AKN]

Wait, wait: The Christian News Service has done a careful study of five of the five thousand donated ornaments on the Capitol Christmas Tree, and the findings are not pretty. HAHAHA. [Wonkette]

It’s really sad watching Northern Kentucky Democrats act as if they’ve got a shot to win the 4th Congressional District seat back from Republicans. [WFPL]

The Louisville Board of Health published answers to community questions regarding the University of Louisville Hospital merger today. [External PDF Link]

Now Berea has rapists and kidnappers. It’s like Berea is becoming the new Eastern Kentucky. At least when it comes to having its latest bout of bad luck. [H-L]

Rick Santorum doesn’t understand that income inequality doesn’t always exist because someone works harder or because their ideas are better. [HuffPo]

Dear Eastern Kentuckians: PLEASE STOP FALLING FOR TRICKS ON THE INTERNET. Goodness gracious. [WKYT]

The Supreme Court will hear the health care reform case in late March. Meaning you still have to hear about it. [NY Times]

Here’s a shocker: a former Bush official was involved in the payroll tax letter now being touted by Republicans in Warshington. [The Hill]

President Barack Obama today demanded that Republicans in Congress quickly pass a short-term extension of a payroll tax cut, showing an unwillingness to back down in a fight that could result in higher taxes for 160 million American workers. [Reuters]