No, you weren’t dreaming when we told you Phil Moffett was running for office. So take your pee break now before reading about it from the Associated Press. [H-L]

SuperPACs are worrying the DCCC chairman. Unfortunately, the Democrats were basically voiceless and silent when this mess came to fruition. [Politico]

Louisville has a few new finalists for Metro Police chief. A couple of them are shockingly great. [The 'Ville Voice]

Now that Papaw Beshear has suddenly decided the bourbon industry is worthy of his attention – after nearly five years – we can only hope he starts paying attention to Kentucky’s ridiculous label taxation and the fact that it’s tough to get many imports in the Commonwealth. [WFPL]

Goodness gracious, isn’t anything safe these days? Some doofus burgled a pharmacy in Georgetown. [WLEX18]

You already know Laurel County is a hot mess. Almost as bad as Clay County. So this won’t surprise you in the least. [WKYT]

Finally some news from Eastern Kentucky that isn’t embarrassing. Some high school students in Morehead made an astronomical discovery. [H-L]

Really, Joe Gerth? When has the legislature ever NOT been meek? The filing deadline issue is just their excuse this time. [C-J/AKN]

What would Jesus do if he was a teabagger wingnut “Christian”? Oh, the jokes to be made. [Wonkette]

We’re still loosely alarmed that these are the people in charge of making sure the University of Louisville Hospital isn’t a nightmare. [Page One]

Did you see Rachel Maddow get into a slap fight on the teevee about the Republicans trying to wage a war on contraception? She ought to remind Americans that Democrats are pussing out and doing the same damn thing. [HuffPo]

GLAAD ought to recognize that you can’t fire someone for being gay in Louisville. Not ALL of Kentucky is a disaster. [GLAAD]

People often ask us why the House Democrats aren’t as organized as the House Republicans. But they’ve finally started putting press releases or something online, occasionally. They just never tell anyone about them. Because 99% of the Dem staffers are 80-years-old and have no clue what the internet is. [Democratic Caucus]

Rather than examine contributions this time, it’s best just to look at how much cash each party has on-hand in its federal account and how much it spent.

RPK’s year-end report covers the period July 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011

• $320,035.30 Cash On-Hand

Notable Disbursements

• $353,390.48 on staff
• $82,672.37 on telephone & internet
• $1,082.03 on travel
• $60,863.42 on equipment, supplies, rent
• $6,979.79 on food & events
• $111,323.39 on printing
• $18,152.27 on postage
• $18,000 on polling
• $9,500 on video production
• $17,500 on direct mail for Jamie Comer
• $12,500 on direct mail for KC Crosbie
• $5,000 to KC Crosbie
• $266,975.85 to Todd P’Pool
• $30,000 to Williams-Farmer

KDP’s year-end report covers the period 12/01/2011 through 12/31/2011

• $575,220.08 Cash On-Hand

Notable Disbursements

• $64,745.21 on staff
• $3,707.41 on telephone & internet
• $1,129.14 on travel
• $7,927.19 on equipment, supplies, rent
• $7,272.69 on food & events
• $3,486.81 on printing
• $5,885.69 on postage
• $50,000 transfer to non-federal account

Here’s the additional information the FEC requested on January 17:

1. Itemized disbursements must include a brief statement or description of why the disbursements were made. Please amend Schedule(s) B, H4 of your report to clarify the following description(s): “Equipment” and “Fundraising Event.” For further guidance regarding acceptable purposes of disbursements, please refer to 11 CFR §104.3(b)(3).

2. Schedule H4 of your report discloses a payment(s) for “Health Insurance Stipend” and “Housing Stipend.” Please be advised that a political committee may maintain a petty cash fund out of which it may make expenditures not in excess of $100 to any person per purchase or transaction. (11 CFR §102.11) However, if this expenditure(s) represents an apparent reimbursement(s) to an individual(s) for apparent travel and subsistence advances in which the total amount reimbursed exceeds $500, there are additional reporting requirements. Please provide clarifying information regarding this activity and amend your report to include any missing information as noted below.

When the reimbursement amount to staff for travel and subsistence advances exceeds $500, the payments by committee staff that make up the reimbursement have to be itemized as memo entries regardless of the amount. Each memo entry must include the complete name and address of the original vendor, as well as the date, amount and an adequate purpose. Schedule H4 should clearly identify which reimbursement each memo entry relates to. (11 CFR §§104.10 and 104.17, and Advisory Opinion 1996-20, footnote 3)

3. Please clarify all expenditures made for “Event Catering” and “Event Tickets” on Schedule H4. If a portion or all of these expenditures were made on behalf of specifically identified federal candidates, this amount should be disclosed on Schedules B, E or F supporting Lines 23, 24 or 25 and include the amount, name, address and office sought by each candidate. (11 CFR § §104.3(b) and 106.1)

Alternatively, if the payment(s) on Schedule H4 is associated with fundraising activity conducted for your committee’s federal and non-federal accounts, it must be allocated according to the funds received method and the ratio reflected on Schedule H2. Further, it must be categorized as a fundraising activity on Schedule H4. Please provide clarifying information regarding the nature of this transaction(s) and amend your report(s) as appropriate.

A response is due by February 21.

Seems the ole KDRP isn’t so keen on providing details about who it pays and whether or not its events benefit specific candidates. As you can likely guess, that runs afoul of the law.

Here’s what the KDP spent in November:

Notable Disbursements

• $200,677.46 on staff
• $2,188.61 on telephone & internet
• $7,513.80 on travel
• $17,132,48 on equipment, supplies, rent
• $5,100.66 on food & events
• $1,051.14 on postage
• $515,000 transfer of federal funds for non-federal (papaw) purposes

We’ll examine the KDRP’s year-end report – along with the Republican Party of Kentucky’s report – in a later post.

KDRP folks will attack in 3, 2…

Carl Fannin is, based on what we can tell, the first Republican elected to county office there in more than 70 years.

You may remember his opponent, Georgia Ison. She’d previously been indicted while County Court Clerk. Steve Beshear appointed her to replace the former Judge-Executive, who also was indicted while in office.

Fannin was the only Republican to win in Elliott County. No other local or statewide candidate was able to do so.

The amazing thing? Less than four percent of Elliott County is registered Republican.

It’s a testament to how disjointed and broken Steve Beshear has allowed his party to become. In the land of Rocky Adkins, Walter Blevins, Jr. and John Will Stacy, no less. It’s a preview of what’s to come in 2012.

It’s worth a read:

FRANKFORT – Nearly two weeks in, the 2012 General Assembly seemed slow coming together. Its first and most immediate challenge – state-level redistricting – was reported bogged down in predictable political concerns. Deeply ominous but deeply vague early warnings from the Beshear administration about the budget situation left lawmakers pensive, waiting for specifics in the governor’s Budget Address. Anything but speculation on the much-trumpeted casino-gambling proposal was hard to come by.

The big engine of a full 60-day Legislature idled.

But the session suddenly lit up in near late-session mode this week when a House committee — and quickly, the next day, the full House — passed a reapportionment plan for itself that would (among other surprises) force at least a half-dozen Republican incumbents to run against each other, should they all survey the redrawn electoral landscape and seek re-election.

The House plan would also create seven open seats, and pit a second-term Republican incumbent against the Democratic Majority Floor Leader (a 25-year veteran) in a redrawn home-district reelection battle.

Republican House leaders protested. Democrat House leaders pled demographic necessity. A court challenge – not uncommon in redistricting disputes – was immediately mentioned, and is now being explored. But the proposal passed 63-34, on a mostly party-line vote. Five Republicans voted for it. No Democrat voted against it.

The bill went on to the Senate, where passage at this point seems likely under a House-Senate white flag, an agreement to not tinker with each other’s reapportionment maps.

You’ll want to read the rest after the jump…

Redistricting of House, Senate and Congressional districts is a once-a-decade Constitutional requirement. States must adjust district lines to account for population changes or shifts identified by the most recent U.S. Census.

Redistricting, always, is a blistering process for any legislature, anywhere. Political futures are on the line and sometimes ended, old district friendships and allegiances are riven, long-term lawmaker-constituent relationships are torn asunder. There’s rarely if ever a painless reapportionment. And it’s not simply party-vs.-party strife. Even within majority caucuses who control the process, members can be deeply divided when the knife falls on home turf.

All this is especially true in the Kentucky House. Its districts, being much the state’s smallest, (with only about 42,000 people as opposed to well over twice that in a Senate district and over 723,000 in a Congressional district) tend to be the most interpersonally connected.

But large district or small, there’s one axiomatic truth. If, as Tip O’Neill said, ‘All politics is local,’ you could add a close corollary: ‘All redistricting is personal.’

Nor is it easy to meet the strict legal requirements for successful remapping. Not infrequently, court challenges are filed, legal problems are found, and plans must be redone. It’s gritty, unpleasant and plain hard work. But it’s also central to good representative government.

The end goal is to draw cohesive and population-balanced districts so every Kentuckian has equal representation in Frankfort and in Washington. True North in the process is, always, the insistent, longstanding Supreme Court mantra: One person, one vote.

Coming into the session, there was a felt need to accomplish redistricting quickly, before the filing deadline for the November elections at the end of this month — although that’s a practical and political concern, not a legal one. The Senate is expected to take up its own redistricting plan shortly, and, as mentioned, there seems to be agreement between chambers to accept each other’s new self-drawn maps without objection.

The same can’t be said about a Congressional reapportionment plan passed by the House earlier this week that generated no detectable enthusiasm among Senate leaders. Therein might lie the most bruising redistricting struggle of this year’s session. News yet to come on that front.

Meanwhile, the ‘wretched’ budget situation outlined glumly but in no real detail by the governor in his State of the Commonwealth speech last week means almost any action needing money is on hold till the governor submits his budget proposal next week.

At that time, with all cards turned up and all chips on the table, the Legislature’s budget-writing subcommittees can begin work in earnest, and the session will gear down to its core winter’s work. Writing a two-year state spending plan is the central chore of a 60-day session.

Speaking of which, there was a bit of good money news last week. This year’s state revenues are up over last year, and on track to meet projections. It seems likely the Legislature will avoid the double whammy of dealing with a current budget shortfall while looking down the barrel of major shortfalls in the budget it’s writing for the next two years.

Kentucky’s general fund grew by 6.9 percent last month over December a year ago, the state Budget Director reported. This was seen as a nice turnaround after two consecutive anemic-growth months for state revenues.

Through the first six months of the current fiscal year, general fund revenues have grown by 3.1 percent over the same period last year. Revenues must grow by 2.8 percent over the full 12 months to meet revenues assumed in the current state budget. That means incoming receipts need to grow by 2.6 percent in the remaining six months to pay for what’s budgeted, a number that now seems doable.

Also in December, revenues into the state Road Fund grew by 13.3 percent compared to the same period last year. This in part reflects higher gasoline prices, but it’s good news nonetheless. Anything on the plus side is, as digging out of the Great Recession continues.

The General Assembly and its administrative arm the Legislative Research Commission encourage citizen involvement in the workings of their branch of government, and maintain several means for them to do so.

The Legislature’s website — www.lrc.ky.gov – includes comprehensive information about legislators, the legislative process, and the progress of work during the session. Contact numbers, daily meeting schedules, bill summaries and full texts, bill status information, and other information to get you involved are all posted there.

Mittens Romney’s tax play proposes a whopping $600 billion bet with America. Because it’s the Republican way to push the country further into debt while lowering taxes for the mega wealthy. [Wonkette]

It’s hilarious that Jerry Abramson says the inaugural fund has $500,000 left over. Only to have little Matt Erwin come along to say there’s no money left over. [H-L]

Speaking of Mayor McCheese… have you seen the mess he left Louisville in? At all? Parks, MSD, Housing, LMAS, Public Works, LMPD, Fire, Cordish. REALLY? We really want him – of all people in the entire Commonwealth of Kentucky – to lead the tax reform effort? HAHAHA. [C-J/AKN]

Don’t miss Comment on Kentucky tonight at 8:00 P.M. Eastern on KET. Scheduled guests: Tom Loftus, Jack Brammer, Ronnie Ellis. You know it’ll be a good one. [KET]

Mitch McConnell is continuing to try to lay blame for the country’s economic troubles at President Barack Obama’s feet. Without, of course, admitting that he is personally probably 50% to blame for everything that’s gone wrong in the United States of America (and the rest of the world) for the last 10 years. [Richmond Register]

We’ve been telling you all along that Jim Ramsey is still pushing for that University of Louisville Hospital merger. He’ll likely get what he wants. Taxpayers and general public be damned. [Business First]

Of course Kentucky legislators are uneasy about redistricting. They ought to be nervous as hell. [FOX41]

Since Jake isn’t here to stop us from talking about it this evening, take a look at the latest in the ongoing Louisville Orchestra-Musician battle. [WFPL]

KET’s Renee Shaw offers her thoughts on the legendary Gatewood Galbraith. Be sure to give this a read. [KET]

John Huntsman has denounced that nasty, jingoistic video allegedly made by Ron Paul supporters. Will the Pauls denounce it? [HuffPo]

Rand Paul is just too busy spreading the Santorum on thick to worry about doing anything in Warshington or Kentucky these days. He’s got his daddy to help. [H-L/AP]

Papaw Beshear forgot to take his videurtape outta the cam-ree today so we couldn’t share his weekly address earlier. [Papaw Got Lost]

Apparently, the people of Iowa are sad and desperate. Since the candidates themselves don’t play much of a role in the actual caucuses.

At least EIGHT child abuse deaths are missing from Kentucky’s recently released list. What a farce. HEADS NEED TO ROLL. [Debby Yetter]

Northern Kentucky Democrats say they’ll be fielding a candidate for congress. Unfortunately, we all know that candidate is going to lose like woah because there’s no way they can afford to run and win in that media market. It won’t be Nathan Smith and it won’t be Patrick Hughes. [Amanda Van Benschoten]

Pro-tip: When you break into a home in Kentucky, the resident can and will likely shoot you. [H-L]

Mitch McConnell is so worried that the White House might do exactly what he would do that he just can’t stand it. [Politico]

And now he’s admitting that President Barack Obama could pull off recess appointments that frighten him so much. [FDL]

Really, you have to roll your eyes at this state purchase of a mega amount of land for millions of dollars from a major political donor. [John Cheves]

70% of America is dreading the 2012 presidential campaign. Americans would rather pull out their eye teeth than suffer through another election. [Wonkette]

Are Republicans flirting with fratricide? A sudden departure from civility (what?) could damage them in 2012. [The Economist]

A survey of 29 cities shows hunger has risen in most of them in the last year and is largely expected to increase in 2012 as the United States faces a sluggish economy, the U.S. Conference of Mayors said on Thursday. [Reuters]

Nothing to see here, everything is puppies and rainbows! Fitch has downgraded its ratings of seven of the world’s largest banks, citing challenging financial markets. [BBC]

Go ahead and grab your ankles, though, because you know everybody is going to lurch to the far right. They’re all gonna claim – like Mittens Romney – that massing welfare cuts won’t hurt the poor. [HuffPo]

What the heck happened in Oldham County yesterday? Two dead and another shot? [WLEX18]

Joe Gerth wrote a three-page piece about governors and their lieutenants. It brought up a promise from Daniel Mongiardo that Steve Beshear would eventually experience a blow-up. We hear Mongiardo continues to claim that very thing. Who wants to bet he’ll eventually be responsible for causing it? [C-J/AKN]

It’s interesting to watch everybody freak out about some animals discovered in a mess in Henry County. It’s also interesting that they never bother to get upset – because the mainstream media absolutely ignores it – about Louisville Metro Animal Services, where several hundred animals die each month. All while Greg Fischer and his inexperienced staff lie and mislead. [WKYT]

On December 20 and 21, members of the State House will have to truck it to Frankfort – at the request of Greg Stumbo – to be briefed on the state’s budget disaster and Medicaid nightmare. [Hot Frankfort Mess]

A new undercover report finds widespread illegal gun sales online in Kentucky. Mouth-breathers will freak out in 3, 2… [WFPL]

HAHAHA. Louisville Failure Greg Fischer is such a pussy that he doesn’t want fireworks to be sold in the home city of THUNDER. [C-J/AKN]

The Southern Baptist Cult is terrified that it printed up some pink bibles. Meanwhile, all the gays at the SBC are snickering in their cubicles and offices. [H-L]

Really, we can’t wait for a gubmint shutdown. We need this to be like 1995 all over again. [Wonkette]

Newt Skywalker and the Moon Mirror. This is truly pee-worthy and you need to read it. [Foreign Policy]

Oh my goodness. The gems keep coming today! Sexytime Herman Cain says he would like to be secretary of defense. [HuffPo]

Sometimes things happen in Greg Fischer’s government that defy logic. Somethings they’re so dumb your head hurts. [The 'Ville Voice]

We’re still watching the Democratic Governors Association foam at the mouth at Chris Christie’s helicopter ride to his kid’s ball game. Interesting that they never mention Steve Beshear’s $85,000 in personal trips on a state plane. [Hypocrisy Is Thick]

The folks in Madison County can weigh in – in court – on the Bullitt County smoking ban but they can’t be bothered to stop anti-gay discrimination. [Richmond Register]

Jefferson County Public Schools can’t get anything right. The latest? 6,500 test results were sent to incorrect addresses. [FOX41]

God. John Boehner cries more than a drunken hooker at one of those parties thrown by Greg Stumbo and Kent Downey in the 1990s. [Wonkette]

The Associated Press is having a field day with this story about adult baby Richie Farmer hiring his girlfriend. [FOX41]

Maybe some day you’ll have elected officials in Kentucky who aren’t afraid to state publicly that they realize mountaintop removal is killing Kentucky. [H-L]

People are still taking that supercommittee bullshiz seriously. Like it’s going to solve any of this country’s problems. [WaPo]

Don’t forget to watch Comment on Kentucky tonight at 8:00 P.M. Eastern on KET. [KET]

Will conservative talkers turn on Sexytime Herman Cain? Of course they will. They already are. [Politico]

Should you read this? It was a telling moment at the height of the Occupy Wall Street protests. [Reuters]

Attention bourbon nerds! This is a very important thing benefitting Bellarmine University. Maker’s & Woodford teaming up. It involves sports. [CLICK THE CLICKY]

We can’t decide if this “Satan Sandwich” story is melting our brains or not. Thank goodness it’s Friday. [The Hill]

HAHAHA, so, funny story. You know how some teabaggers got elected by pretending they would be anti-establishment in Warshington? Turns out they’ve raked in millions of dollars from Republican special interest groups. Guess we were right about them taking advantage of people who can’t think for themselves just to get elected. [HuffPo]

Because Louisville apparently has no other problems or issues to deal with, its Metro Council reinstated a ban on the sale and use of most fireworks. [C-J/AKN]

No, the Lane Report didn’t take a look at anything in Louisville. It merely wrote some fluff from press releases its friends sent and took them at their word. [Lu-Ann Farrar]

Staffers for both Jim Gray and Greg Fischer have pestered us nearly every day for two weeks to write about their little business plan that won’t do anything for the economies of Louisville and Lexington. We’ll link to it but it’s not worth dedicating an entire post to. It’s short sighted and not exactly what Kentucky needs. A true forward thinking leader would focus on developing a partnership that puts Louisville and Eastern Kentucky hand-in-hand. [WKYT]

The Democratic version of Richie Farmer (he, too, is an adult baby – just more huffy and sweaty), Daniel Logsdon, apparently doesn’t know what the flip he’s talking about. So Steve Robertson issued a statement today: “James Comer cannot make decisions for the Commissioner of Agriculture’s office until he is, in fact, the Commissioner of Agriculture,” Robertson said. “How hilarious that Logsdon would criticize Comer for decisions Comer never made in an office he does not yet hold.” [Press Release]

Yet another I-told-you-so moment at the University of Louisville. Funny how that works. [C-J/AKN]