http://www.wikio.com/search=Steve Beshear Wikio - Steve Beshear http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=69433336 For Immediate Release August 29, 2008 Contact: Martin Cothran Phone: 859-329-1919 "We don't remember seeing 'voting rights for convicted pedophiles' among Steve Beshear's campaign promises last fall," said Martin Cothran, spokesman for The Family Foundation in response to yesterday's news that the Governor had given a partial pardon to former head of the Micro City Government, youth director Ron Berry. Gov. Beshear restored the right to vote and the right to run for office to Ron Berry, who was convicted of 12 counts of sodomy with underage boys in the 1970s and 80s (and was accused of many more) while he was running the Micro City program. Critics at the time charged that four Democratic administrations had covered up Berry's activities . "Before, it was local officials turning a blind eye to Berry's abuse of children. Now he's getting favorable treatment from state government," said Cothran. The Governor's Office responded to objections to the partial pardon by saying that it is their policy is to automatically restore civil rights when applicants "have served their sentence, paid restitution and have no outstanding warrants." "Maybe the Governor's Office could inform the families who were affected by Berry's depredations how he has paid restitution," said Cothran. "Quite frankly, this is just a strange argument." "Basically what the Governor's Office is saying is that we shouldn't be concerned about the fact that he has given a partial pardon to one convicted pedophile who serves a little time because his policy is to give it to all of them." "The other argument coming out of the Governor's Office is that this partial pardon is okay because no one objected. Maybe we missed it, but we don't remember Beshear asking about this at any of his town meetings." Fri, 29 Aug 2008 12:00:00 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=69433336 2008-08-29T12:00:00Z http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=69366094 Wisconsin is trying to pass a "health care" tax increase just like Gov. Steve Beshear's administration is secretly planning to pack onto Kentuckians' backs. The bitter irony is The Paducah Economic Development Council is trying to recruit Wisconsin businesses to come here, saying "we want your business; we aren't going to tax you out of existence." Let's hope people in Wisconsin can't speak Kentuckian . Fri, 29 Aug 2008 04:05:00 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=69366094 2008-08-29T04:05:00Z http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=69350533 Looks like Gov. Steve Beshear has found his new running mate for 2011. Convicted molester of little boys Ron Berry is out of jail and, thanks to Beshear, newly endowed with voting rights and, as a result, is free to run for office . Under the partial pardon Beshear gave Berry, however, the pedophile won't be able to serve on a jury or possess a firearm. I repeat, it would be against the law for Berry to carry a firearm. So there is no need for anyone to worry about that. Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:10:00 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=69350533 2008-08-29T00:10:00Z http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=69354829 Gov. Steve Beshear has granted a partial pardon to 62-year old Ron Berry , the former head of the Micro-City Government youth program who was convicted on 12 counts of sodomy with 12- to 16-year-old boys in 2002. Berry completed a three-year prison sentence in 2005, but it is also reported that more than 160 individuals have sued the Urban County Government "claiming city officials ignored or concealed information that Berry was molesting under-age boys and girls for decades." See story here . Thu, 28 Aug 2008 23:53:00 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=69354829 2008-08-28T23:53:00Z http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=69303578 The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission needs a bigger staff to regulate racing in the state amid increased scrutiny of drug use and track safety, it's executive director said Thursday.Lisa Underwood told members of the commission's subcommittee on staffing and funding that the agency needs 10 additional full-time workers and 21 part-time workers. The commission now has 27 full-time employees, with... Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:56:46 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=69303578 jstamper@herald-leader.com (Pol Watchers) 2008-08-28T15:56:46Z http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=69264401 Democratic National Convention: Kentucky supporters for Hillary Clinton grappled with casting their nomination vote for the candidate they were pledged to back or the eventual nominee, Barack Obama, as the Herald-Leader and Associated Press report. After the nomination, Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear compared the selection of Obama to the Brown v. Board of Education decision, as PolitickerKY's Trey Pollard wrote.... Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:28:40 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=69264401 jstamper@herald-leader.com (Pol Watchers) 2008-08-28T11:28:40Z http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=69260022 Gov. Steve Beshear has named five Northern Kentucky residents to state boards and commissions: Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:56:00 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=69260022 2008-08-28T09:56:00Z http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=69210114 Throughout the week several Kentucky Democrats attending the Democratic National Convention in Denver will be reporting back with their observations and accounts of their experiences. Colmon Elridge III is an alternate delegate supporting Barack Obama. He serves as executive assistant to Gov. Steve Beshear. Elridge, who grew up in Cynthiana and now lives in Lexington, is participating in his first... Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:48:36 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=69210114 jstamper@herald-leader.com (Pol Watchers) 2008-08-27T23:48:36Z http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=69210357 ZAP, the California company that produces the funky three-wheeled Xebra electric vehicle, reportedly breaks ground Thursday on a 1-million-square foot factory in Kentucky that company officials say will crank out as many as 100,000 EVs a year. Gov. Steve Beshear... Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:39:35 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=69210357 2008-08-27T22:39:35Z http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=69201160 FRANKFORT -- The Kentucky Retirement Systems is ready to implement the new law that takes effect Sept. 1 that overhauls the state’s retirement systems, its executive director said Wednesday. Mike Burnside told members of the Interim Joint Committee on State Government that his agency has conducted training seminars across the state for state employers on how to deal with the... Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:32:17 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=69201160 jstamper@herald-leader.com (Pol Watchers) 2008-08-27T20:32:17Z http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=69131115 After 31 years, Merrick Krey is retiring this week from the Kenton County Property Valuation Administrator's office to concentrate on his Kentucky Statehouse campaign. Wed, 27 Aug 2008 09:46:00 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=69131115 2008-08-27T09:46:00Z http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=69094895 Is it the Democratic National Convention or a University of Kentucky basketball game? Just got a text message from one of the Herald-Leader's contributors from Denver this week, Jacqueline Coleman. She writes that Gov. Steve Beshear, U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler and actress and Ashland native Ashley Judd are sitting with the delegation Tuesday night. No sign of Billy G., though.... Wed, 27 Aug 2008 02:46:47 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=69094895 jstamper@herald-leader.com (Pol Watchers) 2008-08-27T02:46:47Z http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=69067745 FRANKFORT -- Gov. Steve Beshear has directed that flags at all state office buildings be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset Wednesday in observance of the second anniversary of the crash of Comair Flight 5191. The action is in memory of the 49 passengers and crew members who died in the early morning crash on Aug. 27, 2006, at... Tue, 26 Aug 2008 21:02:52 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=69067745 jstamper@herald-leader.com (Pol Watchers) 2008-08-26T21:02:52Z http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=69050842 Merrick Krey is retiring from the Kenton County Property Value Administrator's office to concentrate on his statehouse campaign. Tue, 26 Aug 2008 17:56:00 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=69050842 2008-08-26T17:56:00Z http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=69023567 Democratic National Convention: Check out Trey Pollard's coverage of the Kentucky Delegation in Denver, where he covered U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth's remarks as well as Democratic leaders talking up Kentucky's 2nd District race. DSCC Chairman Chuck Schumer predicts victory for Democratic Senate candidate Bruce Lunsford, the Courier-Journal's Joe Gerth reports. Northern Kentucky delegates made the circuit in Denver, attending parties... Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:12:48 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=69023567 jstamper@herald-leader.com (Pol Watchers) 2008-08-26T14:12:48Z http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=69001115 Kentucky horse racing regulators approved a sweeping steroid ban for thoroughbred and standardbred races but dramatically toned down proposed penalties for trainers. Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:02:00 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=69001115 2008-08-26T10:02:00Z http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=69000685 Just in time for the swift-boating olympics the repugs call a convention, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear has declared September "Kentucky Bourbon Heritage Month." In the immortal words of Dave Barry: I am not making this up. “Kentucky bourbon has become not only an American icon, but a leading international symbol of our proud heritage and craftsmanship,” Beshear said. “It has benefitted generations of Kentuckians, and its increasing appeal will mean even larger rewards for the Commonwealth. “We’re proud that Kentucky is the birthplace of bourbon. It’s an honor to declare September ‘Bourbon Heritage Month’ in recognition of bourbon’s significant economic, agricultural and tourism impact in Kentucky and beyond.” (More after the jump) For you liquor philistines out there, only bourbon distilled in Kentucky is genuine bourbon. Slapping a "bourbon" label on some rot-gut bottled in, say, Tennessee, is actually against federal law. Ask the ATF. So make sure you're drinking real Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Kentucky is home to historic distillers and international companies that together produce and market more than 95 percent of the world’s bourbon: Brown-Forman, Buffalo Trace, Constellation Spirits, Diageo North America, Four Roses, Heaven Hill, Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, Wild Turkey and Woodford Reserve. At the risk of offending some excellent bourbons, some of those labels are better with mixers than straight. My personal preference for a genuine sipping bourbon is Woodford Reserve, though Knob Creek is also quite fine. And the classic bourbon for Kentucky Derby Mint Juleps is Maker's Mark. Bourbon production has more than doubled since 1999, the year the Kentucky Bourbon Trail was formed, said Eric Gregory, President of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association. New production last year was 937,865 barrels, compared to 455,078 in 1999. Distilled spirits have a tremendous impact on Kentucky’s economy, Gregory said, including: More than $3 billion in gross state product More than 3,000 high-paying jobs Nearly $115 million in state and local taxes In addition, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail has become one of the state’s most famous and fastest growing tourist attractions, Gregory said, with travelers from all 50 states and 25 countries visiting the landmark distilleries. And the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, held the third week in September each year, has grown to more than 55,000 visitors from 40 states and 14 countries, said Milt Spalding, the festival’s executive director. “Bourbon is America’s only native spirit, and it’s uniquely Kentucky,” Gregory said. “We appreciate the support of Gov. Beshear and his administration in promoting Kentucky’s signature bourbon industry and celebrating its rich history and spirited future.” Dick Cheney is addressing the repug convention on Monday night, September 1. Be sure to stock up before Sunday. Cross-posted at Blue in the Bluegrass. Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:00:00 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=69000685 2008-08-26T10:00:00Z http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=69001118 The state has authorized a tax incentive plan to bring an electric car plant to southern Kentucky. Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:57:00 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=69001118 2008-08-26T09:57:00Z http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=68949813 FRANKFORT --Gov. Steve Beshear, who is leaving the state Tuesday morning to attend the Democratic National Convention in Denver, said he will try to convince the campaign of presumptive presidential nominee Barack Obama "to come to Kentucky." "His main problem in Kentucky is that Kentuckians just don't know him very well," Beshear told reporters Monday. "He hasn't been here. He... Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:18:17 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=68949813 jstamper@herald-leader.com (Pol Watchers) 2008-08-25T22:18:17Z http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=68948587 Kentucky horse racing regulators on Monday approved a sweeping steroid ban for the state's thoroughbred and standardbred races but dramatically toned down the proposed penalties for trainers whose horses test positive. Mon, 25 Aug 2008 21:20:15 GMT http://www.wikio.com/search/Steve+Beshear?rinfoid=68948587 2008-08-25T21:20:15Z