What are they REALLY saying?: Regulating campaining with state resources.

This is the last in the series of questions for the Governor candidates put forth by the Herald-Leader. This time, the issue is campaigning with state resources and how the candidates will stop it. (We thank the Herald-Leader and its staff, Ryan Alessi and John Stamper, for the very informative series). Here are the candidates responses -- in their own words:

Democrats:

Steve Henry: "We absolutely should look hard at changing the laws on the use of state resources. But, more importantly, we need to change our Governor. ... As Governor, I'll work to scrub state government clean of Ernie Fletcher's kind of corruption."
I do not know if Steve understood the question or he just wanted to make a political statement.

Otis Hensley: "The governor should not be penalized in a re-election campaign for being the governor. The governor requires security, and this security utilizes state-owned modes of transportation. The governor should reimburse taxpayers for use of state resources for non-taxpayer business ... ." Otis CLEARLY understood the question and supports a requirement that a Governor not use public resources for campaigning.

Bruce Lunsford: "We need to restore credibility and openness to government. State resources should not be used for political campaigning. State laws should be changed to reflect federal law where the state is reimbursed for political campaign travel. Bruce, like Otis, wants no state funds used for political campaigning.

Jody Richards: "It is clear, in light of the recent problems uncovered by this newspaper, that the legislature must now draw a bright red line between gubernatorial and campaign functions so that taxpayers are not burdened with the expenses of a governor running for re-election. Jody supports legislation to "draw a bright red line" to prevent a Governor for re-election from burdening taxpayers with re-election expenses.

Steve Beshear: "This is an issue today because the present governor believes Kentucky taxpayers should be burdened with the cost of his political ambitions. ... As Governor, I will work with the Legislature to clearly define the line between gubernatorial and campaign activities to ensure that taxpayer money is protected from partisan politics." Steve, like Jody, wants the legislature to prevent a Governor from burdening taxpayers with re-election costs.

Gatewood Galbraith: "At this time I would not change a thing. I believe the current laws requiring the governor to pay a proportionate share of his travel expenses when he/she combines state business with private affairs is workable and fair if it is properly adhered to. We must trust our Commonwealth's top elected official to do the right thing and, ... Any new legislation would be duplicative and overkill." Gatewood wants to keep the present laws and to "trust elected officials to do the right thing".

Republicans

Billy Harper: "Public officials need to draw a clear line in the sand when it comes to use of state resources. As governor, I will establish clearly defined guidelines for all non-merit personnel to follow from day one. It should never be simply a question of what’s legal. The state’s chief executive should always make decisions based on what is right." Billy will establish guidelines for his staff, to do what is right and not merely what is legal.

Ernie Fletcher: No response. (Update: This post has been updated with a response): "I have gone above and beyond what the law requires. I have reimbursed the state when political events coincide with official trips even though it is not required by law. ... I expect the legislature to examine this issue and will happily comply with whatever requirements they deem appropriate." Ernie says he has refunded the state for personal campaign expenses (though he initially refused to do so, after the Herald Leader took him to task on it) and expects the Legislature to examine the issue (and says also he will comply with any new laws).

Anne Northup: "It is astonishing that Ernie Fletcher, who ran on a promise to clean up Frankfort, has used your tax dollars to finance his campaign. Until he got caught, he had no problem using your money to further his own political career. The law must be clarified and strengthened to ensure that future governors cannot blur the bright line between official and campaign expenses." Anne wants to have the Legislature to strengthen the law so that tax dollars are not used to further [a future Governor's] political career."

So there they are, in their own words -- deciphered (This time I give the candidates credit for speaking more CLEARLY!)