Steve Beshear Signs Redistricting Bill Into Law, But Blames David Williams For Kathy Stein Ouster From Senate; David Williams Says He Should Not Have Signed Bill If He Didn't Like It.
Beshear signs into law redistricting plan that moves Stein's Senate district
By Jack Brammer
FRANKFORT — Gov. Steve Beshear signed into law Friday the controversial legislative redistricting bill that moves the district of Democratic Sen. Kathy Stein out of Lexington to northeastern Kentucky.
The bill, which has an emergency clause, takes effect immediately.
Beshear said the Republican-led Senate's decision to move Stein's 13th District "goes beyond partisanship" and reflects "personal vindictiveness."
Still, Beshear said he signed the bill because the Jan. 31 deadline for candidates to file to run for the Kentucky General Assembly is looming.
"I am signing House Bill 1 today so that all citizens interested in filing for any of these seats will know what House or Senate district they are in and have time to get their filing papers in order to file for office," he said in a statement.
Beshear blamed Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, for moving Stein's district.
"Redistricting is always a partisan process, and the current situation is no exception," Beshear said. "However, the action directed by the Senate President to move Senator Kathy Stein's district in Lexington to northeast Kentucky in order to keep her from being able to run for re-election, and moving western Kentucky Senator Dorsey Ridley's district to Lexington, goes beyond partisanship. It reflects a personal vindictiveness that should have no place in this process"
Beshear added that the situation with Stein "reinforces my belief that before redistricting occurs again in Kentucky, some type of non-partisan, citizen-based group should be created to participate in the process."
Williams, who was unsuccessful last November in stopping Beshear from a second, four-year term, said in a statement that the governor should realize the campaign ended in November.
"As with most legislative matters, he was not involved in the process and doesn't have any evidence to support his allegation," Williams said. "If the governor truly believed that HB 1 is such an egregious piece of legislation, he should have the courage of his convictions to veto the plan. As usual, though, he prefers to cast aspersions instead of taking responsibility for his own actions or inactions, thereby continuing to make Frankfort more partisan than it already is."
Senate State and Local Government Chairman Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, said Stein's district was moved to ensure that the people of northeastern Kentucky would not be left unrepresented.
Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/01/20/2036305/beshear-signs-into-law-redistricting.html#storylink=cpy
By Jack Brammer
FRANKFORT — Gov. Steve Beshear signed into law Friday the controversial legislative redistricting bill that moves the district of Democratic Sen. Kathy Stein out of Lexington to northeastern Kentucky.
The bill, which has an emergency clause, takes effect immediately.
Beshear said the Republican-led Senate's decision to move Stein's 13th District "goes beyond partisanship" and reflects "personal vindictiveness."
Still, Beshear said he signed the bill because the Jan. 31 deadline for candidates to file to run for the Kentucky General Assembly is looming.
"I am signing House Bill 1 today so that all citizens interested in filing for any of these seats will know what House or Senate district they are in and have time to get their filing papers in order to file for office," he said in a statement.
Beshear blamed Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, for moving Stein's district.
"Redistricting is always a partisan process, and the current situation is no exception," Beshear said. "However, the action directed by the Senate President to move Senator Kathy Stein's district in Lexington to northeast Kentucky in order to keep her from being able to run for re-election, and moving western Kentucky Senator Dorsey Ridley's district to Lexington, goes beyond partisanship. It reflects a personal vindictiveness that should have no place in this process"
Beshear added that the situation with Stein "reinforces my belief that before redistricting occurs again in Kentucky, some type of non-partisan, citizen-based group should be created to participate in the process."
Williams, who was unsuccessful last November in stopping Beshear from a second, four-year term, said in a statement that the governor should realize the campaign ended in November.
"As with most legislative matters, he was not involved in the process and doesn't have any evidence to support his allegation," Williams said. "If the governor truly believed that HB 1 is such an egregious piece of legislation, he should have the courage of his convictions to veto the plan. As usual, though, he prefers to cast aspersions instead of taking responsibility for his own actions or inactions, thereby continuing to make Frankfort more partisan than it already is."
Senate State and Local Government Chairman Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, said Stein's district was moved to ensure that the people of northeastern Kentucky would not be left unrepresented.
Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/01/20/2036305/beshear-signs-into-law-redistricting.html#storylink=cpy
Labels: David Williams, Democratism, Governor Steve Beshear, Kentucky politics, Republicanism
posted by KYJurisDoctor at 2:43 PM
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