A legislative effort to revamp membership selection for Kentucky’s Executive Branch Ethics Commission is underway in Frankfort. A bill to lessen the governor’s appointment authority cleared a House committee last week. Democratic members indicated it was a power grab by Republican lawmakers. Louisville GOP Representative Jason Nemes doesn’t see it that way. Directing his comments to his
Democratic colleagues, Nemes said the Commonwealth is going quote, “hard red.”
“And whether Beshear wins the next election or not chances are republicans are gonna be governors for a long time in Kentucky. Maybe you disagree but I think that’s probably borne out by the facts. Do you really want a Republican governor or a Democratic governor, do you really want that Republican governor appointing the entire executive branch commission? I don’t think you do,” said Nemes.
The legislation expands the Executive Branch Ethics Commission from five to seven members and gives other constitutional officers, all Republicans currently, one pick apiece.
Frankfort Democratic Representative Derrick Graham said the measure tramples on separation of powers and checks and balances.
“I think as we go down this path for right now it may seem that it’s ok, but it’s not going to be ok, because the system has been in place and it has worked and I have some concerns about us as a general assembly overstepping or going too far out in terms of taking responsibility away from the chief executive officers of the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” said Graham.
Monticello GOP Representative Ken Upchurch said he’s served with five different governors. He favors the changes saying the bill keeps the fox from guarding the henhouse. The bill’s now before the full House.
