Frankfort, KY – Please see the latest column from Republican Party of Kentucky Chairman Mac Brown on how political gamesmanship with spending could jeopardize recovery from COVID-19:
Political Gamesmanship with Spending Could Jeopardize Recovery from COVID-19
By Republican Party of Kentucky Chairman Mac Brown
While Gov. Beshear writes in his editorials that he is effectively reaching across the aisle, truth is, a lot more needs to be initiated by his administration and not just responding to the Republican legislative overtures. Further, Gov. Beshear needs to stand up to Democrats in D.C. on their political gamesmanship with spending proposals, and work more closely with Republican lawmakers here in Kentucky to better protect our state’s fiscal foundation.
Since 2016, our state has made tremendous progress in improving Kentucky’s finances due to Republican fiscal management. By increasing private-sector investment over $20 billion, addressing the pension issue and passing this year’s fiscally responsible budget where lawmakers kept classroom spending at an all-time-high, invested more than $5 million in education and placed $958 million into the state’s rainy-day fund, Kentucky is in a strong position as we move forward.
Unfortunately, Gov. Beshear is undoing this momentum by inadvertently paying Kentuckians not to work and by proposing to use federal relief dollars to fund pay raises that add to our annual expenses instead of using this one-time revenue for capital expenditures or shoring up the pension fund.
Meanwhile, in Washington, as negotiations on national infrastructure and other proposals continue, the Democrats are trying to ram through a massive $3.5 trillion bill that grows government and raises taxes on hardworking Americans. The D.C. Democrats’ proposed $3.5 trillion spending spree will further flood our economy with cash which will in turn create more inflation, unemployment and establish a socialistic economy. While the motive to help the less fortunate is good, it must be done in a way that maintains individual ambition and motivation.
Consequently, I contend that both in Washington and here at home, Democrats like Nancy Pelosi and Gov. Beshear are pursuing policies that put our strong fiscal standing and as-yet-fragile economic recovery from the pandemic at risk – and that the governor’s recent budget proposals and spending would only serve to squander our state’s fiscal progress.
On Ronald Reagan’s desk in the Oval Office was a plaque that read; “There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn’t mind who gets the credit.” While this is an ideal concept, in today’s world we can only hope for bipartisanship which is an important element of governing. But bipartisanship requires that all parties respect the concerns of each other and not claim credit for things that are truly the efforts of all parties.
Over the course of the past eighteen months we have united behind initiatives like Operation Warp Speed in developing the fastest safe and effective vaccine in history and the CARES Act shepherded through Congress by Leader Mitch McConnell. And at the state level, legislative proposals to provide much-needed relief for families, businesses and schools hit hard by the pandemic also received bipartisan support.
But unfortunately, Gov. Beshear’s rhetoric that we are “Team Kentucky” and “must work together” is empty. He talks the talk, but does not walk the walk. Or in other words, he is quick to say that we are a team but does not engage the Republican leadership in addressing critical issues. This is why I say Gov. Beshear has followed Pelosi’s lead and quickly returned to political games that hold us back.
All across Kentucky, businesses large and small are struggling to fill vacant jobs. Additionally, families are facing rising prices (+5.4 percent last month) the worst inflation since 1990. This means that families are paying more for the things they need every day, like gasoline and utility bills, or for home prices, cars and trucks and more.
In the face of these challenges, Gov. Beshear and the Democrats need to stand up to Speaker Pelosi and her allies and urge them not to create a socialistic society and torpedo bipartisan compromise by demanding the $3.5 trillion of spending, tax increases and government growth. At the state level, Gov. Beshear needs to end Kentucky’s participation in the temporary federal expansion of unemployment benefits. And finally, I would ask Gov. Beshear to honestly work more closely with Republican lawmakers as they invest the federal relief dollars.
Such an approach would make efforts to continue recovery from COVID-19 truly bipartisan. Then all of us, regardless of party, would truly be able to applaud efforts to come together in the face of challenges, and move beyond COVID-19 to a brighter future.
# # #
Mike Lonergan
Communications Director
Republican Party of Kentucky
Like I said in the last post, KY’s surplus is due to Republican leadership and Andy claims credit. A few stupid people complement Andy for all the things he doesn’t do, and of course he pats his own back as often as he can. What a total joke of a Governor!
This guy drank the koolaid, Kentucky has worst economy of any state, the republicans are the ones that killed economy, this all started with Reagan and trickle down economics. They bet on the rich man to hire the poor man to mow their yard. Only way to have a thriving economy is through the middle class. Jobs like Walmart and McDonald’s don’t pay enough to buy a home, car, hell can’t pay bills on minimum wage. I’ve seen 20,000 good jobs leave this area(AK Steele, ACF, Owens Illinois, stamping plant plus mining jobs. Good jobs got replaced with minimum wage jobs which are only meant for students. Instead of giving the rich a tax free system, why doesn’t anyone try to bring good jobs to the tri state. We have rivers, airport and interstate very close. But instead we depend on blues states to pay for our uselessness(everyone draws a check)
The 1% actually pay 99% of the taxes, regardless of what you think. You’ve been blinded by liberal horseshit and lies. Yes the working class pays taxes, then gets them and more back when they do their returns. I find it odd you mention coal? Don’t you remember who destroyed that industry? Slick Willy and NAFTA and WTA destroyed all the others. KY does not have the worst economy in America, and everyone there does not draw a check, they do seem to stand out though. My friend the Republicans are the only hope America has, the Democrats just lie and claim credit for what they don’t do, and sadly many drink their koolaid!
Snowflake hit the nail on the head Reagan is the one who put us on the path where on today. 40 years of trickle down doesn’t work never will the trial should be ended. Time to bring the unions back get a fair wage.
Republicans is the economy’s worst enemy. Since Reagan they believe in trickle down economics. That only benefits the rich, but they do hire us to clean and mow yards. If they are actually worried they would bring jobs here, but we just lose jobs and gain Walmart. Walmart is worst thing to happen, it’s what made China as big as they are. Gotta create $30-$40 an hour jobs, because the middle class drives the economy, not the 1% people. But people around here are too stupid to understand anything because they are trumpers. How could a Christian support so much hate and habitual lier.
Billy Bob I strongly disagree with most of what you said, I’ve never got a job from a homeless person and $30 or $40 dollars would make American products unbuyable here and worldwide. I do agree wholeheartedly with your views on Walmart, Walmart is a cyst on Americas ass.
Charley tell the truth the $30 or $40 is all right if you got it but not everybody.
You never got a job from someone who couldn’t sell their product also
You are noted for some dumb posts KAG, and again you didn’t let us down! I have made $40+ dollars an hour, but it wasn’t minimum wage. One gets paid for what they know and are trained to do. I would guess you wouldn’t be worth more than $1 an hour at the most, because you’re STUPID!
Charley I doubt you even come close to $40 you said you was a Barney Fife wanna be.
I don’t care what you doubt GAG, I know what I’ve done, you don’t.
Bin Laden talked his Herd into flying airplanes into buildings.
Bin Laden had a herd of goats flying airplanes?
Well put Mac Brown. This is why Kentucky is so red. We know which party has our back and we have your back. Keep up the good work!
Amen!
Bidens trying to convince everyone it is a disgrace to be white. The snowflakes are eating it up.
Yes he is, and yes they are.
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Since you are dim witted GAG, let me splain!
Keeping it real posted “Bidens trying to convince everyone it is a disgrace to be white” to which I said yes he is. He further stated “The snowflakes are eating it up.” To which I said yes they are. Does that clear you’re stupidity up some?
Charley I believe you have forgotten to take your meds.