Quote of the day: Defining terms — right to work
“Right-to-work laws give employees the freedom to choose whether to join a labor union and pay union dues as a condition of employment.” –Alex Monahan, The Heartland Institute
More secrecy: Kentucky’s public pension system refuses to shine the light on its investment practices
Two recent examples of government secrecy show that Kentucky is a long way from having the kind of transparency in its government institutions that will bring real accountability to taxpayers footing the bill: Not only are the double-and-triple dippers in Kentucky’s public pension system protected from public scrutiny, so are its investment practices. The Kentucky…
In light of Myers Middle School closing, Louisville pastors call for school choice options
“The Kentucky Black Alliance for Educational Options Pastors Coalition…is saddened by this attempt to defraud our people and cheat our students out of a great education.” The Louisville-based group’s response to the closing of Myer’s Middle School was published in an op-ed featured in the Monday edition of the Courier-Journal. In their letter, the pastors…
State has already spent $1.2 million trying to force charitable agency to remain in the public pension system
The state already has spent $1.2 million trying to keep Seven County Services, a mental health agency – from leaving the Kentucky Retirement Systems. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Joan A. Lloyd, who granted the agency’s request to leave the system, summed it up in her 83-page opinion when she said that the agency cannot continue to…
Bluegrass Beacon: Cheatin’ in school ain’t what it used to be
Angelina Jolie once said about then-husband Billy Bob Thornton that if she ever caught him cheating, “I wouldn’t kill him because I love his children and they need a dad. But I would beat him up. I know where all of his sports injuries are.” Based on the cheating epidemic that’s enveloped our society, we…
Here’s an idea for Blue Ribbon, Do-Nothing Tax Reform Commission: Lower state gasoline taxes
The Tax Foundation reports that Kentucky’s gas tax is higher than four neighboring states. The Bluegrass Institute wonders why the commonwealth can’t seem to find the money for needed bridges and roads.
Talk about ‘Future Shock!’: Bankruptcy judge’s ruling further threatens Ky’s drowning pension system
In recent reports on Kentucky’s public pension crisis, the Bluegrass Institute revealed that many of the 1,701 entities that added to the Kentucky Retirement System over the years (mostly as a result of politicians seeking to curry political favor) were nonpublic agencies added by politicians seeking to curry political favors. However, passage last year of…
Taking liberty to the airwaves: Join BIPPS for a Free-Market Friday on Louisville’s 970 WGTK
Bluegrass Institute President Jim Waters joins talk show host Joe Elliott for a Free-Market Friday today at @ 10 a.m. (EDT) on Louisville’s 970 WGTK-AM. Listen live here. Then, if you like what you hear, help keep the Bluegrass Institute’s voice on the airwaves by contributing here.
Quote of the day: Has the Jefferson County teachers union boss ‘entered the federal witness protection program?’
“Has JCTA President Brent McKim entered the federal witness protection program? With some teachers forced to buy their own chalk, why hasn’t their union chief, to paraphrase Mr. Shakespeare,‘troubled deaf heaven with his bootless cries?’ The silence from the Jefferson County legislative delegation is also deafening. Aren’t they just a tad disappointed that the millions…
Audit offers ‘thousands’ of more reasons for school choice in Kentucky
Former Rep. Bob Heleringer, R-Louisville, responded to the recent state audit of Jefferson County Public Schools by stating two important observations: (1) Money is not the problem and (2) Kentucky parents need choices when it comes to educating their children. Heleringer writes: And speaking of six figures, here in Louisville, those searching for steady employment…