Thorn: We expect more from you Dems
Why would 15 Democratic state lawmakers vote against or refuse to vote on a constitutional amendment they had cosponsored? Why would they sabotage Louisville’s priority to let local governments raise new revenue to offset state pension costs? Because they are petulant children. They said they tanked the House bill because, they claimed the GOP did not include them in crafting the budget bill and others. “They won’t pass our bills, they won’t hear our amendments, and they expect us to carry the water for them and get their tax bill passed,” said Louisville Democrat Rep. Mary Lou Marzian, who was among the cosponsors who didn’t vote, The Courier Journal reported. Other Louisville Democratic cosponsors rejecting the bill were Joni Jenkins, Charles Booker, Tom Burch, McKenzie Cantrell, Nima Kulkarni, Charles Miller and Josie Raymond. Mayor Greg Fischer’s head must have lifted off of his shoulders.
Rose: City is open for business to all
Metro City Council gets a rose for unanimously amending an ordinance so that when it comes to awarding city contracts, “participation by” majority LGBT-owned businesses “is strongly encouraged and will be a consideration in determining the award of this contract.” It does not set benchmarks as it does for businesses owned by minorities, women and people with disabilities. Councilwoman Jessica Green said it could do so in the future, but, for now, the vote says the city is open for business to all. “Why would we not say, ‘Come, plant your business here — we as city government will support you?’” she told The CJ.
Rose + Thorn: Transparency for all
A rose and thorn go to The CJ for its (rare) editorial, this one excoriating lawmakers for slipping a provision into a revenue bill to allow public agencies to publish meeting notices online instead of in newspapers. The editorial claims “very few” people will go to agency websites to read the notices (as if they go to the back of the paper to read them now). “Let’s call it what it is,” the editorial intoned: “An attack on transparency — and it’s unacceptable.” Speaking of transparency, we wish the editorial offered just a bit more of it: Near the end, it explains that the ads are “essential to small Kentucky newspapers that rely on the revenue from the ads to support their local news coverage.” How much does The CJ stand to lose if this bill passes? And this from a paper that seems to be working to kill its print edition.
Rose: We love the sounds of this
A rose goes to kentuckianasounds.org for celebrating... Kentuckiana sounds. Look at the sound map and listen to an array of recordings, as varied as katydids and audible walk signs at Eighth and West Chestnut streets on a late evening, a chemical manufacturing plant in the Park Hill neighborhood and bird calls, a lightly running creek, light rain, humans and a dog on a trail in Hoosier National Forest. Aaron Rosenblum created it, and Louisville Public Media co-produces the Kentuckiana Sounds podcast.
