Five Things to Know Today
Court grants injunction against “inactive voters” list, requires all voters put back on active voter rolls
In a quickly-decided case, the Franklin Circuit Court decided on Monday to grant “injunctive relief” to the Kentucky Democratic Party in its case against the Kentucky State Board of Elections. As a result of this decision, the Board must move all the voters on the “inactive voter” list back on to the regular voter rolls, at least for this election. Story includes statements from Ben Self of KDP and SOS Alison Lundergan Grimes. (Forward Kentucky)
House Democrats unveil bills to address how officials use state aircraft, campaign loans
Kentucky House Democrats unveiled three bills on Monday that they say would strengthen Kentucky’s ethics and election laws, calling them responses to actions taken by Republican Gov. Matt Bevin.
One of the proposed bills would add new disclosure requirements on a governor’s use of state-owned aircraft for personal or political purposes, while the others would require candidates for statewide offices to release their tax returns and repay loans to their campaign within one year. (Courier-Journal)
Federal appeals-court judges indicate they are unlikely to revive Gov. Matt Bevin’s plan for Medicaid work requirements
Federal judges were dubious Friday of Republican Gov. Matt Bevin’s campaign to add work requirements to the Medicaid program, as they heard an appeal of rulings that have blocked it.
“People are going to lose coverage … and you haven’t addressed that,” Judge Harry Edwards told Trump administration lawyers during oral arguments at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in Washington. (Forward Kentucky)
Trump’s visit cost Louisville $9,000. He hasn’t paid it back, and he’s not the only one
President Donald Trump’s visit to Louisville cost the city about $9,000 — a sum he has yet to reimburse. But he’s not the only presidential contender with unpaid bills from the city.
Louisville Metro Government recently invoiced campaign committees for Trump, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Tim Ryan, all of whom visited Louisville in August, for the cost of services provided by the police department. None has paid the city back since letters were sent by Louisville Metro Police more than a month ago. (Courier-Journal)
McConnell ‘gravely concerned’ by Syria, warns of ISIS resurgence
U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell said he’s “gravely concerned” by the situation in Syria and “by our nation’s apparent response” so far, as the fallout from President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw troops from — and Turkey’s subsequent invasion of — northeastern Syria continues.
“Turkey is our NATO ally and has legitimate security concerns stemming from the conflict in Syria. But Turkey’s offensive against our Syrian Kurdish partners is jeopardizing years of hard-won progress in the fight against ISIS,” the Kentucky Republican said in a statement Monday afternoon. (Courier-Journal)
The Forward 5 is published Monday to Friday by Forward Kentucky, an independent media organization focused on progressive news and issues in Kentucky, and is re-posted with permission. You can sign up for the email version of the newsletter on their website.
