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— Publisher’s Note —
Good morning! I spent all of yesteday getting ready for training on our Bill Trackers, so other organizations can use them as well. Thus, I was not able to post many new stories on the site.
There are a few. I would encourage you to go sign the petition regarding the frivolous move to impeach Governor Beshear. You can find the link in the story below. The petition authors started out shooting for 25,000 signatures, and they hit that in about a day. Now they’re going for 35,000.
Since I mentioned the Bill Trackers, some of you may be asking when they will be up on the site. I hope to have them up and available by the end of the week. One other thing: If you are a Sustaining Member, you can have your own account for the Bill Trackers, so you can create your own bill sheet for the bills you care about. Let me know if you are interested.
Finally, there are a number of stories about ongoing violence being planned for both DC and for all state capitols. I will have a story about that up later today; it’s pretty chilling.
Nine days until the inauguration, but even that doesn’t mean the danger will end. Let’s hope the majority of those on the right (and left, if there are any) reject using violence, and support the rule of law. In the end, that is one of the defining elements of our democracy. Without it, we’re just a big banana republic.
Bruce Maples, publisher
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Today’s Five Things to Know
1/11 update — Beshear says “a phone works both ways”
Faced with laws to limit his emergency powers, Gov. Beshear dismissed complaints of the Republican-controlled legislature and reiterated his plan for vetoes, and court action if they are overridden. (Forward Kentucky)
House moves four state budget bills to Senate
The Kentucky House passed four of the five state budget bills on Monday, along with a measure to reorganize the General Assembly’s Program Review and Investigations Committee. The budget bills will probably be voted on by the Senate today (Wednesday) with some changes, thus moving the budget to a conference committee. That committee will meet over the next few weeks, in hopes of presenting a finalized budget for approval in February. (Forward Kentucky)
Sign the petition to stop the GOP impeachment of Governor Beshear
Kentucky Republicans are getting up a committee to consider a petition to impeach Gov. Beshear. Sign this petition opposing those GOP political opportunists who are looking for any excuse to impeach Beshear. (Forward Kentucky)
‘We are ready’: Beshear says safety measures are in place to secure Kentucky Capitol
Without giving many details, Gov. Andy Beshear said safety measures are in place around the Kentucky Capitol to secure the building and the people inside from any attacks. Beshear received a number of questions about security preparations at Monday’s COVID-19 briefing, just days after rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol on the day Congress was certifying the Electoral College results.
“We will not allow that to happen. We will protect these buildings, these grounds and everyone in them. And we are ready to do whatever necessary — Kentucky State Police and others — to ensure the safety of everyone here,” Beshear said. (WLKY)
US Capitol riot: Daniel Cameron says he was unaware of robocall linked to GOP AGs group
Before Wednesday’s deadly riot in Washington, D.C., the dark-money PAC of the Republican Attorneys General Association — an umbrella organization that includes Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron as a member — sent a robocall inviting people to march to the U.S. Capitol.
However, a spokeswoman for Cameron said Monday that Kentucky’s top law enforcement official had no involvement in that decision, and Cameron himself said Monday he was not aware of the controversial robocall.
The Rule of Law Defense Fund, or RLDF, is a fundraising arm of the Republican Attorneys General Association, or RAGA. Cameron sits on RAGA’s executive committee.
The robocall the RLDF sent out last week said: “The march to save America is tomorrow in Washington, D.C. … At (1 p.m.) we will march to the Capitol building and call on Congress to stop the steal. We are hoping patriots like you will join us to continue the fight to protect the integrity of our election.” (Courier-Journal)
Bonus thing to know
Update on removing Trump from office
- On Monday, Speaker Pelosi presented a resolution calling on VP Pence and the cabinet to use the 25th Amendment to remove President Trump from office. She asked for unanimous consent, but one Republican objected, so unanimous consent failed. Thus, the resolution will be voted on today (Tuesday).
- The resolution gives Pence 24 hours to invoke the 25th Amendment. If he does not, the House will proceed to vote on a single article of impeachment — “incitement of insurrection” — on Wednesday.
- Pence met with Trump yesterday, and supposedly the two pledge to work together over the remainder of Trump’s term, so the 25th is probably out as a solution.
- There is some discussion of what the Senate might do, and when to involve them.
- McConnell has said that the soonest the Senate could take up impeachment would be the day after Biden is sworn in, citing Senate rules. Others who know the rules say that is incorrect, and in fact McConnell could move as fast as he wanted to.
- The House does not have to transmit its impeachment bill to the Senate immediately. In fact, like any legislation, the House can hold it as long as it wants. There is some discussion of holding it for the first 100 days of Biden’s presidency, to allow Biden time to enact his priorities. Also, holding it means a Democratic Senate. But others are worried about what Trump could do in the meantime.
- The best possibility would have been for Trump to resign. The next best would have been for Pence to use the 25th. Either would have gotten Trump out right now. Impeachment, on the other hand, will take a while, and Trump can still cause trouble.
- One interesting note is that Pelosi is also talking about the 14th Amendment, which says that anyone who participates in an insurrection against the United States cannot ever hold federal office again. This could be invoked separately from impeachment in order to keep Trump from running again. But, some have mentioned also using it against some of the Congress members who encouraged the march and/or voted against the counting of electoral votes.
Recent Content on Forward Kentucky
[new] indicates item not in a Forward Five before
🔥 indicates high # of reads, social media shares, or both
The People’s House is now a crime scene – Our corrupt, deranged president, his sycophants, and the silence of his complicit enablers set the stage for the January 6th crimes in the People’s house. (Commentary)
🔥 A moving reflection by Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday’s events, the enablers, and our country – Kristallnacht. Brownshirts. Men who were ashamed of what they had done, and who they had become. And, what we have to do to get past Wednesday’s events. (Video)
🔥 We’ve expelled members of Congress before. We should do it now as well. – Sen. Hawley, allow me to introduce Sen. Polk, your fellow Missourian. Congressman Rogers, meet Congressman Burnett, a Kentuckian like you. Both were expelled from Congress. It’s time to do that again. (Commentary)
🔥 Dear Speaker Osborne – You CHOSE to take up impeachment. But, we have an answer. – Speaker Osborne said he HAD to entertain the request for impeachment of the Governor by appointing a special committee. The truth is, he did not. But, if he’s going to take that position, let’s take him at his word! (Commentary)
2 anti-abortion bills are sent again to Beshear; opponents still say neither is necessary – Two abortion-related bills were passed yesterday in #KYGA21: the so-called “born alive” bill, and one that gives the attorney general new power to regulate abortion care providers. (News)
🔥 An honest assessment of the Kentucky Democratic Party from the youngest person in leadership – Ariana Velasquez was elected to the KDP executive committee when she was 17 and in high school. Now, five years later, she shares some insights she has gained as to how to make KDP better. (Commentary)
TSOK: Let’s talk about “Beyond Breonna” – We talk with the journalists from the Courier-Journal who created the series “Beyond Breonna,” which looks at systemic racism in Louisville. This is a critical topic, not only for Louisville but for our state. (Video/Audio)
MOKP – The 2021 session has begun and Louisville has a new police chief – This week Jazmin and Robert talk about the first two days of the shorter 2021 legislative session, the firing of two officers involved in the Breonna Taylor killing, and the new LMPD chief. (Podcast)
🔥 American Fascism – It’s way past time to call Trumpism what it is: American fascism. (Commentary)
🔥 Cynical and seditious. Hal Rogers should lose his seat for his vote against democracy. – Hal Rogers is one tiny piece of this terrible movement that ended with a mob in the U.S. Capitol for the first time since 1814. But if we don’t stop it now, it will happen again all too soon. (Commentary)
Back to square one, America – Aaron Smith’s latest editorial cartoon speaks for itself. (Cartoon)