The other shoe in the redistricting battle has fallen, this time in the state Senate. Republicans control the chamber and have decided to put five incumbent Democratic senators into tough re-election fights.
That chamber passed House Bill 1 with it's new Senate districts on a near-party line vote Wednesday. It includes the new House and judicial maps and could be signed into law by Thursday afternoon.
A state Senate committee has approved a Congressional redistricting plan that differs greatly from the one passed in the House.
The Senate State and Local Government voted 7 to 4 along party lines Wednesday for the plan that keeps Owensboro in the 2nd District and Ashland in the 4th. The Senate plan also keeps all of Pulaski County in the 5th District. The Democratic House map had divided Pulaski County, home of GOP Congressman Hal Rogers of Somerset.
A key opponent to expanded gambling in Kentucky says the bill doesn’t have the votes to pass this legislative session.
For years, the Family Foundation has mounted strong opposition to Governor Steve Beshear’s chief legislative issue. The group’s senior analyst, Martin Cothran, says Beshear’s proposal will fall short in the Senate if it's voted on soon.
