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Politics
1:45 pm
Mon March 18, 2013

Farmer Facing 42 Charges of Ethics Violations During Time as Agriculture Commissioner

Former Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer

Former Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer is facing 42 charges of ethics violations related to his tenure from 2003-2011. The state’s Executive Branch Ethics Commission returned the charges following a ten-month investigation.

That investigation started when state auditor Adam Edelen issued a report last April accusing Farmer of abusing his office and employees in the Agriculture Department. That report claimed Farmer used workers to take him hunting and shopping, mow his lawn, and even chauffeur his dog.

The Courier-Journal reports the case against the former UK basketball player now goes to a hearing officer who will review the evidence and then make a recommendation to the ethics commission regarding punishment. If the commission ultimately finds Farmer guilty he could face a fine of up to $5,000 per count. Farmer served two terms and Agriculture Commissioner before running unsuccessfully as Lt. Gov. in 2011.

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Politics
9:35 am
Mon March 18, 2013

Gov. Beshear Could Take Action on Religious Freedom Bill This Week

Governor Steve Beshear has one week to veto a controversial law protecting religious freedom or else it will become law.

On the federal level, if a bill isn't signed by the President within a certain period of time, it's thrown out in a process called the pocket veto.

But in Kentucky, the process is reversed. The governor has 10 days to sign a bill into law. But if he doesn't sign or veto in that time, it becomes law anyway.

Consider it a pocket law. The legislation in question is the so-called Religious Freedom bill, which allows Kentuckians to bypass laws they saw interfere with their religious beliefs. Opponents say it would overturn Fairness laws in cities across the commonwealth, and have lobbied the governor to act.

But the governor hasn't hinted at what he'll do with the bill.

Politics
6:56 pm
Sun March 17, 2013

Rand Paul Wins CPAC Presidential Straw Poll

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY)

Kentucky U.S. Senator Rand Paul won the presidential straw poll at the Conservative Political Action Conference, narrowly beating fellow Senator Marco Rubio of Florida.

According to Politico, Paul received 25 percent of the vote at CPAC Saturday, with Rubio taking 23 percent of the nearly 3,000 ballots cast.

Former Pennsylvania Senator and presidential candidate Rick Santorum was third.

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