Gov. Beshear, please veto SB 349. It hurts consumers and KY’s energy future. | Opinion

Coal commission

Ask Gov. Andy Beshear to veto SB349. This bill creates a new commission, stacked with coal representatives, that has the power to vet and veto utility proposals that seek to retire aging coal plants. The bill fundamentally alters the operation of the Public Service Commission and impairs its ability to protect consumers and ensure that utility rates are based on a least cost energy supply.

If this bill goes into effect rate payers will be forced to pay for the continued operation and maintenance of uneconomic coal plants. Contrary to the false claims of bill proponents, this biased commission, along with other features of this bill, will not support energy reliability. Rather, this bill stands in the way of modernizing our power plants and transmission lines, diversifying our energy supply, and investing in storage. Forcing us to hang on to inefficient plants will impair reliability, will mean that we continue to suffer the expensive health and extreme-weather consequences of pollution and CO2, and will raise our rates.

Tell Beshear (502-564-2611) we do not want to pay for this expensive commission, and do not want to pay to prop up aging coal plants.

Cathy Clement, Lexington

Hybrid fines

Got a hybrid car? Have you paid your fine?

In case you haven’t noticed yet, the Republicans have added a surcharge to your auto taxes and tag fees if you own a hybrid vehicle. Their excuse is that hybrid owners are now paying less gas tax and they want your money. Otherwise, they might have to raise taxes somewhere else -- like on rich peoples’ incomes.

You can be sure they will have a bunch of concocted rationalizations to justify it, but they are Republicans. It is an anti-freedom, anti-choice, anti-innovation, anti-modernization, anti-fairness, anti-climate science gimmick to keep ramming regressive flat taxes at ordinary people who can least afford them, punish responsible people like criminals, bias the tax system in favor of big coal and big oil, and suck up to those people who ride around with little black “Friend of Coal” license plates on their cars, trucks and Escalades.

Don’t fool yourself. They know exactly what they are doing. They have a super majority in the legislature, and they are all in it together, so nobody can stop them.

Glenn Rainey, Richmond

Million $$ mistake

I read recently in the Herald-Leader that in the final hours of the 2024 Kentucky Legislative Session the Republicans who control the state legislature passed a budget bill that made a $200 million mistake. Maybe if those Republicans hadn’t spent most of their time in Frankfort during this session on partisan political nonsense and mean-spirited attacks on drag queens and the homeless, they would’ve had time to proofread their work before voting on it.

I recall that in years past, when Republicans were more likely than not to lose elections in Kentucky, they claimed to be the party of less government interference. They even bragged about it. Now that they have power, they constantly insert themselves into areas that should be left to local governments and individual families and citizens, once again proving the old adage - “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

Greg Kring, Lexington

Tornado memories

I felt compelled to take the time to commend Herald-Leader journalist, Bill Estep, on his outstanding piece commemorating the 50th anniversary of the devastating tornadoes that ripped across Kentucky and several others states on April 3 and 4th, 1974.

At that time, I was working at Proctor & Gamble in Cincinnati when my boss asked me to be one of the volunteers to assist with Red Cross efforts in Cincinnati during the days following the tornadoes. I will never forget this eye-opening experience. One of the jobs I had was sorting donations into categories for those in need. What really stood out in my mind were the personal stories. One woman had lost her home and everything she owned. She was a diabetic and in desperate need of insulin. More than the insulin, though, her greatest concern was finding her son. We were able to get her the needed insulin almost immediately, but it took a couple of days to locate her son and unite them.

When the severe storms were forecasted earlier this week I was telling my own sons of my experience 50 years ago. Kudos to Bill Estep, whom I’ve always held in the highest regard and still do today. He has established the gold standard for up and coming journalists.

Carol Czirr Russell, Lexington

Military service

Like many other patriotic Americans, my three brothers and I spent years in the military, 54 years to be exact. We left Olive Hill, KY, and served stateside and on foreign soil, serving and defending America. None of us were ever suckers or losers.

In October 2023, former White House Chief of Staff Gen. John Kelly said former President Donald Trump felt those who served in the military were “suckers” because “there is nothing in it for them.” He also said Trump didn’t want to be seen in the presence of military amputees because “it doesn’t look good for me” and refused to visit veteran’s graves in France calling those who gave their lives were “losers.”

Trump has denied these comments. Frankly, I believe Gen. Kelly.

Saying you love America is easy; it is another experience altogether to serve; to comprehend the trials of those who serve, particularly in combat deployments; and to have empathy for those who gave their all in service to America.

Trump is aspiring to regain his role as Commander-in-Chief. His own words and actions make him unfit for the job.

C.G. Barker, Olive Hill

Calipari staying

I am University of Tennessee alumni who has lived in Lexington for 40 years. Having said that, I can’t tell you how hard I laughed when I heard that University of Kentucky athletics director Mitch Barnhart retained John Calipari as UK’s men’s basketball coach. Barnhart is the same genius who brought in Billy Gillespie and made Joker Phillips the “coach in waiting.”

Calipari has fatal coaching flaws. He can’t manage the clock correctly. He treats his players like dogs. He never uses the right combination of players. Most importantly, he can’t grasp that his methods are not working. I could go on, but there is not enough room here to list them all.

I saw in the paper recently that UK has six more freshmen coming in. As the famous philosopher Yogi Berra said, “It’s deja vu all over again.” Now what is that definition of insanity again?

Jerry Johnson, Lexington

Democratic strategies

Republican’s policies are incredibly unpopular amongst a majority of the population. This simply cannot be denied. As voters become aware of the implications of what passing these policies would mean to them personally, the candidates espousing them become less electable. Republicans know this so they are adopting tactics to reduce the number of Democratic voters.

They have destroyed the Voting Rights Act which guaranteed all citizens the right to vote. Their gerrymandering efforts have been so successful that, in many congressional districts, it is impossible for a Democrat to win. In these districts voters no longer choose their candidates as much as candidates choose their voters.

So how do Democrats win in such an environment? I think that in this fall’s elections we must post the most hard-hitting series of political ads the world has ever seen. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) should adopt the techniques of The Lincoln Project and Vote Vets who know how to win. And these ads must run on right wing and unconventional media. The formerly silent Grand Poo Ba’s of the party must speak up - loudly and often. We can win, but we must attack this lying vacuous man in each and every way possible!

Jim Porter, Danville

Carceral labor

A problem that plagues the United States prison system is carceral labor and its inhumane nature. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, out of the United States’ whopping 1.2 million prison population nationwide, nearly 800,000 prisoners have a job behind bars. Furthermore, out of these 800,000 people, 64 percent said they said they felt concerned about their safety and another 76 percent reported being forced to work or face additional punishment. These prisoners are rewarded with pittance, with their average wages being $0.86 an hour.

This horrendous situation only benefits the state and private companies who exploit them for practically slave labor. I propose that Fair Standard Labor Act (FSLA) protections be granted to incarcerated workers to better protect and empower them. In the words of Nelson Mandela, “It is said that no one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails. A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones.”

Samuel Thomas, Lexington

Gaza

The Gaza situation reminds me of a World War II documentary on Netflix.

By early 1945, the Allies (us) reached Germany and were able to bomb them. They tried to destroy military targets, but much of the manufacturing of war machines in Germany was done underground, limiting the effect of the bombing.

The American generals devised a plan to cause the German population to rise up and oppose Hitler. They ordered a huge bomber attack to firebomb Hamburg. Hamburg had no military value and was just a population center.

The flight crews complained about their cruel assignment but had no choice. Hamburg was left in flames, with countless civilians dead.

After a war, history is written by the winners.

Dave Powell, Lexington

Litigation settlement

The recent announcement from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) concerning the resolution of litigation over brokerage commissions is a significant milestone for our industry and the millions of Americans who rely on it. The settlement, which involves a substantial financial payment, also brings crucial changes shaping the future of real estate transactions.

The resolution preserves consumer choice regarding cooperative compensation in real estate transactions. Commissions have always been negotiable, and cooperative compensation ensures flexibility and accessibility in the real estate market.

Real estate agents continue to educate buyers and sellers on how they are compensated. By implementing written agreements, buyer representatives and their clients can ensure transparency between all parties.

For more than a century, NAR, as well as state and local realtors, have been at the forefront of protecting and advancing property ownership rights in this country. As the real estate industry navigates this transitional period, its focus remains on the next steps that will move the industry forward.

We are confident that this settlement represents a positive step forward for our members and the industry as a whole. Together, we will continue to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity while ensuring buyers and sellers have access to the resources and expertise they need.

Pam Featherstone, 2024 Kentucky REALTORS® President

Compiled by Liz Carey