KDP Chair on Republican obstructionism

Today the KDP issued this press release:

Kentucky Democratic Party Chairman Dan Logsdon is calling out Republican Senate President David Williams for overseeing a partisan backroom maneuver that rejected eight highly qualified nominees for state boards and commissions without a single public hearing. Williams has refused to release information and documents from the confirmation process leaving Kentucky tax payers in the dark.

“The Kentucky State Senate has become a partisan house of horrors,” said Dan Logsdon, Chairman and Executive Director of the Kentucky Democratic Party. “This was a shameful abuse of power which may explain why it was done in the middle of the night. Republican Senators, under David Williams’ direction, didn’t grant these nominees an interview, won’t reveal how the decisions were made and now won’t even release documents on why they were rejected. There are two-bit dictatorships with a more transparent political process than the State Senate under David Williams.”

On Tuesday, State Senate Republicans met late at night and rejected eight highly qualified nominees to fill positions on several state boards and commissions, including two minority women to serve on the Parole Board. The nominees were rejected without a public hearing and, as of Thursday, Senate Republicans have refused to release documents on why they were not approved.

Of Beshear’s nominees, several had already begun their service and had left jobs in the private sector. Due to state law, rejected appointees are not eligible for appointment to another State Board for two years, leaving several without a job. The nominees were not told why their appointments were rejected and have been denied information on their nomination process.

“This was a petty partisan move, pure and simple and Kentuckians should be offended by it,” said Logsdon. “Before they slinked out of town without finishing the people’s business, David Williams and the Senate Republicans showed Kentucky that they have no interest in running a government free of politics. Kentucky taxpayers are grownups, they deserve better than to have their government keep secrets from them.”