Archive
Stumbo sworn in as new speaker
Plans to file slot bill for horse tracks
FRANKFORT — It’s a political environment, and a day after Greg Stumbo ousted Jody Richards as speaker of the House, talk was more political than budgetary in Frankfort.
Oh, everyone talked about the deep financial problems facing Kentucky, but their eyes lit up when talking about who would win and who would lose after the change in leadership at the top.
Stumbo, the former majority leader who helped elect Richards in 1995 and who later served as attorney general before returning to the House last year, Tuesday edged Richards by three votes for speaker.
On Wednesday he took the oath of office — and the gavel. He then delivered a seven-and-a-half-minute speech, recalling several speakers who served before him, from Bill Kenton, to Bobby Richardson, to Richards who he said had been a “wonderful, wonderful” speaker and “my friend.”
His speech was interrupted at that point by a sustained standing ovation for Richards, who acknowledged it with a wave of his arms, and greeted re-elected speaker pro yem Larry Clark’s offer of a handshake with a smile and clap on the shoulder. Clark supported Stumbo in the race for speaker and feuded with Richards in last year’s General Assembly session.
“You have done a wonderful job for your state and your constituents,” said Stumbo, directly addressing Richards now seated at a desk on the floor. He went on to promise cooperation and openness which he said would enable lawmakers — “Democrats, Republicans and Independents” in both chambers — to solve Kentucky’s financial crisis.
“Your constituents want us to work together,” Stumbo told the House. They don’t understand when we sometimes fuss and fight and don’t get anything done.”
But after adjournment, Stumbo implied that some fussing and fighting might remain. Asked if long-time chairman of the Appropriations and Revenue Committee, Harry Moberly, D-Richmond, had been removed, he answered: “Not yet.” Asked if Moberly would be removed, he responded: “No comment.”
But speculation among members was that either Rep. Rick Rand, D-Bedford, or Rep. Tommy Thompson, D-Owensboro, would be named A&R; chairman. Moberly said Tuesday he didn’t expect to remain as chairman although he said he would like to keep the position. Thompson lost the Democratic whip’s race to John Will Stacy, D-West Liberty, which along with Majority Leader Rocky Adkins, D-Sandy Hook, meant three eastern Kentucky representatives are in leadership while none was elected from western Kentucky. Thompson is currently chairman of the Banking and Insurance Committee.
But Rep. Jeff Greer, D-Brandenburg, another Stumbo supporter, covets that position. If Stumbo gave Thompson the budget committee chair, it would perhaps soothe feelings among the western Kentucky caucus who were locked out of leadership.
Greer said he thinks Thompson would make an exceptional budget chairman because of his work ethic and experience. And he said he’d love to chair the Banking and Insurance Committee if Thompson takes over A&R.;
“Absolutely — that’s my passion, that’s what I love,” Greer said. “But Tommy is an excellent chairman on that committee and if he stays there, that would suit me because he does such an exceptional job.”
Clark and Stumbo said they intended to go to work on committee assignments immediately after adjournment Wednesday. Stumbo said he hoped a committee report would be ready for approval on the floor by Thursday.
He also said he will file a bill this week to allow video lottery terminals — slot machines — at the state’s horse tracks and said he thinks it needs no constitutional amendment. He said it’s necessary to preserve Kentucky’s horse racing industry and could generate as much as $700 million a year. He also said he’s encouraged that it might fare better in the Republican Senate than some think.
“The interesting thing to me is they aren’t saying it’s dead on arrival,” said Stumbo. “To me that is a sign the Senate is at least willing to take a look at it.”
But Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, said a couple of hours later he personally opposes any expansion of gambling and doesn’t see enough support for it in the Senate for passage.
“Bottom line is I don’t see support in the Senate and I don’t know if the support is there in the House,” Williams said.
He did sound conciliatory toward House leaders, with whom he’s wrestled in the past. He said he had sympathy for Richards and his wife — “It’s not the way, I’m sure, he wanted to go out.” He said his relationship with Richards had for the most part been courteous and cooperative. And he said he knows all the current House leadership and thinks they can work together.
RONNIE ELLIS works for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com.
