FRANKFORT —
Republican Senate Caucus Chair Dan Seum Friday announced new committee chairs – but two of the 23 Republican senators’ names are missing from the list.
Albert Robinson of London, who previously served in the state Senate from 1994 to 2004 and at one time chaired the State Government Committee, is not among those given committee chairs. Neither is Carroll Gibson of Leitchfield who previously served as Republican Whip.
Meanwhile, independent Bob Leeper of Paducah, who unsuccessfully challenged Sen. Bob Stivers for Senate President, retains the chair of the powerful Appropriations and Revenue Committee, as Stivers said he would after the vote for President.
Leadership – Stivers, Senate Pro Tem Katie Kratz Stine, Seum, Floor Leader Damon Thayer and Caucus Chair Brandon Smith – don’t typically chair committees.
Sen. David Givens of Greensburg was named Vice Chair of the A&R Committee but is no longer chair of the Agriculture Committee which will be chaired by Sen. Paul Hornback. Givens lost a close race to Sen. Damon Thayer for Majority Floor Leader last week.
“In this instance, Bob is an independent who has caucused with us,” Stivers said. “We felt it was important to have a designated vice chair and to have a Republican in that position. Not that in any it’s a slight to Bob but because David Givens is a very talented member.”
Stivers said some Republican senators would have preferred a Republican hold the A&R chair and said he had attempted to get Leeper, who once was registered as a Republican, to re-register as one but he declined.
Thayer’s selection as Floor Leader created a potential opening for Robinson to regain his committee chair, something he said this week he wanted.
“I did apply for it,” Robinson said Wednesday when asked if he was seeking to reclaim the State Government Committee chair. Robinson’s previous tenure as chair was marked by controversy over an amendment he sponsored to a pension bill to sweeten lawmakers’ own pensions.
Stivers said Friday Robinson was just elected and leadership looked at all the senators’ qualifications and “made a unanimous type of decision for the respective chairs.”
He said newly elected Whitney Westerfield of Hopkinsville was named Judiciary Chair “because he’s a lawyer.” Some had thought Sara Beth Gregory, an attorney who is the Republican candidate in the special election for the 16th District might get the Judiciary chair.
But Gregory, who served on the House Judiciary Committee, must first win the election over Democrat Bill Conn. And Stivers said Gregory did not ask to be Judiciary Chair. Instead, if she is elected, Gregory will chair the Government Contract Review Committee.
Stivers said Gibson specifically said he did not want to chair a committee.
Other chairs named Friday are Tom Buford, Banking and Insurance; Alice Forgy Kerr, Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor; Mike Wilson, Education; Julie Denton, Health and Welfare; John Schickel, Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations; Jared Carpenter, Natural Resources and Energy; Joe Bowen, State and Local Government; Jimmy Higdon, Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection; Bowen, Administrative Regulations Review; Stan Humprhies, Capital Advisory Board; Chris Girdler, Capital Projects and Bond Oversight; Givens, Medicaid Oversight and Advisory; Chris McDaniel, Program Review and Investigations; and Hornback, Tobacco Settlement Fund Oversight.
Ronnie Ellis writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com. Follow CNHI News Service stories on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cnhifrankfort.
Local News
Seum names Senate committee chairs
- Local News
-
-
Raceland to ‘kick off summer’ today
People in downtown Raceland want others to visit the city this afternoon for a community celebration, to catch a glimpse of some of the projects under way and visit a few of the places which give the town its own charm and personality.
-
Not guilty plea in death of Boyd baby
A Powell County teenager accused in the beating death of an infant pleaded not guilty to the charge Friday.
Brett T. Thompson, 18, of Stanton was arraigned Friday in Boyd County Court.
Thompson has been indicted in the death of 2-month-old Alivia Noel Worstell of Westwood. He was the boyfriend of the baby’s mother, Heather Worstell, 19. -
Paul plans re-election bid for Senate
Republican Rand Paul will run for re-election to the U.S. Senate in 2016 regardless of any decision to launch a presidential bid. And he will campaign for his Kentucky colleague and Senate Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in 2014.
-
Area woman’s book collection of aviator grandfather’s technical writings
All her life, Barbara Sellers gave much thought to flight.
-
Musical memories
A new nonprofit group is planning a concert this summer intended to offer a positive social gathering for music lovers.
-
Water main break causes headaches
A water main break in the area of 29th Street and Greenup Avenue has caused headaches for public works employees and water customers in Ashland.
-
MLB exec speaking to Greenup graduates
Greenup County High School graduates are going to hear a little baseball tonight.
-
Span into Ky. likely out of commission through holiday
The Ben Williamson Bridge, closed Thursday morning because of a damaged I-beam, probably will remain closed at least through the Memorial Day holiday, and transportation officials don’t yet know how soon they will be able to reopen it.
-
Students celebrate grandparents
The fellowship hall at Unity Baptist Church was bursting with pride Thursday afternoon.
-
Olive Hill Council holds off on appointments
The Olive Hill Council met in regular session Tuesday night to accept the resignations of former Council members Tony Williams and Angie Johnson Fultz.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Raceland to ‘kick off summer’ today
Raw: Trucker Bumps I-5 Bridge Before Collapse
Raw: Texas Deputy Shot by Colo. Suspect Honored
Major Detours Following Wash. Bridge Collapse
American Held in Grisly Czech Murders
Raw: Jersey Shore Reopens for Summer
UK-bound Pakistan Plane Diverted, 2 Men Arrested
Officials: Tsarnaev Friend Linked to Slaying
Obama:Sexual Assault Threatens Trust in Military
Bridge Collapse Survivor: 'Rough Day'
Jersey Shore Open for Business
Raw: Memorial Day Flags Placed at Arlington
New Wheelchair Lift Promises More Access
First Person: Mom Discusses Famous Tornado Photo
Raw Video: Washington State Bridge Collapse
Boy Scouts Approve Plan to Accept Gay Boys
