Kentucky governor ready to campaign against school choice measure if it reaches fall ballot

1. Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear vowed Thursday to relentlessly oppose a proposed school choice constitutiona amendment moving closer to reaching the general election ballot in the state.

As Republican lawmakers accelerated action on the bill, the governor sounded ready to lead the charge to try to defeat it at the ballot box and offered feisty critiques that could turn into campaign themes.

When a reporter noted at Beshear’s weekly news conference that he does not hold veto power over constitutional amendment bills, the governor quickly interjected: “But I can beat ’em.”

“Public dollars should only go to public schools, period,” Beshear said. “I’m against this constitutional amendment. And if they pass it, I will work every day to defeat it at the ballot box in November.”

Beshear’s remarks came a day after the measure won House passage following a contentious debate. The bill was advanced by a Senate committee with solid GOP support Thursday, continuing its fast-track movement in the closing days of the legislative session. Both chambers have Republican supermajorities.