Kentucky
Government, Politics,
and Public Policy
A THOMAS D. CLARK MEDALLION BOOK
The Thomas D. Clark Medallion was established to honor the memory and contributions of Dr. Thomas Dionysius Clark (19032005). A beloved teacher, prolific author, resolute activist, and an enthusiastic advocate of publications about Kentucky and the region, Dr. Clark helped establish the University of Kentucky Press in 1943, which was reorganized in 1969 as the University Press of Kentucky, the state-mandated scholarly publisher for the Commonwealth. The Clark Medallion is awarded annually to one University Press of Kentucky publication that achieves Dr. Clarks high standards of excellence and addresses his wide breadth of interests about the state. Winners of the Thomas D. Clark Medallion are selected by the Board of Directors of the Thomas D. Clark Foundation Inc., a private nonprofit organization established in 1994 to provide financial support for the publication of vital books about Kentucky and the region.
K ENTUCKY G OVERNMENT , P OLITICS, AND P UBLIC P OLICY
E DITED BY J AMES C. C LINGER
AND
M ICHAEL W. H AIL
Forewords by Senator Mitch McConnell and Trey Grayson
Copyright 2013 by The University Press of Kentucky
Scholarly publisher for the Commonwealth, serving Bellarmine University, Berea College, Centre College of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University, The Filson Historical Society, Georgetown College, Kentucky Historical Society, Kentucky State University, Morehead State University, Murray State University, Northern Kentucky University, Transylvania University, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, and Western Kentucky University.
All rights reserved.
Editorial and Sales Offices: The University Press of Kentucky
663 South Limestone Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40508-4008 www.kentuckypress.com
17 16 15 14 13 5 4 3 2 1
Maps and illustrations by Dick Gilbreath, University of Kentucky Cartography Lab.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Kentucky government, politics, and public policy / edited by James C. Clinger and Michael W. Hail ; forewords by Senator Mitch McConnell and Trey Grayson.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-8131-4315-6 (hardcover : alk. paper) ISBN 978-0-8131-4316-3 (epub) ISBN 978-0-8131-4317-0 (pdf) 1. KentuckyPolitics and government. I. Clinger, James C., 1958-
JK5316.K48 2013
320.4769dc23
2013022983
This book is printed on acid-free paper meeting the requirements of the American National Standard for Permanence in Paper for Printed Library Materials.
Manufactured in the United States of America.
| Member of the Association of American University Presses |
Sponsors
A special thank you to our generous sponsors:
Mark Davis
Virginia G. Fox
Bill and Ann Giles
Lawrence and Sherry Jelsma
James H. and Martha C. Johnson
Elizabeth Lloyd Jones
Melanie J. Kilpatrick
Mark and Kate Neikirk
Northern Kentucky University
Jack and Carol Russell
Alice Stevens Sparks
Myra Leigh Tobin
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc.
Contents
Senator Mitch McConnell
James C. Clinger and Michael W. Hail
Robert M. Ireland
Michael W. Hail
James C. Clinger
Kendra B. Stewart and Thomas M. Martin
Paul Blanchard
Bradley C. Canon
Murray S. Y. Bessette
Lisa A. Cave
Joel Turner and Scott Lasley
Donald A. Gross
James C. Clinger
H. V. Savitch, Ronald K. Vogel, and Lucas Elliott
Julie Cencula Olberding
Richard E. Day and Jo Ann G. Ewalt
Steven G. Koven
Edward T. Jennings Jr. and Jeremy L. Hall
Jeremy L. Hall and Michael W. Hail
Ann Beck
Jeffery C. Talbert and Amie Goodin
James C. Clinger and Michael W. Hail
Appendices
Foreword
Senator Mitch McConnell
Suffering as I do from a lifetime addiction to American historyespecially Kentucky historyI must confess, I could not find a better place to work than the United States Senate. In the halls of Congress, the history of the Bluegrass State comes alive every day.
In my office in the Capitol hang not one but two portraits of Henry Clay, one of the greatest Kentuckians to serve in Congress. A bronze bust of Clay stands near my desk. Serving in the same Senate seat that he once held and having occupied the famous Henry Clay Senate Desk, I cannot help but imagine Clay rising to speak from his desk against a backdrop of one of the most tumultuous times in American history: the years just before the Civil War. In that time Clay helped craft three major legislative compromises to stave off war and keep a young, fragile America united.
Of course, a major figure in that warAbraham Lincolnalso happens to be the greatest leader Kentucky or any other state in the Union ever produced. A portrait of Lincoln also hangs in my office, again to remind me of Kentuckys incredible political legacy. The likenesses of such men as Lincoln and Clay on display in the Capitol give me an indissoluble link to Kentucky and to our states proud history whenever I am there.
Now those of us who love Kentucky and its fascinating political culture have a great new resource: this book. Professors James Clinger and Michael Hail have assembled the most in-depth and comprehensive study of political science in Kentucky I have come across.
For the first time, readers from the casual history buff to the tenured scholar have together in one place the keys to better understand Kentuckys political culture and institutions. You will also learn about the leaders who harnessed the powers of those institutions in the name of the people.
In so doing, Professors Clinger and Hail have collected valuable contributions on such important topics as Kentuckys General Assembly, its executive branch, its judiciary, and the states relationship with the federal government, as well as such current pressing issues as city-county merger, education reform, and health care. First-rate scholars have contributed to make this a tremendous resource for any political science student interested in learning what makes our special Commonwealth tick. Whether readers agree or disagree with the individual authors conclusions, they will certainly find their conclusions thought provoking and worthy of discussion and analysis.
In fact, the next great statesman from Kentucky may be reading these words right now. If so, he or she can only benefit from soaking in the lessons of this insightful study of the unique political culture in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
