The Kentucky General Assembly is in the grip of a supermajority that is good for no one: Republicans, Democrats, independents or regular people.
When one political party decides everything, the debate is squashed and legislation is pushed through without discussion. This was true when Democrats dominated in Frankfort, and it remains true today.
Speaking of debate, we looked forward to hearing from both candidates in the Senate District 27 race between incumbent state Sen. Steve West, R-Paris, and challenger Molly Gene Crain.
Unfortunately, West decided he didn’t have to face the questions from the Herald-Leader editors, who have a long-term policy requiring interviews for any approval.
His opponent, Crain, showed up and proved she could be a much-needed voice in Frankfort. Her platform of the 4Fs – Families, Farms, Funding and Fixing Frankfort – moves away from the culture war the Republican Party likes to wage, returning to what she calls “kitchen table issues” such as fully funding public schools and increasing the healthcare costs. affordable.
Crain’s grandparents founded the Bluegrass Stockyard so she could get a bird’s-eye view of the struggles of farmers trying to hold on to their land and businesses.
She would also be a defender of reproductive health care, adding a voice to those who say Kentucky’s extreme abortion laws should include more and better exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother. ProPublica recently published stories about two women who died after doctors in Georgia denied them the pregnancy care they needed because of Georgia’s anti-abortion laws. That could easily happen here.
Frankfort desperately needs more diverse voices; that’s what ‘Fixing Frankfort’ is about. Crain could provide an important one. She receives our support for this.
