From The Lexington Herald-Leader: Bevin’s regulation to limit Capitol access is illegal, Beshear opines
EDITOR'S NOTE: We received this statement from Kentucky Education Association President Stephanie Winkler: “KEA agrees with Attorney General Beshear’s opinion. The Capitol building is the People’s House. It should not be used as political fodder for elected leaders who are disgruntled by citizens exercising their rights to assemble and use free speech. Governors and elected leaders will come and go, but issues that affect Kentuckians will be debated in the chambers of the Capitol building far into the future. Any attempt to stifle democracy will only make citizens work that much harder to protect it.”
By JACK BRAMMER
FRANKFORT -- Gov. Matt Bevin’s administration violated Kentucky law by implementing an emergency regulation last month that restricts access to the state Capitol and other state-owned facilities and grounds, Attorney General Andy Beshear said Thursday.
In an eight-page opinion, Beshear said the regulation also may lead to violations of the Kentucky Open Meetings Act.
Beshear, a Democrat who wants to replace the Republican governor, issued the opinion in response to a question from state Rep. Patti Minter, D-Bowling Green, about the validity of the regulation filed by the state Finance and Administration Cabinet.