Skip to main content

From the Louisville Courier-Journal: Kentucky legislature overrides 5 of Gov. Beshear's vetoes, passes Marsy's Law

Berry Craig
Social share icons

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is a statement from Ben Self, chair of the Kentucky Democratic Party:

“I'm disappointed that Republican legislators chose to override Governor Beshear's very sensible veto of Senate Bill 2. This was a partisan political decision that is just another example of legislators caring more about winning elections than protecting the public. There is no evidence of in-person voter fraud in Kentucky. The goal of Senate Bill 2 was always about one thing: voter suppression.”

A longer statement from Corey Shapiro, ACLU-Kentucky legal director begins: 

"Kentucky lawmakers continued to ignore the real problems facing the Commonwealth in the middle of a global pandemic by overriding a veto for a voter suppression measure.  

"We remain concerned about the rushed timeline and lack of resources to implement this new law just months before a highly anticipated general election and in the middle of a national emergency. We are currently evaluating whether to seek court intervention to make sure every eligible voter can still cast a ballot under this oppressive measure." CLICK HERE TO READ MORE. 

By JOE SONKA and MORGAN WATKINS

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Legislators returned to Frankfort Tuesday for the final two days of the Kentucky General Assembly's 2020 legislative session, where they began overriding up to 10 vetoes issued by Gov. Andy Beshear, in addition to passing through other legislation.

Because of concerns about exposing members to COVID-19, the House maintained a rules change implemented two weeks ago allowing most representatives to vote remotely via text messages. Members of the Senate voted in person, though several wore masks.

Read more here.