steve born september american attorney democratic_party politician 61st governor kentucky served kentucky house representatives state attorney general 49th lieutenant governor graduating briefly practiced law new_york returning kentucky elected state legislature gained reputation consumer advocate reputation term attorney general serving governor attorney general issued opinion copies removed walls state classrooms wake decision stone graham clashed lady opposed practice charging admission fee visitors view renovated governor mansion elected lieutenant governor administration governor significant action capacity formation panel charged making recommendations future state initial rise political prominence interrupted finished candidate democratic gubernatorial primary election campaign governor brown second place finisher primary opened door political financed campaign achieve come upset race years practiced law lexington law firm foray politics period unsuccessful challenge senator drawn politics vulnerability incumbent republican governor administration extended investigation attorney general violations state merit system gubernatorial election emerged candidate democratic primary largely strength pledge expand casino gambling means funding social programs like education defeated general election won election defeating republican independent ineligible election term limits imposed kentucky constitution early life born september kentucky children born raised small town father owned furniture store operated funeral home served mayor father grandfather uncle lay ministers childhood years attended father church mother member accompanied uncle traveled county races seat state house_of_representatives graduated class attended earned bachelor_of_arts degree history member delta delta social fraternity beta honor society elected student body treasurer served student body president college attended lunch home son eventually challenge governorship kentucky graduated honors year married marriage joined wife attended couple sons granddaughter following marriage moved new_york steve worked wall street law firm served intelligence specialist performing duties judge return kentucky half years family returned kentucky joined lexington law firm bush went practice taking partners formed law firm green led firm election attorney general early political career began political career elected represent county term colleagues named outstanding freshman legislator elected campaigns featured close democratic legislator gained reputation consumer advocate sponsored bills increase environmental end practice commercial bail bonding voted resolution condemning practice called changes federal constitution major accomplishments house legislation improve care considered bill requiring posting kentucky classrooms unconstitutional voting voting later claimed regretted attorney general candidate announce bid post attorney general kentucky election shortly declaring candidacy endorsed outgoing attorney general central issue campaign pledge advocate consumer cases proposed utility rate winning democratic primary defeated republican nominee vote incumbent attorney general resigned december accept appointment appointed fill vacancy term officially began january attorney general created state fraud division office took leading role state coalition committed organized crime country coal fields minor controversies marked tenure attorney general came aftermath ruling case stone graham ruling struck state law requiring posting state classrooms grounds violated establishment clause federal constitution state superintendent asked supreme_court clarify ruling meant copies posted taken simply kentucky requirement posted court refused request issued advisory opinion displaying classrooms circumstances banned court ruling second controversy arose result renovation governor mansion kentucky lady created help cover costs renovation renovation complete planned day showcase mansion general public guests charged tour mansion legislator objected charged fee view mansion tax dollars supported asked protest charge requested injunction lexington judge refused grant injunction appealed upheld lower court decision actions caused rift governor lieutenant governor limited term attorney general state constitution declared candidacy lieutenant governor seven candidate democratic primary captured votes cast defeat field included state judge executive agriculture commissioner basketball star general election faced republican nominee newly formed losing republican gubernatorial primary stuart categorized liberal kentucky citing opinion case support abortion rights gun control denied advocating gun control charged stuart state senator shown leadership worthy election lieutenant governor office easily defeated stuart vote captured votes changes proposed office lieutenant governor tenure state representative proposed constitutional amendment abolish office effort failed richardson introduced bill general_assembly revoked lieutenant governor right live rent free state old governor mansion eliminated police protection restricted use state executive helicopters measure eliminated lieutenant governor salary paying days served acting governor president state senate instead measure lifted ban lieutenant governor holding employment bill provisions opposed charged politically motivated richardson expressed interest running lieutenant governor past claimed elected office doesn want anybody richardson denied efforts political ploy claimed office largely ceremonial served stepping stone governorship previous lieutenant governors subsequently elected governor including sitting governor despite opposing richardson changes office conceded provision state constitution acting governor time governor collins left state archaic organizational session general_assembly relieved lieutenant governor membership committees assigned bills committees managed flow legislation senate floor later year proposed requiring governor lieutenant governor run ticket combining office secretary state recommendations acted term service lieutenant governor formed chaired privately financed group assembled recommendations state future growth development person commission formed july presented report containing recommendations september recommendations commission report changes state constitution adopted recommended changes included eliminating offices state treasurer secretary state superintendent public instruction holding elections odd numbered years instead year raising term limit state constitutional officers term consecutive terms state legislature showed little interest calling constitutional convention commission recommendations immediately adopted implemented recommendations commission report included creation lifelong learning programs implementation criminal justice reforms improvements worker training commission hailed substantial undertaking lieutenant governor date panned better position run governor activities lieutenant governor participation investigation coal buying practices issue legal ethical company coal buyer accept gifts coal suppliers clashed company similar issues term attorney general company attempted block participation investigation rejected attempt length investigation number appeals filed matter fully past end term ultimately ruled favor entered crowded democratic gubernatorial primary included governor millionaire magnate physician backing collins administration endorsement labor leaders state teachers association appeared runner race governor entered late instant favorite spent campaign running ads brown jet setting lifestyle including ads claimed wild nights brown countered ads claiming facts trusted brown claimed raise taxes elected feud brown allowed candidates according polls late february launch blitz ads claiming brown raise taxes proposing state lottery alternative means raising funds state final days campaign past brown captured votes win primary finished trailing brown votes leading votes votes minor candidates political interim senate bid defeat election moved acre farm resumed career lawyer joining member lexington law firm handled high profile cases bankruptcy underwent successful surgery treat cancer little political arena decade primary defeat late encouraged democratic leaders including governor senator chair challenge incumbent republican senator entered primary heavy favorite term congressman kentucky district retired louisville police officer primary campaign virtually ignored focused rhetoric despite tour kentucky counties cruised victory primary garnering votes faced heavy polls general election campaign raised twice money campaign tried fundraising campaign issue claiming money came political action committees represented interests lobbied senate committees served defended contributors saying right free speech included right donate money charged republicans including voted cut responded republicans cut forward plan curb growth plan didn differ significantly said proposed democratic president bill_clinton campaign turned personal second debates candidates charged belonged african american members racially denied club fired prominent supporter louisville anti women countered taken money labor union group investigation links organized crime debate revealed member investigation membership practices claimed resigned membership club practiced discrimination express reasons resigning club membership leadership ultimately arguments gained traction lost race votes time largest victory margin career biography author wrote chance success race sake party hoping ride president clinton likely election got race book release said spokesman assessment sounds accurate continued legal practice following defeat firm hired represent creditors bankruptcy case opponent gubernatorial primary firm represented creditors company fortune unsuccessfully sought firm removed case citing potential conflict interest stemming old political rivalry case eventually settled months death gubernatorial campaign december announced enter gubernatorial race hazard physician state senator running mate promised return integrity governor office sitting governor seeking election despite recently concluded investigation administration hiring practices conducted democratic attorney general time declared democratic candidates state treasurer contractor ran limited campaign filing deadline list democratic grown include louisville millionaire businessman lieutenant governor speaker perennial candidate early polls showed henry led democratic field recognition trailed republican primary rival area early campaign attempted set apart candidates supporting constitutional amendment allow expanded casino gambling state claimed generate million new revenue need raise taxes observers noted strategy remarkably similar primary victory revenue state lottery generate initially democratic candidates endorsed casino amendment centerpiece campaign support candidates began richards officially changed position oppose amendment candidates charged platform proposal guaranteed pass april received endorsement governor weeks primary candidate dropped race endorsed miller consistently polls indicated endorsing order prevent candidate democratic_party nominee fall campaign later admitted comment aimed dropped democratic gubernatorial primary general election endorsed candidate henry faced allegations illegal medical billing improper campaign financing endorsements ahead won primary garnered percent vote avoid costly runoff election second place finisher incumbent governor emerged republican primary immediately looked investigation primary issue campaign countered strengthening opposition casino expansion plan june backed earlier commitment let vote casino gambling amendment campaign told reporters voters chance decide issue november election ballot redundant choice casino gambling centerpiece campaign proved ineffective months campaigning issue poll showed gained percentage points trailed percentage points polling showed half state voters believed acted regard claims hiring investigation believed casino gambling amendment placed ballot late campaign kentucky leading newspapers endorsed ultimately elected vote gubernatorial campaign january lieutenant governor announced seek democratic nomination challenge incumbent senator election effectively prohibited running election gubernatorial contest july announced louisville mayor replace running mate election campaign faced opposition democratic gubernatorial primary held republican primary senate president defeated louisville businessman favorite county clerk perennial candidate sought governorship independent collecting signatures registered voters requesting added ballot november elected governor kentucky close vote way race night democratic candidates won statewide offices governorship soon taking office ordered million budget cuts citing million projected deficit state budget republican senate president questioned legality cuts claiming million million surplus funds previous fiscal year cover difference countered legislature authorized million expenditures surplus fund deficit included million additional spending needs williams stopped short filing legal challenge cuts warned general_assembly closely monitor cuts disagreed passing modifications budget commencement legislative session february dealt political setback term special election fill state senate seat lieutenant governor despite voter registration advantage district democratic candidates fact campaigned heavily democratic nominee republican captured open seat votes loss alexander expensive state legislative history gave republicans advantage democratic members state senate chamber included independent legislative session special session debate legislative session centered crafting budget period state projected encounter nearly billion expressed surprise budget issues consumed assembly time session admitted legislature independent governor legislator decades earlier listed early childhood education expanded health care children priorities unable address session february unveiled promised legislation allow casino gambling kentucky plan included constitutional amendment allowing licensed state seven state horse additional free standing companion bill increased revenues spent plan encountered initial resistance house leadership reduced number allowed amendment proposal authored house speaker guaranteed casino licenses state allowed free standing competing measure drafted house majority whip speaker allowed licenses awarded specifically reserved late february constitutional amendments committee failed advance proposal floor house_of_representatives following day speaker richards removed representative committee claimed richards voting proposals richards said removed told vote proposals voted following removal committee passed amendment casino legislation called vote democratic controlled votes required passage announced proposal constitutional amendment allow dead regular session march proposals favored failed pass session ethics reform measure proposed wake investigation administration plan reduce projected state pension system proposed cent pack tax increase cigarettes state budget major legislation passed session included incentives businesses utilize energy efficiency measures anti bullying legislation increased penalties animal cruelty final hours legislative session houses general_assembly resorted controversial practice stopping respective chambers minutes midnight order avoid mandated deadline end session midnight april assembly passed bills midnight clock april bills house provided funding direction state road building plan years bill delivered later day vetoed april general_assembly unable veto senate president filed suit claiming veto invalid issued days bill passage williams reasoning based fact according legislative record bill passed april counter sued claiming bill actually passed april invalid begin july lexington judge sided law declaring general_assembly longer allowed use practice stopping rule validity bills passed session expired dissatisfied general_assembly acted shore state pension system called special legislative session july house senate leaders informed reached agreement plan regular legislative session end session lasted days minimum time required maneuver bill legislative process matters following legislative session began address agenda related energy production april announced divide state form new essentially reversed consolidation effected predecessor later year released called state comprehensive energy plan plan called expansion solar wind energy generation speculative ventures coal carbon capture plan called exploration use nuclear power stopped short advocating end state ban construction nuclear hoping attract proposed electric vehicle manufacturing plant city franklin kentucky issued executive order permitting low speed vehicles kentucky roads august state offered company million tax incentives contingent delivering promised jobs construction proposed plant stalled primary investor pulled project officials maintained intention build plant said consider states proposals replace million commitment clashed state hiring president said state law required council conduct national search president hire experience established reputation higher education claimed lexington lawyer state budget director governor qualified position council hired national search democratic attorney general issued non binding opinion hiring illegal state law resigned wage legal battle considered asking council members resign council altogether favor new praised decision chairman said council headed right direction added satisfied permanent position criticize governor role played resignation senate president called interference matter unfortunate september administration attempted seize control gambling related domain names attempt block kentucky residents websites claimed sites conducting illegal gambling operations state providing competition state horse racing industry later year judge ruled authority seize domain names overturned ruling appeal appealed partially grounds web site owners represented gambling associations players groups said legal standing case agreed ordered web site owners appear court august case legislative session organizational session general_assembly house speaker ousted house democratic members vote margin favor majority leader attorney general speculated personally interfered behalf charge denied asked alleged interference richards refused comment state economy primary issue facing legislature session million budget expanded gambling proposed possible source revenue bill allow slot machines state passed died speaker expressed doubt votes pass measure brought house floor instead assembly passed series tax bills deal assembly began process reforming state system school testing advocated bills passed session revised state road plan newly available federal funds created program divert accused substance treatment trials created statewide database tracking loans rules house_of_representatives required final days chamber session reserved governor hoped house suspend rules previous years order consider bills increase funding public defenders create transportation authority oversee bridge building projects louisville henderson provide economic incentives including package intended lure race kentucky house refused suspend rules citing desire receive legislation timely manner future chamber allowed veto stand day early matters special legislative session following legislative session attorney general asked issue advisory opinions gambling related issues republican state senator asked opinion allowing individuals bet outcome previously run horse races state constitution democratic representative asked advisory opinion constitutional amendment required allow video lottery state legal amendment allowed state lottery critics charged conway conflict interest matter father member conway denied conflict existed state executive refused position official request investigation conway subsequently opined june video lottery legal governed january instant racing state betting statutes regulatory changes effort cut costs announced offer state driving test english beginning june test previously offered foreign languages state police said foreign language versions test updated reflect recent changes driving laws days later announced reversal state police new policy saying informed believed wrong thing promised foreign language versions test updated continue offered april announced partnership chicago based construct research facility lexington develop advanced battery technologies power electric cars week later announced locate battery manufacturing plant citing nearby research facility incentive choosing kentucky competing sites venture receiving million federal funds august funds denied officials conceded unlikely plant built called special legislative session june address billion state budget later amended include economic incentives package approved regular session light attorney general conway opinion video lottery measure expand gambling state statute threshold lowered votes constitutional amendment votes statute house_of_representatives passed expanded gambling bill measure died republican dominated vote amended budget economic incentives bills passed day session unable expanded gambling proposal past senate attempted chip away republican majority chamber appointing republican senators lucrative positions executive judicial branches advance general_assembly shortly special session named republican senator appointment set special election borders seat won democratic senator reducing republican majority independent usually voted republicans following victory appointed republican senator circuit republicans held seat special election legislative special sessions early legislative session presented budget proposal general_assembly state projected billion proposed revenue generated expanded gambling days presented proposal house speaker senate president williams declared gambling legislation dead session saying political chamber pass legislation ahead legislative elections november process crafting budget consumed vast majority assembly time session legislators reached mandated end session agreement announcing intent special session pass budget prevent state government leadership chambers budget proposal budget defining moment said legislators claimed moment failure said expanded gambling agenda special session agreement reached session date legislators passed budget utilized line item veto items budget claiming restricted ability implement reduction executive expenses mandated budget legislators unable special session july announced mandatory unpaid days state employees order achieve savings called budget later month announced exceptions public safety mental health care workers council represents kentucky state workers filed suit block implementation judge refused issue injunction september allowed lawsuit proceed month later agreed drop suit address issue employee ultimately days observed outlined plan legislative special sessions lead legislative session state senator governor declared years capitol recall people expecting little legislative session result senate president announcement challenge upcoming gubernatorial election believed cooperation leaders items passed legislative session bill allowing perform eye surgery procedure usually reserved ban sale drug marketed bath measure allowing community supervision addiction treatment jail alternatives non violent drug criminals measures pass included tougher measures curb illegal immigration advocated williams raising legal age dropping high school sixteen eighteen proposal supported assembly unable agree adopt plan address state obligations alternative plan proposed williams plan involved moving million second year budget cover cover costs second year savings achieved switching managed care plan williams plan passed republican majority state senate called million cuts state government spending cover plan place estimated state cut health care providers percent immediately following end legislative session called special legislative session consider way meet state obligations raise minimum age special session legislators approved raising minimum age special session following session honored america governor award citing advocacy raising minimum age consistent refusal cut education funding houses approved plan allowed funds second year budget triggered automatic spending cuts managed care plans generate sufficient savings bill called hiring independent accounting firm assess savings achieved managed care plans line item veto strike spending cuts savings assessment provisions previous arrangement democratic eliminating provisions version bill signed essentially plan proposed regular session house session march senate remained session april voting house votes ineffective
Steve Beshear