By Tony McVeigh
Frankfort, KY – Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear last night delivered his fourth State of the Commonwealth address since taking office in December 2007. Gov. Beshear moved fairly quickly through his 11-page speech, finishing in 37 minutes, including numerous interruptions for applause. The loudest cheers came when Beshear challenged the way the federal government is regulating Kentucky coal. The governor says the state's low electrical rates have helped build a robust manufacturing industry. "But all that is in jeopardy because Washington bureaucrats continue to try to impose arbitrary and unreasonable regulations on the mining of coal. To them I say Get off our backs!"
Beshear, who's seeking re-election, also outlined a litany of accomplishments, many of which he says never would have been possible without bipartisan legislative support. He urged lawmakers to continue working in that spirit, because "Rank partisanship doesn't put food on the table. It doesn't educate a child, and it doesn't create a job."