Commonwealth Policy Center

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Governor Andy Beshear is criticizing a recent report of Kentucky’s foster care system as political, but the underlying findings from the state Auditor's office are serious. The report found more than 300 cases where children were placed in offices, hotels, and other “nontraditional” settings due to a lack of available placements. One child went missing for nearly two months and found living in a tent with a man wanted for murder. Another was physically assaulted by a provider. And a young girl reported she was the victim of sex trafficking that occurred after she fled her placement. Beshear minimized the findings by saying that the cases represent only 1-2% of all placements. Auditor Ball said the the CHFS refused to work with her and provide requested information.

Republican candidates seeking the U.S. Senate met for their first debate last week. Andy Barr, Daniel Cameron, and Nate Morris are the top three candidates who are seeking the U.S. Senate seat held by Sen. Mitch McConnell for over 40 years. The candidates discussed issues ranging from federal spending, border security, immigration, and economic policy. The debate offered voters a glimpse at competing visions within the party. Interestingly, all three candidates were Sen. McConnell's interns. But now they are aligned with Pres. Donald Trump and vying for his coveted endorsement. McConnell has been mostly quiet in the race. Barr and Morris have raised millions so far. While former Attorney General Daniel Cameron has been overshadowed in fundraising, he's leading in most polls.

Kentucky lawmakers voted to override Governor Andy Beshear’s veto of House Bill 1. which allows Kentuckians to participate in a new federal tax credit scholarship program. The way it works is that taxpayers can write off up to $1700 of their federal tax liability and have it go to scholarship granting organizations that help cover education expenses. Supporters argue the program brings new resources into Kentucky without taking any money from the state budget. Opponents, like Gov. Andy Beshear argue that it somehow hurts public education. However, parents of public school students can use scholarships to cover extra expanses like tutoring or extracurricular activities. Beshear's veto was overridden by wide margins in both the House and Senate.

A tragic case in Lexington has drawn national attention after a former UK cheerleader was indicted on first-degree manslaughter charges in the death of her newborn baby. Investigators say the infant was found dead in a closet, and an autopsy revealed the child had been born alive but later died from asphyxia. The loss of a child in any circumstance is heartbreaking. But the case also raises difficult cultural and moral questions. If this same child had died only a short time earlier in the womb through a chemical abortion, the law in many places would treat it not as a crime but as healthcare. Planned Parenthood calls this "reproductive freedom" which they rallied around last week.

Governor Andy Beshear and President Donald Trump clashed this week after Trump’s campaign stop in northern Kentucky. Beshear argued the President should have used the visit to more clearly explain the escalating conflict with Iran, particularly as the confrontation has already resulted in American casualties and economic uncertainty at home. Trump instead used the rally to promote his agenda and campaign against Congressman Thomas Massie, endorsing a primary challenger in the Fourth Congressional District. The exchange highlights a broader moment of tension in national politics. As the United States becomes more deeply involved in another Middle East conflict, both Democrats and Republicans are looking for clarity about the goal of the mission and the constitutional role Congress plays in deciding whether we should go to war.

A rally organized by Planned Parenthood in Frankfort last week garnered statewide attention after State Rep. ​​Vanessa Grossl addressed their annual event. It made news because Grossl was the first elected Republican in the state legislature to openly side with Planned Parenthood—the nation's largest abortion organization. Planned Parenthood's gathering pushed for abortion on demand and contraception. Kentucky is one of a dozen states that protects unborn life with some of the strictest laws in the nation. Some may see Grossl's appearance at Planned Parenthood's rally as cracks in the pro-life Republican party. Other's aren't so sure as some speculate that it may hurt her chances for re-election for a second term in the November 3 general election.

Kentucky lawmakers have overridden Gov. Andy Beshear’s first veto of the 2026 legislative session which allows a bill (HB 314) shifting oversight of the Kentucky Communications Network Authority from the governor's office to state agencies. The Kentucky Communications Network Authority is the entity responsible for the long-troubled KentuckyWired broadband project. This was supposed to bring high speed internet to rural Kentucky. But it's been a mess with huge cost overruns, delays, and mismanagement for the $1.5 billion project. Gov. Beshear called the bill a partisan power grab and warned it could interfere with ongoing litigation. But the legislature’s intervention exists for moments like this. When lawmakers believe public projects lack accountability, it's their duty to take direct action.

President Donald Trump visited northern Kentucky this week. He held a rally in the Fourth Congressional District and endorsed a primary challenger to Congressman Thomas Massie. Trump's visit drew national attention not only for his harsh remarks targeting Massie, but for the unusual step of campaigning against a sitting Republican member of Congress in his own state. Massie has long been known for his independent streak, frequently casting votes based on his reading of the U.S. Constitution—even when that places him at odds with party leadership or political allies. Massie's approach has earned both criticism and respect in Washington and beyond—and has driven the President to run a primary opponent against him.  The question remains on the impact of Trump's endorsement in the May 19 primary.

California has been considered a sanctuary state for gender dysphoric minors. Not any more according to a move by the U.S. Supreme Court which blocked enforcement of a California law that restricted schools from notifying parents if their child identified as transgender without the student’s consent. Supporters of California's law argued it protected vulnerable students’ privacy, while supporters of the Supreme Court's ruling argued that the law was a violation of parental rights and healthy child development. In the end, parents have a primary responsibility for the care and upbringing of their children, and that responsibility cannot be sidelined by laws that place barriers between parents and their children on matters of identity and well-being.

School choice may not be on the ballot in Kentucky, but a federal scholarship tax credit is in the works. That's if the legislature approves a framework for Kentucky to participate in the federal school choice option. Under the plan, individuals who donate to approved scholarship-granting organizations receive a federal tax credit, and those funds are then used to help families cover tuition, tutoring, transportation, and other education-related expenses. This is not a new state tax or a diversion of Kentucky’s education budget. It simply allows Kentuckians to access a federal benefit their tax dollars already support. If the Commonwealth declines to participate, those tax write-offs will likely flow to other states. Kentucky legislators are poised to keep those resources here and give Kentucky families more options.

Is abortion a human right? Kentucky Rep. Daniel Grossberg of Louisville thinks it is. That's why he's introduced House Bill 476, a proposed constitutional amendment that would establish a sweeping right to “reproductive freedom” in Kentucky’s Constitution, including abortion. The measure would bar the state from penalizing a woman or those assisting her in an abortion. Framing such abortions as a constitutional right, however, goes against the grain of nearly a decade of pro-life legislation that protects vulnerable human life in the womb. Such a constitutional amendment would be a failure of the state to protect all human beings under our laws. Respecting human life is a pre-political question. Science confirms a new life in the womb and civilized society must affirm the dignity of the human person.

Kentucky House Republicans have issued subpoenas to the Beshear administration after Gov. Andy Beshear's budget officials and agency heads refused multiple requests for detailed spending documents. Lawmakers argue the records are essential to create a state budget. They needed to review previous spending in order to anticipate future needs. The Kentucky state House is the body responsible for initiating a new state budget every two years. And that's what they're doing right now. But when the governor and state agencies under his direction don't cooperate, then there's a problem. That's why the subpoena was issued. This shouldn't be a partisan issue. It's about good governance. And regardless of political party, we expect our leaders to be responsible and do the business of all Kentuckians.

Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie is in the national spotlight again as he's opposed to Donald Trumps directed strikes agains Iran. Massie argues that Congress, not the president alone, should decide questions of war. He points to the constitution which delegates warpers to the U.S. Congress. Massie is now pushing for a formal vote under the War Powers Resolution, which requires congressional authorization for sustained armed conflict. The Constitution clearly vests the power to declare war in the legislative branch. However, there is precedent for president's exercising preemptive strikes when it's clear there's an imminent threat to America's safety. When it comes to deciding war, there are grave consequences—especially for American families and service members. In the end, they deserve open debate and constitutional clarity.

Louisville drivers will see savings at the pump beginning this May as the city’s long-standing reformulated gasoline mandate ends. For years, residents and small businesses were required to buy a specialized blend that cost about 25 cents more per gallon. It was under the auspices of pollution control, but the environmental benefit was limited. Now the mandate has ended after a lengthy battle. This is an example of why policies should be reviewed regularly. And regulations that no longer justify their economic burden should be removed. Kentuckians deserve clean air, but they also deserve relief from unnecessary costs that affect households and businesses. According to Mayor Craig Greenberg, dropping the reformulated gas mandate is expected to save Louisvillians $137 million per year.

The U.S. Department of Justice has sued Kentucky and four other states for refusing to provide full voter registration data, including driver’s license information and partial Social Security numbers. Secretary of State Michael Adams, cited voter privacy and state law when declining to release the records without a court order. The DOJ claims authority under the Civil Rights Act to ensure accurate, well-maintained voter rolls. But state election officials argue that sensitive voter data must remain under state control to protect citizens’ privacy. This is significant because Adams is a Republican and he's standing against Republican President Donald Trump's administration. In the end, should the law be followed? Following the process for such requests is important, especially when private records are at stake.

Should speaking biological truth be punished? In Canada, it is. A British Columbia human-rights tribunal ordered Barry Neufeld to pay damages for criticizing gender identity policies and stating that biological sex is immutable. The tribunal ruled his comments violated anti-discrimination laws and find Neufeld $750,000. The decision highlights a growing conflict between free expression and government enforcement of ideology. Citizens should be able to debate education policy and biological realities without facing legal penalties. Protecting individuals from harassment is important. But punishing the views and expression of widely held scientific views chills open debate. Some might say, well this is Canada. But support for similar punishments for failure to conform to ideological impositions like Canada's can be found right here in Kentucky.

A federal court has ordered the Montgomery County, Maryland School District to pay $1.5 million in damages to parents after finding that the public school system violated the parents’ constitutional rights. A group of parents didn't want their elementary aged children to be exposed to LGBT themed books—some of which promoted gender transitioning and pride parades to children as young as 4.  But the school system got rid of parental notice and opt-outs for those parents. So the parents sued and took their case to Federal District Court. The court sided with parental rights not school administrators, which was a lesson that came with a high price for Montgomery County School officials.

Kentucky House Republicans have issued subpoenas to the Beshear administration after Gov. Andy Beshear's budget officials and agency heads refused multiple requests for detailed spending documents. Lawmakers argue the records are essential to create a state budget. They needed to review previous spending in order to anticipate future needs. The Kentucky state House is the body responsible for initiating a new state budget every two years. And that's what they're doing right now. But when the governor and state agencies under his direction don't cooperate, then there's a problem. That's why the subpoena was issued. This shouldn't be a partisan issue. It's about good governance. And regardless of political party, we expect our leaders to be responsible and do the business of all Kentuckians.

Elon Musk has donated $10 million to a super PAC supporting Republican Nate Morris in Kentucky’s U.S. Senate race. The contribution is one of the largest ever made in a Kentucky federal election and may reshape the dynamics of the primary. Outside spending has been a central feature of national politics for years, and Kentucky is no exception. While such donations are legal they raise questions about influence and accountability. However, we've learned from the last governor's race that it takes more than money to win. Solid candidates, strong messages, and trust with the voters is more important than money. This is the lesson that billionaire Kelly Craft learned. Her $10 million only to garnered a third place finish.

Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie is in the national spotlight again after his sharp criticism of U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi over her handling of documents related to convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Massie accused the Department of Justice of serious negligence. They failed to redact sensitive information about victims. They also failed to release all the documents as directed by Congress. Critics of Massie fault him for working with Democrats to force the release the documents. But conservatives applaud the move, showing a rift within the Republican party. In either case, the release of the documents has led to serious fallout, —most notably the arrest of Prince Andrew for public misconduct related to Epstein. It's expected more fallout will continue.