Will Stumbo Stop a revived SB1?

In the big news of the day, the Kentucky Democrats seem to have divided themselves neatly into the second and third most powerful political parties in Kentucky.

What bearing will this have on chairmanships and legislation ought to become clearer in the next couple of days.

This from Ronnie Ellis at CNHI:

Stumbo unseats Richards as speaker

Likely means Moberly will lose budget chairmanship

FRANKFORT — Former majority leader and one-time attorney general Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, took out Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green, the longest-serving speaker in Kentucky history, in a vote of House Democrats on Tuesday..“Close, real close,” was how Rep. Keith Hall described the vote. Another lawmaker in the room said Stumbo tallied only three more votes than Richards, who became speaker 14 years ago with Stumbo’s help.

But the close margin likely portends wider and far-reaching consequences for the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives – in budget matters and in its dealings with the Senate...

...The biggest change may come at the committee level. It was apparent Richmond Democrat Harry Moberly is unlikely to continue as the powerful chairman of the Appropriations and Revenue Committee. Stumbo said one reason he won was a promise to open up the budget process to more of the members.“My focus has been on opening the budget process up, bringing more members into the decision-making process, getting more information to the members,” said Stumbo. “It’s sort of a message of change, it’s a message of cooperation.”

Asked if that means a change in the A&R chairmanship, Stumbo said, “That depends on how stubborn (Moberly) is. He’s going to have to change his ways. I don’t think it’s in the best interest of this institution or the state to allow one person to dominate the process.”

Moberly said he does not expect to continue as chairman and he was rankled by the suggestion he has not operated the A&R Committee in an open manner.“I was one of the ones who engineered the revolt that made it more open and broader,” Moberly said. “If he’s saying I’ve been against that, then he’s lying.”

Moberly last spring voted against a budget deal brokered between Stumbo and Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, which added numerous capital projects for local legislators’ districts, calling it “a deal with the devil.”

Williams often clashed with Moberly in budget negotiations between the two chambers, and if Moberly is replaced as budget chairman, it could affect the balance of power.

Neither Moberly nor Stumbo would speculate on who might follow Moberly.

An admittedly surprised Richards said, “I’m not as good a counter as I thought I was.”

He said he didn’t know who Stumbo, Clark and the rest of the leadership might choose for A&R if Moberly isn’t retained.“I don’t know anybody who’s as good as he is, but that’s their choice as the new folks,” Richards said..

Stumbo went out of his way to commend Williams and the Republican Senate for trying to come up with solutions to the $456 million revenue shortfall facing the state.“If we put our heads together I believe we can solve Kentucky’s problems,” Stumbo said. “Sen. Williams is someone I have a great deal of respect for. I think it’s positive there’s an attempt from the Senate side to solve this problem.” ...

...“We started the day as Democrats and we ended the day as Democrats,” said Stumbo, adding with a smile, “We acted like Democrats today in caucus, too.