Kentucky's governor won't commit to appointing Republican if McConnell resigns:

[tblue37]

Link to tweet

Ron Filipkowski
@RonFilipkowski

Andy Beshear says the scheme enacted by Republicans in the KY legislature in 2021 to try to force him to appoint a Republican if McConnell can’t finish his term violates both the U.S. and KY Constitutions.

Snip

The law, backed by McConnell, requires a governor to select within 21 days one of three nominees chosen by the state-level party apparatus of the departing senator. A special election must then be held to select a more permanent replacement. The timing would depend on when the vacancy occurred.

In his veto message, Beshear said the law violates the 17th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which gives voters the right to directly cast ballots for senators, rather than state legislatures filling the seats. The amendment also says a state legislature can empower a governor to temporarily fill a vacancy until an election can be held.

“The bill therefore upends a century of precedent by delegating the power to select the representative of all Kentuckians to an unelected, unaccountable committee of an organization that represents only a fraction of Kentuckians,” Beshear wrote in the veto message.

The governor also argued that the law violates a provision of the Kentucky Constitution that says state-level vacancies “shall be filled by appointment of the Governor.”

Snip

[GreenWave]

1. As Mitch switched SC judges (2) so too should he be switched.

What's good for the goose is good for the turtle.

[jimfields33]

6. The governor VETOED the bill? If not. Courts won't be on his side.

[catbyte]

10. He did veto the bill but it was overridden.

Full article

Kentucky lawmakers override veto of Mitch McConnell-backed Senate vacancy plan

Morgan Watkins
Louisville Courier Journal

The Republican-run Kentucky legislature on Monday easily overrode Gov. Andy Beshear's veto of a notable bill that restricts his ability to fill any vacancies that arise if one of the state's U.S. senators dies or leaves office early.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, the commonwealth's powerful senior senator, threw his support behind Senate Bill 228. That sparked speculation that the 79-year-old statesman, who just got reelected last fall, might be eyeing the exits.

However, Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers, SB 228's lead sponsor, has said the longtime senator plans to stick around and McConnell himself has never given any public indication he doesn't plan to serve out his new six-year term.

snip

[Hortensis]

16. But probably straight to the courts if it does come into play.

Beshear has said it violates both state and federal constitutions.

[thenelm1]

11. I believe the veto was overridden by the Ky. legislature. n/t

[Kingofalldems]

20. Well republicans won't be on his side.

[mwooldri]

26. All the governor needs to do is nothing.

This so called panel can recommend whatever it wants. Who is going to make Gov. Beshear appoint someone?

[Effete Snob]

37. The statute requires he do so in 21 days from the list being provided

So, presumably he could be impeached by the same legislature that over-rode his veto, for failing to execute his duty. That's who.

[NoMoreRepugs]

2. Sounds reasonable to Deplorables. "We're in a minority position

among the electorate and need to sidestep the Constitution to get what we want - so what’s the problem??”

[CanonRay]

3. I think Mitch already died

and the batteries on the AI just ran down.

[twodogsbarking]

28. He gets stuck in neutral. Old transmission.

[republianmushroom]

4. I like the Governor's approach.

[Sneederbunk]

5. Tie it up in courts. Meanwhile, Repugs are short a senator.

[onetexan]

7. THIS!!☝️

[mountain grammy]

18. Yep

[Emile]

27. +3

[calimary]

32. Well okay then!

Why can’t we be as devious as they are?

[Amaryllis]

8. How did KY manage to turn out such polar opposites as Andy Beshear and McConnell? It is an oxymoron.

[SouthBayDem]

34. Beshear got lucky he faced a weak incumbent in 2019

Hostility to the teachers' union is said to have cost Bevin re-election.

On top of that, Beshear benefited from name recognition due to his father being a two-term governor.

Some states have split ticket voting where Democrats win at the state level while Republicans win at the federal level. Kentucky has often voted that way since 1956. Similarly in 2022, Wisconsin re-elected their Democratic governor Tony Evers and Republican senator Ron Johnson on the same day. Louisiana re-elected Democratic governor John Bel Edwards in 2019 yet went for Trump and Bill Cassidy in 2020. In 2022, Georgia re-elected Republican governor Brian Kemp and Democratic senator Raphael Warnock on the same day.

[liberalmediaaddict]

9. That's not accurate

WaPo is framing what Governor Beshear said wrong.
Here's the actual quote:
There is no Senate vacancy,” Beshear responded at the news conference. “Senator McConnell has said he’s going to serve out his term, and I believe him, so I’m not going to speculate about something that hasn’t happened and isn’t going to happen."

It's a misleading headline and the right wing media is running with it. Acting like Beshear won't follow the law if McConnell resigns or drops dead before his term is over.

Beshear is a good man and a former Attorney General. He'll do the right thing.

[question everything]

12. And my choice for the 2028 Whit House

[liberalmediaaddict]

22. I'm lucky enough to have him as my Governor

He's been the one shining light in MAGA dominated Kentucky. He's up for re-election in November against Trump sycophant Daniel Cameron. He should win easily if Democrats remember to show up and vote.

And he should definitely run for President in 2028.

[Yorkie Mom]

36. I'm from KY, too. He IS presidential material.

I'd love to see him in the Oval.

[CottonBear]

19. Thank you for accurately explaining what Gov. Beshear actually said.

The purposefully misleading and inaccurate headlines by the MSM (Fox, CNN, WP, NYT…) are part of a disinformation campaign against Democratic politicians.

For instance, headlines about Biden’s visit to Florida this past week framed the story as “Biden refuses to meet with DeSantis” rather than the true story that DeSantis refused to meet with President Biden.

[liberalmediaaddict]

23. WaPo.has been doing that a lot lately

Using misleading, clickbait headlines that attempt to make Democrats look just as extreme as Republicans.

New York Town Pitchbot has a lot of fun on Twitter ridiculing the media's "both sides" framing of events.

[CottonBear]

25. I love New York Times Pitchbot!

Link to tweet

[W T F]

13. He should've said that he would commit to appointing a Republican and then change his mind, after.......

Mitch resigns, the same way Mitch changed his mind about appointing a Supreme Court justice in an election year. It would have been total karma.

[yankee87]

14. Appoint a Democrat

Two things, the law is unconstitutional and also, Republicans don’t follow the law anyway, just like Alabama.

[Deminpenn]

15. Aren't McConnell's daughters Democrats?

Beshear should appoint of them and put Rs, as well as McConnell, in a major quandry.

[Pepsidog]

31. Yes, and they hate Miserable Mitch. Rumer has it that Harry Reid had quite a package and Mitch's

first wife liked big “D” and made ol Mitch a cuckold. Ever since that, “Mitch the Chinless” and “Packing Harry” had a falling out. I’m just repeating what the “internets” says.

[calimary]

33. Oh my!

[OMGWTF]

17. More of this please. Fk the Rethuglicans.

[Kingofalldems]

21. Or--A Dem could join the repub party

get appointed and then vote with the Democrats.

[progressoid]

35. +1

[Cha]

24. "It would be small payback.. "

Link to tweet

[ecstatic]

29. Don't tell them shit. Give them the MMitch treatment.

Treat MMitch's seat the same way MMitch treated RBG's seat.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

30. good