Second lawmaker says Bevin asked him to switch parties

[TexasTowelie]

FRANKFORT -- A second Democratic state lawmaker now claims Republican Gov. Matt Bevin tried to persuade him to switch parties and that the governor’s chief of staff threatened to punish him politically when he refused.

Rep. Russ Meyer, D-Nicholasville, said Bevin and his chief of staff, Blake Brickman, lobbied him to switch parties last December shortly after Bevin took office and at a time Republicans hoped to flip enough Democrats to take control of the House of Representatives.

Meyer said he ultimately told Bevin he couldn’t switch parties but wanted to work with the new administration in a bipartisan manner to get things done.

Meyer said Bevin “was pretty nice about it” during their initial discussion and gave him a day to think it over.

But when Meyer called Brickman the next day to say he wouldn’t switch parties, Brickman “just went completely off the rails,” calling Meyer “an Obama-loving baby killer (who) picked (Democratic House Speaker Greg) Stumbo over Bevin.”

Read more: http://www.dailyindependent.com/news/second-lawmaker-says-bevin-asked-him-to-switch-parties/article_0855b572-6c7b-11e6-badb-fb5af6548b78.html

[silverweb]

1. "Asked" is putting it mildly.

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]First, the governor asks nicely, then the enforcer-in-chief threatens him if he doesn't comply.

Illegal much?

[tonyt53]

2. It worse for Bevin back in the spring when three special elections were held.

Bevin appointed one Democrat to a post in his administration. Two other spots were opened when Republicans took similar spots. All three open house seats were won by Democrats.

[marble falls]

3. I didn't know about that. Good news.

[kyburbonkid]

4. V is for Vindictive

I know most Kentuckians are already pissed at this guy, but he has pushed his vendetta on to everyone, from the vicious attacks on previous governor Steve Beshear where he is wasting tax-pay money hiring a private detective to investigate the Beshears, to the crashing of the UofL board of trustees causing serious governance issues that could effect the Universities accreditation! This latest revelation seems to fit this wingnut's M.O. of vindictive Crush-Kill-Destroy.

Here is todays news story as it played out in Louisville: http://www.whas11.com/news/politics/bevin-voicemail-warns-of-impact-of-not-switching-parties/311228843

and this: http://www.wdrb.com/story/32885576/gov-bevins-office-reacts-to-criticism-over-allegations-of-threatening-voicemail


Our House Speaker Greg Stumbo is calling for a criminal investigation. Considering over half a million of tax payer dollars was wasted because of the Bevinator's V, he needs exposure.

[TexasTowelie]

5. He also pulled a similar stunt with the Kentucky Public Employees Retirement System.

He removed the head of the board and I believe some other members because of political considerations. Governor Bevin is an asshole.