FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) – Gov. Andy Beshear issued his first veto this year of legislation passed by the General Assembly on Wednesday, of a bill relating to employees of the Department of Agriculture that would allow some workers to apply for loans or grants administered by that office.
House Bill 216, which passed both the House and Senate by unanimous votes, would allow employees of the Department of Agriculture, except those employed within the Kentucky Office of Agricultural Policy to participate in, apply for, or receive funds, awards, or contracts administered by the department’s Kentucky Office of Agricultural Policy.
In response to a question asked by Kentucky Today during his weekly press conference, which was held a day early, Beshear replied, “I don’t think this was pushed by the Commissioner in any way. We have a good working relationship, but this has always been viewed as unethical and unlawful. The Executive Branch Ethics Code, which is in statute, says ‘an executive branch employee cannot apply for a benefit, or a loan, or a grant from a department or an agency that they work in.’ That applies to every executive branch agency.”…