It can’t be peaches and cream every day for a legislator. But yesterday must have been particularly rough on Senator Damon Thayer. Maybe he got up on the wrong side of the bed. Maybe he was in a traffic jam. Maybe he saw someone with a Christmas tree still up and had to fight his desire to toss it. Whatever caused it, we don’t know, but he was particularly surly.
The State and Local Government committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 41, sponsored by Senator Steve Meredith (most notably for this discussion, the father of Bevin Deputy Counsel, Chad Meredith). Sorting through the legalese, the bill would move much from the Attorney General’s office to the Finance Cabinet.
Predictably, Attorney General Andy Beshear spoke against the measure. Calm and collected, he suggested this was the Governor’s office trying to usurp the authority of his office. That’s when Thayer began his remarks. Some might say he was passionate, some might say unhinged. But Thayer raised his voice and scolded Beshear for not defending lawsuits and for having a campaign staffer in the audience recording his remarks. He ended with saying Beshear owed the committee an apology (for what we are unsure) and called him a public embarrassment.
ITC talked to a Republican legislator who was present for the meeting who said the only embarrassment was Thayer’s reaction. The legislator said they supported the bill, but saw nothing wrong with the way Beshear conducted himself.
The evening culminated for Thayer when he attended a Republican Party function, a place where you would think he would feel comfortable. The guests evidently did not make that so. When Thayer’s presence was announced, there was a cacophony of boos and jeers from the audience. War is hell, but when you’re taking on friendly fire, it becomes even more hellacious.
After a day like that, ITC hopes Thayer at least got a good night’s sleep. Sounds like he needed it!
Inside The Connector 