Art of the Deal

Yesterday in Sandy Hook we saw the art of compromise in action. Governor Fletcher and House Majority Leader Rocky Adkins, along with other politicians, gathered to announce the new prison would be a state run operation.

Fletcher and the Republican leadership had wanted to out source the prison to a private company paying lower wages and worse benefits than state jobs. This being Adkins home district, he had a lot of political capital invested in bringing state jobs to Sandy Hook.

According to the Lexington Herald-Leader:

"Fletcher said yesterday he has "absolutely no plans for going back" to study privatizing the prison again. "It is in the best interest of Kentucky and the best interest of the taxpayers to operate this facility with the prison guards being state employees," Fletcher said. "

But it was also in the best interest of Ernie Fletcher and Rocky Adkins.

What we have here is a political compromise. Fletcher needed to pass a budget and a tax increase, regardless of how bad a budget or inadequate the tax increase. Adkins had a need to bring the pork home.

You don't get something easily through the House if you antagonize the Majority Leader (Adkins), so Fletcher made a deal. But rather than let Adkins take all the credit, Fletcher shows up to make the announcement.

The is a classic example of real world politics, Kentucky style. Now let's see if Fletcher keeps his promise of not going back to out sourcing the jobs.