I Wish Jim Gray was Running for Governor

I wish Jim Gray was running for Governor.

From his Facebook page:

"This morning, I met with Angelos Angelou and asked for the public’s money back, and got it. That’s accountability. I’d like to praise Mr. Angelou’s willingness to step up to the plate and make good, noting that’s a tough decision for anyone in business. Angelou plans to make good on the plan, too, by rewriting and completing it."

Better than this pair.

Who Is Really Responsible for Utility Rates

Who decides that electric costs need to go up 35 percent in 20 eastern Kentucky Counties?

Who decides that Kentucky American Water gets an additional $18.8 million a year?

I’m not even going to get into how much Kentucky American “participates” in politics.

Take a close look at the Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC).

Marty Solomon’s op-ed piece in today’s Herald Leader is spot on:

You know you are going to be soaked when only two politically appointed people — with no qualifications except political pull, who are responsible to no one — set your electricity, water and natural gas rates.

Well that's exactly the way it is today.

But here is what Marty did not come out and say.

The current Public Service Commission is made up of three politicians who have found a great way to pad their retirements.



David Armstrong, who was the former Commonwealth’s Attorney for the 30th Judicial District from 1976 to 1983, Mayor of Louisville from 1999 to 2003, Jefferson County Judge-Executive from 1989 to 1999 and Kentucky Attorney General from 1983 to 1988. Armstrong makes $127,260.00 from the PSC.




Charlie Borders was in the Kentucky Senate, representing the 18th District in northeast Kentucky since 1991. Borders pulls done $122,850.00.



James Gardner was elected to the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council in 1982 and served until 1986. He was a member of the Fayette County Board of Education from 1993 to 1997, serving as its chairman from 1995 to 1997. Gardner gets $118,776.00 from the PSC

Members of the PSC are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. This means Steve Beshear appointed these guys and David Williams, who controls the Kentucky Senate, signed off on the appointments.

Now do you really think that two candidates for Governor, who have already demonstrated they are shilling for the coal industry, will ignore campaign contributors and appoint real regulators?

Take a look here for the connection between the coal industry and utility costs.

Here are the two guys who should get the credit every time a utility company picks your pocket; Steve Beshear and David Williams not the three lackeys sitting on the Commission.