Commonwealth Policy Center

Governor Beshear has once again received bad news from the courts. Beshear’s COVID-19 orders were ruled to be unnecessary and were therefore lifted last Thursday, a day before their expiration. But more importantly, the Circuit Judge upheld key legislation that affirmed the General Assembly’s restriction of the Governor’s powers during a state of emergency. House Speaker Osborne (R-Prospect) said this ruling confirms the constitutionality of the legislature’s actions which is “critical to ensuring our constitutionally guaranteed separation of powers.” Last Thursday, the Kentucky Supreme Court heard an appeal by Governor Beshear. If the court follows the Kentucky Constitution, they’ll find that the legislature’s actions to reign in Governor Beshear was a legitimate check on executive overreach.