Matt Bevin in 2015 KY Governor's race
On Crime:
Overturn voting rights to ex-felons who completed sentences
Several states have turned away from harsh criminal sentences and raised new questions about what happens to offenders once they are released. In Virginia, [an executive order by Gov. Terry McAuliffe re-enfranchised 200,000 felons]. In February, the
Maryland State Senate overrode a veto by Republican Gov. Larry Hogan and expanded voting rights to 40,000 ex-offenders.But the policies have been controversial and provoked a partisan divide. Last December, newly elected Kentucky Gov. Matt
Bevin (R) reversed an executive order by his Democratic predecessor to grant voting rights to ex-felons in the state once they had completed their sentences. Governor Bevin framed his opposition to the executive order signed by then-Gov. Steve Beshear
(D) on procedural rather than ideological terms. "While I have been a vocal supporter of the restoration of rights, for example, it is an issue that must be addressed through the legislature and by the will of the people," he said in a statement.
Source: Christian Science Monitor on 2015 Kentucky governor race
Apr 22, 2016
On Crime:
Restore felon voting rights, but only through legislature
Bevin suspended Beshear's Nov. 24 executive order that automatically restored the right to vote to most nonviolent felons who have served out their sentences. "While I have been a vocal supporter of the restoration of rights," Bevin said, "it is an issue
that must be addressed through the legislature and by the will of the people."Bevin's order will not retroactively affect felons who, since Nov. 24, have received a certificate from the state Department of Corrections confirming their restoration of
rights. Bevin said felons may continue requesting a restoration of their civil rights from the governor's office, which includes the right to vote, to serve on a jury, to hold elected office and to obtain a professional or vocational license.
That was how Beshear handled it "for essentially the entire eight years of his administration," until he changed the process "less than two weeks prior to the expiration of his term," Bevin said.
Source: Lexington Herald Leader on 2015 Kentucky gubernatorial race
Dec 22, 2015
On Jobs:
Minimum wage stifles job creation; reduce to $7.25
Republican Gov. Matt Bevin reversed former Gov. Steve Beshear's June 8 executive order that raised the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour for hundreds of the lowest-paid workers in state government's executive branch and the employees of vendors who signed
contracts with the executive branch.An estimated 800 state workers who already have received pay raises as a result of Beshear's order may keep them, but all new state hires will start at the previously established pay scale, Bevin said.
The current minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.
"The minimum wage stifles job creation and disproportionately impacts lower skilled workers seeking entry-level jobs,"
Bevin wrote in his executive order. "Wage rates ideally would be established by the demands of the labor market instead of being set by the government."
Source: Lexington Herald Leader on 2015 Kentucky gubernatorial race
Dec 22, 2015
On Education:
End education monopoly with school choice and vouchers
As federal overreach in our education system has grown, positive outcomes have diminished. We need to end the monopoly that exists in Kentucky's school system by supporting school choice and school vouchers. It's time to Stop Common Core and its "one
size fits all" approach. Instead, let's empower local school boards, local principals and local teachers to make the decisions that are the best for their students, and most importantly, empower parents over bureaucrats.
Source: 2015 Kentucky Gubernatorial campaign website, MattBevin.com
Aug 11, 2015
On Energy & Oil:
Fight against EPA's relentless attacks on the coal industry
Our administration will aggressively fight against the EPA's war on the energy sector in Kentucky, particularly the relentless attacks on the coal industry. As Governor,
I will exercise, to the fullest extent of the law, our state's constitutional rights and sovereignty. For example, I will refuse to enforce federal regulations that are in opposition to our own state interests.
Source: 2015 Kentucky Gubernatorial campaign website, MattBevin.com
Aug 11, 2015
On Health Care:
Disband KYNECT immediately; transition to federal system
Health care reform in Kentucky begins with freezing and beginning to disband KYNECT immediately and assisting as needed in transitioning our citizens quickly from a state run exchange
to the federally run healthcare exchange because Kentucky cannot financially afford to do otherwise.
Source: 2015 Kentucky Gubernatorial campaign website, MattBevin.com
Aug 11, 2015
On Jobs:
Replace prevailing wage requirements with Right-to-Work
Labor Law Reform: Our plan will update our current labor laws that currently result in self-inflicted economic wounds.
This begins with passing comprehensive Right to Work legislation and eliminating prevailing wage requirements for state contracts.
Source: 2015 Kentucky Gubernatorial campaign website, MattBevin.com
Aug 11, 2015
On Social Security:
Replace public pension system with 401(k) for new employees
It's time for a Governor who will deal with Kentucky's unfunded pension liabilities that are in excess of $20 billion and likely more than double that amount. Our plan will fix our public retirement system while ensuring that we meet the existing
obligations we have made to retired state workers. This starts with instituting an immediate freeze on the expansion of participants in our current pension plans and implementing a 401(k) style defined contribution plan for new employees.
Source: 2015 Kentucky Gubernatorial campaign website, MattBevin.com
Aug 11, 2015
On Tax Reform:
Reduce tax revenue: not simple revenue neutrality
Updating and simplifying our antiquated tax code will allow us to better compete with surrounding states.
We will focus on raising only the revenue truly necessary to run the state government.
We must also take additional steps such as eliminating the state inheritance tax and lowering individual and corporate tax rates. Under my leadership, tax reform will not be based simply on revenue neutrality,
but rather, to the extent possible, on reducing tax revenue itself and leaving as much of Kentucky's wealth in the hands of those who produce it.
Source: 2015 Kentucky Gubernatorial campaign website, MattBevin.com
Aug 11, 2015
On Principles & Values:
Led public Pledge of Allegiance, & speeches about patriotism
The most absurd turn of the day may have been what Republican gubernatorial candidate Matt Bevin did with his time to speak. Where I've seen Bevin give some very eloquent speeches about patriotism, I didn't see that Bevin Saturday.
Instead of giving any of his solid plans for the commonwealth, Bevin asked the crowd to join him in the Pledge of Allegiance. Before he finished jumping between his speech themes, he had used up his time and was cut off by the Fancy Farm music.
Source: Frankfort State-Journal on 2015 Kentucky Gubernatorial race
Aug 3, 2015
On Principles & Values:
Don't celebrate partisanship; call for unity instead
In a sharp departure from the theme of the picnic, Bevin said he was glad to be at the event, which primarily serves as a fundraiser for St. Jerome's Parrish, but said that the people there "literally are celebrating the very worst elements of the
political process.""We are celebrating our divisions, and we are doing it in a childish way that frankly does not resolve any of the issues that we face," Bevin said. To the surprise of the crowd, Bevin asked the crowd to join him in the Pledge of
Allegiance before devoting his speech to a denunciation of partisanship and a call to heed the Kentucky state motto, "United we stand, divided we fall."
The more Bevin called for unity--bypassing attempts at humor altogether--the more the boos from the
Democratic side of the pavilion intensified, until the University of Kentucky Wildcats fight song came on and Bevin's microphone cut out, signifying that his allotted time had lapsed.
Source: Lexington Herald-Leader on 2015 Kentucky Gubernatorial race
Aug 1, 2015
On Welfare & Poverty:
Random drug testing for welfare recipients
Republican gubernatorial candidate Matt Bevin called for drug testing of those receiving public assistance. During an hour-long debate, Bevin gave few specifics on his programs if elected governor, but said that he would push for drug testing
of welfare recipients. "We need random drug testing for the people who are receiving benefits from the state,"
he said. "I'll tell you, as an employer, one of the first things these people are needing in order to assimilate back into society is to pass a drug test, and they can't."Bevin said "while we can't drug test everybody," such testing
will help to "limit the influx of people who are struggling with this, because some people don't have the wherewithal if they don't know there may be some punitive result to not enter into activity that would ultimately entrap us."
Source: Courier-Journal coverage: 2015 Kentucky gubernatorial debate
Jul 15, 2015
Page last updated: Dec 07, 2018