In his weekly column, the Bluegrass Institute's always-edgy Jim Waters chases Gov. Steve Beshear's latest big idea up a tree:

"While campaigning for office, Gov. Steve Beshear promised to consider tax increases “only as a last resort.”"
"Yet, Beshear now plans to waste costly fuel traveling around the state to try and soften opposition toward raising taxes and manipulating the hardworking residents of Kentucky into approving the distasteful idea of expanding casino gambling.
“As a last resort” means after exhausting all other options."
"However, the governor offers no suggestions for meaningful reform of the state workers’ pension system. So far, Kentucky’s “tax-islature” has avoided tough, cost saving choices, including addressing elements of the pension system that line their pockets."

Jim concludes that eliminating prevailing wage and corporate welfare would be far better solutions than merely raising taxes again. Good stuff.