Kentucky gov suffers legal defeat in combating COVID surge

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky governor’s efforts to aggressively combat COVID-19 suffered a legal defeat Saturday as the state’s high court cleared the way for new laws to rein in his emergency powers. In a landmark separation-of-powers case, the Kentucky Supreme Court said the legislature wields policy-making authority to limit the emergency powers granted to the governor by state law. Top GOP legislative leaders hailed the ruling for recognizing the legislature’s “constitutional authority to enact laws.” In a joint statement, House Speaker David Osborne and Senate President Robert Stivers said lawmakers “stand ready to work with the governor, as we have for nearly a year and a half, and address what is a very real public health crisis.” Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who defended the new laws, urged Beshear to consult with lawmakers to “find consensus on what is needed to protect Kentuckians.” GOP lawmakers passed the new laws limiting the governor’s emergency powers in response to Beshear’s aggressive handling of the coronavirus crisis. In a concurring opinion, Deputy Chief Justice Lisabeth T. Hughes said the 30-day limit on a governor’s emergency authority deserves legal review from the lower court when the case is returned.