Comer: Kentucky needs better leadership, more business-friendly environment

Above, Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer spoke to supporters during a fundraiser Monday in Corbin. Comer is a Republican candidate for Kentucky Governor.

Kentucky’s Agriculture Commissioner and a Republican gubernatorial candidate says Kentucky needs a more “business friendly environment” better leadership in its executive branch if the state wants to have a brighter future.

James Comer is one of four GOP candidates seeking the Republican nomination for Kentucky Governor this year, and he has the backing of one of the area’s most influential businessmen — Forcht Group of Kentucky founder and CEO Terry E. Forcht.
Comer spoke Tuesday at the home of Terry and Marion Forcht, in Corbin, during a fundraiser for his campaign.

The Monroe County native, who has served as Commissioner of Agriculture since Jan. 2012, told supporters at the event that “Kentucky is at a crossroads” and that “bold leadership in the executive branch to be able to push a bold agenda through is what’s needed to make Kentucky work again.”

Comer was respectful, but critical of current Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear who is finishing out his second, and final, term. He noted Beshear is a popular political figure in the state, but said little has been achieved during his two terms in office to tackle big problems like an underfunded state employee pension system, “crumbling infrastructure,” loss of jobs in the coal industry and health care.

“We need common sense in Frankfort, and that’s what our campaign is all about,” Comer told the group.

“Government needs to be able to live within its means. We’ve not had that type of common sense leadership stance in the executive branch for a long time in Frankfort.”

Comer pointed to his record as Agriculture Commissioner as evidence he can get the job done. When first elected, he called for an audit of the Department of Agriculture following two terms by former Ag. Commissioner Richie Farmer. Farmer is currently serving a 27-month federal prison sentence for misappropriation of department funds, campaign finance violations and abuse of his position.

“We called for an audit and we done what you would do in your business, what you would do in your homes,” Comer said.
Comer tightened spending at the department, trimmed redundant or unnecessary positions, contracted with private sector companies and individuals to offer services more cheaply that with government employees, among other changes.

If elected, Comer said making the state a more enticing and friendly environment for business is the number one priority. To that end, he favors passing legislation that would make Kentucky a “right-to-work” state, wants to enact sweeping changing to the state’s tax code that would result in a reduction of taxes, reform the regulatory environment in Kentucky and install medical review panels to help lower the number of medical malpractice claims in the courts.

Comer was especially critical of Beshear’s decision to go along with expanded Medicaid coverage in the state offered by the Affordable Care Act, often called “Obamacare.”

“When you look at the Medicaid expansion Governor Beshear so graciously signed us up for and the next governor is going to have to pay for, 25 percent of the state is on Medicaid … that’s one out of every four people,” Comer said. “the underlying problem with that is there is no plan to get those people out of Medicaid and into private health care.”

Comer said other states in the south have a much lower percentage of their populations on Medicaid — from eight to 10 percent.

“That’s just not sustainable [for Kentucky],” Comer said. “The people that are paying for that Medicaid expansion today are the providers. Tomorrow … it’s going to be the providers and taxpayers. That’s not going to work.”

Comer said his changes to make Kentucky more accommodating to business will help move many people off the Medicaid rolls because, he claimed, there would be more opportunities for them to get good paying jobs with benefits.

Forcht introduced Comer at the event, and noted some of this other accomplishments including leading a non-partisan effort to legalize industrial hemp in Kentucky, created a dairy program that is expected to “put $2 million into the hands of Kentucky dairy farmers,” and visited all of the state’s 120 counties twice to promote a farm tag initiative.

Before becoming Agriculture Commissioner, Comer served 11 years as State Representative for the 53rd District, which includes Green, Metcalfe, Cumberland and Monroe Counties.

Comer said he appreciated Forcht’s support, and told the crowd that the campaign’s internal polling showed that it was leading the field of Republican’s leading up to the May 19 Primary Election. His opponents in the primary are businessman Matt Bevin, former Louisville Metro Councilman Hal Heiner and former Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Will T. Scott.