Very Fletcher Legislation

From the Lexington Herald-Leader:

Shortly after 3:30 p.m., the state House approved a constitutional amendment that would limit the governor's pardon power by a 71-26 vote. It moves to the Senate, where it needs 23 votes -- or more than 60 percent -- to pass. It would then be on the ballot in the 2008 election, if approved by the Senate.

The amendment would: require any person seeking a pardon to apply to the governor, require that the person accepts the pardon, and limits pardons only to those who had been indicted and convicted of a crime. The measure, sponsored by Democratic Reps. Darryl Owens of Louisville and Rob Wilkey of Scottsville, sparked a brief discussion.

Rep. Scott Brinkman, R-Louisville, argued that the General Assembly shouldn't "act hastily" and should study how many other states limit the power in such way. He noted that the issue won't appear on the ballot until November 2008 anyway. But Owens and Rep. Derrick Graham, D-Frankfort, both said it was a "thoughtful" piece of legislation that protects citizens if they choose to adopt it. "We know that they have good judgment because if they didn't we wouldn't be here," Graham said. "Grant them the judgment to decide whether this should be a part of our constitution."

Wilkey said the bill was not meant to be a shot at Gov. Ernie Fletcher, who pardoned his administration in August 2005 in response to an investigation into state hiring practices. Rep. Jeff Hoover, the Republican leader from Jamestown who is running with Anne Northup against Fletcher in the GOP primary, was among 12 Republicans who approved the constitutional amendment. House Speaker Jody Richards, who is seeking the Democratic nomination, also voted for the measure. Rep. Dottie Sims was the only Democrat to vote against it.