Pubdate: Thu, 04 Apr 2013
Source: Richmond Register (KY)
Copyright: 2013 Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.richmondregister.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4305
Author: Ronnie Ellis, CNHI News Service
Page: 6A

HORNBACK ASKS GOVERNOR TO SIGN HEMP BILL INTO LAW

FRANFORT - The sponsor of legislation to set up a regulatory 
framework for hemp cultivation Wednesday asked Gov. Steve Beshear to 
sign the bill into law.

Sen. Paul Hornback, RShelbyville, sponsored Senate Bill 50, which 
originally would have authorized the Department of Agriculture to 
license and monitor hemp cultivation should the federal government 
either grant a waiver to Kentucky to grow the crop or legalize the 
biological relative of marijuana.

Kentucky used to be a major hemp producer in the 19th century and 
again during World War II, but as part of the federal effort to clamp 
down on marijuana, cultivation of the crop has been prohibited by the 
federal government.

Hornback's biggest backer of the bill was Agriculture Commissioner 
James Comer, like Hornback a Republican and someone often mentioned 
as a potential future gubernatorial candidate. While the bill sailed 
out of the Republican-controlled Senate, it was opposed by many law 
enforcement agencies, principally the Kentucky State Police and 
UNITE, a drug education, treatment and enforcement agency in eastern 
Kentucky backed by Republican Congressman Hal Rogers of Somerset.

The bill ran into trouble in the Democratic controlled House and 
Beshear said he shared some of the concerns of the Kentucky State 
Police that hemp cultivation might complicate marijuana detection and 
eradication efforts.

But a compromise version of the bill passed on the final night of the 
2013 session and was sent to Beshear. Because the legislature ended 
its 2013 session that night, Beshear could veto the bill and 
lawmakers would have no opportunity to override that veto. Beshear 
could also allow the measure to become law without his signature.

Hornback met with Beshear Wednesday and moments later said he asked 
him to sign the bill.

"I don't think he'll veto it, but his signature is important to me," 
Hornback said as he left Beshear's office.

Comer and Republican U. S. Senators Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul 
along with Congressmen John Yarmuth, D- Louisville, and Thomas 
Massie, RV-anceburg, have said they'll seek a waiver from the Obama 
administration to let Kentucky grow the crop.

Hornback said that might be a harder sell if the governor of the 
state declines to sign the bill. Hornback said he got no definitive 
answer from Beshear.

"I've made a request that he sign it," Hornback said, "but I haven't 
gotten an answer either way."

Comer has also asked Beshear to sign the bill. The governor has until 
Friday to make a decision. If he doesn't act, the bill will become 
law without his signature.

Beshear said Wednesday he hasn't decided what to do on SB50.

"The hemp bill, SB50, was amended and passed in the last hour of 
session," Beshear said. "I continue to review the bill and will talk 
with law enforcement before making any decision."

Comer was in Lexington Wednesday where he announced the Agriculture 
Department will shut down a $ 3.1 million fuel testing lab, which was 
established by his predecessor Richie Farmer.

Farmer asked the legislature to fund the lab in 2008, saying it would 
make money through testing fuels for other states and for testing 
pesticides. But Comer said Wednesday no contracts existed with other 
states when he assumed office in January 2012.

So he created a task force to determine if the lab could create 
revenue and the group concluded it could not be made profitable. 
Shutting it down will save the state approximately $ 600,000 annually he said.

"We were spending a lot of tax dollars for very, very little 
benefit," Commissioner Comer said. "There never was a business plan 
that would make the lab viable."

Farmer was recently hit with 42 charges of alleged ethics violations 
by the Executive Branch Ethics Commission following irregularities 
identified by an audit requested by Comer and conducted by state 
Auditor Adam Edelen.

The commission also charged five former department employees and one 
current employee, Deputy Commissioner Bruce Harper, who worked for 
Farmer and was kept on by Comer. But Comer placed Harper on 
administrative leave after the ethics charges.

On Wednesday, Comer said he's asked Harper to resign or be fired.

Harper was charged with soliciting donations for the secretaries of 
state conference from entities regulated by the Department of 
Agriculture and for intervening in two cases of fines against a 
farmer and a grain dealer.

Harper did not return a voice mail message asking for comment.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom