Thread by @joesonka

JUST IN: Kentucky Supreme Court rules unanimously in favor of Gov. Andy Beshear on his COVID-19 emergency regulations. They stay in place.

"The Governor’s orders were, and continue to be, necessary to slow the
spread of COVID-19 and protect the health and safety of all Kentucky citizens..."

"This type of highly contagious etiological hazard is precisely the type of emergency that requires a statewide response and properly serves as a basis for the Governor’s actions under KRS Chapter 39A..."

"Because the law and equities favor the Governor in this matter, it was an abuse of discretion for the trial court to issue the temporary injunction..."

"Plaintiffs and the Attorney General argue that the injunction serves the
public interest because the Governor’s orders have caused economic hardships and burdened the constitutional rights of citizens..."

"While we recognize and appreciate that the Plaintiffs allege injuries to entire industries in the state, such as the restaurant and childcare industries, the interests of these industries simply cannot outweigh the public health interests of the state as a whole."

NOW: Kentucky Supreme Court unanimously upholds Gov. Andy Beshear's power to issue emergency COVID-19 orders, dealing loss to @kyoag Daniel Cameron: courier-journal.com/story/news/pol… via @courierjournal

@kyoag @courierjournal Beshear holding a virtual presser at 11:30am to discuss the Supreme Court ruling upholding his COVID-19 orders.

AG Cameron’s statement signals that while he lost the case in the Supreme Court, he wants the General Assembly to step in and further restrict Gov. Beshear’s emergency powers in the next session.

https://twitter.com/kyoag/status/1326922914034307072

.@KyDems on the ruling:

Gov. Beshear in his presser says if AG Cameron had won it would have immediately ended every single COVID-19 regulation and restriction in the state of Kentucky.

Beshear says the ruling "gives us the chance and opportunity to get this virus back under control." More orders coming? He'll be asked in a second.

Watkins asks, Beshear says they have not been waiting on the Supreme Court to issue new orders, says they've been following the spread of COVID-19 and figuring out how to get the best compliance.

Asked if he's worried GOP legislature will now take away his powers in the next session, Beshear says there are some executive powers they can't take away.

(But 39A that Beshear has used is a state statute the legislature could eliminate or change)

Beshear: "I don't expect that they'll do that (take away his emergency powers). It's not the responsible thing."

(Of course he expects that)

GOP Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles says in statement that the Kentucky Supreme Court "bent over backwards to bail out the Governor," calling on the legislature to "quickly to restore the balance of our constitutional order back to the People" in January.

.@KYGOP statement also looks ahead to January session:

House Speaker Osborne a little more measured, but also looks ahead to the session:

What I haven’t seen in any GOP statements on the Kentucky Supreme Court ruling so today are any reference to the rapidly rising COVID-19 cases and deaths in Kentucky.

(So far)

Statement from GOP Senate President and House Democratic leaders on the court ruling: