Tagged: STEVE BESHEAR

Governor Steve Beshear has appointed Lexington horseman and attorney John Phillips to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. Phillips replaces John Ward, who was appointed in February as executive director of the panel. The commission is responsible for regulating horse races and pari-mutuel betting on those races. Phillips says he's pleased to accept the appointment to a racing commission that has made "great strides" to improve the sport.

Governor Steve Beshear is exempting nurse anesthetists from a federal requirement that they be supervised by a physician when administering anesthetics to patients. The move would allow hospitals and surgery centers in Kentucky to use non-physicians for the task. The Kentucky Hospital Association supports the change. The Kentucky Society of Anesthesiologists called on Beshear to reverse his decision because the group says it threatens the safety of patients.

Governor Steve Beshear is adding his voice to one of President Barack Obama's top campaign issues. The president spoke at two college campuses this week urging Congress to prevent an automatic rate hike in interest on student loans from taking effect. Now, Beshear has penned a letter to all six members of Kentucky's Congressional delegation asking for them to block the increase. Beshear says if the rate hike goes into effect it will add an average of $940 to each student loan every year. The rate hike will affect more than 100,000 Kentucky students.