Bevin elected governor, not absolute ruler

A good editorial from the Herald-Leader:

What’s really troubling about (Gov. Matt Bevin's) convoluted machinations over the panel appointed to nominate people to serve as judges in workers’ compensation cases is an apparent confusion — or lack of concern — about separation of powers among the government’s executive, legislative and judicial branches.

In this case, Bevin rewrote legislation by executive order — taking on legislative duties — then, according to his spokesperson, decided a judge was simply wrong (“would no doubt be reversed on appeal”) in a decision temporarily blocking his changes.

...Bevin’s disregard for the fundamental limits imposed on his power also came into focus in the intimidation tactics his administration used in an attempt to impose control over the Kentucky Retirement Systems Board of Trustees at a May meeting. The attorney general decision this week ruled that the governor’s delegates violated Kentucky Open Meetings law by threatening to arrest one board member and to initiate an investigation of another, if they did not comply with the administration’s wishes.