Andrew McNeill

President, KY Forum for Rights, Economics & Education (KYFREE)

[Andrew McNeill @AVMcNeill]

Beshear's paper trail problem may foil a presidential run | Opinion https://t.co/7AY2anRRdI via @courierjournal

[Andrew McNeill @AVMcNeill]

Andy Beshear wants to run for President. Right now, he’s controlling his narrative. If he becomes a top tier contender, he’ll be under the microscope like never before. My latest in the NKY Tribune. https://t.co/a2lt2ts4C2

[Andrew McNeill @AVMcNeill]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
KYFREE’S STATEMENT ON THE FINAL VERSION OF HB 500

The budget bill reported out by the free conference committee and poised for final passage tonight is a mixed bag. HB 500 spends too much, contains too many earmarks and shortchanges the hard-earned gains we've realized from a consistent commitment to building strong budget reserves.

The bill is riddled with earmarks funding programs and non-profit organizations with little evidence that they are delivering real value for the taxpayers who make them possible.

One glaring example is Dataseam, a program that drew a scathing audit just a few years ago and raised serious questions about the organization's leadership mismanaging the program's resources.

KYFREE provided the Dataseam audit to the legislature, highlighting the finding that Dataseam refused to respectfully engage with Finance Cabinet auditors. 

What was the General Assembly's response? They doubled the program's funding in HB 500. It's no wonder the public believes special interests dominate Frankfort. 

To be fair, there are bright spots. 

The conversation around education funding needs to shift from how much money is spent to whether resources being spent are directed toward effective strategies for educating our children. The legislature is signaling it will scrutinize the Department of Education's Learning and Results Services next year. If they follow through, it will be a step in the right direction. 

The message coming from Frankfort at the beginning of the session was that the belt needed to be tightened. This budget didn't meet the moment by delivering a fiscally disciplined final product. The grade for the assignment is clear: Needs Improvement.

[Andrew McNeill @AVMcNeill]

Looking forward to joining this Kentucky Tonight panel to discuss where things stand with the state budget.

[KET Public Affairs @PubAffairsKET]

On Kentucky Tonight, @ReneeKET discusses the state budget with Sen. @AmandaMBledsoe, Sen. @ReggieThomasKY, Rep. @TinaForKentucky Bojanowski, @jbaileyky of @KyPolicy, @AVMcNeill of KY FREE and @KateShanksKY of @KyChamber. Watch at 8 pm on KET.

[Andrew McNeill @AVMcNeill]

I appreciate that @Linknky published my op-ed "Kentucky can't afford to chase data centers away." There's no paywall so click on the link for access to the piece.

https://t.co/7IHTAi8N9R

[Andrew McNeill @AVMcNeill]

Opinion - Andrew McNeill: Kentucky can’t afford to chase away data centers - NKyTribune https://t.co/6bK4obJlsq

[Andrew McNeill @AVMcNeill]

Good. It’s time to get some fresh eyes on the KY Wired boondoggle. #ShutItDown

[Austin Horn @_AustinHorn]

New: same story, different year.

As with the vast majority of Gov. Andy Beshear's vetoes, the GOP-led Kentucky legislature easily overrode his latest on a bill restructuring KYWired, a project started by Beshear's father.

https://t.co/xsIyDsJEIa

[Andrew McNeill @AVMcNeill]

$483 million in asphalt single-bid contracts. It’s time to #AuditKYTC.

[Andrew McNeill @AVMcNeill]

I’m sure his 6,000 subscribers are waiting with baited-breath.

[Andrew McNeill @AVMcNeill]

“It’s time to answer the question of whether the asphalt industry is violating the state’s consumer protection laws against unlawful monopolies, and whether the Transportation Cabinet has been looking the other way with those violations,” McNeill said.

https://t.co/j2uShaGSIG

[Andrew McNeill @AVMcNeill]

Despite real progress on the state income tax, KY has actually fallen five places in tax competitiveness nationally. From 19th in 2020 to 25th in 2025.

Our problem? Local occupational taxes. I wrote about eliminating them a few years ago. (See in comments)

[Andrew McNeill @AVMcNeill]

There are other opinions on this bill. But it comes down to first principles for me. If I can help a parent and child stay together, that's what I'm fighting for.

Anyone can DM me if you have questions. I'll give you the facts so you can decide for yourself. (4/4)

[Andrew McNeill @AVMcNeill]

Supporting families has been a first principle for conservatives for decades. Strong families are critical to what we believe and why we do what we do in the political sphere.

SB122 & HB464 follow in this long conservative tradition. (1/)

[Andrew McNeill @AVMcNeill]

We're talking about keeping children from losing committed parents from their homes. Why wouldn't conservatives support taking additional steps to preserve a family? Isn't that what we've supported for years? (3/)

[Andrew McNeill @AVMcNeill]

It’s time to #AuditKYTC.

Thank you to Rep. Kim Holloway and all of HB 505’s co-sponsors who are stepping up to hold @KYTC accountable for their wasteful single bid asphalt contracts.

https://t.co/F4xYeycQqj

[Andrew McNeill @AVMcNeill]

https://t.co/UEV0GaHY3Y

[Andrew McNeill @AVMcNeill]

From a piece I published last June:

“Andy Beshear has also touted a huge new aluminum smelter in Ashland….There’s a good chance that some newspaper headlines will be the only thing eastern Kentucky ever sees from the announcement.”

[Connor Giffin @byconnorgiffin]

A new, 1,000-job aluminum smelter, previously eyeing a site in northeast Kentucky, is instead going to Oklahoma.

"This is a disappointing loss for Kentucky," one advocate said, "but it should serve as a wake-up call."
https://t.co/Lq2Qrx2KGm

[Linda Blackford @lbblackford]

Maddening
https://t.co/5nO6AijZZi