| | In the 2016 elections, the Kentucky GOP made massive gains in the state house, gaining a supermajority<ref name="Loftus">Loftus, Tom (November 9, 2016). [http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/elections/kentucky/2016/11/08/control-kentucky-house-up-grabs/93344114/ GOP takes Ky House in historic shift]. ''Courier-Journal''. Retrieved November 9, 2016.</ref> and controlling the House for the first time since 1921.<ref name="TakeTheHouse">Brammer, Jack & Blackford, Linda (November 8, 2016). [http://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article113464563.html Republicans take the Kentucky House after 95 years of Democratic control]. ''Lexington Herald-Leader''. Retrieved November 9, 2016.</ref> After the election, Republicans controlled every state legislature in the [[Southern United States]].<ref name="Loftus"/> Before this, the House had been controlled by Democrats, while the Senate and governorship was GOP-controlled, meaning that conservative legislation supported by Bevin and the Senate would die in the house.<ref name="TakeTheHouse"/> Because of this victory, Bevin's fiscal and social conservative agenda can now be realized.<ref name="TakeTheHouse"/> | | In the 2016 elections, the Kentucky GOP made massive gains in the state house, gaining a supermajority<ref name="Loftus">Loftus, Tom (November 9, 2016). [http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/elections/kentucky/2016/11/08/control-kentucky-house-up-grabs/93344114/ GOP takes Ky House in historic shift]. ''Courier-Journal''. Retrieved November 9, 2016.</ref> and controlling the House for the first time since 1921.<ref name="TakeTheHouse">Brammer, Jack & Blackford, Linda (November 8, 2016). [http://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article113464563.html Republicans take the Kentucky House after 95 years of Democratic control]. ''Lexington Herald-Leader''. Retrieved November 9, 2016.</ref> After the election, Republicans controlled every state legislature in the [[Southern United States]].<ref name="Loftus"/> Before this, the House had been controlled by Democrats, while the Senate and governorship was GOP-controlled, meaning that conservative legislation supported by Bevin and the Senate would die in the house.<ref name="TakeTheHouse"/> Because of this victory, Bevin's fiscal and social conservative agenda can now be realized.<ref name="TakeTheHouse"/> |
| − | Bevin declared both 2016 and 2017 to be the Year of the Bible in Kentucky.<ref>Watkins, Morgan (December 22, 2016). [http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/ky-governor/2016/12/22/bevin-2017-also-year-bible/95741578/ Bevin: 2017 is also the 'Year of the Bible']. ''courier-journal.com''. Retrieved January 1, 2017.</ref><ref>Gryboski, Michael (December 23, 2016). [http://www.christianpost.com/news/kentucky-governor-matt-bevin-2017-year-of-the-bible-172333/ Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin Declares 2017 Another 'Year of the Bible']. ''The Christian Post''. Retrieved January 1, 2016.</ref> | + | Bevin declared both 2016 and 2017 to be the Year of the [[Bible]] in [[Kentucky]].<ref>Watkins, Morgan (December 22, 2016). [http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/ky-governor/2016/12/22/bevin-2017-also-year-bible/95741578/ Bevin: 2017 is also the 'Year of the Bible']. ''courier-journal.com''. Retrieved January 1, 2017.</ref><ref>Gryboski, Michael (December 23, 2016). [http://www.christianpost.com/news/kentucky-governor-matt-bevin-2017-year-of-the-bible-172333/ Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin Declares 2017 Another 'Year of the Bible']. ''The Christian Post''. Retrieved January 1, 2016.</ref> |
| | After the 2016 election, Republicans did not delay passing conservative legislation. On January 7, 2017, the Kentucky legislature passed seven bills, most of which either created additional protections for [[pro-life|unborn human beings]] (such as banning the form of murder called "abortion" after 20-weeks of pregnancy) or reduced the hold of [[labor union]]s in the state (such as by passing a [[right to work]] law).<ref>Loftus, Tom; Watkins, Morgan (January 7, 2017). [http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/ky-legislature/2017/01/07/kentucky-legislature-saturday-abortion-right-work-union-university-louisville/96262674/ GOP fast-tracks abortion, right-to-work, UofL bills]. ''courier-journal.com''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref><ref>Williams, Chris (January 8, 2017). [http://www.whas11.com/news/politics/ky-republicans-pass-7-bills-in-one-day/383552511 Kentucky Republicans pass 7 bills in one day]. ''whas11.com''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref> Bevin signed all seven into law.<ref>[http://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=KentuckyGovernor&prId=232 Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of a Better Commonwealth: Gov. Bevin Signs Historic Week One Legislation]. ''kentucky.gov''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref><ref>[http://www.wkyt.com/content/news/Bevin-New-laws-will-be-in-effect-by-Monday-410082125.html Bevin: New laws will be in effect by Monday]. ''WKYT''. January 9, 2017. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref> The first of the bills Bevin stated he would sign was the 20-week abortion ban.<ref>[http://www.wcpo.com/news/government/state-government/kentucky-state-government-news/new-laws-take-effect-monday-in-kentucky-gov-matt-bevin-says Gov. Bevin says he's signing bill that bans abortions after 20 weeks first]. ''WCPO''. January 8, 2017. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref> | | After the 2016 election, Republicans did not delay passing conservative legislation. On January 7, 2017, the Kentucky legislature passed seven bills, most of which either created additional protections for [[pro-life|unborn human beings]] (such as banning the form of murder called "abortion" after 20-weeks of pregnancy) or reduced the hold of [[labor union]]s in the state (such as by passing a [[right to work]] law).<ref>Loftus, Tom; Watkins, Morgan (January 7, 2017). [http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/ky-legislature/2017/01/07/kentucky-legislature-saturday-abortion-right-work-union-university-louisville/96262674/ GOP fast-tracks abortion, right-to-work, UofL bills]. ''courier-journal.com''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref><ref>Williams, Chris (January 8, 2017). [http://www.whas11.com/news/politics/ky-republicans-pass-7-bills-in-one-day/383552511 Kentucky Republicans pass 7 bills in one day]. ''whas11.com''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref> Bevin signed all seven into law.<ref>[http://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=KentuckyGovernor&prId=232 Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of a Better Commonwealth: Gov. Bevin Signs Historic Week One Legislation]. ''kentucky.gov''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref><ref>[http://www.wkyt.com/content/news/Bevin-New-laws-will-be-in-effect-by-Monday-410082125.html Bevin: New laws will be in effect by Monday]. ''WKYT''. January 9, 2017. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref> The first of the bills Bevin stated he would sign was the 20-week abortion ban.<ref>[http://www.wcpo.com/news/government/state-government/kentucky-state-government-news/new-laws-take-effect-monday-in-kentucky-gov-matt-bevin-says Gov. Bevin says he's signing bill that bans abortions after 20 weeks first]. ''WCPO''. January 8, 2017. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref> |