Commentary: The wrong way to do ‘medical marijuana’; don’t trade one drug crisis for another
By Richard Nelson and Garth Van Meter Marijuana as medicine is moving in the Kentucky legislature but before we jump…
Commonwealth Policy Center
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Richard Nelson: Beware of sweeping implications in current legislation, could limit faith-based counselors
Last week, the New York Times reported on a Kentucky Senate bill banning conversion therapy, a controversial technique whose extreme…
Richard Nelson: Political Action Committees offer teachable moment, reflect values of constituency
Elections are kind of like a new school year. New faces show up. Fresh ideas are disseminated. Personalities emerge. Elections often teach…
Richard Nelson: Remembering our nation’s 243rd birthday and the soul-stirring 56 words that define us
Just a few days ago I was in Washington D.C. where I visited the National Archives and saw the Declaration…
Richard Nelson: Tomorrow is primary election day in Kentucky; can we defy the low turnout prediction?
Kentucky’s primary election is Tuesday and if voter participation in 2015 is any indication, the turnout will be in the…
Commonwealth Policy Center honors Rep. Joe Fischer with Friend of Life Award; event May 15
The Commonwealth Policy Center is honoring State Rep. Joe Fischer with its Friend of Life Award for sponsoring HB 148…
Richard Nelson: Whether or not life is found on Mars, it is found in the tiniest heartbeat of a human being
BBC Science Correspondent Jonathan Amos recently asked, “What chance has NASA of finding life on Mars?” He’s referring to the Mars…
Richard Nelson: Little-known organizations, like KY’s faith-based pregnancy care centers, have big impact
More often than not there are enterprises within our communities that we know nothing about. But when little-known organizations have…
Richard Nelson: Confidence in traditional mainstream media erodes; loss of credibility is a looming crisis
Our trust in the established news media continues to decline. A major culprit? “Fake news.” According to a Monmouth University poll…
Richard Nelson: Declaration of Independence worth celebrating, but what are we fighting for today?
It was 242 years ago when America’s colonial leaders declared their independence from a tyrant who trampled their rights and…
Brandon Porter: Lack of respect for others has consequences; contributes to societal problems
We tend to compartmentalize our lives. Our heads ache, yet we don’t consider the small amount of sleep we’ve had…
Richard Nelson: Despite drama, 2018 legislative session was a successful production in many ways
The 2018 General Assembly was incredibly productive and even took positive steps to shore up the state pension system, but…
Brandon Porter: Lesson learned from student walkout — protect human life because it’s valuable
Thousands of students walked out of schools across Kentucky and around the United States on Wednesday. Some of the students walked…
Richard Nelson: Fixing the foster care system critical to improving the lives of Kentucky children
If Hurricane Harvey’s record rainfall doused the fiery political climate, then the images of rescue workers saving children have softened…
Richard Nelson: Tweeting is no way to communicate policy; have honest discussion about gender issues
President Trump’s tweet barring transgendered persons from serving in the military caught everyone off guard, including policy makers who are…
Commentary: Coverage of Bevin’s real estate deal results in another case of unbalanced journalism
By Richard Nelson Special to NKyTribune The Executive Branch Ethics Commission (EBEC) recently cleared Gov. Bevin of any wrongdoing involving…
Richard Nelson: Trust in institutional media is at a low; why and what to do? First, own up
Kentuckians’ trust in institutional media may be at an all-time low. According to Secretary of State Alison Grime’s Kentucky Civic…
Richard Nelson: An unforgettable experience outside Kentucky’s last remaining abortion clinic
Have you ever gone to an event expecting one thing only to find out that it was something entirely different?…
Commentary: Marches, Planned Parenthood and balanced reporting on what’s really significant
By Richard Nelson Special to NKyTribune It’s been a week of marches and protests and major policy shifts, but in…
Richard Nelson: Gov. Bevin signs pro-life legislation into law, and I supported both of the bills
An interesting thing happened in Frankfort a few days ago. For the first time in the history of the legislature,…
Richard Nelson: Change is needed, divisions are deep and wide — let the healing start with you
Political commentators and celebrities are bidding good riddance to 2016 largely because of the ideological divide and politics that separates…
Richard Nelson: Candidate Trump is a creature of the times — and has been in the making for years
Halloween is past and scarier than any goblin at your doorstep is a bitter political season filled with high pitched…