Beshear: Bevin “started this… food fight!”

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ)- The gloves are all but off as governors past and present continue to “duke it out” over accusations made in a press conference last week by Republican Governor Matt Bevin.

Wednesday it was former Governor Steve Beshear’s turn to address the media who got to hear him describe Bevin’s behavior.

“He started this food fight that he enjoys instead of governing by calling us liars, by criticizing my wife and now by ginning up a political investigation to try to sully our reputation,” says Beshear, responding to accusations that his administration coerced state workers into financially contributing to Democratic campaigns and causes.

While denying those accusations, Beshear also took time so make some of his own.

The former governor calls Bevin’s accusations a distraction from ongoing problems with Benefind, the new administration’s addition to Kynect. Beshear goes on to accuse Bevin of coercing university presidents into signing a letter to agree on current budget cuts. Beshear isn’t disclosing his sources but says they’ve told him they were threatened additional losses of funds if they didn’t adhere.

In addition to that, Beshear says Bevin is forcing state workers to pay for his multi-million dollar campaign debt and going across the state raising money “from anyone who wants something from state government” to do the same.

In Beshear’s words, the governor is, “selling state government to the highest bidder and putting the money in his own pocket.”

Beshear’s press conference is drawing ire from both the Republican Party of Kentucky and spokespeople for Bevin. In a statement, the R.P.K. says:

“Today’s press conference by State Government pensioner Steve Beshear shows the depths to which he will sink to keep the truth about his administration from Kentuckians.  I too would be upset if nearly a half century of cronyism, corruption and abuse of the public trust by my Frankfort Democratic political machine was about to be laid bare for all to see.”

A spokesperson for the current governor also replied, saying in part:

“After a top-level appointment of both him and his son pleaded guilty to federal bribery last week, former Governor Beshear is merely trying to protect what is left of his legacy. Every wild, baseless accusation he has attempted to levy is not corroborated by any facts whatsoever.”

Governor Matt Bevin is currently overseas in Europe. He’s meeting with business leaders there.