Keith Hall

KY State Senator Ray Jones and State Representative Keith Hall are two of the most conservative, ethically shady Democrats in Frankfort. Keith Hall filling his own pockets and warning us about Pikeville’s “urban sprawl“, and Ray Jones palling around with Leonard Lawson and fighting the scourge of Mexicans. Jones is one of the reasons why the Democrats being outnumbered 22-15 in the State Senate is misleading, as he’s part of the group of 5+ Democrats that are just going to vote with the Republicans on most important legislation, anyway. And Hall’s going to be lucky to stay out of jail, honestly.

I have no idea whether Jones and Hall are so conservative that they are going to back David Williams over Steve Beshear this year, but the latest news I’ve just received raises a host of questions about their relationship with Steve Beshear.

Last week, the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission received an open records request regarding the travel expenses for the last eight years on Sen. Ray Jones and Rep. Keith Hall. The return address on the envelope is the address of Jared Smith, who is the Deputy Finance Director of the Beshear-Abramson Campaign. The actual name on the request was Aaron Ross, a friend of Smith’s.

Rut roh.

Ray Jones was incensed, instructing the Chief of Staff of the Senate Democrats to send out this information to the entire caucus this afternoon.

Now if staffers of the Beshear campaign are sending out open records requests on Jones and Hall (poorly disguised), this would seem to indicate that they know Jones and Hall are working to undermine them in some way. And that Beshear is fighting back against some very shady targets.

Now sit back and enjoy the fireworks.

Here’s the email that the Senate Democrats’ COS sent out today:

Ray wanted me to forward the following information to all of you.

On Monday, March 28, 2011, I recieved notice from Laura Hendrix, General Counsel for LRC, that an open records request was recieved by LRC regarding travel expenses for the last eight years on Sen. Ray Jones and Rep. Keith Hall. This is standard operating procedure for LRC, I recieve notice whenever LRC recieves an open records request regarding any Senate Democratic member or staff.

The letter was dated March 22, 2011. The name requesting the information and the return address was listed as Aaron Ross, XXXXXXXXXX, Lexington KY 405XX.

The return address on the envelope was XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, Lexington KY 405XX with no name.

The apartment on the envelope is rented to Thomas Jared Smith.

Jared Smith lists his occupation as Deputy Finance Director to the Beshear-Abramson Campaign.

Aaron Ross and Jared Smith are Facebook friends and attended the same high school.

Memo to Sen. Jones: I before E, except after C.

UPDATE: Well well, I guess the $1,000 max out contribution that Ray Jones’ wife Laura gave to the David Williams campaign might have something to do with this.