Inaugural Committee Banks Half Million

{Frankfort, Kentucky}...Thanks to a few massive contributions from coal operators and other special-interest givers, Governor Steve Beshear’s inaugural committee has paid many of its bills and still has a half million dollars in the bank. The fundraising committee for the inauguration of Beshear and Lt. Governor Jerry Abramson reported Thursday that it raised $631,900 between November 9th and December 31st, while expenses during the same period were only $131,992, leaving $499,908 in the bank as of December 31st. Of the bills paid by the committee so far, the largest was $40,581 to the state party for “reimbursement of payroll expenses” it incurred for inauguration work. Sarah Jackson, executive director of the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance, says leftover funds, if any, may be given to a charity recognized by the Internal Revenue Service, to the state or to the political party with which the committee is affiliated or it can be refunded on a pro-rata basis to contributors.