Kentucky's Capitol
(2010-02-05)
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Sen. Robin Webb, D-Grayson, is upset about being secretly videotaped in her Senate office by a man accompanying the candidate she defeated in a special election last year. Legislative leaders don't appear too upset about the incident, and say lawmakers need to conduct themselves as if they're always being secretly taped.
Photo courtesy Legislative Research Commission (Click image to enlarge)
FRANKFORT, KY (WEKU) - Legislative leaders are weighing in on the secret videotaping of a state senator in her office in the annex of the State Capitol.
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Last week, when Democratic Sen. Robin Webb met with the man she defeated in a special election last year, she was secretly videotaped. Webb says she resents the taping by a representative of the Kentucky Medical Association accompanying Republican Jack Ditty, whom Webb defeated. Sen. President David Williams says the whole matter is a tempest in a teapot.
"In today's world, people record and whatever," said Williams. "I think that you should conduct yourself in any kind of meeting that you have that's in a public place so that you don't care whether you're being recorded or not."
Speaker Greg Stumbo says he tells House members to assume that everything's being taped. Stumbo says as a matter of courtesy, it would be polite to let someone know you're taping them, but it's not illegal and "politics is a contact sport."
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Speaker Greg Stumbo says, in this day and age, lawmakers should assume everything's being taped.
"It's not against the law," said Stumbo. "We don't have a policy on it. I think as a matter of courtesy, it would have been, obviously - it would be nice to do. But I agree with President Williams, in today's age, you just assume everything that you're saying is gonna be videotaped. But, politics is a contact sport."
Sen. Webb and Jack Ditty square off again this fall in the race for a full term. The Senate seat formerly was held by Republican Charlie Borders, who accepted a gubernatorial appointment to the Public Service Commission.
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