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Suffolk County’s police department is dropping DARE, the widespread school anti-drug program that has faced questions about its effectiveness, the police commissioner said.

“Has faced questions about his effectiveness” is a generous term here. The 2003 Government Accountability Office study on the effectiveness of the program used the term “no statistically significant long-term effect on preventing illicit drug use.”

But surely that’s not enough reason to stop spending government money on something, right?

Last Monday, Jefferson County Board of Education approved the bias protection for gay and lesbian workers.

Over 400 people were in attendance for the vote. Those in support of the bias protection were holding signs which read “Protect the Workers” and “Fairness for All.”

While those in opposition were holding signs urging the board to, “Protect the Children.”

But I couldn’t find any sign pleading to, “Protect Parents’ Choice.”

Personally, I don’t give a flip if you want gays, lesbians, bisexuals, cross-dressers, or any other type of (for lack of a better phrase) sexually diverse people to teach your child – just so long as my own child is not forced to sit in their classroom.

Once again, school choice seems to be an obvious solution.

With school choice, not only would Mike Slaton, and all other members of the so-called Fairness Campaign be free to send their children to schools which do employ homosexuals. But also, those parents who are uncomfortable with gays teaching their kids would be free to send their children to schools which do not employ homosexuals.

As a result, both sides of the aisle are satisfied. 

School choice not only, “Protects the Children,” but is truly, “Fairness for All.”

A state commission is researching ways to “fix” Kentucky’s unfunded state employee pension mandate. Here’s the bitter medicine that state employees must take in order to help get this problem under control:

Two of the more controversial proposals include reducing the cost-of-living adjustment and increasing the age or years of service before retirees qualify for full benefits.

Even more “controversial” was Sen. David Williams’ plan to switch the defined benefit pension program over to a defined contribution program that would work like a 401 k:

The proposal has not emerged as a recommendation for the commission’s final report, Crall said.

Commission members who represent government and employees say the concept would not solve the real problem with the pension systems — skyrocketing health-care costs.

“I hope most members now understand it’s a dumb idea,” said Bill Hanes, retired executive director of Kentucky Retirement Systems and a commission member.

 Guess Hanes doesn’t realize that most private companies offer their employees 401 k retirement plans. People can actually accumulate savings by investing in the stock market. Amazing!

Only time will tell if the Kentucky legislature will actually take any action to tweak the KY pension system. State employees and teachers make up a large part of the voting population and most politicians would rather not rock their boat. I’m not holding my breath.

I used to work with Joe Elliott. He’s a class act, an excellent host and it’s a shame that he’s been laid off:

A popular radio talk show host is off the air. WAVE 3 has learned from several sources that Joe Elliott — who for years has hosted the 9:00 p.m. to Midnight show on 84WHAS — has been let go.

Elliott — who is blind — grew up in Louisville. A college professor told him he’d never make it in radio. He ended up covering much of the nation on the 50,000 watt station dissecting all the important issues of Kentuckiana.

WAVE 3 contacted Clear Channel which owns WHAS radio. They offered no comment and haven’t released a statement. But our sources say it’s a cost cutting measure and that the time slot will likely go to a nationally syndicated program.