Robbing the Commonwealth: Robert Stivers Under Fire

By The Flannel Fist

Source: Legislative Research Commission

While most Kentuckians are working hard just to make ends meet, Senate President Robert Stivers is hard at work consolidating power, cutting deals, and rewriting the rules to benefit his political allies. Behind the polished podium speeches and empty talk of “good governance” lies a record of insider favoritism, partisan purges, and backroom influence that’s left everyday Kentuckians behind. It’s time to shine a light on the man running the Senate like it’s his personal fiefdom. 

Weaponizing Power Over Commissions

In early 2025, Stivers pushed Senate Bill 8 to stack the Public Service Commission—adding partisan seats and forcing out members appointed by a Democratic governor. He claims it's about "expertise," but this is a blatant attempt to install his cronies and sideline independent regulators.

Later, he quietly stalled the bill. Just enough to avoid blowback . Strategy, not principle.

Fundraising for Judges: Deep Conflicts

Stivers publicly shrugged off concerns that it's improper for the Senate President to host fundraisers for judicial candidates, saying “there is no ethical problem”. This gives him outsized influence over judges who rule on laws he helps craft—power without accountability.

Partisan Purges Replacing Independents

He backed laws to remove the first Black member of the Fish & Wildlife Commission, just because of their social media views. According to his own spokesperson, Stivers dismissed concerns as “political,” not racial. However, he voted to strip power from that board anyway.

Overreach, Not Oversight

Stivers has spent years expanding his power through committees and regulations—from stacking the PSC to steering task forces. It’s not bipartisan leadership, it’s entrenchment of one-party rule under a veneer of “collaboration.”

Final Thoughts

Robert Stivers isn’t a “collaborator.” He’s a master of insider entrenchment, using his positions to stack power boards, influence courts, and erase independent voices. All while claiming it’s for good governance.

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