FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky county clerk known for spending five days in jail over her refusal to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples is attending the governor’s public swearing-in ceremony.
Rowan County clerk Kim Davis was at Tuesday’s event for Gov. Matt Bevin. Davis’ incarceration energized thousands of religious conservative voters. That aided Bevin, a Republican, in his campaign.
Davis’ case is still pending in federal court. Bevin has promised to issue an executive order removing the county clerks’ names from marriage licenses in Kentucky. Davis has said that would satisfy her conscience and potentially end the long-running issue.
Davis was a Democrat but recently changed to the Republican party. Her attorney, Mat Staver, said in a statement there was “no question” that Davis and the question of religious freedom played a role in Bevin’s victory.
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New Gov. Matt Bevin urged Kentuckians to put aside their differences and come together for the good of the state during his inaugural address on the steps of the state Capitol.
But Bevin also Tuesday outlined a list of policy priorities sure to divide the state in the coming months. Chief among them is repealing the state’s Medicaid expansion and replacing it a new system that would reduce the number of people receiving taxpayer-funded health insurance. And he promised to spend public dollars on private education programs to create competition for public schools.
Not mentioned was Bevin’s previous promise to protect the religious freedom of county clerks, including Davis.
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This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.