By: Keith Kappes
Columnist
Carter County Times
In case you didn’t know, the multi-million-dollar television advertising campaign supporting the so-called “school choice” amendment on the November ballot is being single-handedly funded by Jeff Yass, a Pennsylvania billionaire and apparently a close political ally of Sen. Rand Paul.
Paul and his wife, Kelley, are featured in the TV ads but are delivering a false impression about their interest in Kentucky’s K-12 schools. Their children went to public schools in Bowling Green and have moved on from high school. They will not be affected by whether Amendment 2 passes or fails on Nov. 5.
Our junior senator no doubt is shilling for Yass because the Republican megadonor has long bankrolled political action committees supporting him. Yass has long been a massive donor to PACs affiliated with Paul. In fact, he gave $5 million to a PAC that backed Paul’s reelection in 2022.
The $5 million given by Yass in support of Amendment 2 was channeled through a national PAC called Protect Freedom which is closely aligned with Paul since it was formed by the senator and his rich friends in 2017.
Protect Freedom began running television ads in September in support of Amendment 2 which would change Kentucky’s Constitution to allow the General Assembly to spend tax dollars for educating students at private schools.
As of last week, Protect Freedom had bought $4.1 million in ads promoting the amendment, according to Protect Our Schools, a watchdog group opposing the amendment that tracks advertising buys in the campaign.
Yass is said to be worth $44.3 billion and is America’s second largest political donor, reportedly making $79.7 million in political contributions since Jan. 1, 2023, not including the $5 million he gave in September to Protect Freedom for the TV blitz in Kentucky.
Those of us opposing Amendment 2 can only hope the rich dude’s political judgement is as keen this year as it was last year when he gave millions to various PACs backing Republican Daniel Cameron’s failed campaign for governor.
Contact Keith at keithkappes@gmail.com.
