Kentucky attorney general seeks to block teacher subpoenas

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky's top lawyer is challenging subpoenas from the governor's administration seeking the names of teachers who might have used sick days that shut down schools as they attended statehouse rallies earlier this year.

Republican Gov. Matt Bevin's administration has 10 days to rescind the subpoenas that the state Labor Cabinet sent recently to several school districts, Democratic Attorney General Andy Beshear said Tuesday in a letter to Bevin and the state's labor cabinet.

If the administration doesn't comply, Beshear said he'll take them to court — again.

It's the latest clash between Bevin and Beshear, who have squared off in legal disputes over the governor's use of executive powers. The bitter adversaries could end up running against each other in this year's gubernatorial election.

On Tuesday in Louisville, Bevin declined to answer reporters' questions about Beshear's demands. His office did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment. The labor cabinet issued a statement that said: "Attorney General Beshear is wrong. The Labor Cabinet has complied and will continue to comply with Kentucky law."

Beshear said the subpoenas amount to teachers being "under attack from their own government" for speaking out at rallies.

The subpoenas violate free speech rights and might constitute "intimidation, threats or coercion" in violation of state law, he said.

"The subpoenas issued by the Labor Cabinet are unlawful, and they are another attempt by this governor to bully our teachers," Beshear told reporters.

Widespread absences in some school districts forced cancellation of classes for up to a few days while teachers converged on Kentucky's Capitol earlier this year, drawing Bevin's criticism.

Kentucky teachers did not go on strike. They used...