Treasurer Testimony

State treasurer testified before lawmakers in frankfort this morning... telling them governor andy beshear violated the constitution by targeting churches with his executive order... restricting mass gatherings at the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

L3: abc 36 news white ky treasurer: churches targeted by governor's covid-19 order testifies before leg ... allison ball spoke before the interim joint committee on judiciary... saying an investigation by her office revealed multiple instances of targeted enforcement against churches.

She gave the example of state troopers writing down license plate numbers of people during the easter service at maryville baptist in bullitt county.

Ball says state police and health departments were not told to use the same level of enforcement against people gathering in protests.

She also says some churchgoers were told they faced charges if they didn't comply with the restriction.

Some lawmakers pointed out that... even though ball says taxpayer money was wasted on enforcement.... she didn't give a dollar amount.

Others on the panel defended the governor's actions... saying they were done to protect people when there was no a lot that was known about the virus and that major religious organizations agreed with the governor's orders.

A new survey