Feb. 1, 2012 — FRANKFORT - Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd not only put on hold the filing deadline for candidates for state House and Senate districts — he effectively shut down the business of the General Assembly.

Shepherd on Tuesday issued a restraining order, enjoining the secretary of state from implementing the previous filing deadline of Jan. 31 and effectively extending the deadline at least until next Tuesday while he reviews the legislature’s redistricting plans and considers whether they are constitutional.

When he did, business stopped in the legislature. Lawmakers are reluctant to address anything remotely controversial (gambling, the budget, drug legislation) until they know if they have an opponent in the fall election.

Currently each chamber convenes, recognizes guests, passes a resolution or so and adjourns quickly. But each time they do, they’re burning one of the constitutionally allotted 60 days to do the people’s business. So Wednesday afternoon, House Majority Leader Rocky Adkins, D-Sandy Hook, announced the legislature would take Friday off.

“Yes, the session is probably not going anywhere fast,” was the way House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, put it.

That includes progress on the impasse on a plan for congressional districts. Stumbo said he’d heard nothing from the Senate after recent conversations about a compromise. Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, chairs of the State Government Committee and who drew the Senate map, said Wednesday he had “nothing to report” on that issue.

Thayer is also the Senate Republican who has said he is “strongly leaning toward” introducing a constitutional amendment to allow some sort of expanded gambling and who has worked with Gov. Steve Beshear on the proposal. But he said Shepherd’s order delaying the filing deadline is also likely to delay introduction of the amendment.

“I think there is so much uncertainty right now that to move forward with such a hot-button issue is not a good idea,” Thayer said.

He wouldn’t speculate on the probable number of votes in support of such a move in the Senate. A constitutional amendment requires 23 votes for passage in the 38-member Senate.

“I’m not actually engaged in vote counting,” Thayer said. “I told the governor that is his responsibility and I told our caucus I would not lobby them for votes.”

But Thayer said he thinks supporters of the amendment are close to securing the necessary votes. Beshear has publicly said he’s confident he can muster 23 votes in the Republican controlled Senate where its President, David Williams, opposes gambling.

“I think it’s close,” Thayer said. “I think the governor isn’t far off. I think it could go either way.”

But if lawmakers had no stomach for tackling thorny issues until they know if they have an opponent, they had plenty of time to celebrate a Kentucky cultural phenomenon. Ernie Brown Jr., aka “The Turtle Man,” was honored with resolutions on both the Senate and House floors Wednesday.

Brown has his own television show, Call of the Wildman on the Animal Planet network, where he catches snapping turtles and then lets out a distinctive yell. The Washington County native was on hand to pose for photos and bask in the adoration of lawmakers, staff and even some reporters. And there were plenty who wanted to pose with him for pictures.

The House passed one piece of legislation which may in the end be important — an amended version of its congressional re-districting plan. They did so to create a “vehicle,” a bill that can be given its required preliminary readings and then if the two chambers can agree on a congressional redistricting plan, it can be amended again and quickly passed.

But Stumbo seemed less than optimistic. He said if a compromise isn’t reached soon the question should be turned over to the courts for resolution.