Former Kentucky Gov. Brereton Jones dies, fought to bolster health care and ethics laws in office

By BRUCE SCHREINER and DYLAN LOVAN
Associated Press

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Former Kentucy Gov. Brereton C. Jones, a Republican turned Democrat who served a single term in the 1990s, has died.  Jones was governor from 1991 to 1995 and survived two serious accidents while in office that left him with a severely injured back. His administration was most memorable for a well-intentioned yet ultimately unsuccessful attempt at universal health insurance. Jones envisioned a system in which coverage would be accessible and affordable for everyone, regardless of health history. Instead, dozens of insurers bailed out of Kentucky, and costs for individual coverage soared. He also sought to strengthen ethics laws while in office.