House sends local-option sales tax, dating violence and felon voting rights bills to the Senate
02/12/2015 07:29 PM
FRANKFORT — The Kentucky House of Representatives passed bills establishing a local-option sales tax, granting greater protections for partners in dating relationships and restoring voting rights for some felons Thursday. House Bill 1, a constitutional amendment for local-option sales taxes sponsored by House Speaker Greg Stumbo, faced the stiffest opposition in the chamber, passing 62-35 and clearing the three-fifths majority required to amend the state Constitution by two votes. Seventeen Republicans voted for the local-option sales tax, which would be placed... Read more 
Medical marijuana bill will not receive a vote in 2015
02/12/2015 06:10 PM
FRANKFORT — Trying to ensure the commonwealth takes the correct steps should it choose to legalize marijuana for medical purposes, House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, addressed the House Health and Welfare Committee on Thursday to discuss how the state should consider legislation. Stumbo is sponsoring House Bill 3 , which would permit use of medical cannabis. House Bill 3 proposed to only let trained doctors order the use of medical marijuana. No smoking would be allowed, which the same... Read more
Medicaid expansion will add 40,000 jobs, create $30B in economic impact through 2021, first-year analysis shows
02/12/2015 04:35 PM
FRANKFORT — Gov. Steve Beshear’s decision to expand Medicaid eligibility will create some 40,000 jobs and add an estimated $30 billion to the state’s economy through fiscal year 2021, Beshear announced at a news conference Thursday. Beshear unveiled a study, commissioned by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and completed by Deloitte Consulting and the University of Louisville Urban Studies Institute, on the state’s experience in the first year of expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Deloitte and UofL... Read more
Senate's right-to-work bill killed in House committee
02/12/2015 03:48 PM
FRANKFORT – A bill which would have made Kentucky a right-to-work state, which would essentially end closed union shops, was soundly defeated on Thursday before a packed pro-union crowd during the House Committee on Labor and Industry. Senate Bill 1 sponsored by Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, would have enabled workers to choose not to join a labor union at their place of employment if they elected not to. Stivers feels that right-to-work is a “tool” that can be used for... Read more
Computer coding will no longer be considered for foreign language credit, but Senate bill hopes to make it part of science curriculum
02/12/2015 03:40 PM
FRANKFORT — A bill granting foreign language credits for students in computer coding classes has been amended by the Senate Education Committee Thursday after its sponsor fielded numerous concerns from teachers. Senate Bill 16, sponsored by Senate President Pro Tem David Givens, now calls for the Kentucky Department of Education to make students in computer coding courses eligible for science credits. The education committee unanimously moved the bill to the Senate floor. “In that core curriculum of 15 credits, computer programming counts... Read more
Louisville is often compared to a set list of cities in lists, reports and presentations. That’s what happened earlier this week. The Louisville Downtown Partnership presented the annual state of the downtown report, ranking Louisville among 17 other cities in categories such as median income to the percentage of young people living downtown. These cities with which Louisville often duels are considered to be its “peer” cities. In these comparisons, the state of these cities can sway perceptions of Louisville from a stay-and-play urban area to a speed-through slum. So, what are Louisville’s peer cities? How did they become peers and, more importantly, do they even matter? Janet Kelly, the [...]
Fri, Feb 13, 2015 12:01:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
The Kentucky state House on Thursday voted to restore voting rights for non-violent felons after they’ve served their time. The bill, which has passed the House every year since 2007, would give an estimated 186,000 Kentuckians the right to vote, according to the activist group Kentuckians For The Commonwealth. Rep. George Brown, Jr., a Democrat from Lexington who co-sponsored the bill, said Kentucky has been in the dark ages when it comes to granting voting rights for felons. “Kentucky is a place that has long drug its feet in terms of the citizens that have paid their debt to society,” Brown said. “The question [...]
Fri, Feb 13, 2015 1:34:00 AM, Continue reading at the source
A bill that would give victims of dating violence increased protections passed the House on Thursday evening. The bill, which has the support of the Gov. Steve Beshear and First Lady Jane Beshear, passed the House unanimously. But Rep. Donna Mayfield, a Republican from Winchester, expressed concern about the bill, saying that the present system already protects victims. “I just fear that this opens the floodgates to some situations that may dilute the purity of this situation, the way that we have it in the courts right now,” Mayfield said. “I’m afraid that those people who desperately need our protection are going to be [...]
Fri, Feb 13, 2015 1:26:00 AM, Continue reading at the source
Bill allowing student-led prayer at public school events advances in Kentucky Senate
from jbrammer@herald-leader.com (Jack Brammer)
from jbrammer@herald-leader.com (Jack Brammer)
The Senate Judiciary Committee signed off on a bill Thursday to allow voluntary student expression of religious or political viewpoints in public schools.Click to Continue » [...]
Thu, Feb 12, 2015 11:48:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
House approves constitutional amendment to allow local votes on sales tax increases
from jcheves@herald-leader.com (John Cheves)
from jcheves@herald-leader.com (John Cheves)
The Kentucky House on Thursday approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would let cities and counties temporarily raise their local sales taxes from 6 percent to 7 percent to pay…Click to Continue » [...]
Thu, Feb 12, 2015 10:54:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
Bill to set first school day at end of August draws opposition
from vhoneycutt@herald-leader.com (Valarie Honeycutt Spears)
from vhoneycutt@herald-leader.com (Valarie Honeycutt Spears)
The Kentucky School Boards Association issued a "call to action" Thursday against a bill that would require schools to schedule the first student attendance day no earlier than the Monday…Click to Continue » [...]
Thu, Feb 12, 2015 10:11:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
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