Gay, transgender rights bill held back by homophobia, politics in House, sponsor says; Democratic, GOP leaders say criticism unfair
02/17/2016 07:06 PM
FRANKFORT — Supporters of a bill that would prohibit the discrimination of homosexual and transgender persons in employment, housing and other areas made their cases for 15 minutes before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, but lawmakers did not vote on House Bill 155 in only its second ever information-only hearing. But in a state that has trended conservative in recent election cycles, the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Mary Lou Marzian, said the legislation likely won’t get a vote in the... Read more 
Voluntary county consolidation legislation clears House committee
02/17/2016 06:30 PM
FRANKFORT — Facing mounting financial woes lawmakers are once again considering measures to reduce the state’s financial burden by making it easier for the 120 counties in Kentucky to consolidate, which would reduce redundant positions in government. With history and the political realities weighing against the likelihood of the passage of the legislation Rep. Adam Koenig is trying this session to update the procedure counties undertake if they choose to consolidate. HB 161 passed the House Standing Committee... Read more
Senate priority education reform bill passes full Senate chamber
02/17/2016 06:19 PM
FRANKFORT – The Senate’s education reform bill, sponsored by Sen. Mike Wilson, R-Bowling Green, passed the upper chamber with a 25-12 vote on Wednesday. All 11 Senate Democrats voted no while one Republican, Sen. Brandon Smith, R-Hazard cast the GOP’s lone no vote on the Senate floor. Sen. C.B. Embry, R-Morgantown, did not vote. SB 1 would change the way the state would review their educational standards and how schools and students would be evaluated. Along with doing away with requiring teachers... Read more
Kentucky Department of Education officials warn P-12 budget cuts will have adverse impact on Kentucky students
02/17/2016 03:43 PM
FRANKFORT – Officials with the Kentucky Department of Education said that Gov. Bevin’s proposed cuts to public education could stifle a lot of the progress that’s been seen in recent years in the state’s schools. Like all state agencies, the Kentucky Department of Education saw their budget slashed 4.5 percent equaling $17,885,500 for FY 2016. Reductions of 9 percent in FY 2017 and FY 2018, would amount to $35,771,000 per year. Items exempted from budget cuts in FY 2016 include SEEK... Read more
“The day of reckoning has come," for kynect, health officials say
02/16/2016 11:10 PM
FRANKFORT – Kynect, the portal to Kentucky’s health insurance exchange, was described as too expensive and not sustainable by Kentucky Medicaid Commissioner Stephen Miller and Vicki Yates Brown Glisson, Secretary, Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Glisson told members of the House Budget Subcommittee on Human Resources on Tuesday that since the federal money used to support Kynect is beginning to go away, it is fast becoming cost prohibitive to keep what she calls “the website, or portal” intact. “The day of... Read more
Acting Transportation Cabinet head sees no need for new Road Fund formula after weathering nine-figure shortfall
02/16/2016 06:46 PM
FRANKFORT — Faced with declining revenues in the state’s Road Fund due in part to low gas prices, officials with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet said Tuesday that the fund will make minimal progress in the biennium after a $112.5 million shortfall was resolved in the current fiscal year. But after the General Assembly passed legislation establishing a new floor for the average wholesale price of gasoline at 26 cents per gallon and setting a maximum yearly rate that that cost... Read more
Republican Party of Kentucky preparing for presidential caucus
02/16/2016 05:59 PM
In 17 days Republican across Kentucky will be able to have their say in the selection of the GOP presidential nominee. Put in place to allow Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, to circumvent statute barring a candidate from appearing on the ballot for two offices at the same time the Republican Party of Kentucky (RPK) is holding a presidential caucus, even though Paul is now focusing on his re-election. Mike Biagi, the RPK’s executive director, told Pure Politics Republicans voting in the... Read more
Louisville’s Red Cross Hospital was founded by African-Americans, for African-Americans during a time when segregation was the norm. Drs. W.T. Merchant, Ellis Whedbee and R.B. Scott established the hospital in 1899 to provide care to Louisville’s African-American community. The hospital was first located at Sixth and Muhammad Ali Boulevard (then Walnut Street) and eventually moved to South Shelby Street. It closed its doors 40 years ago. Now, a local doctor wants to tell the story of the hospital and the people connected to it. “It was a beacon in the African-American community, not just here in Louisville but throughout the entire state of Kentucky,” said [...]
Thu, Feb 18, 2016 1:00:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
Democratic state Rep. Mary Lou Marzian of Louisville has proposed a bill that would require men to have two in-person visits with a doctor before receiving a prescription for erectile dysfunction drugs, such as Viagra. Men would also be required to swear that they will only use the pills to have sex with their spouse, who must also provide written consent. In an interview on Wednesday, Marzian acknowledged that the bill is a tongue-in-cheek response to anti-abortion legislation put forward by conservative lawmakers. And she’s drawn national attention for the move. (Listen to the interview in the audio player above.) This bill is being [...]
Thu, Feb 18, 2016 11:50:00 AM, Continue reading at the source
A bill that would protect Kentuckians from discrimination based on sexual orientation is unlikely to be voted on this year. The statewide fairness law was given a public presentation in a crowded House Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday, but state Rep. Mary Lou Marzian said it didn’t have enough votes on the committee to pass. “As long as people feel like they’re taking a political hit to vote for fairness, it’s going to be difficult,” she said. Marzian, a Louisville Democrat, has sponsored the bill for years. The legislation was given a committee hearing in 2014, but it’s never received an official vote. Despite being [...]
Wed, Feb 17, 2016 10:40:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
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