Sunday, January 26, 2014

Day Thirteen of KY's 2014 Session In Review

Monday’s legislative schedule, links to the most updated bill trackers and some of Kentucky’s political headlines are all in today’s legislative update.

A BRIEF REVIEW: The House passed two bills on Friday. HB129, a bill introduced by Rep. Yonts, relating to fees retained by local government agencies and HB 181, a bill introduced by Rep. McKee relating to eggs, both passed 91 – 0. The Senate did not consider any legislation on the floor Friday.
A BRIEF PREVIEW: The House Budget Review Subcommittees will begin hearings on Monday, with the Human Resource Subcommittee hearing at Noon. The budget and the filing deadline on Tuesday will be the big news of the week.  All 100 members of the House are up for re-election and one half of  the 38 members of the Senate. Thus far 190 people have filed for the 119 seats up for re-election. 93 of the 100 sitting members of the House and 15 incumbent Senators are running. There are four open Senate seats: Senator Bob Leeper (District 2); Senator Jerry Rhoads (District 6); Senator Katie Stine (District 24); and Senator Julie Denton (District 36). Behind the scenes legislators will be sorting through what the budget means for their district and what an opponent might or will mean for them. Tuesday will be full of anticipation. Stay tuned……

newlogoshraderbuLEGISLATIVE TRACKERS BY INTEREST

Click on the links below

    LINKS TO SOME OF TODAY’s HEADLINES:

     UPCOMING MEETINGS:

    Monday, January 27, 2014
    Noon, Annex Room 129
    HOUSE BUDGET REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES
    Agenda: Cabinet for Health and Family Services Overview, Administrative Support, Aging Services, Next meeting date: Wednesday, January 29th 2014- Medicaid Services and Income Support

    Noon, Annex Room 154
    PUBLIC PENSION OVERSIGHT BOARD
    Agenda: Review of Kentucky Retirement Systems Administration and Benefits, Brad Gross, LRC staff, Review of Kentucky Retirement Systems Funding, William Thielen, Executive Director, Kentucky Retirement Systems, Review of 2014 Legislative Proposals


    4:00pm, House Chambers
    House Convenes (Orders of the Day)
    4:00pm, Senate Chambers
    Senate Convenes (Orders of the Day)

    SOME OF THE LATEST POLITICAL STORIES:


    Voters should consider former President Bill Clinton’s “predatory behavior” against women before buying into the narrative Democrats have “concocted” that Republicans are waging a war on women, U.S. Sen. Rand…Click to Continue » [...]
    Mon, Jan 27, 2014 12:14:00 AM, Continue reading at the source

    By Sam Youngman syoungman@herald-leader.com Voters should consider former President Bill Clinton’s “predatory behavior” against women before believing the narrative Democrats have “concocted” that Republicans are waging a war on women, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul said Sunday. “He took advantage of a girl that was 20 years old and an intern in his office,” Paul said on NBC’s Meet the Press, referring to Bill Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky. “There is no excuse for that, and that is predatory behavior. It should be something…We shouldn’t want to associate with people who would take advantage of a young girl in his office.” Paul, who some have [...]
    Sun, Jan 26, 2014 11:37:00 PM, Continue reading at the source

    Ed Gibson, the father of a diabetic second-grader in Lexington, said he is frustrated that Kentucky regulations and law do not allow school staff other than licensed health professionals to…Click to Continue » [...]
    Sun, Jan 26, 2014 11:28:00 PM, Continue reading at the source

    The Kentucky Community and Technical College System hopes to enact the first mandatory student fee in its 17-year history to pay for a proposed $145 million bond issue for construction…Click to Continue » [...]
    Sun, Jan 26, 2014 2:17:00 AM, Continue reading at the source

    WASHINGTON – Kentucky’s senators aren’t taking all of Sunday off. Both Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., are scheduled to be guests on the Sunday political talk shows. McConnell is slated to be on “Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace” to discuss what he expects to hear in President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address on Tuesday and to talk about the GOP agenda. Paul is scheduled for two appearances: on NBC’s “Meet the Press with David Gregory” and on CNN’s “State of the Union with Candy Crowley.” Congress returns to Washington next week after a one-week break. Pin [...]
    Fri, Jan 24, 2014 10:47:00 PM, Continue reading at the source

    An overwhelming majority of Kentuckians support the state’s decision to expand Medicaid for low-income residents under the Affordable Care Act, including most self-identified Republicans.That’s according to a new poll released by the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky this month, which is the first since the health care rollout began in the state. [...]
    Fri, Jan 24, 2014 9:42:00 PM, Continue reading at the source

    By Jack Brammer jbrammer@herald-leader.com FRANKFORT — State Sen. Reginald Thomas, D-Lexington, wants to make sure candidates in special elections don’t switch political parties at the last minute. Thomas, who was elected in a December special election, faced two challengers who had changed their party registrations in September to enter the contest. After taking office earlier this month, Thomas filed Senate Bill 79, which would require candidates in special elections to run with the same political affiliation they had on the preceding Jan. 1. A similar rule already exists for November general elections. Thomas, an attorney and Kentucky State University professor, said Friday that his proposed [...]
    Fri, Jan 24, 2014 7:44:00 PM, Continue reading at the source

    By John Cheves jcheves@herald-leader.com FRANKFORT – A bill that would extend domestic violence protection to dating partners has hit a snag in the Kentucky General Assembly. House Bill 8 has been sent back to the House Judiciary Committee, which unanimously passed it Jan. 8 and sent it to the House floor. House Judiciary Chairman John Tilley, D-Hopkinsville, said the bill needs two minor revisions. One would clarify how court protective orders could be handled by school districts when students are involved; the other would clarify the length of dating relationships covered by the bill. Tilley said he expects a House floor vote on the [...]
    Fri, Jan 24, 2014 4:17:00 PM, Continue reading at the source

    One day after Mitch McConnell’s campaign unleashed the first major ad blitz of his 2014 U.S. Senate reelection campaign, Democratic challenger Alison Lundergan Grimes responded Thursday, releasing a nearly three minute video “web ad” of its own. [...]
    Mon, Jan 27, 2014 2:10:29 AM, Continue reading at the source

    by Don Weber
    MAYSVILLE — U.S. Sen. Rand Paul’s Northern Kentucky field representative is leaving to become the Northern Kentucky director of Republican U.S. Senate candidate Matt Bevin’s campaign. Bernie Kunkel announced his plans Saturday while addressing Republicans at the annual Buffalo… Read more

    In Northern Ky., Grimes weighs in on heroin, says federal government should pay for new bridge
    by Don Weber
    COVINGTON – Secretary of State and Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Alison Lundergan Grimes says that funding for a companion to the Brent Spence Bridge should come from the federal government and not tolls. Grimes, who attended the Northern Kentucky Chamber luncheon in Covington on… Read more

    By Sam Youngman syoungman@herald-leader.com U.S. Sen. Rand Paul discussed the possibility of cutting government benefits for unwed mothers who have multiple children during a Lexington luncheon Thursday, though the potential Republican candidate for president in 2016 didn’t directly endorse such a policy. During a question-and-answer period following his remarks at a Commerce Lexington luncheon, Paul responded to a question about workforce development by including a warning about unwed young mothers doomed to poverty. Although he said the job of preventing unplanned or unwanted pregnancies should be left to communities and families, Paul left open the possiblity of a role for government. “Maybe we have to say ‘enough’s enough, you shouldn’t be having kids after a certain amount,’” Paul told the business group at one point. “I don’t know how you do all that because then it’s tough to tell a woman with four kids that she’s got a fifth kid we’re not going to give her anymore money.” An aide to Paul declined to comment Thursday night when asked to clarify the senator’s statements about unwed mothers. …… Read more. Posted: 24 Jan 2014 06:36 AM PST
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    Thursday, January 23, 2014

    Day Twelve of KY's 2014 Session In Review

    Friday’s legislative schedule, updated trackers and some of Kentucky’s political headlines are in today’s legislative update.
    The Kentucky Senate approved a bill on Thursday unanimously that would limit some legislative pensions. SB 4, sponsored by Sen. McDaniel, would permit lawmakers to opt-out of a 2005 law that allowed legislative pension calculations to include other, possibly higher-paying, government jobs. The sponsor said the measure could save the state up to $6.1 million.
    HB 40 sponsored by Rep. Rita Smart, would designate October as Anti-Bullying Month in Kentucky, passed the House on Thursday unanimously.
    SB45 sponsored by Committee Chair Whitney Westerfield, would allow search warrants to be completed electronically, cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee today. Westerfield told committee members the electronic system would be more convenient and secure for police officers, prosecutors and judges. SB 45 now goes to the full Senate for consideration.
    The Senate Education Committee approved SB16, sponsored by Sen. David Givens, on Thursday. SB 16 would make programming language courses eligible to meet the foreign language requirement in high school courses of study and for admission to postsecondary schools in Kentucky. The measure passed 10-1 and now goes to the full Senate for consideration.
    The House Health & Welfare Committee passed three bills on Thursday. HB 98, sponsored by Rep. Damron, is a bill that would allow school staff members to volunteer to be trained to give insulin so there is always someone there to help students, even when a school nurse cannot be. It would also allow students who are mature enough to do so to independently self-manage their diabetes at school. Two additional bills that cleared the house committee: HB5 sponsored by Rep. Butler,a bill relating to security breaches in state government; and HB 145 sponsored by Rep. David Watkins, a bill that defines medical order for scope of treatment.

    newlogoshraderbuLEGISLATIVE TRACKERS BY INTEREST

    Click on the links below

      LINKS TO SOME OF TODAY’s HEADLINES:

       UPCOMING MEETINGS:

      Friday, January 24, 2014
      9:00am, House Chambers
      House Convenes (Orders of the Day)
      9:00am, Senate Chambers
      Senate Convenes

      SOME OF THE LATEST POLITICAL STORIES:


      The Kentucky Senate unanimously approved a bill Thursday that would allow state lawmakers to decline a big increase in their retirement benefits if they switch to a higher-paying job in…Click to Continue » [...]
      Thu, Jan 23, 2014 10:47:00 PM, Continue reading at the source

      By Jack Brammer jbrammer@herald-leader.com FRANKFORT –Senate President Robert Stivers on Thursday described the debt in Gov. Steve Beshear’s two-year budget plan as “large.” Stivers, R-Manchester, was quick to say Senate Republican leaders have not yet decided how to respond to Beshear’s budget because they still are analyzing it. Stivers also noted that action on Beshear’s budget will begin in the House. The House version of the budget then will go to the Senate for its consideration. Both chambers must agree on a compromise budget before it can take effect. [...]
      Thu, Jan 23, 2014 10:32:00 PM, Continue reading at the source

      By Jack Brammer jbrammer@herald-leader.com FRANKFORT — Several major health care providers and business organizations in Kentucky have formed a new coalition in hopes of eliminating “meritless” medical malpractice lawsuits. The new group, called Care First Kentucky Coalition, will push for legislation that would create medical review panels to review proposed claims against health care providers. The state’s nursing home industry has backed similar legislation in the last two legislative sessions, when the proposal passed the Republican-led Senate along party lines but failed to get out of committee in the Democratic-led House. “Now is the time for Kentucky to say enough is enough to the meritless lawsuits which are having a huge impact on health care costs, a major concern for Kentucky businesses,” said Dave Adkisson, president of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, in a news release. “Our neighboring states have already addressed this problem through common sense reforms and it is time we do the same.” Review panels would have three medical experts. Each side represented in the case would select a panelist, with the third being selected by the other two experts.
      Thu, Jan 23, 2014 10:03:00 PM, Continue reading at the source

      By Jack Brammer jbrammer@herald-leader.com FRANKFORT — The Kentucky Senate unanimously approved a bill Thursday that would allow state lawmakers to decline a big increase in their retirement benefits if they switch to a higher-paying job in state government. “This is a matter of doing the right thing,” said the sponsor of Senate Bill 4, Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Latonia. McDaniel said an actuarial analysis showed that allowing lawmakers to opt-out of the lucrative benefit could save the state treasury about $6.1 million over 20 years. Most part-time lawmakers make about $30,000 to $40,000 a year, but their retirement benefits dramatically increase if they take a higher-paying [...]
      Thu, Jan 23, 2014 10:03:00 PM, Continue reading at the source

      U.S. Sen. Rand Paul said Thursday that discussion about him being a frontrunner for the 2016 Republican nomination for president “sounds unlucky.”Click to Continue » [...]
      Thu, Jan 23, 2014 7:59:00 PM, Continue reading at the source

      WASHINGTON – As Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul mulls his political plans for 2016, one major national publication is calling him the Republican frontrunner for president. And a recent poll of New Hampshire primary voters shows the Kentuckian is tied for second in a large field of potential candidates. In his latest column in The Atlantic, Peter Beinart sees a key shift in the dynamics of the coming Republican battle for the 2016 presidential nomination. “If Chris Christie was ever the frontrunner for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, he isn’t anymore. All along, the theory behind his candidacy was that he could overcome his [...]
      Thu, Jan 23, 2014 4:01:00 PM, Continue reading at the source

      One day after Mitch McConnell’s campaign unleashed the first major ad blitz of his 2014 U.S. Senate reelection campaign, Democratic challenger Alison Lundergan Grimes responded Thursday, releasing a nearly three minute video “web ad” of its own. [...]
      Fri, Jan 24, 2014 2:56:25 AM, Continue reading at the source

      Gov. Steve Beshear’s two-year state budget proposal will be one of the topics discussed on this weekend’s “Comment on Kentucky,” a public affairs show of the Kentucky Educational Television network. Joining host Ferrell Wellman will be three journalists: Ryan Alessi, managing editor and host of “Pure Politics” on CN|2; Ronnie Ellis, Frankfort reporter for CNHI, Inc.; and Chad Lampe, news director of WKMS Radio in Murray. The show will air live at 8 p.m. Friday on KET. On the Monday, Jan. 27, edition of “Kentucky Tonight” at 8 p.m. on KET and at KET.org/live, host Bill Goodman and guests will discuss the [...]
      Thu, Jan 23, 2014 11:15:00 PM, Continue reading at the source



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      Wednesday, January 22, 2014

      Day Ten of KY's Legislative Session in Review

      Neither the House or Senate took action on their first day back after a three day weekend. And the Governor urged them to join him in making a bold difference in the lives of Kentucky families during his budget address to a joint session of the House and Senate last night. According to Gov. Beshear’s, his proposed 2014-2016 biennial budget increases per-pupil K-12 funding to its highest level ever; restores damaging cuts to teacher training, textbooks, school safety and Extended School Services; expands preschool services to more than 5,100 more children; dedicates funds to expand high-speed broadband access throughout the state; uses “agency bonds” for the first time ever to invest in the campuses of Kentucky’s two-year community and technical colleges; restores funding to desperately needed child-care assistance programs that help parents stay employed; and builds a $24 million advanced manufacturing training center that will supply workers to the auto industry and other sectors.

      newlogoshraderbuLEGISLATIVE TRACKERS BY INTEREST

      Click on the links below


       UPCOMING MEETINGS:

      Wednesday, January 22, 2014
      8:30am, Annex Room 129
      HOUSE STANDING COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND SMALL BUSINESS
      Agenda: Consideration of HB 181,
      9:00am, Annex Room 169
      HOUSE STANDING COMMITTEE ON LICENSING AND OCCUPATIONS
      Agenda: FOR DISCUSSION ONLY: HB 67 and HB 68, The Family Foundation of Kentucky
      10:00am, Annex Room 149
      HOUSE STANDING COMMITTEE ON BANKING AND INSURANCE
      Agenda: Consideration of HB 73 and HB 206
      Noon, Annex Room 131
      HOUSE STANDING COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT
      Agenda: The following bills are posted and may be called for consideration: HB 129, HB 176 and HB 179
      Noon, Annex Room 154
      SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
      Agenda: Consideration of SB 53 and SB 58
      2:00pm, House Chambers
      House Convenes (Orders of the Day)
      2:00pm, Senate Chambers
      Senate Convenes (Orders of the Day)

      ‘Pride and regret’ in Beshear budget

      Jan 21, 2014 11:09 pm

      Gov. Steve Beshear on Tuesday night offered state lawmakers reluctant to tackle tax reform in an election year a two-year budget he said filled him with both pride and regret. It’s a budget that proposes more money for elementary and secondary education and for state workers’ salaries – but cuts nearly everything else.
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      Beshear offers plan to pay for KCTCS projects

      Jan 21, 2014 10:43 pm

      Gov. Steve Beshear says the state should authorize $145.5 million in agency bonds to pay for a host of expansion projects at Kentucky’s community and technical colleges.
      Read More
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      Beshear Budget Preserves K-12 Education, 5% Cuts For Most Agencies

      Jan 21, 2014 10:41 pm

      Making good on his pledge to reinvest in K-12 education, Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear’s biennial budget would restore public education funding to 2008 levels, with a pledge of $189 million in a budget greater than $20 billion. But Beshear said his budget was was made possible in large part by a 5 percent cut across many state agencies.
      Read More
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      Kentucky budget proposal slashes agency funding to boost education

      Jan 21, 2014 10:40 pm

      Gov. Steve Beshear proposed Tuesday night that the General Assembly restore years of funding cuts to public schools but slash spending in many other parts of state government — including universities — to make that happen.
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      Thayer on KY even-numbered election year change

      Jan 21, 2014 10:25 pm

      State Senate Majority Leader Republican Damon Thayer says more Kentuckians would cast ballots for governor, attorney general and the Commonwealth’s other constitutional offices if those elections were held in even-numbered years. Thayer says low-voter turnout for such elections ought to give pause to every Commonwealth resident. “I’m concerned because fewer and fewer people are deciding who runs our executive branch, and I think that should be something that, from a civics point of view, we are concerned with.”
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      Political Paddock: For Alison Lundergan Grimes, coal presents an endless tightrope

      Jan 21, 2014 10:22 pm

      For some federal candidates in pro-coal Kentucky, the “D” behind their names is an inconvenient truth. In an interview Friday with the Herald-Leader, likely Democratic Senate nominee Alison Lundergan Grimes demonstrated just how tough that truth can be as she continued her defense of coal in striking contrast with her national party. Grimes has not blinked in her support of coal since getting in the race last summer. But Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and his allied super PACs are hammering away, seeing a tie between Grimes and perceived coal enemies like President Barack Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid as a key to victory. McConnell rarely fails to mention Obama’s “war on coal.” Kentuckians for Strong Leadership, a super PAC aligned with the senator, has spent $150,000 on radio ads, half of that during the past week, calling Grimes a “dishonest liberal” who takes money from anti-coal Democrats. That’s where the incon venient truth comes into play. Grimes does raise money with Democrats like California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who called coal a “fuel from hell.” She doesn’t really have a choice.
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