Beech Tree News Network

Still Much Work to Do at Halfway Point

FRANKFORT – This past week we reached the halfway point of the 2012 Legislative Session, and the best way to describe it is like Secretariat running at the back of the pack.  But like the great horse’s run to the Triple Crown, it is my hope we finish very strong.

Redistricting has dominated the discussion during the first 30 days of this year’s session.  Majority leadership in the House and Senate did finally reach a compromise on new lines for Congressional Districts with the passage of House Bill 302.  However many members of both chambers continue to have great concerns, both in the shifting of counties and also reopening the filing deadline for Congressional candidates.  By reopening the deadline several days after filings for Congressional races have closed, we are sliding down a slippery slope that could have great implications later.

As for House and Senate redistricting, majority leadership in the House and Senate through the guise of the Legislative Research Commission decided to appeal a lower court ruling declaring new district boundaries unconstitutional to the Kentucky Supreme Court.  It remains to be seen when the high court could rule and what impact it could have on the General Assembly.

Despite on-going issues with redistricting we have been able to pass several bills, including House Bill 121 which passed both chambers this week.  House Bill 121, which I co-sponsor, requires any Prisoner of War/Missing in Action flags purchased and displayed by a public institution be manufactured in the United States.  In addition the House has also passed bills dealing with teacher evaluation, advertising on school buses, requiring statewide candidates to file financial reports electronically, and expansion of incentives for the creation and development of alternative energy sources.  All in all more than 60 bills have been passed by the House since the start of this year’s session.

However we still have a lot of work to do on important legislation, including drafting a new two-year budget for the Commonwealth and consideration of other bills that are the public eye.  It is my hope that as the General Assembly heads down the stretch for this year’s session we can finish strong in accomplishing what you the voter elect us to do.

As always, I welcome your comments and concerns for the upcoming session. I can be reached at home at (270) 526-6237, or through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181.  A taped message containing information on legislative committee meeting schedules is available by calling 1-800-633-9650, and information on the status of each bill is available by calling 1-866-840-2835.  If you have Internet access, I can be reached at [email protected], or you may keep track of legislation through the Kentucky Legislature Home Page at www.lrc.ky.gov.