Beech Tree News Network

As the kids are back in school and the weather turns mercifully cooler, I wanted to take this opportunity to update you on the goings-on in Frankfort over the summer. I looked at issues ranging from national healthcare to our budget to veterans’ jobs to education to roads.

One of the most heavily debated topics is the impact of the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, on Kentucky. I believe that the true implications of the Supreme Court ruling that upheld the individual mandate but left the costly expansion of state Medicaid rolls optional is yet to be determined. In July, the Governor, without input or approval from the General Assembly, issued an executive order forming a health-insurance exchange for the state. At a Health and Welfare Committee meeting last month, Administration officials presented a report on the implementation of this exchange. They could not tell legislators how they were going to pay for it or how much it was going to cost. From my perspective, the many unanswered questions, unknown costs, additional fees for insurers and the hiring of additional state employees can only increase the bureaucracy and uncertainty to our bottom line. There were enough legislators, both Democratic and Republican, who were uncomfortable with the lack of details of the proposal that they prevailed in scheduling another meeting in September, pending approval from the Speaker of the House Greg Stumbo and the Senate President David Williams. Unfortunately, Speaker Stumbo has refused to allow another meeting on the topic.

 
The Appropriations and Revenue Committee on which I serve brought up this important issue too. Again, the Administration provided vague answers as to how much the implementation was going to cost and how were we going to pay for it. Needless to say, I am disappointed but will continue to do what I can in the Senate to make sure our people are protected.

 
We heard better news in the Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection Committee where we learned about job placement and education efforts for veterans. Kentucky started this terrific new program called Hiring Kentucky’s Heroes, a website that acts as a “one-stop” information portal for veterans and employers. There are programs for retraining and for disabled veterans among other resources. The committee also took testimony from both Toyota and Ford Motor Co., on their veteran hiring programs.
 

In the Transportation Committee, the Department of Vehicle Regulation provided an overview of the new farm vehicle escort regulations. Overweight and large farm vehicles now have their own regulation separate from the overweight commercial truck regulation. The new regulations were meant to simplify farm vehicle requirements.  House Bill 518, passed during the 2012 legislative session, requires only one escort vehicle when transporting farm vehicles more than 12 feet wide.  The law specifies only a lead vehicle must be present on two-lane highways.  Only a trail vehicle is required on four-lane roads.  Previously two escort vehicles were needed anytime an over-dimensional vehicle was on the road. These new rules will hopefully make it easier for farmers to go about their business but also make it easier for the other drivers who share the road.

 
In the Education Committee, we have looked at teacher evaluation methods, the college and career readiness of our high school students, what to do with our struggling schools, and how our standards can be aligned with national standards. At the last meeting where we discussed end-of-year exams and national norms, some senators voiced concerns they heard from their local teachers who were worried that evolution was being presented as a fact, not a theory. It is my hope that teachers do not feel pressured to teach in such a way that would harm a student’s critical thinking skills. Commissioner of Education Terry Holliday assured the committee that evolution was indeed being taught as a theory.

 
The goal of the Task Force on Student Access to Technology is to develop a strategy and funding mechanism to provide fifth and sixth grade students with access to computing devices such as laptops, tablets, netbooks, and e-readers for school and home use. We heard from the superintendent of Ft. Thomas Independent Schools who discussed the innovative practices in his schools. Ft. Thomas has a “BYOD” policy, or Bring Your Own Device, where students bring their own technology from home which is then integrated into school lectures, online videos and presentations, and even homework help. Obviously, this is a significant culture shift in schools where the use of cell phones is often frowned upon. This program is showing great promise in Ft. Thomas and saves the school system from making investments in technology that may become obsolete shortly after purchase. Students learn how to responsibly integrate technology into their instruction with teachers offering more comprehensive lessons outside the time constraints of a class period. This also has real life application for the students so they are more interested and engaged in the learning process.
 

The Middle School Interscholastic Athletics Task Force, established to study the current oversight of middle school athletics and provide recommendations to the 2013 General Assembly, heard from the president of the Kentucky Middle School Football Association (KYMSFA) who made various suggestions for safety best practices. Our own Coach Joel Taylor, head coach of the Bowling Green Junior High football team, said his team has benefited from being a member of KYMSFA.  The level of middle school football has improved, and the players and coaches are more motivated. Players are enjoying exposure to other teams in Kentucky, and some players have been fortunate to play on a national level at the Eastbay Youth All-American Bowl football game in Texas. Players realize the importance of education, understand the opportunities that are available to them at the college level, and want to play well.

 
So far, in the Kentucky Public Pensions Task Force, we have taken testimony from various interest groups and stakeholders about how they evaluate the situation and what recommendations they have for improving the funding.

 
As you can see, it’s been a full summer with many spirited and dynamic debates. Please keep in touch with me about these issues or others either back home or you can call me toll-free at 1-800-372-7181.