Issue 1
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General Assembly Finishes First 4 Days of the Regular Session - Governor Beshear Lays Out His Priorities
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The 2010 Kentucky General Assembly began on January 5th signaling the start to what many pundits and legislators are predicting to be the most difficult session in Kentucky’s history. With Kentucky’s budget deficit predicted to be somewhere between $900 million and $1.5 billion, legislators and the Beshear administration face difficult decisions as the need for a balanced budget stares them down.
On January 6, Governor Beshear delivered the State of the Commonwealth Address to a joint session of the Kentucky House and Senate. Governor Beshear touted his accomplishments from last year and reemphasized his priorities, which include health care, education, public safety and spurring job creation.
While few details were given at the State of the Commonwealth on how to address these issues, the Governor did say he wanted to raise the dropout age in Kentucky to 18 and use Medicaid dollars to fund smoking cessation programs. In addition, Governor Beshear signaled he had no intention of supporting broad-based tax increases on families and businesses in Kentucky. We expect to hear more specifics when the Governor delivers his budget recommendations on January 19th.
Be sure to catch Governor Beshear deliver the keynote address at Government Forum on January 29th at 11:30 AM at the Radisson in Covington. Contact Sarah Klamo for registration information at sklamo@nkychamber.com or 859.578.8800.
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Information You Can ACT On
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The purpose of the Capitol Update is to inform you about how legislation in Frankfort affects our community and, most importantly, give you an easy way to ACT. After you read this weekly e-mail newsletter, we urge you to phone your legislator using the Toll Free 1-800-372-7181 Message Line. When using this message line, you will NOT be connected to speak directly with your legislator. Instead, this simple service allows to you leave a brief 30-second or 45-second message with a live operator, who will complete a “green slip” that each House and Senate member reviews on a frequent basis. Short messages are the most effective: “This is John Smith, and I live at 111 Maple Street in Erlanger. Would you please inform Representative Jones that I support HB/SB XX, and ask that he support it, too.”
Know that your legislators WANT to hear from you. Unclear who your legislators are? Contact Jane Moore at 859-578-6391 or jmoore@nkychamber.com
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Chamber's Grassroots Initiative Needs YOU!
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A central, key mission of the Northern Kentucky Chamber is to actively advocate for our membership with the State Legislature. That’s why the Chamber has put an emphasis on building our grassroots efforts this year. The Chamber’s Grassroots Network is growing every day and we’re up to 600 members – a 40% increase since October. Our legislators WANT and NEED to hear from you. That’s why it is critical that you engage in the process and contact your legislators.
The biggest hurdle to engaging in grassroots advocacy is that many members are not experts on the issues. This year, we launched www.ActForNKY.com so that our members can have easy access to all the Chamber’s public policy positions so that they can be better educated on the issues.
“Member education is the most critical component to having a successful grassroots program. ActForNKY.com will be the main portal by which the Chamber will educate and empower our members on key issues so that they have all the information they need to play an active role in shaping public policy,” explained Greg Greene, vice chairman of the Chamber’s Business Advocacy Council.
Chamber members may register for the Grassroots Initiative with Chamber staff member Jane Moore. There is no cost to register. Contact Jane at 859-578-6386 or jmoore@nkychamber.com.
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Understanding The Legislative Calendar
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One of the most confusing aspects is the legislative calendar. The point of confusion is really quite simple: the 2010 Session will be 60 legislative days in length, but legislative days and calendars days are NOT the same.
Legislative days are counted as days when the House and Senate actually meet. Generally, they do not meet on Saturdays or Sundays, and generally they do not hold Committee meetings on either Monday or Friday, although Mondays and Fridays are counted as legislative days. This year, 4 of the 60 legislative days have already been used.
On Mondays, the full House and full Senate typically convene in the late afternoon, generally 4:00 p.m. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, there are Committee meetings beginning at 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and the full House and full Senate convene at 2:00 p.m. on the third floor of the Capitol Building. Then on Friday, the full House and full Senate typically convene at 9:00 a.m. or 10:00 a.m. and adjourn by 12:00 noon, so that the legislators can return home for the weekend.
Thoroughly confused? Come to Frankfort…and we will help you make sense of the schedule.
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Attend Northern Kentucky Legislative Caucus Meetings On January 23rd and February 20th
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The Northern Kentucky Legislative Caucus has announced two dates for public meetings during the 2010 General Assembly Session. The purpose of these meetings is to provide a forum for our constituents to offer input on issues during the 2010 Legislative Session of the General Assembly.
The meetings will be held from 10:00 a.m. until noon. All persons attending and signing-in prior to the start of the meetings will have a chance to be heard on a first-come, first-served basis. The maximum of time allotted for each person will depend on the number signed-in. Multiple individuals talking on the same topic may be required to select one spokesperson for the entire group.
The meetings are as follows:
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Gallatin County Cooperative Extension Service Office
(US 42 West)
P.O. Box 805
Warsaw, KY 41095-0805
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Boone County High School
7056 Burlington Pike
Florence, KY 41042 |
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Register For "Day in Frankfort" Wednesday, February 10
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This year, Bill Kreutzjans of Ashley Builders is serving as the volunteer Chair for “Day In Frankfort”, a day-long bus trip to Frankfort on Thursday, Feb. 12 The cost of registration is $75 per person, which includes bus transportation and a luncheon. A special price of $100 will include admission to the Northern Kentucky Night in Frankfort event that evening.
Our Northern Kentucky legislators make a special effort to be available to meet with their constituents and listen to issues important to them.
A chartered bus will leave the Chamber parking lot at 7:00 a.m.
Deadline for registration is Mon., Feb. 8. To register contact Jane Moore at 859-578-6391 or jmoore@nkychamber.com |
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Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce's Priorities for the 2010 Kentucky General Assembly
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Promote Business Growth and Job Creation
- Lower Business Taxes in Order to Keep Northern Kentucky’s Businesses Competitive
- Lower Health Care Costs on Businesses and Promote a Wellness Agenda
- Give Businesses Flexibility to Manage the Needs of Their Workforce by Promoting Balanced Labor Laws
- Keep Kentucky’s Energy Costs Low and Promote Conservation and New Technologies
Employ Sound Fiscal Policy
- Enact Meaningful Pension Reform That Will Protect Other Essential State Services
- Support a Moratorium on Prevailing Wage for All Education Projects
- Study Government Services and Prioritize Spending to Increase Efficiencies
Seek High Return on Investment and Equity for Northern Kentucky
- Support Long-Term Investment in Northern Kentucky by Advancing the Consensus Agenda
- Enact Economic Development Policies that Keep Kentucky Competitive
Support Our Families and Strengthen The Community By Making Strong Investments in Northern Kentucky’s Educational System
Click here to view the Chamber's 2010 Where We Stand publication. |
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Pending Legislation
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Over 300 bills have been introduced in the House and Senate to date. Northern Kentucky’s Legislative Caucus has been very active so far in introducing and sponsoring legislation that affects our community. The Chamber appreciates all the work the Caucus has done and appreciates their willingness to step up and take a leadership role in Kentucky.
Log on to log on to www.lrc.ky.gov and then click on the 2010 General Assembly to access summaries and updates on the following legislation, even full text copies of the actual bills. As these bills move through the legislative process, we will update you on those that relate to Chamber public policy positions.
The following is a list of bills that are either sponsored or co-sponsored by a member of the Northern Kentucky Caucus:
Senator Ernie Harris SR 13, 38
Senator John Schickel SB 19*, 20*, 24, 32*, 38, 47*, 48*, 60*, 73* SR 6*, 13,38
Senator Katie Stine SB 38* SJR 5*, 12* SR 13, 38
Senator Damon Thayer SB 21*, 25*, 38, 40*, 72*, 82* SR 10*, 13, 28*, 29*, 38
Senator Jack Westwood SB 16, 28*, 40 SR 13, 38
Representative Royce Adams HB 206* HR 6, 29
Representative Joe Fischer HB 128, 178* HCR 10 HJR 20* HR 6, 29
Representative Dennis Keene HB 1, 58*, 59*, 60*, 160 HR 6, 29
Representative Thomas Kerr HB 1: HFA(1), 87, 128, 188* HCR 10 HR 6, 29
Representative Adam Koenig HB 128, 211*, 212* HCR 10, 43* HR 6, 29
Representive Thomas McKee HB 142*, 197, 198, 207* HR 6*, 29, 37*
Representative Rick Rand HB 223* HR 6, 29
Representative Sal Santoro HB 1, 14, 26, 58, 62, 128, 207* HCR 10 HR 6, 29
Representative Alecia Webb-Edgington HB 22, 26, 55, 61, 62, 78, 116, 128 HCR 10 HR 6, 29
Representative Addia Wuchner HB 26, 52*, 61, 62, 109*, 128 HCR 10* HR 6, 29 |
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Northern Kentucky Legislative Caucus
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To leave a message for your legislator call: 1-800-372-7181
Senator Ernie Harris
District 26 (Carroll, Henry,
Jefferson, Oldham, Trimble)
ernie.harris@lrc.ky.gov
Committees: Agriculture; A & R; State & Local Government; Transportation (Chair)
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Senator John Schickel
District 11 (Boone, Kenton)
john.schickel@lrc.ky.gov
Committees: Banking & Insurance; Judiciary; Licensing; Occupations & Administrative Regulations; Natural Resources & Energy; State & Local Government (Vice Chair); Transportation
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Senator Katie Kratz Stine
District 24 (Campbell, Pendleton)
katie.stine@lrc.ky.gov
Committees: Committee on Committees; Enrollment; Economic Dev/Tourism & Labor; Health & Welfare, Judiciary (Vice Chair); Natural Resources & Energy; Rules
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Senator Damon Thayer
District 17 (Grant, Kenton,
Owen, Scott)
damon.thayer@lrc.ky.gov
Committees: Agriculture; Licensing; Occupations & Administrative Regulations; State & Local Government; Transportation |
Senator John "Jack" Westwood
District 23 (Kenton)
jack.westwood@lrc.ky.gov
Committees: A & R; Economic Development; Judiciary; Tourism & Labor; Education; Health & Welfare; Veterans, Military Affairs & Public Protection
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Representative Royce Adams
District 61 (Grant, Gallatin, Owen)
royce.adams@lrc.ky.gov
Committees: Agriculture & Small Business (Vice Chair); A & R; Tourism Dev/Energy
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Representative Alecia Webb-Edgington
District 63 (Kenton)
alecia.webb-edgington@lrc.ky.gov
Committees: A & R; Education; Military Affairs & Public Safety; State Government; Transportation
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Representative Joe Fischer
District 68 (Campbell)
joe.fischer@lrc.ky.gov
Committees: Banking & Insurance; Elec/ConAm/Intgovt Aff (Vice Chair); Judiciary (Vice Chair)
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Representative Dennis Keene
District 67 (Campbell)
dennis.keene@lrc.ky.gov
Committees: Economic Development (Vice Chair); Licensing & Occupations (Chair); Banking & Insurance; Local Government
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Representative Thomas R. Kerr
District 64 (Kenton)
tom.kerr@lrc.ky.gov
Committees: Economic Development; Judiciary, Labor & Industry; Tourism Development & Energy
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Representative Adam Koenig
District 69 (Boone, Campbell, Kenton)
adam.koenig@lrc.ky.gov
Committees: Local Government (Vice Chair); Banking & Insurance; Economic Development; Labor & Industry; Licensing & Occupations
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Representative Thomas McKee
District 78 (Campbell, Harrison, Pendleton, Robertson)
tom.mckee@lrc.ky.gov
Committees: Ag & Small Business (Chair); Local Government; Tourism Dev/Energy
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Representative Rick Rand
District 47 (Carroll, Henry, Oldham, Trimble)
randins@netscape.net
Committees: A & R (Chair)
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Representative Sal Santoro
District 60 (Boone)
sal.santoro@lrc.ky.gov
Committees: Licensing & Occupations; Seniors, Military Affairs & Public Safety; State Government; Transportation
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Representative Arnold Simpson
District 65 (Kenton)
arnold.simpson@lrc.ky.gov
Committees: A & R (Vice Chair); Banking & Insurance; Licensing & Occupations; Local Government; Rules; Transportation
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Representative Addia Wuchner
District 66 (Boone)
addia.wuchner@lrc.ky.gov
Committees: Education; Economic Development; Health & Welfare; Tourism Dev/Energy
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January 08, 2010
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Take Action or Contact Legislators:
Click here to be directed to ActForNKY.com.
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Staff Contacts:
Matt Davis
Vice President
Business & Community Advocacy
859.578.6386
Jane Moore
Coordinator
Business & Community Advocacy
859.578.6391
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Past Issues:
To access past issues of the Capitol Update Click Here
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