Issue 3

     
Inside this issue
 
  13 Days Down and 47 to Go in the 2010 Regular Session!  
 

 

 

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  Governor Beshear Delivers Budget Proposal While Gaming Seems Doomed  
 

         
(l-r: Gov. Beshear, Speaker Stumbo, Sen. Pres. Williams)

Governor Beshear delivered his proposal for the 2010-2012 budget this week. The foundation for Beshear’s budget is based on the assumption that Kentucky will collect $780 million in revenue from expanded gaming in the next biennium to help plug the $1.5 billion shortfall. Governor’s gaming proposal would including video lottery terminals (VLTs) at the state’s seven thoroughbred racetracks, which includes Turfway Park in Florence. However, likelihood for passage of a gaming bill is bleak as both Senate President Williams (R-Burkesville) and House Speaker Stumbo (D-Prestonsburg) have indicated that they will not consider the issue the rest of the session. This could, however, open the door for a tax reform debate.

 

The Chamber supports some components of Governor Beshear’s budget proposal, including:

§         No tax increases

§         Reviewing Medicaid and finding ways to cut costs in the program

§         Protecting K-12 funding and mitigating impacts to postsecondary education

§         Reviewing Kentucky’s corrections system and identifying ways to reduce cost

 

The Chamber looks forward to working with the Governor and General Assembly on areas of concern such as:

§         Education cuts to non-SEEK programs like transportation, technology and preschool

§         Minor increases in education funding versus large increases in public employees’ health benefit costs

 

“Developing a budget that creates jobs, employs sound fiscal policy, and brings high return on investment and builds equity for Northern Kentucky is a tall order in this biennium,” stated Northern Kentucky Chamber President Steve Stevens. “But we’re up to the challenge and look forward to working with the Governor and the General Assembly to develop a roadmap to growth and prosperity for all Kentuckians. We must get state spending under control and believe we should explore all options.”

 


 

 

 

 

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  Government Forum with Governor Steve Beshear on January 29th  
 



Fresh off delivering his budget proposal, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear will provide the keynote address at Government Forum on Friday, January 29th at 11:30 AM at the Radisson in Covington. The Governor will discuss his budget as well as other key issues facing Kentucky.

 

Special thanks to Title Sponsor Duke Energy and Monthly Sponsor Fidelity Investments. Cost to attend is $25 for pre-registered Chamber members; $30 at the door; and $35 for future Chamber members. For more information, visit http://preview.tinyurl.com/yjmgxfl.

 

 

 

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  Reps Keene, Koenig, and Simpson Advance a Top Chamber Health Care Initiative  
 

         
(l-r: Rep. Simpson, Rep. Keene, Rep. Koenig)


The House Banking and Insurance Committee voted HB 165 (Damron–D–Nicholasville) out of committee this week with a vote of 24-0. HB 165 would allow private employers to provide tools for their employees to quit smoking without the threat of litigation. These tools include offering incentives for the completion of a smoking cessation program and having the ability to assess higher health care insurance premiums for smokers than non-smokers.

 

Special thanks to committee members Keene (D–Wilder), Koenig (R-Erlanger), and Simpson (D–Covington) who supported the measure.

 

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  Kentucky Senate Passes Chamber Energy Priority  
 

                   
( l-r: Sen. Harris, Sen. Thayer, Sen. Schickel, Sen. Stine, Sen. Westwood)


This week, the Kentucky Senate passed SB 26 (Leeper-I-Paducah) by a vote of 27-10 that will lift the moratorium on the development of nuclear facilities. Special thanks to Northern Kentucky senators Harris (R-Crestwood), Schickel (R-Union), Stine (R-Southgate), Thayer (R-Georgetown), and Westwood (R-Crescent Springs) for voting for the measure on the Senate floor.

 

The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce supports this legislation because it will diversify Kentucky’s energy portfolio and help us develop new energy solutions that will keep our nation secure, our economy growing, and our environment clean.

 

SB 26 now moves on to the House. Stay tuned!

 

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  Join Us For "Northern Kentucky Day in Frankfort" on Wednesday, Feb. 10  
 

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 Wednesday, Feb. 10. The cost of registration is $75 per person. 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. You can also click here to register online for “Day in Frankfort” or “Day/Night in Frankfort”.

 

 

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  Attend Northern Kentucky Legislative Caucus Meetings On January 23rd and February 20th  
 

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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  Information You Can ACT On  
 

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. As a result of 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/Senator XXXX 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 on the Chamber staff at 859-578-6391 or jmoore@nkychamber.com.

 

 

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  Northern Kentucky Chamber's Grassroots Network Needs YOU!  
 



A central, key mission of the NKY 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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  Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce's Priorities for the 2010 Kentucky General Assembly  
 

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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  Remind me: Who Is My Legislator?  
 

If you are asking yourself this question, the Chamber staff can give you an answer - and quickly!

 

The Chamber is using a computerized electronic system called Voter Voice, which will flawlessly provide us with the name of your State Representative or State Senator. 

 

All we need from YOU is your residential address and zip code, it’s that easy.

 

Contact Jane Moore (859) 578-6391 or jmoore@nkychamber.com 

 

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  Pending Legislation  
 

Remember: 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.

 

There are currently 291 House Bills and 94 Senate Bills. 

 

The following is a list of bills that are either sponsored or co-sponsored by a member of the Northern Kentucky Caucus:

 

(* denotes primary sponsorship of Bills and Resolutions)

 

Senator Ernie Harris                       SR 13, 21, 38, 57*, 60

Senator John Schickel                     SB 3, 19*, 20*, 24, 32*, 38, 47*, 48*, 60*, 73*

                                                            SCR 43

                                                            SR 6*, 13, 21, 38, 42*, 49, 54, 58*, 60

Senator Katie Stine                          SB 38*

                                                            SJR 5*, 12*

                                                            SR 13, 21, 38, 54, 60

Senator Damon Thayer                    SB 3, 21*, 25*, 38, 40*, 51, 55, 72*, 82*, 87*

                                                            SCR 43

                                                            SR 10*, 13, 21, 28*, 29*, 38, 47*, 54, 60

Senator Jack Westwood                 SB 3, 5, 28*, 29, 30, 31, 38, 40, 51 65

                                                            SR 13, 21, 38, 54, 60

Representative Royce Adams        HB 1, 58, 206*

                                                            HR 6, 29, 30, 62

Representative Joe Fischer            HB 87, 128, 178*, 253, 254*, 285

                                                            HCR 10

                                                            HJR 20*

                                                            HR 6, 29, 30, 53*, 62

Representative Dennis Keene        HB 1, 43, 58*, 59*, 60*, 123, 159, 160, 233, 243, 276,

                                                            288, 299

                                                            HR 6, 29, 30, 62

Representative Thomas Kerr          HB 1:

                                                            HFA(1), 14, 87, 128, 188*, 236*, 277*, 285

                                                            HCR 10

                                                            HR 6, 29, 30, 62

Representative Adam Koenig         HB 58, 62, 87, 128, 153, 160, 187, 211*, 212*, 254,

                                                            276*

                                                            HCR 10, 43*

                                                            HR 6, 29, 30, 62

Representative Thomas McKee     HB 1, 14, 58, 96, 142*, 197, 198, 207*, 243

                                                            HJR 34

                                                            HR 6*, 29, 30, 37*, 62

Representative Rick Rand               HB 58, 223*, 231, 256, 290*, 291*, 292*, 293*

                                                            HJR 69*, 70*, 71*

                                                            HR 6, 29, 62

Representative Sal Santoro            HB 1, 14, 19, 26, 55, 58, 61, 62, 87, 109, 128, 159, 160,

                                                           199, 207*, 211, 253, 256, 262*

                                                            HCR 10

                                                            HR 6, 29, 30, 62

Representative Arnold Simpson     HB 16, 26*, 29*, 71*, 118, 160, 162*, 298*

                                                            HR 6, 29, 30, 62

Rep. Alecia Webb-Edgington         HB 19, 22, 26, 55, 61, 62, 87, 116, 128, 159, 186, 196,

                                                            256

                                                            HCR 10

                                                            HR 6, 29, 30, 62

Representative Addia Wuchner      HB 14, 22, 26, 52*, 55, 61, 62, 87, 109*, 128, 159, 160,

                                                            253, 254, 285*

                                                            HCR 10*

                                                            HR 6, 24, 29, 30, 48*, 62

 

Senate

 

Education:

 

SB 69.  (Winters) AN ACT relating to incentives for teachers and making an appropriation therefor. Provides for incentive pay and an accelerated certification program for teachers of chemistry, physics or math. Chamber supports. To Senate Education Committee

  

Economic Development:  

 

SB 21. (Thayer) AN ACT proposing to create a new section of the Constitution of Kentucky and amending a section of the Constitution of Kentucky relating to the Kentucky state lottery. Chamber Supports To Senate State and Local Government Committee

 

Environment and Energy:

 

SB 26. (Leeper) AN ACT relating to nuclear power. Eliminates the current prohibition on nuclear facilities. Chamber Supports. To Senate Rules Committee – Passed Senate 27 - 10

 

HOUSE

 

Education:

 

HB 52. (Wuchner) An act relating to physical activity for schoolchildren; develop reporting mechanism for K-5 schoolchildren; require school wellness councils to provide for at least 30 minutes each day or 150 minutes per week of moderate to vigorous physical activity. Chamber support.  To House – Education Committee.

 

HB 94. (Meeks) Amend KRS 159.010 to provide that effective July 1, 2011, compulsory school attendance shall be between the ages of six and seventeen; provide that effective July 1, 2012, compulsory school attendance shall be between the ages of six and 18. Chamber Supports. To House – Education Committee

 

HB 140. (Yonts) Provide that effective July 1, 2012, compulsory school attendance shall be between the ages of six and 17; provide that effective July 1, 2013, compulsory school attendance shall be between the ages of six and 18.  Chamber Supports.  To House – Education Committee.

 

Health Care:

 

HB 165. (Damron) Amend KRS 344.040 to allow employers to charge smokers a higher rate for an employer-sponsored health plan and to offer incentives for smoking cessation. Chamber Supports. To House Banking & Insurance - To Consent Calendar with committee amendment 

 

Taxation:

 

HB 146. (Cherry) Require that two of the three members appointed by the Governor to the Kentucky Retirement Systems board of trustees possess ten years of investment experience and to define investment experience. Chamber Supports. To House – State Government Committee

 

HR, Employment & Labor: 

    

HB 133. (Riner)  Define "comparable worth" and use term to prohibit wage discrimination against a person of the opposite sex who is paid less for doing a job of comparable worth. Chamber opposes.  To House – Labor & Industry Committee.

 

 

 

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  Northern Kentucky Legislative Caucus  
 

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)






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



 
 
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


 
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


 
 
Representative Royce Adams
District 61 (Grant, Gallatin, Owen)
royce.adams@lrc.ky.gov 
Committees: Agriculture & Small Business (Vice Chair); A & R; Tourism Dev/Energy


 

Representative Alecia Webb-Edgington
District 63 (Kenton)
alecia.webb-edgington@lrc.ky.gov
Committees: A & R; Education; Military Affairs & Public Safety; State Government; Transportation



 
 
Representative Joe Fischer
District 68 (Campbell)
joe.fischer@lrc.ky.gov 
Committees: Banking & Insurance; Elec/ConAm/Intgovt Aff (Vice Chair); Judiciary (Vice Chair)


 
Representative Dennis Keene
District 67 (Campbell)
dennis.keene@lrc.ky.gov 
Committees: Economic Development (Vice Chair); Licensing & Occupations (Chair); Banking & Insurance; Local Government


 
Representative Thomas R. Kerr
District 64 (Kenton)
tom.kerr@lrc.ky.gov 
Committees: Economic Development; Judiciary, Labor & Industry; Tourism Development & Energy




 
 
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


 
Representative Thomas McKee
District 78 (Campbell, Harrison, Pendleton, Robertson)
tom.mckee@lrc.ky.gov
Committees: Ag & Small Business (Chair); Local Government; Tourism Dev/Energy





 
 
Representative Rick Rand
District 47 (Carroll, Henry, Oldham, Trimble)
randins@netscape.net
Committees: A & R (Chair)









 
Representative Sal Santoro
District 60 (Boone)
sal.santoro@lrc.ky.gov 
Committees: Licensing & Occupations; Seniors, Military Affairs & Public Safety; State Government; Transportation







 
 
Representative Arnold Simpson
District 65 (Kenton)
arnold.simpson@lrc.ky.gov
Committees: A & R (Vice Chair);  Banking & Insurance; Licensing & Occupations; Local Government; Rules; Transportation

 
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 22, 2010

     
Take Action or Contact Legislators:
Click here to be directed to ActForNKY.com.
     
Where We Stand:
www.ActForNKY.com
     
Useful Links:
LRC Website
Bill Watch
     
Staff Contacts:


Matt Davis
Vice President
Business & Community Advocacy
859.578.6386


Jane Moore
Coordinator
Business & Community Advocacy
859.578.6391

     
Past Issues:

To access past issues of the Capitol Update Click Here

     
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