Issue 6

     
Inside this issue
 
  27 Days Down and 33 to Go in the 2010 Regular Session!  
 

As the 2010 Regular Session nears the halfway point, developing the state’s two-year budget is clearly the biggest issue on legislators’ minds. Where will they cut? Will there be tax reform? Where will new revenue come from? House Speaker Stumbo has indicated his goal that the House will develop a budget and pass it by the first week of March.

 

The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce continued to meet with legislators this week to discuss ways to grow jobs by developing strong economic development policies; making government more user-friendly for businesses; ensuring that our unemployment insurance system is sound; developing strong workers compensation guidelines; promoting energy efficiency; and support education.

 

As the session continues to heat up, stay tuned for “Calls to Action” and be sure to join the Chamber’s Grassroots Action Network (details on how to join below).

 

  

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  RESCHEDULED: Northern Kentucky Chamber's Day and Night In Frankfort - Now Being Held On March 18, 2010  
 

Due to inclement weather, the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce rescheduled its annual Day and Night in Frankfort events to March 18th. While our trip has been pushed back a month, our messages to legislators on how to promote job growth and economic development; employ sound fiscal policy; and seek high return on investment will remain critical as Frankfort develops its budget. Our legislators will hear loud and clear that what is good for Northern Kentucky is good for the entire state.

 

The agenda remains the same. A chartered bus will leave the Chamber parking lot at 7:00 a.m. Deadline for registration is Mon., March 15th. To register contact Jane Moore at 859-578-6391 or jmoore@nkychamber.com. Click here to register online for “Day in Frankfort” or “Day/Night in Frankfort”.

  

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  Unemployment Insurance Bill Passes House  
 

HB 349, a collaborative effort between business, labor and the General Assembly, is designed to ensure the long-term stability and solvency of Kentucky’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund (UI). This bill has passed the Kentucky House of Representatives 97-0 and now moves on to the Senate for consideration.

 

As of December 2009, Kentucky has borrowed more than $550 million from the federal government to meet UI obligations to the state’s unemployed. Beginning in 2011, Kentucky must repay the federal government all monies with interest. If the Commonwealth does nothing to correct the program, Kentucky employers are projected to pay $455 million more in federal taxes.

 

While HB 349 represents a small increase in employers’ contributions to the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund in the short-term, it will allow employers to move to different UI tax schedules with lower tax rates in the future as the federal credit is paid down and the trust fund grows.

 

The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce urges the Kentucky General Assembly to support legislation that supports job creation and economic growth and employs sound fiscal policy. HB 349 represents forward-thinking programmatic reform that Kentucky needs. It will save Kentucky employers and the state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund more than $700 million over the next decade compared to a “do-nothing” approach, which will trigger automatic federal tax increases.

 

PLEASE CALL 1-800-372-7181 WITH THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE:

“My name is ________ and I live at (your address) in (your city/town). My Senator is ____________. Please inform him/her that I SUPPORT HB 349 which will save Kentucky employers and the state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund more than $700 million over the next decade and provide solvency to a fund that provides for Kentucky’s unemployed.”

 

  

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  Governor Beshear Renews Call for Expanded Gaming  
 



Governor Steve Beshear attempted to develop momentum for his budget proposal this week by asking House lawmakers to reconsider expanded gaming as a new revenue source to help balance the state’s budget. Kentucky is currently facing a $1 billion shortfall and legislators are scrambling for ways to write a balanced two-year budget.

 

The Governor’s budget proposal assumes $780 million in revenues from expanded gaming at racetracks. He believes this route will save the state from deep cuts to the next budget.

 

Both the House and Senate leadership have said that expanded gaming is dead for this session. 

 

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  Attend the Next Northern Kentucky Legislative Caucus Meeting On February 20th  
 

The Northern Kentucky Legislative Caucus hosts 2 public meetings during the 2010 General Assembly Session. The purpose is to provide a forum for our constituents to offer input on issues during the 2010 Legislative Session of the General Assembly.

 

The first meeting was held on January 23rd in Warsaw, KY. Approximately 40 Kentuckians attended the meeting along with the majority of the Northern Kentucky Legislative Caucus. Those in attendance provided their feedback on specific bills being considered by the legislature as well as offering ideas on how to best handle the state’s budget deficit.

 

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.

Details for the next caucus meeting:

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. We urge you to phone your legislator, using the Toll Free 1-800-372-7181 Message Line. When using this message line, you are not connected directly with your legislator. Instead, this simple service allows you to leave a brief 30-second to 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 40, and ask that he support it, too.”    

 

Know that your legislators WANT to hear from you. Unclear who your legislators are do you want to join the Grassroots Network? Contact Jane Moore 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 - we’re over 600 members – we have a goal of 1,000 this year. 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. We also ask that you to encourage other employees to join our network. Go to www.actfornky.com to sign up!

 

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 or go to www.actfornky.com.

The biggest hurdle to engaging in grassroots advocacy is that many members are not experts on the issues. This year, we launched

 

“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.

 

  

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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 can give you an answer - and quickly!

 

The Chamber is using a computerized electronic system called Voter Voice, which flawlessly provids you 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 416 House Bills and 153 Senate Bills. 

 

Senate

 

Education:

 

SB 69.  (K. 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

 

SB 67.  (K. Winters) To establish an option for early high school graduation beginning in the 2011-2012 school year; define the curriculum requirements for early graduation and unconditional admission into a Kentucky public two-year community and technical college and the requirements for conditional admission into a four-year public college. Chamber monitoring. To Senate Education Committee - reported favorably. To Rules Committee. Passed Senate 38 – 0. To House.

 

 

Economic Development:  

 

SB 21. (D. 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. (B. Leeper) AN ACT relating to nuclear power. Eliminates the current prohibition on nuclear facilities. Chamber Supports. To Senate Rules Committee – Passed Senate 27 – 10. To House Appropriations & Revenue Committee

 

SB 132. (K. Stine) Support and encourage the construction and renovation of school buildings using efficient design concepts; establish a Kentucky efficient school design trust fund; require the Department of Education to develop and publish guidelines for efficient school design. Chamber Supports. To Senate – Natural Resources & Environment Committee. To Rules Committee.

 

 

HOUSE

 

Economic Development:

 

HB 275. (T. Moore) To allow a job stimulus tax credit equal to the amount of tax deducted and withheld from wages paid by an employer to a qualifying employee. Chamber Monitoring. To House Appropriation & Revenue Committee.

 

Education:

 

HB 52. (A. 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. (R. 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. (B. 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.

 

HB 322. (K. Stevens) Permit the superintendent to fill a principal vacancy in a school after consultation with the school council; require the superintendent to provide additional personnel applicants to the principal upon request. Chamber Supports. To House – Education Committee. To Rules Committee.

 

Environment and Energy:

 

HB 240. (R. Adkins) Reenacts legislation passed during the 2008 Kentucky General Assembly that establishes new energy efficiency standards for state-owned buildings and provides tax credits for various energy-related projects. Chamber Monitoring. To House Natural Resources and Environment Committee. Passed House 98 – 0. To Senate. Appropriations and Revenue Committee. To Rules Committee.

 

HB 408. (H. Moberly) Define renewable forms of energy that may be used to satisfy requirements of a renewable energy portfolio standard and alternatives in the form of comprehensive low-income residential energy efficiency programs; set specific achievement goals for Kentucky retail electric service providers and city-owned or city-controlled municipal electric providers, beginning in calendar year 2012. Chamber Monitoring. To House – Natural Resource & Environment Committee.


 

Health Care:

 

HB 165. (R. 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. Passed House 99 – 0. Received in Senate. To Banking & Insurance Committee.

 

 

Taxation:

 

HB 146. (M. 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. To Consent Calendar. Passed House 99 – 0. To Senate.

 

HB 353. (S. Santoro) Create a new section of KRS Chapter 131 to require the Department of Revenue to establish a centralized collection process for local occupational license taxes and fees. Chamber Monitoring To House Appropriation & Revenue Committee.

 

HR, Employment & Labor: 

    

HB 133. (T. 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. Passed House 88 – 7. To Senate - Judiciary Committee.

 

HB 314. (S. Lee) To provide definitions for provisions relating to the hiring of unauthorized aliens; prohibit persons transacting business with state or local governments and government agencies from hiring unauthorized aliens. Chamber Supports. To House. Labor & Industry Committee.

 

HB 349. (L. Clark) Adopt recommendations of the UI Task Force; amend 341.030 to increase the taxable wage base to $9,000 on January 1, 2012 and increase by $300 each year to 2022, not to exceed $12,000; amend KRS 341.096 to revise definition of rate of "insured unemployment rate" by basing it on the weekly average number of weeks claimed for regular benefits. Chamber Supports. To House Labor & Industry Committee. Passed House 97 – 0. To Senate – State & Local Government Committee.

 

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                              SB 105, 131*, 132*, 133*

                                                           SR 13, 21, 38, 48, 57*, 60, 80

Senator John Schickel                          SB 3, 19*, 20*, 24, 32*, 38, 47*, 48*, 60*, 73*, 105, 122*, 123, 145*

                                                           SCR 43

                                                           SR 6*, 13, 21, 38, 42*, 48, 49, 54, 58*, 60, 73*, 111*

Senator Katie Stine                               SB 38*, 123*, 124*, 125*, 132*

                                                           SJR 5*, 12*

                                                           SR 13, 21, 38, 48, 54, 60, 100*

                                                           SB 87: SFA(1)

Senator Damon Thayer                          SB 3, 21*, 25*, 38, 40*, 51, 55, 72*, 82*, 87*, 105

                                                           SCR 43

                                                           SR 10*, 13, 21, 28*, 29*, 38, 47*, 48, 54, 60

                                                           SB 87: SCA (1), SFA(1)

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

                                                            SR 13, 21, 38, 48, 54, 60

Representative Royce Adams                 HB 1, 58, 120 206*, 217, 285, 322, 381, 390, 398*

                                                            HCR 130

                                                            HR 6, 29, 30, 62, 68, 75, 76, 79, 81, 87, 131, 134, 145

Representative Joe Fischer                     HB 87, 128, 178*, 253, 254*, 285, 325

                                                            HCR 10

                                                            HJR 20*

                                                            HR 6, 29, 30, 53*, 62, 68, 75, 76, 79, 81, 87, 131, 132, 134, 145

Representative Dennis Keene                 HB 1, 43, 58*, 59*, 60*, 123, 159, 160, 170, 217, 233, 243, 276, 
                         288, 299, 325, 350, 351, 352, 368, 375, 384,  

                                                            HR 6, 29, 30, 62, 68, 75, 76, 79, 81, 87

Representative Thomas Kerr                   HB 1: HFA(1), 14, 58, 87, 123, 128, 188*, 217, 236*, 285, 302, 
                         316*, 325

                                                            HCR 10

                                                            HR 6, 29, 30, 62, 68, 75, 76, 79, 81, 131, 134, 145

Representative Adam Koenig                  HB 187: HFA (1), (2), 58, 62, 87, 123, 128, 153, 160, 187, 211*,
                                                            212*, 254, 276*, 309*, 322, 325, 373, 387

                                                            HCR 10, 43*, 110

                                                            HR 6, 24, 29, 30, 62, 68, 75, 76, 79, 81, 87, 131, 134, 145

Representative Thomas McKee               HB 142: HFA (1), HB 238: HCA(1), 1, 14, 58, 70, 96, 142*, 160, 
                                                            197, 198, 207*, 231, 237, 243, 302, 308*, 318*, 327*, 365*, 
                                                            378*, 390, 398*

                                                            HCR 21, 130*

                                                            HJR 34

                                                            HR 6*, 29, 30, 37*, 62, 68, 75, 76, 79, 81, 87, 88*, 117*, 131, 
                                                            132, 134, 143*, 144*, 145, 153*

Representative Rick Rand                       HB 58, 223*, 231, 256, 290*, 291*, 292*, 293*, 302, 319*, 342*, 
                                                            356, 357, 390

                                                            HJR 69*, 70*, 71*

                                                            HR 6, 29, 62, 68, 75, 76, 79, 81, 87, 131, 134, 145

Representative Sal Santoro                     HB 1, 14, 19, 26, 55, 58, 61, 62, 87, 109, 111, 120, 123, 128, 
                                                            159, 160, 199, 207*, 211, 217, 237, 253, 256, 262*, 296, 300, 
                                                            302, 315*, 322, 325, 353*, 370, 421

                                                            HCR 10, 110*

                                                            HR 6, 29, 30, 62, 68, 75, 76, 79, 81, 87, 131, 134, 145

Representative Arnold Simpson               HB 298: HFA(1), (2), 16, 26*, 29*, 70, 71*, 118, 146, 160, 162*, 
                                                            190, 217, 276, 298*, 325*, 335*, 336*, 404*, 418*, 421

                                                            HR 6, 29, 30, 62, 75, 76, 79, 81, 87, 131, 145

Rep. Alecia Webb-Edgington                  HB 16, 19, 22, 26, 55, 61, 62, 87, 116, 128, 159, 186, 196, 217, 
                                                            254, 256, 265, 285, 287, 325, 370, 387, 421

                                                            HCR 10

                                                            HR 6, 29, 30, 62, 68, 75, 76, 79, 81, 87, 131, 134, 145

Representative Addia Wuchner               HB 14, 16, 19, 22, 26, 52*, 55, 61, 62, 87, 109*, 128, 159, 160, 
                                                            217, 237, 253, 254, 285*, 307, 325

                                                            HCR 10*, 110*

                                                            HR 6, 24, 29, 30, 48*, 62, 68, 75, 76, 79, 81, 87, 131, 134, 145

 

 

  

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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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 		 February 12, 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
     
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