|
Frankfort Report- Feb 24th, 2012 |
 |
 |
 |
|
From the desk of Senator Jimmy Higdon
|
|
Friday, 24 February 2012 00:00 |
|
FRANKFORT – After a pause for President’s Day, the Legislature moved into the second half of the 2012 General Assembly Session. I had visits from groups representing adult day health care providers and developmental disabilities. Many Boy Scout troops came to Frankfort for the annual Boy Scout Day at the Capitol. It was a pleasure to see these civic-minded boys and young men and their dedicated troop leaders and parents.
Of the bills we focused on this week, two were of particularly high profile. Senate Bill 1 would restrict the legislature to appropriating no more than 6 percent of General Fund revenues to bonded indebtedness. This is a level generally accepted as the standard by bond rating agencies, as well as a threshold the legislature has historically attempted to operate within. As long as I have been a member, the Senate has always passed a budget with less debt than either the Governor’s or the House’s proposals. We cannot continue paying off the Visa with the MasterCard. I voted for the bill because setting the limit in statute will provide an additional safeguard against high debt levels in the future, as well as make it easier to prioritize critical programs and services when determining budget allocations.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
This Week In Frankfort, Feb 18th, 2012 |
|
|
|
|
From the desk of Senator Jimmy Higdon
|
|
Saturday, 18 February 2012 17:33 |
|
FRANKFORT– First, some quick background on legal gambling in Kentucky.
The Commonwealth’s 1891 Constitution forbids what it calls ‘lotteries and gift enterprises,’ a polite way to say ‘gambling.’ In 1931, the Court of Appeals ruled that pari-mutuel wagering on horse races (requiring, as it theoretically does, skill instead of chance) did not violate that prohibition. And so the Court explicitly legalized a nebulous area of the law, which was being routinely skirted anyway.
In 1987, a long-shot candidate for governor won on a promise to bring a state lottery to Kentucky. After the long shot came in, in very short order the Legislature approved a constitutional amendment to allow it. The voters said yes in November ‘88.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Frankfort Report- Feb 17th, 2012 |
|
|
|
|
From the desk of Senator Jimmy Higdon
|
|
Friday, 17 February 2012 00:00 |
|
FRANKFORT – We have reached the half-way point of the 2012 General Assembly Session. There are daily committee meetings, policy briefings, visits from constituents, and meetings with various advocacy groups.
Early in the week, the Senate passed Senate Bill 103 in a bipartisan vote that will require a doctor performing an abortion to first perform an ultrasound (which is done anyway) so that the woman may view it, if she wishes. The woman will not be forced to look at the picture. However, it is important, as with any medical procedure, for the woman to have the fullest information possible. It can also be hoped that the mother will have the opportunity to perhaps reconsider her decision.
In addition, we passed House Bill 121 that will require all POW flags sold in Kentucky to be made in the United States. These flags represent our men and women who gave up a portion of their lives, undergoing mistreatment and worse, in defense of America. It is only correct that these symbols be made with American labor.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page 4 of 11 |
