Long days, heated discussions, and budget negotiations marked the 13th week of the 2016 General Assembly. The Senate was in session three of the five weekdays while Senate and House leaders used the other two days to work on budget negotiations. The Senate is working diligently toward a budget compromise ensuring the people of the … Continued
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Addressing Kentucky’s underfunded pension systems was the top priority in the Senate’s version of House Bill (HB) 303, the state’s two-year budget, which passed the Kentucky Senate on March 23. One major difference between the Senate’s budget and the House’s budget it passed last week is structural balance. That means that our … Continued
After over two months of anticipation and debate, the Senate finally received the state budget bill from the House midway through the 11th week of the 2016 Kentucky General Assembly. Governor Matt Bevin was elected in a landslide last fall because the people of Kentucky recognized a need for financial change and fiscal responsibility. We … Continued
Not only did Friday mark the end to another busy week in the Kentucky Senate, but also it was day 46 of our 60-day legislative session. We are now in the proverbial “fourth quarter” when the House and the Senate must come together to get a victory for the state of Kentucky by passing a … Continued
The passage of bills that would help children with disabilities, preserve rights of victims in criminal cases, and fight for the rights of the unborn highlighted another busy week in the Senate. As Thursday marked day 40 of our 60-day legislative session in Frankfort, we are still anxiously awaiting a budget bill from our colleagues … Continued
As the Senate eagerly awaits a budget proposal from the House of Representatives, we are busy passing bills both out of committee and through the Senate to send to our House colleagues during the eighth week of the 2016 Kentucky General Assembly. We welcomed a special guest to the Capitol this week, Stanford University … Continued
Heated floor speeches, huge committee hearings and the observance of Presidents’ Day highlighted the seventh week of the 2016 Session of the Kentucky General Assembly. As we have passed the halfway point of this session, the countdown begins as we in the Senate anticipate the forthcoming 2016-2018 budget bill from the House of Representatives. There … Continued
A Hollywood actress, numerous rallies, and winter weather were among the highlights of a busy sixth week of Session in the Kentucky General Assembly. Between a wide variety of guests, packed committee meetings, and plenty of bills passing – it was another productive week in Frankfort. The national organization Save the Children, which promotes early … Continued
The fifth week of the 2016 Legislative Session in Frankfort was historic in many ways. Governor Matt Bevin signed his first legislation, Senate Bill (SB) 4. We also said goodbye to former State Senator and civil rights activist Georgia Davis Powers. Senate Bill 4 was the first pro-life bill to pass both chambers in over … Continued
Week four of the Kentucky General Assembly marked a momentous occasion for our state. Governor Matt Bevin gave his first State of the Commonwealth Budget Address, laying out a plan that will guide Kentucky out of the financial mire that has lingered for the past eight years. I can honestly say that Tuesday night’s speech … Continued