Pro-Life issues, budget process on front burner for General Assembly

This past week of the Kentucky General Assembly found us, as legislators, diving deeper into discussions regarding the budget recently proposed by Governor Bevin. I have been involved in many meetings lasting late into the night as we thoroughly examine the proposal and find ways in which it might even be improved. In the near future, the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee will consider the budget, and the full House shortly after that. I plan to be as well-versed on the specifics of the budget as possible, in order to make the best vote possible for the people of not only our district, but the Commonwealth as a whole.

Outside of the budget, this was another great week for those of us who are pro-life. The annual Right-to-Life Rally took place in the Capitol Rotunda this past Thursday. I was honored to join Governor Bevin at the rally as he ceremonially signed Senate Bill 4, which would require informed consent of women seeking abortions.

Efforts continued to have the House debate and consider Senate Bill 7, which I discussed in this column last week. Senate Bill 7 would prevent state and local monies from going towards Planned Parenthood and set up a system for federal money which would prioritize community health centers. Considering the heinous acts and illegal abortions conducted by Planned Parenthood which recently came to light, this bill is important to pass as quickly as possible. I will continue to lead the fight to make sure this bill receives a fair debate and vote.

In other action, I was pleased to see House Bill 147, of which I am a co-sponsor, pass the House by a vote of 71-22. The bill would double individual campaign contribution limits in Kentucky. Direct contributions to candidates would be capped at $2,000 as of this July and double the annual limit on individual contributions to a party’s state executive committee to $5,000. Additionally, the bill would allow corporate contributions to a political party’s building fund and permit married couples to write a single check for a contribution up to the individual limits of each spouse. This bill was crafted as a way to reduce the amount of money spent on campaigns by out-of-state interest groups and give individual Kentuckians an increased voice. The bill is now in the Senate for its consideration.

I also proudly cast a vote of support for House Bill 309, which passed by a vote of 83-11. This bill would allow government and private entities to enter into public-private partnerships, commonly referred to as P3, to fund major projects and services at the state, local government and transportation level. This legislation has been successful in other states and serves as a creative way to find funding for much needed projects without having to increase taxes. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Finally, as you may have seen in news reports, a highlight of the week was that the General Assembly was visited by and heard from actress Jennifer Garner. Ms. Garner was here in her role as ambassador for Save the Children. While her celebrity status gives her a platform, I was most impressed to hear her words advocating continued support by the General Assembly for child literacy programs. Reading is the foundation for all education, and it is vital that we promote literacy in our public schools. I commend Ms. Garner for taking up this important cause.

If you would like to stay up-to-date on all legislative action of interest to you during this session of the Kentucky General Assembly, you can visit www.lrc.ky.gov or call the LRC toll-free Bill Status Line at (866) 840-2835. As always, I welcome your thoughts and comments. You can send me a message either at jeff.hoover@lrc.ky.gov or by calling (800) 372-7181.