Wednesday, January 9, 2008

SB 20

SB 20 creates the statutory framework for licensing gambling at casinos and racetracks.

SB 20 is sponsored by Sen. Boswell

SB 19

SB 19 would amend the Kentucky Constitution to allow casino gambling.

SB 19 is sponsored by Sen. Boswell

SB 14

SB 14 amends the Kentucky Constitution abolishes the office of State Treasurer.

SB 14 is sponsored by Sen. Thayer

SB 5

SB 5 like HB 5 eliminates the runoff in gubernatorial primaries.

SB 5 is sponsored by Sen. Thayer

HB 37

HB 37 designates Cornhole as the official game of Kentucky.

I thought it was basketball.

HB 37 is sponsored by Rep. Farmer

HB 34

HB 34 would require schools to include at least 30 minutes per day of physical activity for pupils through the 8th grade.

HB 25

HB 25 toughens DUI laws.
Among other things, it lowers the threshold for "Aggravating Circumstances" from 0.18 to 0.15 BAC. It also removes the right of a person arrested for DUI to make a telephone call to a lawyer.

HB 25 is sponsored by Reps. DeCesare, Floyd, Crimm, Embry, Harmon, and Wuchner

HB 23

HB 23 increases the amount of funding the University of Louisville's equine industry program receives from the total amount wagered on horse racing in Kentucky. U of L's take would jump 50% from 0.2% to 0.3% of the total amount wagered on live racing in the state and from 0.05% to 0.3% (that's a sixfold increase!) on intertrack wagering.

Sponsored by Reps. Burch and L. Clark

HB 19

HB 19 specifies that when one house of the General Assembly adjourns without the consent of the other house, the members of the adjourned house don't receive their daily salary or expense money.

Sponsored by Reps. Stacy and http://www.lrc.ky.gov/legislator/H044.htm

HB 18

HB 18 would eliminate the runoff provision in gubernatorial primary elections.

Sponsored by Rep. Owens, Rep. Cherry and Rep. Clark

HB 14

Another college student favorite:

HB 14
would create the Kentucky Education Covenant Trust Fund which would pay the full cost of attending a state public college or university for any eligible student, less federal or state grants the student already receives.

The student would have to come from a household whose income did not exceed 200% of the federal poverty line. The program would only be available to undergrads.

Sponsored by Rep. Pullin

HB 11 & 12

College students and their parents will love this one:

HB11 locks state college tuition levels at 2007-2008 rates until 2010. After than tuition increases can't exceed the Consumer Price Index.

HB 12 doubles the amount of KEEP Scholarship money awarded to Kentucky students.

Sponsored by Rep. Nelson

HB 5

Not terribly surprising to see this one.

HB 5 would amend the Kentucky Constitution to limit the Governor's pardon powers. A Governor could not pardon himself and could not issue a pardon unless the recipient has been at least charged with an offense. The pardonee would also be required to make a written application for the pardon.

Sponsored by Rep. Owens and Wilkey.

Some Disclaimers

Since I'm a lawyer everything comes with some reservations and qualifications. Here are a few:

1. I'm a lawyer, but I'm not your lawyer. Nothing I post on this blog is legal advice. It's not guaranteed in any way or for any purpose. I'm trying to point out and discuss interesting things that are going on at the General Assembly. If you have serious legislative issues and concerns you should hire an attorney or a lobbyist (or drop me an e-mail, I'm sure we could work something out...)

2. If something better comes up, I can't promise I'll stick with this blog. I'm actively searching for full-time work. If I get a suitable job with I regular paycheck, it's doubtful that I'll have the time or mental energy to continue this little undertaking.

3. I'm going to allow commenting, because I think it makes for much more interesting reading. On most blogs the comments are more entertaining than the posts. But they'll be moderated. I won't delete anything for its political content, but if a comment is blatantly off-topic, defamatory, obscene or otherwise inappropriate, it's gone.

4. I do have political stances which I'm sure will become apparent as I continue to post. If you don't like 'em, get your own blog. Or post a comment.

5. I'll probably pay a little more attention to the House than the Senate. I'm more familiar with that side of the building, plus their proceeding are usually a little more, um, colorful.

Early Session Posting Strategy

One difficulty I know I'll face in blogging about the General Assembly, at least in the early stages, is a lack of substantive activity to post about. Not much serious happens in January and early February. Today the House convened and adjourned within about 20 minutes. 90% of that time was spent in the opening prayer, Pledge of Allegience and members introducing their specials guests from home.

Nothing wrong with that, but it doesn't make very stimulating reading.

So what I've decided to do is go through the bills that have been filed and point out the especially good, bad or ugly. This is a big task -- there have been 220-some House bills filed already and 60-odd Senate bills. I'll be breaking it up into easily digestible chunks for your perusal.

New Lady from Bourbon

The Speaker of the House just introduced Sannie Overly as the new representative from the 72d district. Sannie is an law school classmate of mine who is married to another law school classmate -- Michael Kalinyak. She won a special election to replace for Rep. Carolyn Belcher who was elected Bath County Judge. I was very pleased to see it because I've always thought a lot of both Mike and Sannie. I'm sure she'll be a great addition to the General Assembly and will represent her district well.

Welcome

I've been around the Kentucky Legislature since I was a kid and oddly enough it still holds some fascination for me. Back in the late '70s we lived in Frankfort and my Mother had a job with the Legislative Research Commission (the LRC, which is the administrative arm of the legislature.) I got to be a page for a couple of days in the 7th grade. Two years later, I served as a Constitutional Page -- a more "permanent" position. I got to be there everyday.

Twenty years or so later I went to work as a Staff Attorney for a state government agency and ended up back over in the General Assembly, monitoring bills, attending committee meetings and talking to legislators. I did that for about 10 years.

Now I'm what is politely referred to as "between situations." I figured that since I would be watching the legislative circus, I might as well share some of the fun with my fellow Kentuckians. Interesting stuff happens in the legislature. Not all of it is important, world-shattering or ground-breaking matters of public policy. A surprising amount of what goes on is silly, petty or self-serving. But I've always found it fascinating to watch. And I think everybody in the state has a right to know what goes on up here during the sessions.

So, I've decided to blog about the session. I'm not an insider -- I don't know about what goes on behind the scenes. All I know is what I see in public at the Committee meetings and open sessions. But I promise there's plenty of interesting characters and odd behavior, even if the subtler points of parliamentary procedure aren't your cup of tea. I invite you to stop in to keep an eye on what's going on in Frankfort.