The 10 Best and 7 Worst Bills Being Considered in Kentucky's 2015 Legislature

Written by Johnathan Masters

The 10 Best Bills Kentucky's 2015 Legislature is Considering:

#1:

Greg Stumbo's HB3: The Gatewood Galbraith Medical Cannabis Act. http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/15RS/HB3.htm It's a step in the right direction, but it's too restrictive. We should be more like Colorado than Uruguay or North Korea.

#2

Greg Stumbo's HB2: Increasing Kentucky's Minimum Wage. If HB2 passes, then by this July, Kentucky's workers would be making $8.20; then in July 2016, $9.15; and by July 2017, $10.10. So minimum wage should be raised, to a much higher rate, but for now, HB2 is a step in a progressive direction. Small businesses and farms are exempt.

#3

Greg Stumbo's HB4: The $3.3 Billion “Teachers” Pensions Bond. It's actually pensions for all state workers: fire fighters, road department, police, K-12, colleges, corrections, OSHA, others. I support it. Many state workers do not get Social Security, so their pensions should be just that: their pensions. They put money into the pensions and so it should be there for them when they want to get it out.

#4

Greg Stumbo's HB300: Constitutional Amendment to legalize Las Vegas-style Casinos in 6 select cities throughout Kentucky. Will T. Scott, a major Republican candidate for Kentucky's Governor, is talking about funding the pension debt with legalizing Casinos. The Republicans have blocked Steve Beshear's mandated “legalizing” Casinos electoral victories the entire 8 years Beshear has been in there.

#5

SB8: The Charter School Bill. Stumbo said it wouldn't get very far, though he should accept it, because just by offering a pathway for Charter Schools, more federal dollars can be funneled into Frankfort's coffers.

#6

Restore Ex-Felon's Right-to-Vote Bill. I'm not sure which HB or SB this one is, but this one is long overdue. I thought this passed 10 years ago. Give it a rest already. We honor those who have paid their debt to society by welcoming them back into the community, and to be opposed to this, would be akin to being against our Democratic Republic, by stripping an American citizen of one of the most sacred rights one can have: the right to vote. LBJ barely passed the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Rand was against the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Mitch was in favor of voter suppression in his 2014 Senator campaign, just as he was for voter suppression during his opposition to Wendell Ford's “Motor Voter” law.

#7

Greg Stumbo's and Greg Fischer's HB1: Local Sales Tax Option. This will be fun watching in implementation. It's a “local option”, so it doesn't raise anybody's taxes, unless local city and county governments decide to place some sales tax on the ballot for some specific purpose. While sales taxes are regressive, they're also a consumption tax, which logically makes more sense than a capital tax. We have too many landfills. Why wouldn't we burn our trash for electricity, like Sweden does? What is the downside to that? Denmark's tax rate will make you faint, so if a local city wants to raise a ½ cent on sales tax for a year in order to have a County Pavilion, or a Community College, then those folks should have that option to do so. Actually, I'd assume they already had the option to do so.

#8

HB8: Expands Domestic Violence Orders to be issued for Dating Partners. This expands protection for not just married couples, or couples with children. If used right, EPOs and DVOs are effective means of protecting possible victims of domestic violence situations.

#9

HB375. Treasurer's Todd Hollenbach's Kentucky Financial Literacy Commission (filed by James Kay). The Treasurer of Kentucky wants Kentucky citizens to be more financially literate, and so do I. Side note: There's a candidate running for Treasurer of Kentucky who wants to abolish the office. I guess he gets no pay if he wins? It may be an effective strategy.

#10

HB168: Force Anheuser-Busch to sell 2 of their distributorships. I'm assuming Anheuser-Busch is a monopoly. If so, then good. It's not the best bill, but it's one of the few bills the media is talking about. Usually we're all just surprised if they pass anything. I bet they'll pass 9 laws this year. Maybe 8. But definitely less than 10.

Best Good and Bad Bill:

Greg Stumbo's HB154. This outlaws any “4-legged” creature from fighting, which is good, because it outlaws dog fighting, but not so great, because it implicitly legalizes cockfighting.

The 7 Worst Bills Kentucky's Legislature is Considering:

#1

SB76: The Kentucky Student Privacy Act. This bill was written by CB Embry Jr. and received National Headlines. CB Embry believes Kentucky, the state with high pollution, poverty, poor healthcare, and plenty of cancer, needs to be focused on fining Transgendered Students in the “wrong” bathroom a $2,500 fine. http://www.sdgln.com/causes/2015/01/20/kentucky-bill-fines-transgender-students-restrooms-locker-rooms#sthash.hq5qRTJU.dpbs http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2015/01/19/transgender-use-school-bathrooms/22019525/ This law only seeks to discriminate against Transgendered Students, which is unfortunate, because no doubt, they already have their fair share of discrimination.

#2

HB145: The State-wide Smoking Ban. Steve Beshear wants to make a statewide smoking ban. This is a ridiculous idea. Last year, he suggested raising cigarette tax from 30 cents to $1 to raise revenues, and now, he's cutting smoking in all public places in all of the Commonwealth. Jamestown was founded on Tobacco, and Tobacco is an addition to our State's Total GDP.

#3

SB5: The Heroin Bill. Both the House and Senate have passed a Heroin Bill, so something will develop from this. Naloxone will be provided at clinics to help with overdoses. The Republican Senators want to throw Heroin addicts in prison for life, with the possibility of death (hyperbole). The House Democrats are more reasonable. The Republicans Senators actually want to make ANY amount of heroin one is caught with a Felony (a Class D Felony if it's under 2 grams). While harsher penalties seem to be inevitable, a distinction between peddlers and commercial dealers should be made. Also, needle exchanges should be established, but probably no law the legislatures pass this year will help with the Heroin Epidemic. Kentucky goes through cycles of epidemics: first, alcohol; then, meth; then, Oxycontin; now, heroin. The Heroin problem comes directly from the Oxycontin problem. Folks got addicted to Oxycontin, and then Oxycontin cut back, and so the addicts went for a cheaper fix with street heroin. Oxycontin is called “hillbilly heroin”. What's needed, is love and compassion. This is a public health issue, not a criminal issue. We shouldn't be criminalizing the sick.

#4

SB4 & SB7: Restrictions on Abortion Bills. SB4 forces a woman to get a face-to-face meeting before obtaining an abortion. SB7 requires a medical doctor to perform an ultrasound before a woman can get an abortion. Female Republican Senators got these bills passed in a jiffy.

#5

HB152: The AT&T Bill. This bill doesn't provide Internet for the entire State of Kentucky. Steve Beshear suspiciously said that we need to pass the AT&T Bill “quickly”..., then muttered “very very quickly” underneath his breath.

#6

Julie Denton's SB74: The Lottery Games at Horse Parks Bill. While I do not disagree with the premise, the bill is a “smaller picture” vision than what's needed for Kentucky's problems to be solved. Interesting note: Every $2 Lottery ticket at the Horse Park sold, $1 goes to the Lottery Corporation controlling the games. The Lottery Corporation pockets 50% of all revenues.

#7

HB108. Act relating to Kentucky Retirement Systems. http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/15RS/HB108.htm There was so much legalese, I have no idea what the point of the law even is.

xxx

My 11 "Kentucky Resolutions" was my platform from my first political campaign when I was a candidate for State Representative in 2010: http://mastersforpresident.blogspot.com/2010/05/johnny-masters-kentucky-resolutions.html

1

Stop The Politricks

Pass a Law that makes All County and City Officials Put Their Budget and Minutes Online.

2

Police Accountability

A. Bill of Rights Testing

B. Criminalize Enhancement Charges

C. Establish Citizen's Complaint Authority Boards

D. Require Statewide “Shop With A Cop” Programs

E. Codify Proper Procedure for Cop Watch Programs

F. Have Public Surveillance Cameras Accessible to the Public

G. Equip all police officers with personal surveillance equipment like they are doing in Boone County.

3

Democracy Now!

A. Allow 18 years to run for political office.

B. Ballot Initiatives: let the People vote for candidates and issues.

C. Replace the current voting system with Instant Runoff Voting (IRV).

D. Be Fair to Independent Candidates.

4

Internet for Everybody

A. Provide Internet and Community broadcasting for all working people.

B. Adhere to the Principle of Net Neutrality.

C. Post all old microfilm newspapers and other historic info on the Internet.

5

Stronger Union Protections

Pass the Employee Free Choice Act for Kentucky so all Kentuckians get to vote, at least once in our lifetimes, on unionizing.

6

Dethrone The King: Nationalize Coal

A. Pass the energy reduction bill, where a certain percentage of Kentucky's energy has to come from clean sources, not Coal, Oil, or Nuclear.

B. Require all sludge ponds: 1) be completely dried out; 2) be sealed with a double liner of clay and a synthetic material; 3) have groundwater monitoring, and; 4) have a collection and containment system put in place in case of a spill.

C. Work on a plan to use eminent domain for public use to assume ownership of Kentucky's coal.

7

Eradicate Poverty/Fix The Economy/Keep Kentucky Working

A. Assemble a team of grant writers (consider internships) to aggressively go after every grant possible.  So far the 61st District has missed opportunities in technology, nursing, libraries, welcome centers, justice grants, drug rehabilitation, women's shelters, etc.  We need to secure more Obama Bucks

B. Keep Unemployment Benefits and Food Stamps in Full Operation

C. Make Housing a Guaranteed Right

D. Increase Minimum Wage To $11 an hour

E. Freeze Rent Rates

8

Universal Healthcare 

A. Single-Payer Healthcare for Kentuckians

B. Allow Kentuckians to purchase cheaper prescription pills, even in foreign markets.

9

Universal College

A. Provide free college to whoever wants to pursue their higher education

B. Freeze tuition rates at current levels for 5 years.

10

The Kentucky Rebels

Encourage the NBA and our government to work together to create a People's Team, where we get to vote for the head coach and the starting 5 for the Kentucky Rebels.  This would create more revenue for Kentucky, and give a home for our talented Wildcats and Cardinals.

11

Legalize Marijuana

Put Gatewood's Plan on the Ballot, and let the people decide for themselves

xxx

From my “Ole Kentucky Home” paper written November 2013:

Kentucky is ranked…:

…#1 in America for highest rate of Cancer Deaths (American Cancer Society, 2006; Oxford University, 2011).

…#1 nationally for toxic air pollution (2012).

…#1 in America for Colorectal Cancer incidents (2007).

…#1 nationally for Binge Drinking (2012).

…#1 in America for Oral Cavity and Pharynx Cancer incidents (2012).

…#1 nationally for being the Worst Run State (2010).

…#1 in America for the highest rate of Lung Cancer Deaths (2007).

…#1 nationally to least likely to have “healthy habits”, such as “eating healthily, exercising, and not smoking” (2009).

…#1 in America for Lung and Bronchus Cancer incidents (2012).

…#1 nationally for overall toothlessness (CDC, 2003).

…#1 in America for Colon and Rectum Cancer incidents (2012).

…#1 nationally for toothlessness for folks 65 and older (2004).

…#1 in America for having the Worst “Emotional Well-being” (2012).

…#1 nationally for having fastest growing prison industrial complexes (2009, Pew Center).

…#1 in America for maintaining the filthiest, dirtiest public spaces (2011).

…#1 nationally highest rate of child deaths from abuse and neglect (2007).

…#1 Worst State for Animal Abuse, 4 years in a row (2007-2010).

…#1 in America for having the Worst Drivers (2011).

…#2 nationally for having most Cancer incidents in all cancer categories (2012).

…#2 in America for the Worst Overall Well-Being in America (2012).

…#2 nationally for Kidney and Renal Pelvis Cancer incidents (2012).

…#3 in the United States of America for Brain Cancer (2012).

…#3 nationally for the most car wrecks (2011).

…#3 nationally for having the most folks below the poverty line (18.6%) (2010).

…#3 in America for lowest per capita spending on P-12 Education (2008-2009).

…4th nationally in lowest median household income ($40,072) (2010).

…5th worst state in America for women to live (2012).

…Top 5 Poorest States in America (2012).

…7th for most fatalities because of car wrecks (2011).

…#7 least government money spent to prevent mental illness (2013).

…#8 state for having the lowest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (2010).

…#8 nationally in America for Brain and Other Nervous-System Cancer Deaths (2007).

…#8 in America for Cervix Cancer incidents (2012).

…#9 nationally for cops charging the most DUIs (2011).

…#10 in America for having the highest number of students on free or reduced-priced meals (2009-2010).

…10th nationally for having the smartest P-12 students in America (2013).

http://thekentuckyrevolution.blogspot.com/2013/11/my-ole-kentucky-home.html

We can add having the highest rates of corruption, in illegal corruption, and legal corruption. Kentucky is #1 in legal corruption, according to a recent Harvard Study.