Mailers tell very little of the issues in Republican primary for state Senate; answers to papers' questions tell more

By Al Cross

University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

               With the pandemic restricting their personal campaigning, and finances keeping them off television, which would be inefficient anyway, the five Republican candidates for the 7th District state Senate seat have relied heavily on mail advertising to reach voters.

               But the messages in the mail, from the candidates and those who support or oppose them, are not always indicative of issues that will face the senator elected in November to replace retiring Democrat Julian Carroll of Frankfort.

Latest U.S. Term Limits mailer; for a larger version, click on it.

               The latest example of that is a card mailed to registered Republicans by U.S. Term Limits, a group that wants the states to call a convention to propose an amendment to the United States Constitution limiting the terms of U.S. representatives and senators.

That would require resolutions from 34 states, and only three states have passed such resolutions. Some opponents of the idea argue that such a convention could not be limited to a single issue, thus making it even more unlikely.

               But U.S. Term Limits presses on, trying to elect state legislators who would support such a convention or defeat candidates who oppose it. First, it mailed a card thanking state Senate candidates Katie Howard of Lawrenceburg and Calen Studler of Frankfort for supporting term limits.

More recently, it mailed a card targeting Cleaver “Kirk” Crawford of Lawrenceburg and Linda Thompson of Frankfort. The other candidate in the Republican primary, Adrienne Southworth of Lawrenceburg, has not been mentioned in the group’s mailers.

               The latest mailer doesn’t expressly urge voters to oppose Thompson and Crawford, but asks them to email Cleaver (giving his address) and to call Thompson (giving her phone number) “and tell them ENOUGH is ENOUGH.”

               Both sides of the card feature President Trump and his endorsement of term limits, in which he says he will push for them. So far, he has not.

               But Trump is a major figure in advertising for the primary, as candidates try to align themselves with a president who has very high approval ratings among registered Republicans. Thompson’s ads use a picture of her with Trump, and a Studler mailer says he will “stand up and support the Trump agenda, not the Beshear agenda,” referring to Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear.

               Asked by The Anderson News what grade he would give Beshear for handling the covid-19 pandemic, Studler said a C, adding, “I don’t doubt the governor’s concern for the people and his intentions to protect the public.”

               Only Southworth gave Beshear a worse grade, a D-minus, saying “He took unconstitutional actions regarding churches, according to several judges.” The U.S. Supreme Court later approved of restrictions like those Beshear placed on mass gatherings without singling out churches.

               Thompson gave Beshear an A, saying “He handled the pandemic in a reassuring and decisive manner.” Crawford gave him a C-plus, saying “His response was quick, but this has gone on far too long.” Howard said, ““I give him an A for controlling the spread,” but a B-minus overall, saying he was “too heavy-handed in his approach to business.”

               The candidates gave the General Assembly covid-19 grades ranging from F (Crawford) to A (Howard, Studler and Thompson).

               In answering questions from the Lawrenceburg newspaper and The State Journal, the candidates laid out more differences among themselves than they have in their advertising, which has emphasized hot-button social issues such as abortion (they’re against it) and guns (they oppose new restrictions).

               Studler has campaigned on his support for a state constitutional amendment that would allow casino gambling. Thompson said she favors such an amendment but hasn’t mentioned it in her mailers. Crawford also favors casinos but says he doesn’t want one on “every corner.”

               Howard and Southworth haven’t taken a stand on the issue. Howard says she wants to see “non-partisan research” before taking a stance and Southworth says she would evaluate such proposals in light of “my basic principles of constitutionality, free markets, transparency, and accountability.”

               Studler also endorsed legalized betting on sports, when asked how he would shore up state pensions. Crawford says he would do that by legalizing marijuana, and Thompson says there are “no good options.”

               Again, Howard and Southworth took the least clear positions. Howard simply said she would fully fund pensions, while Southworth said she would pay down debt and “tighten up the leaks.”

               Howard, Southworth and Studler support medicinal marijuana, while Thompson says it should undergo clinical trials to get approval by the Food and Drug Administration.

               Asked to name one area of spending that should be cut, Thompson and Studler said the focus needs to be on generating more revenue. Southworth targeted state administrative expenses in education, Howard called for eliminating odd-year elections, and Crawford said he would reduce welfare rolls with a financial literacy program.

               Voting in the primary concludes June 23. The district is Anderson, Woodford, Franklin, Owen, Carroll and Gallatin counties. The state Senate primary is only for Republicans. State Rep. Joe Graviss of Versailles is unopposed for the Democratic nomination, and independent Ken Carroll will also be on the Nov. 3 ballot.

For a clearer, printable version of the issues table, click on it.

Graviss says he favors action against systemic racism

State Rep. Joe Graviss, a Democrat from Versailles, began his latest legislative update with a message about current events. It appears below. See note at bottom.

Before we get into the regular interim update, please allow me to say in short what I’ve been telling dozens and dozens of people, emailers and callers about the traumatic events of late surrounding the assault on basic human dignities by some in power, and the systemic racism and injustices that exist and are perpetuated by some in power.

I agree with so many excellent organizations, and individuals that are expressing anger and frustration at the structural, institutional and individual racism that still exists, and has deadly consequences -- in many ways. One of America’s greatest leaders, Martin Luther King, Jr. said in 1967:

“And I must say tonight that a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it America has failed to hear? ... It has failed to hear that the promises of freedom and justice have not been met. And it has failed to hear that large segments of white society are more concerned about tranquility and the status quo than about justice and humanity.”

He was right then and he’s right now.

I’m committed to helping reform policies and procedures and cultures that can positively affect this systemic problem hurting our country and state, and neighbors. I answered the call to step strongly into the political arena to help all the people, speak truth to power and work very hard for positive change, and will NOT back down now.

Thank you for all you are doing to make a positive difference in the lives around us, our communities, state and world. It matters. And is appreciated. Deb and I continue to pray that God’s will, and love, will be showered on the hearts and minds of all of us as we strive to live our purpose He has designed for us.

The Messenger publishes material from public officials based on newsworthiness, and has a higher threshold when an official is in a contested race. Graviss is unopposed in the June 23 Democratic primary but will have a Republican opponent in the general election.

Ken Carroll, son of former governor and retiring state senator, seeks father's seat as an independent in fall

Ken Carroll (State Journal photo)

By Jordan Hensley

The State Journal
    Ken Carroll, the son of retiring state senator and former governor Julian Carroll, wants to take his father’s place.
    Ken Carroll, 65, filed last week to run as an independent in the state Senate District 7 race.
Since independent candidates do not run in a party primary, the deadline to return their petitions of nomination for the 2020 election was Tuesday.

    “I just felt like with my experience and background and education, I can bring value to the district and help folks in the district as well as the commonwealth find solutions,” Carroll said.
    Once a registered Democrat, Carroll changed his voter registration to independent nearly six years ago. “Basically, I just could no longer identify as a Democrat and I felt like both parties had become polarized in their positioning,” he said. “And things that were being done in the legislative bodies, whether it be federal or even state, seemed to be pointed to what was best for the party rather than what was best for people.”

Rep. Joe Graviss (Legislative portrait)

  Although Carroll is running to take his father’s place in the state Senate, he will not receive his father’s endorsement. Julian Carroll had already endorsed 56th House District Rep. Joe Graviss, D-Versailles, the lone Democrat seeking the Senate seat.
    On Thursday, Julian Carroll told The State Journal that his son expects him to keep his promise to Graviss.
    “You know, he actually has told me for several years he’d like to run for my old seat,” the elder Carroll said. “... I said, ‘Well, son, I have already endorsed Joe Graviss,’ and he said ‘Yes, and I expect you to keep your word.’”
    Ken Carroll said he made his decision to run after his father had already announced he was retiring and would endorse Graviss.
    “Matter of fact, when I told Dad, I said, ‘Would you please call Mr. Graviss and let him know my decision?’” he said. “Out of respect for him and my dad, I wanted to make sure they were aware and heard it from me, basically. My dad’s a man of honor and his word is his bond, so I said ‘That’s fine. I understand clearly you have endorsed Joe and I have no problem with that.’”

Sen. Julian Carroll (Legislative staff photo)

    On Thursday, Graviss told The State Journal he welcomes as many people who want to be involved.

    “He is new and late to the scene and I hope he is willing to stick around when it's over,” Graviss said. “My strategy has always been to work incredibly hard, to respond to people’s concerns, advocate for their interests and do it 24/7. My whole strategy is built around hard work and persistence and involvement. This is not a part-time job.” Graviss said he is extremely grateful for Julian Carroll’s endorsement.
    As for how an independent candidate will impact the election, Al Cross professor and director of the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues at the University of Kentukcy, said Ken Carroll's candidacy could split the Democratic vote and lead to a Republican winning the seat.
    "It remains to be seen how good a candidate Ken will be, since he has not played that role before," Cross said. "His father’s political punch has been greatly diminished by the passage of time and the controversy that marred his final term, but the name still brings recognition and a degree of credibility, which will be useful."
    The controversy Cross is referring to occurred in 2017 when Julian Carroll was accused of sexual harassment and assault. Senate Democrats stripped him of his leadership position.As for how he sees Franklin County voting, Cross said he's not 100% confident in predicting how the electorate will vote.

    "I think there's still a lot of regard for Julian Carroll and Kenny might get more votes because of that than Joe will for getting Julian's endorsement," Cross said.
    Senate District 7 covers Anderson, Franklin, Gallatin, Owen and Woodford counties. It has 53,611 Democrats, 33,389 Republicans and 2,897 independents and 3,944 members of other parties.
    "If the Republicans were able to capture this seat, it would be a tremendous coup," Cross said. "This seat is presumed to be a Democratic seat because of Franklin County."
    Right now, there are no independent state senators, Cross said. The last independent in the state Senate was Paducah's Bob Leeper, who represented the 2nd District.
    Cross said Carroll is not the usual independent candidate: "I would expect he would be able to raise the sort of money it takes to run a real campaign, but you never really know about things like that."
    Carroll has lived in Frankfort since 1972, when his father was lieutenant governor, and is a graduate of Frankfort High School and Western Kentucky University, where he has a double degree in speech and government.
    His background includes more than 20 years in state government, where he’s been a legislative committee staffer, a research and policy development analyst and a bill drafter with the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission among other roles in the legislative and executive branches.
    Carroll is also the current president and CEO of Advanced Manufacturing Professionals Inc., a nonprofit corporation whose purpose is to facilitate talent solutions for companies.
    If elected, Carroll said, he plans to work on improving Kentucky’s pension system. He would like to see an extensive audit of the system. He also plans to focus on economic and tourism growth.
    “In terms of careers for individuals, I think we need to give more focus to technical careers and I’m not just talking about manufacturing and service support,” he said. “There’s a lot of great careers in health care, logistics, energy, and we need to really focus on that and let people know what the pathways are to get there.”
    He said he would also like to work on creating efficiency and savings in the health care industry.
    Graviss, a Democrat, is running unopposed in the June 23 primary and will advance to the Nov. 3 general election.
    Calen Studler, Cleaver Crawford, Katie Howard, Adrienne Southworth and Linda Thompson are vying for the Republican nomination.
Al Cross is an extension professor in the University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media, which partners with The State Journal on coverage of state government and politics. He and his students produce the Midway Messenger.

Legislative report: No primary election tomorrow; check your registration address by May 26 for June 23 primary

By Joe Graviss
State representative for Woodford County and parts of Franklin and Fayette counties

In normal times, Kentuckians would be heading to the polls tomorrow to cast their ballots in this year’s primary election.

These are not normal times, of course, and just as the coronavirus has changed virtually every aspect of our public lives, it is significantly altering the way most of us will vote.

The most obvious difference is the delayed election itself, with Gov. Andy Beshear and Secretary of State Michael Adams announcing earlier this spring that it was being moved to June 23.

As part of that safety precaution, all voters are now eligible for – and encouraged to use – absentee ballots. The goal is to avoid what we saw in Wisconsin last month, when most voters there were given no choice but to stand in line, some for hours, at a significantly reduced number of polling locations. That crowding put them at great risk of being infected with covid-19, and recent news reports indicate dozens did indeed become sick.

The process here in Kentucky will be much safer, and all 3.4 million registered voters will be able to choose from several options to ensure their voice is heard in next month’s primary.

To make absentee voting easier, the state will mail each registered voter a postcard very soon to start the process off. The state will also use a secure online portal for voters to request an absentee ballot (hopefully around May 25), and that request can be made as well through the county clerk’s office.

These postcards will be used to verify whether voters still live at the location where they are registered. If you have moved but not changed your registration, please do so soon, before May 26 at 4 p.m. You will still be able to vote if registered.

Requests for absentee ballots have to be made by June 15, and the state will cover the cost of returning the ballot, so there will be no need to buy a stamp. Returned ballots must have a postmark no later than Election Day, but ballots meeting this criteria will be accepted until June 27, meaning complete results will be delayed. The secretary of state says results won’t be certified until June 30 at the latest.

Those voting absentee can mail in or drop off their ballots, and those wanting to vote in person can do so in the days leading up to the election or on Election Day itself. Those taking these last two options are encouraged to make an appointment with the county clerk’s office.

It is important to emphasize that most polling locations in Kentucky will be closed on June 23. In fact, Jefferson County, which has more than 600,000 registered voters, will only have one, which will be located at the Kentucky Exposition Center at the state fairgrounds.

If you would like to vote but are not registered yet, there are still a few days left to fix that. The deadline is next Tuesday, May 26. It is too late, though, if you are registered but would like to change your party affiliation for this primary. That cutoff to do that was Dec 31.

The voting changes I’ve described only apply to the primary election. For now, November’s election is on track to be conducted as it traditionally has been. Still, many others and I hope that the General Assembly will use this primary as a model to make voting easier in future elections.

Early voting and no-excuse absentee ballots are two simple changes that would almost certainly drive up voter turnout, which has historically been low. During the last two primaries in presidential election years, for example, only one in six voters took part.

Another key difference between next month’s primary and November’s election is that new photo ID requirements for voters won’t be in place until the fall.

This primary will be the first statewide election since Gov. Beshear signed an executive order late last year making it possible for 150,000 Kentuckians with a non-violent felony record to register and vote. Kentucky was one of the last states to automatically restore felon voting rights, and my hope is that many will take advantage of this. If you think you might be among those eligible, the state has a website where you can quickly check: https://civilrightsrestoration.ky.gov/.

All Kentuckians, meanwhile, can visit GoVoteKy.com, where you can start or review your voter registration and learn more about the election process. Your county clerk’s office is also a wonderful resource if you want to know more about this primary.

If you have questions about other issues affecting Kentucky, I would like to know. You can email me at joe.graviss@lrc.ky.gov, or you can leave me or any legislator a message, toll-free, at 1-800-372-7181. Thanks for all you do and holler anytime.

Legislative report: Graviss decries veto overrides, lists some bills that passed during the final two days

By Joe Graviss
State representative for Woodford County and part of Franklin County

Hi everybody,
   Deb and I continue to pray for health and safety, peace and comfort for everyone.
   Under Kentucky’s constitution, two hard deadlines govern legislative sessions in even-numbered years: They cannot last more than 60 working days, and they cannot extend beyond April 15.
   The coronavirus may have shortened the former this year by more than a week, but the House and Senate tested the limits of the latter by adjourning just minutes before midnight on Wednesday, culminating two long days of work.
   By the time the final gavel fell, the General Assembly had regrettably overridden nearly every veto Gov. Andy Beshear had issued and approved more than 30 bills on top of the 91 already now law.
   Except for two constitutional amendments that will go before voters in November, the fate of the new legislation rests entirely in the hands of the governor, who has 10 days, excluding Sunday, to decide whether to accept or reject these bills.
   In the end, this year’s legislative session was truly unlike any other in modern times. I still believe we should have ended our work last month; Gov. Beshear promised to call us back when it was safe to return. More than 20 other state legislatures did adjourn to reduce the chance of spreading the deadly virus, or used technology to conduct business like so many others. At the very least, the General Assembly should have just focused on quickly passing a budget and covid-19-related emergency measures, especially with the public being necessarily excluded right now. While I am grateful we accomplished those twin goals, we also spent more time than necessary on bills that could have been better handled next year when we’re opened back up.
   While technology helped other legislators to vote and ask questions from the relative safety of our legislative offices or vehicles, even that was too risky for some of my elderly colleagues, unfairly limiting what they were elected to do. I was honored to be asked by my leadership to be one of the only six Democrats allowed on the House floor to help coordinate the process with our members those last two days while social distancing.
   Our primary focus during the session’s last two days was considering the governor’s vetoes. He struck down relatively little while asking for maximum flexibility to deal with the pandemic, and he also sought to keep our coal counties and teachers from bearing an unfair burden financially in this budget. These were sensible requests, but unfortunately they were turned down.
   The same thing happened with his veto of Senate Bill 2, which will now require most voters to show a photo ID, starting in November, counting Kentucky as part of a national trend to suppress the vote. Current law already requires voters to provide some form of ID, but this new requirement will add another hurdle for many who may not drive, who may have just moved or who may have changed their name because of marriage.
   There has not been a single verified example of in-person voter fraud in at least 20 years, and while the bill does provide a free ID for those in need of one, there was little discussion about its potentially high cost. Indiana, for example, spent $10 million on personal IDs over several years after enacting a similar law.
   As Gov. Beshear rightfully noted, the indefinite closure of state offices to the public complicates matters further, and if other states attempting this are a guide, this law will likely be struck down by the courts since it was rushed during an election year. Should that happen, it will only add to the confusion and cost.
   With voting in mind, the General Assembly also approved two constitutional amendments that will be on the ballot during the Nov. 3 election. One known as Marsy’s Law would give victims more of a voice in criminal cases, and if this seems familiar, it’s because a similar amendment was approved in 2018. However, the Kentucky Supreme Court ruled that the language voters saw then was too vague, which is why it is being presented again.
   The other amendment would lengthen the terms of district judges and county and commonwealth’s attorneys to eight years, beginning in 2022.
   Some of the other bills to clear the House and Senate this past week would do such things as:

• Help struggling rural hospitals by making them eligible for economic development loans offered by the state;
• Give the state more authority to reduce jail overcrowding by moving inmates to facilities having more room;
• Update accountability guidelines for our schools, so the public can better follow where they are doing well and where more improvement is needed;
• Create a new program that will make it easier for state employees to be a living-organ or bone-marrow donor; and
• Require law-enforcement agencies to document their guidelines for high-speed chases.

   The legislature did consider more covid-related emergency measures, but the most significant of those did not make it through the Republican-controlled Senate. Had it passed, it would have had our restaurants, hospitals, chiropractors and other professional organizations working on plans advising Gov. Beshear for when the time comes to begin lifting restrictions. It passed the House 86 to 3 and I was happy to vote for it after my colleagues agreed to make some logical, helpful changes.
   Despite it not passing, Gov. Beshear did announce this past week that Kentucky was partnering with Indiana, Ohio and several other Midwestern states to come up with regional plans on how and when we restore more normalcy to our lives. That is certainly welcome news.
   Although our work passing laws is done, it is never too late to let me know your views on issues affecting Kentucky. My email address is joe.graviss@lrc.ky.gov, while the toll-free message line is 1-800-372-7181.
   Thanks for all you’re doing, we’re going to get through this, and holler anytime.

Legislative update: State Rep. Joe Graviss describes General Assembly's response to the covid-19 pandemic

By Joe Graviss
State representative for Woodford County and part of Franklin County
Hi everybody,

            Debbie and I pray that everyone is weathering this strong.

Years from now, when we recall what we did to limit the spread of the coronavirus, one of those legislative memories will be the historic action the General Assembly took on Wednesday so it could approve the state’s budget and several other related bills.

            Under Kentucky’s 1891 constitution, legislative sessions are required to “be held at the seat of government,” unless the governor moves them during times of conflict or pestilence.  While the latter certainly could have applied, we chose a different route instead to meet that constitutional mandate.

Thanks to technology that couldn’t have been dreamed of 130 years ago, my fellow legislators and I were able to monitor proceedings and cast our votes from the safety of our Capitol offices or nearby vehicles.  These votes were relayed electronically to a handful of legislative leaders and staff in the House and Senate chambers who then tabulated the totals.

That process understandably took longer than normal, but it got the job done with minimal contact.

There is hope that the budget we sent to Gov. Andy Beshear this past week will get the job done, too, but legislators are well aware that the already-low financial projections we used – based on estimates made in December – will still probably be too high as our country faces a steep recession driven by the necessary response to the coronavirus.

That uncertainty is why the General Assembly approved a budget for just one fiscal year rather than the normal two.  In January, when the next legislative session begins, we should have a much better idea of where the state stands financially.

When this work began a little more than two months ago, there was hope we could give small raises to school and state government employees, hire dozens if not hundreds of new social workers and increase funding for our public schools, colleges and universities.

None of that, unfortunately, could be included in the budget that ultimately passed.  Essentially, the spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year will be the same as the one governing the state now.

That’s good news in some cases.  For agencies like public health departments, domestic violence shelters and mental-health organizations, this decision means they will have a third year where their contributions to the state retirement system will be frozen, which will make it easier for them to keep their doors open at time we need them most.  The same freeze applies to local governments' retirement contributions as well.

Another positive policy decision in this budget is a return of virtually all coal severance tax dollars to coal-producing counties, the first time that’s ever been done.  This will help them as they continue managing a local economy already struggling because of a years-long decline in the coal industry.

On the downside, the spending freeze in the budget also means no new slots for the Michelle P. and Supports for Community Living Medicaid waiver programs, which help those with intellectual or developmental disabilities live independently at home.  The waiting lists for these are already in the thousands.

There are some other troubling aspects in the budget, as well. The governor’s office, for example, will have its funding cut by a half million dollars while other constitutional offices are not asked to make a similar sacrifice.  At a time when Gov. Beshear is doing an excellent job of leading Kentucky during this crisis, this is exactly the wrong time to be singling his office out.

Teachers could also be negatively impacted despite fully funding the actuarially required contribution because the budget allows some funding for their retirement system to be withheld if state spending drops significantly.  We have worked hard in recent years to make our public retirement systems financially healthy, but this approach could undermine that.

Another downside is that the budget provides almost no new sources of revenue, other than an increase on electronic cigarettes, and nearly all of that is returned in new tax cuts.  Proposals setting the stage for income-raising initiatives like sports wagering, expanded gaming and medical marijuana are all but dead with only a few legislative days remaining.

While the state budget outlook is bleak, the recently passed $2 trillion coronavirus relief package by Congress will be a significant help during this time.

State and local governments will get more than $1.7 billion from it, while those receiving unemployment payments will see an extra $600 a week for the next four months, an amount expected to exceed $600 million.

The $1,200 rebate checks most of us will get will total $4 billion here in Kentucky; our schools are slated to get nearly $200 million; and increased Medicaid assistance could bring in almost $500 million.

Well over $100 million more will go to help public transit; to buy more personal protective and medical equipment; to assist the homeless; and to help families with their heating and cooling bills.

Businesses and medical providers will be able to access potentially hundreds of millions of dollars in federal loans and grants, too.

Check out https://governor.ky.gov/covid19 for a detailed list of what’s been done and where to find information from unemployment insurance filings to small business loans, etc. Speaking of unemployment insurance, please be patient and persistent as the system is overwhelmed and undermanned—both of which are being addressed as fast as possible.

For now, other legislators and I are in our home offices until we return to the Capitol on April 13.  Our primary work then will be deciding whether to override any vetoes Gov. Beshear issues, but there is a good chance other bills will be considered, too.

I will continue to keep you updated, and I ask that you continue letting me know your views or concerns about issues affecting Kentucky.

You can always email me at joe.graviss@lrc.ky.gov, while the toll-free message line for all state legislators is 1-800-372-7181.

Thanks for hanging tough, and all you do. Pray, and holler anytime.

Legislative update: Graviss notes health-care, alcohol and unemployment measures in covid-19 response bill

By Joe Graviss
State representative for Woodford County and part of Franklin County

Hi everybody,

During an emergency, one of the most important things leaders need is added flexibility to do their job.  Some rules that are necessary when life is normal can become hurdles when lives and livelihoods are on the line.

            With that in mind, the General Assembly voted unanimously Thursday evening for Senate Bill 150, which will give Governor Andy Beshear, health-care providers and others the leeway they need as we continue the state of the emergency the governor called March 6 to address the covid-19 pandemic.

            A key provision in this legislation is the expansion of our unemployment insurance program.  Those now eligible include such groups as independent contractors (including barbers, stylists, nail technicians, restaurant staff, etc.), small business owners, substitute teachers and those who may not have lost their jobs but have seen their hours significantly reduced.

More than three million Americans have filed for unemployment in recent days, and in Kentucky, this number is approaching 50,000.  If you are among this group and haven’t already applied, please visit the state’s website at https://kcc.ky.gov/ to learn more about changes made to handle the increased caseload.  Each day of the week, for example, has been set aside to process claims based on the first letter of your last name.

Another element of Senate Bill 150 is that businesses will see rules relaxed when it comes to licenses issued by the state.  In addition, this bill also allows restaurants to sell basic staples like milk and bread and, where already allowed, to deliver alcoholic beverages as long as they are properly sealed and sold to those of legal age.

For our health-care providers, Senate Bill 150 expands tele-health options to limit the need for in-person visits, and it extends Good Samaritan protections for those providers acting in good faith to provide care.  Similar protections also apply to companies that have changed their normal production to manufacture emergency items like hand sanitizer.

While legislators have sent Senate Bill 150 to Governor Beshear for his signature, we are still finalizing a two-year state budget.

In January, when this work began, it appeared that we were poised to pass the first two-year spending plan not to have across-the-board cuts since 2006-08.  It is too soon to say what the upcoming budget will include, but there is broad agreement that it will be difficult to do more than maintain current-year spending if we’re lucky, since tax revenues are expected to decline significantly.

There are two other unknown factors as well.  First, we don’t know exactly how much Kentucky will receive from the just-approved federal stimulus, and with the income tax filing deadline moved to July 15, there will be a delay in receiving this money next fiscal year.

Although Senate Bill 150 was the highlight of the legislature’s work on Thursday, there were several other noteworthy bills sent to Governor Beshear that day as well.

House Bill 2, for example, makes needed improvements to Kentucky’s human-trafficking laws.  That includes requiring airports, bus stations and truck stops to post the hotline for the National Human Trafficking Resource Center, to increase the likelihood that victims will be able to get the help they need.

HB 484 will give more autonomy to our local governments when it comes to running their public retirement system, something our city and county officials have been wanting for several years.

HB 415, an important measure to our distilleries, will make it possible for those manufacturing alcoholic beverages to ship their product directly to adult consumers here in Kentucky and across the country, as long as sales where they live are legal.  There are limits on how much can be shipped, too.

When legislators return to the Capitol April 1, our primary focus will be to vote on a budget compromise.  While I believe this could have been handled in a special session later this spring, especially since the public is currently barred from being at the Capitol as a healthcare precaution, my hope is that we can take this vote quickly and head back to our home offices until the legislative session’s final days in mid-April, when we return to consider any vetoes that Gov. Beshear might issue. [Editor's note: Beshear vetoed two bills Saturday.]

As always, please continue letting me know your views and concerns on these legislative matters.  My email is joe.graviss@lrc.ky.gov, and the legislative message line is 1-800-372-7181.

Thanks for all you do, be well, and holler anytime.

Legislative report: As General Assembly moves toward recess, Graviss reports on its work and covid-19 impact

By Joe Graviss, state representative for Woodford County and part of Franklin County

Hi everybody,

It may have been more than 160 years ago that Charles Dickens wrote “A Tale of Two Cities,” but the novel’s well-known opening line – “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” – seems especially relevant today, given what we have lived through this month.

I will of course update you further on what develops, but for now, here are some important websites and phone numbers you may need. To access the state’s public-assistance programs, please visit https://benefind.ky.gov or call 1-855-306-8959. For Medicaid, the customer-service line is 855-459-6328, and the website is https://healthbenefitexchange.ky.gov.

For unemployment insurance, the website is http://www.kewes.ky.gov/, while the main number for claimants is 502-564-2900. Governor Beshear has also announced more regional phone numbers.

Be aware that, due to sudden spike in unemployment payments, applications are being accepted this week on a staggered basis based on last name. Each day is focused on several letters through Friday, and if you miss your day, you can use Friday as well.

This information and more can be found on a new website the administration has created as a single source listing every state order and action. That website is https://governor.ky.gov/covid19. It’s excellent and I urge you to sign up for automatic updates.

We all know the challenges we’ve faced both here in Kentucky and around the world. At the same time, we have also seen countless examples of others reaching out to help, so to speak, even as we do what we can to stay apart.

Our health-care workers and first responders deserve considerable credit for what they have done to keep us well, while our teachers and school staffs are to be commended for making sure our children are still able to learn and have access to nutritional food while they are at home.

Those running our grocery stores and restaurants have overcome their own challenges to continue serving us, and our small businesses and civic and charitable organizations have found ways to help many of us navigate situations our country hasn’t seen since the days of World War II and the Great Depression.

I want to thank everyone who has gone above and beyond for our community – and I appreciate the willingness of so many to stay home and, when out, to practice social distancing and good hand washing to limit the spread of this illness.

At the Capitol this past week, it also was the best of times and the worst of times. On the positive side, Gov. Andy Beshear and his administration have kept us informed and taken the tough but necessary steps needed to “flatten the curve” so that our health-care system can weather the growing number of covid-19 cases, which going into the week numbered around 100 but unfortunately rising, so please follow all the health guidelines.

The state has also eased rules to accommodate those who have lost their jobs as a result of the various closures and now qualify for such programs as Medicaid and unemployment insurance.

On Thursday, the House moved two significant bills forward that will build on this relief. Senate Bill 177 would give our schools the flexibility they need to finish the school year as they and their students cope with the prolonged absence, and Senate Bill 150 would do something similar in other areas so Gov. Beshear and health officials have more authority to do what is necessary to limit the spread of the coronavirus and help employees.

Those were the high points of our legislative work last week, but there were regrettably some low points, too.

Many of my legislative colleagues and I questioned whether we should even be at the Capitol at all. In Georgia, one legislator who tested positive for covid-19 led to a call that every legislator there self-isolate. More than a dozen other state legislatures left their capitals altogether.

Gov. Beshear promised to call the General Assembly back into special session in the weeks ahead to enact emergency measures and the state’s budget, but legislative leaders chose not to go that route.

As a result, and with the Capitol complex closed to the general public, the House and Senate considered numerous bills that had no relevance to the crisis at hand, including one that dealt with the definition of hair stylist and another on how to dispose of deer meat.

Several bills from this time would, if ultimately enacted, have a negative impact on hundreds of thousands of Kentuckians.

One of the more significant is Senate Bill 2, which will add another hurdle by requiring a photo ID to vote. Current law already requires voters to show some form of ID, but this bill won’t even allow a valid out-of-state driver’s license to be used.

Even though free IDs are part of this bill – a cost that alone could reach into the millions of dollars – this is still unnecessary when there has not been a single example in at least 20 years of in-person voter fraud. If we’re going to consider voting legislation during a crisis, it should be to extend hours at the polls and allow early, excuse-free voting.

This week, legislative leaders will work on a compromise state budget that the House and Senate are scheduled to vote on this late this week or early next. I’m hoping that some aspects of the Senate budget, which was approved this past week, do not survive.

One proposal would potentially withhold more than $1 billion from the teachers’ retirement fund if unspecified changes are not made in the next two years to limit benefits for new teachers. TRS doesn’t need this, and certainly teachers have told me loud and clear they do not want this.

Inexplicably, the Senate budget also scales back tens of millions of dollars our public health departments and quasi-governmental agencies desperately need to make their retirement contributions more manageable. At a time when the critical role teachers, public health departments, domestic violence shelters, rape crisis centers and crucial mental health organizations play is more evident than ever, I cannot understand how any legislator, much less the majority of the Senate, could support these plans.

Finally, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions or concerns about these or other legislative issues. My email is joe.graviss@lrc.ky.gov, and the toll-free message line for all legislators is 1-800-372-7181.

Thanks for all you do and are doing, stay well and holler anytime.

Graviss is only Democrat in Senate race, which has 5 Republicans; Fister and 3 Democrats are in House race

This story has been revised to include the correct filing deadline for City Council. It is June 2.

Five Republicans filed for the state Senate seat representing Woodford and several other counties and being given up by former Gov. Julian Carroll.

State Rep. Joe Graviss of Versailles was the only Democrat to file for the Senate seat. Filing for his House district, which Woodford County dominates, were three Democrats and one Republican, Dan Fister of Versailles, who lost in 2018 to Graviss and in 2016 to James Kay, now county judge-executive.

The Democrats in the House race are Bob Gibson of Versailles, who announced in July when Midway Mayor Grayson Vandegrift withdrew a week after announcing; Nolan Benjamin Scott, 20 Goshen St., Frankfort; and Lamar Allen, 1643 Alexandria Drive #2, Lexington. The district (right) includes parts of Fayette and Franklin counties.

The Senate district comprises Woodford, Anderson, Franklin, Owen and Gallatin counties.

The Republican candidates vying for the May 19 nomination to face Graviss are Kirk Crawford Cleaver, 1102 Woodlake Dr., Lawrenceburg; Katie Howard, 1179 Nevins Station Rd., Lawrenceburg; Adrienne E. Southworth, Box 1056, Lawrenceburg; Calen Studler, 225 S. Benson Rd., Frankfort; and Linda Pirtle Thompson, 129 Woodgate Rd., Frankfort. Most have been campaigning for weeks; Southworth, who filed today, is the aide to then-Lt. Gov. Jenean Hampton who was fired by then-Gov. Matt Bevin. Here's a Louisville Courier Journal story about her.

The two districts have long been represented by Democrats. The House district has 18,705 registered Democrats and 13,033 registered Republicans, plus about 3,000 independents and members of other parties. The Senate district's registration is more lopsided, with 53,619 Democrats, 32,645 Republicans and about 7,000 independents and minor-party members.

The deadline to file for partisan office in Kentucky was 4 p.m. today. The deadline to file for most nonpartisan offices, including the Midway City Council, is June 2. in early August. The General Assembly moved up that deadline from August in the same session that it made the deadline for partisan offices the earliest in the nation with respect to the date of the primary election.

Council debates, tweaks ordinances to crack down on blighted property; first reading scheduled Dec. 16

Mayor Grayson Vandegrift displayed metal objects that he said had fallen from the building at 116 E. Main St.

The Midway City Council seems ready to pass two ordinances to enforce ordinances requiring property owners to maintain their property, following a final work session Monday night.

Following the half-hour discussion, Mayor Grayson Vandegrift, who has been trying to crack down on blighted property since he took office almost five years ago, said he would schedule the ordinances for first reading next Monday, Dec. 16, and hope to pass them Jan. 6.

116 E. Main was once the Odd Fellows Hall.

To demonstrate the need for the ordinance, Vandegrift showed the council pieces of metal, some of them heavy and some of them sharp, that he said had fallen from the old Odd Fellows Lodge Hall at 116 E. Main St., which has been owned by Ness Almadari of Lexington since early 2016.

He said someone could have been killed by the heavy object, and Council Member John Holloway said likewise of the sharp ones. "I knew somebody who was killed in an accident like this," he said.

"This is the reason for the rush," Vandegrift said, adding later, "That's sort of the crux of the issue to me."

The only issue that prompted disagreement at the meeting was Council Member Bruce Southworth's concern that one of the proposed definitions of "blighted or deteriorated real property" is too broad.

The proposed definition, taken from state law, applies to vacant structures, or vacant or unimproved lots or parcels "in a predominantly built-up neighborhood" and includes seven alternative criteria. One covers property that "has not been rehabilitated and brought into compliance with the housing, plumbing, electrical, fire or nuisance code of the local government . . . within the time constraints placed upon the owner by the appropriate permitting or code-enforcement agency."

Southworth said half the houses in Midway don't meet the current electrical code. Holloway said the code "grandfathers" such houses and doesn't require them to be upgraded to code.

Vandegrift said action against any property requires a complaint and action by the code inspector, and "you would think it would have already been a problem statewide or it wouldn't be in the current KRS," the Kentucky Revised Statutes. He said the ordinance would be enforced by "a reasonable board, which we're going to appoint."

In response to a question from the Messenger, Vandegrift and Council Member Logan Nance said the provision is intended to apply only in cases where a permitting or code-enforcement agency has ordered the property owner to comply and the owner has failed to do so in the time period established by the agency.

Nance said the provision needed to stay to discourage "slumlords." Council Member Stacy Thurman said it would make enforcement stronger, and Council Member Sara Hicks said "It makes people want to do the right things . . . and it makes the town safer." The other council member, Kaye Nita Gallagher, did not attend the meeting.

Holloway, Nance and Thurman were elected last year, making the council more amenable to action on the issue, but the process has required three special meetings and who knows how many private conversations between members. Vandegrift told the council, "I think you all have made good steps to preclude some things that can be done just out of spite."

The council did ask for one last change, a clarification of the time a property owner would be given to comply after receiving a citation. The proposed code-enforcement ordinance says it would be up to the enforcement officer, but "not less than seven days," while the proposed blighted-property ordinance calls for 10 days' written notice. The council agreed both should say 10 days.

If the owner didn't comply, the case would go to a new Code Enforcement Board of at least three members and two alternates, who must have been residents of the city for a year upon appointment. After initially staggered appointments, they would serve three-year terms, be limited to two terms and could be removed by the mayor or a council majority plus one for "misconduct, inefficiency or willful neglect of duty." They could not hold any office with the city or any agency that enforces housing, plumbing, fire, maintenance or related codes.

Vandegrift has said the Code Enforcement Board is the key to enforcement that would stand up in court. The ordinances follow state laws that were passed in 2016 to give cities more power to crack down on blighted property.

In addition to safety concerns, the mayor said dilapidated properties bring down property values and discourage investment by adjoining property owners. He said the sport of the proposed laws is "not to burden those who don't have the means" to improve their property, "but to make people who have the inventory do something with it."

Bob Gibson is running for open seat in state House

Bob Gibson

The race for the open seat of state representative for Woodford County again has a candidate.

Bob Gibson, chief information officer and technology director for the Woodford County Schools, said in a press release, "I am running because I want to give everyone the opportunity to succeed. My focus has always been to advance high-quality education, promote personal development and ensure fair treatment of all. I would be proud to stand up and fight for you in an open manner, listening to your needs."

Gibson, 49, is seeking the 56th District seat of Democratic Rep. Joe Graviss, who is running for the state Senate seat being vacated by former governor Julian Carroll of Frankfort. All are Democrats. So is Midway Mayor Grayson Vandegrift, who entered the House race July 12 and withdrew July 19. No other candidates have announced.

The 56th District includes Woodford County and parts of Fayette and Franklin counties. "Throughout our district, I have heard that, while people have been happy with our representation in Frankfort, they also have noticed the dysfunction that consumes politics in state government," Gibson said. "Dysfunction is disastrous for taxpayers."

Gibon said he would use "a common sense approach" to focus on "quality lifelong learning; fiscal responsibility, protecting workers, properly funding education and pensions;" promoting 'farming, manufacturing, trades, and tourism;" and "statesmanship -- restoring civility and bipartisanship."

He said his 25 years of "collaborating with others and building our community through teaching, educational administration, and civic involvement . . . has given me a unique perspective of our community and how state government influences our everyday lives."

Gibson is a graduate of Woodford County High School and Centre College, where he played basketball, and of Eastern Kentucky University, where he earned a master's degree in instructional leadership in 2005. He has been a special-education and social-studies teacher and a basketball coach, and was athletic director and assistant principal at WCHS from 2006 to 2013.

Gibson ran unsuccessfully for Fiscal Court magistrate in 2006. He founded the Woodford County Public Schools Hall of Fame in 2008 and chaired the Woodford County Chamber of Commerce in 2017-18. He is married to Elizabeth Burge Gibson, an English teacher at WCHS. They live in Versailles.

Mayor leaves state House race, citing 'unsettling feeling in my gut' every morning since he entered it a week ago

By Grayson Vandegrift
Mayor, City of Midway

Although no one in this field likes to “flip-flop,” I’m going to own up to this one. One week after declaring my candidacy for state representative -- a week where each morning greeted me with an unsettling feeling in my gut, I’ve decided to stay where I am and remain mayor of Midway for at least the next three and a half years.

I came to this conclusion solely on my own. The outpouring of support and even money that flowed in this week is truly humbling, but I have to go where my heart wants me to go, and my heart wants me to stay put. To those who were excited for this prospect of me running for state representative, I sincerely apologize, but I know you understand that I can’t be me if I can’t be authentic. While I will likely want to follow my passion for public service into higher office someday, I don’t want to leave the current office I occupy anytime soon. I love it too much, and my heart is in finishing the job I was elected to do.

Therefore, I am retracting my letter of intent for state representative, returning the money I’ve raised, and settling in to continue what we’ve started with no distractions. I will continue to push the agenda of major infrastructure repair, of sustainable growth, of lower utility bills, of better services, of better housing, of fairness for all people. And, I will continue to work to improve the relationships within our county, particularly between Midway, Versailles, and the greater community. And, as I have for the last four and a half years, I will continue loving the honor and privilege of serving as mayor of the greatest small town in America.

Opinion: State Rep. Joe Graviss, fellow Democrat offer alternative to Republican governor's plan for pensions

By state Reps. Joe Graviss, D-Frankfort, and Buddy Wheatley, D-Covington

With Gov. Bevin expected to call a special legislative session soon to pass his public pension plan, we are reminded of Henry Ford, who famously said his customers could have cars painted “any color, so long as it’s black.”

For weeks now, the debate has focused solely on the governor’s bill and a few tweaks he’s made. Legislators have been told that he wants an up-or-down vote on his bill, specifically, and that we would be free to make additional changes in 2020. But there are other, less bumpy routes leading to the same destination.

The two of us serve on the General Assembly’s Public Pension Oversight Board and have a thorough understanding of the damage the governor’s bill would do if enacted. We share the same goal of protecting our public health departments, rape crisis centers, domestic violence shelters, regional public universities and other quasi-governmental agencies from a crushing 68 percent increase in pension costs, starting in July. This bill, however, is not the way to do it.

Governor Bevin’s bill offers these critical agencies and universities massive debts; costs taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars; harms the nation’s worst-funded public retirement system; and it would severely undermine retirement security for potentially thousands of career employees who have dedicated their lives to public service – not to mention it would face likely legal challenges which would put us all back to square one.

The governor’s plan freezes these agencies’ payments to Kentucky Retirement Systems for a year, and we agree on that. It’s the long-term fix we differ on.

Our recommendations – think of them as different colors on Henry Ford’s Model T – are faster, cheaper, and far more legal.

The first necessary change is slightly increasing the projected investment target that KRS uses for the fund that these quasi-governmental agencies and state government pay into.

The KRS Board of Trustees dropped the rate dramatically in 2017 to the lowest in the country, when that decrease should have been phased in over years. We propose moving it up slightly, where it still remains the lowest public retirement plan target in the country, but more closely aligns with KRS’s actual investment experience over the last decade.

Second, our plan recommends an annual payroll growth of 1%, versus the 0% KRS now uses. State government has already shrunk to levels not seen since the 1970s, but basing pension contributions on 0% growth over the next 24 years is unrealistic and unfair, given a growing population and the need for employee raises to combat inflation.

A third hallmark of our plan is a five-year shift in excess payments from the retiree health insurance fund to the pension side of the ledger. All normal costs continue to be properly funded to maintain the health fund.

This will not put at risk current or future benefits – the fund would have all it needs during those five years and still be fully funded by the end of the amortization period – and we have already set aside much more money for retiree health insurance than most other states. Many retiree health systems, in fact, have no savings at all, choosing instead to pay for actual costs month to month.

Finally, we think it is prudent to freeze the employer contribution rates that the quasi-governmental agencies currently pay KRS. They are paying KRS almost 50 percent of their payroll now and can’t afford anything higher.

This is very reasonable because this retirement fund is seeing a positive cash flow. We can revisit this freeze in the future, if KRS investments ever suffer a sustained downturn. Using a 20-year investment horizon also helps smooth the peaks and valleys.

Taken together, these proposals erase the long-term liabilities faster than the governor’s plan, and they do it without illegally reducing employee benefits or harming the quasi-governmental agencies that are already in a precarious financial position.

We did not get in this situation overnight, and it will not be solved overnight. Public employee retirement plans are similar to a 30-year home mortgage. While it would be great to have 360 monthly payments in the bank, the reality is that we don’t have it or need it all right now.

Our plan is much like restructuring the mortgage so that the bank does not take the home. By making modest adjustments to the terms of the loan to lower payments, we can still pay it off within a year of what the current law already calls for.

Unlike the governor’s bill, our recommendations maintain current services in a way that still meets the long-term goal of making KRS more solvent. Our plan won’t be tied up in court because of legally questionable actions; it won’t force some of our most critical agencies to close their doors; and it allows a quality workforce to continue serving you.

At the very least, members of both parties and stakeholders should be able to sit down and discuss this as a viable alternative. We stand ready and willing to work with any of our colleagues who are seeking to do the most good for the most people at the best price.

Kentucky taxpayers and those with a vested interest in the outcome deserve nothing less.

Carroll says he will retire, endorses Graviss to succeed him in Senate; Vandegrift considers run for the House

State Sen. Julian Carroll (Legislative Research Commission photo)

By Steve Stewart
The State Journal

Former governor and current state Senator Julian Carroll, D-Frankfort, won’t seek re-election next year and has endorsed state Rep. Joe Graviss, D-Versailles, as his successor.

Graviss, a former McDonald’s franchisee who won election to the state House in November, told the Frankfort Rotary Club on Wednesday that he plans to run for the seat, which covers Franklin, Woodford, Anderson, Owen and Gallatin counties.

Midway Mayor Grayson Vandegrift told the Midway Messenger Wednesday night that he may run to succeed Graviss. " I’d love to bring my experience as mayor of Midway to Frankfort in representing the 56th District," he said in an email. "There’s still nine months until the filing deadline, and I need to discuss it more with my family, but I’m strongly considering it."

Carroll said in a telephone interview Wednesday afternoon that he informed members of the Senate Democratic Caucus several months ago that he would retire at the end of his current term on Dec. 31, 2020, and that he would support Graviss in the 2020 election.

State Rep. Joe Graviss (LRC photo)

“I told Joe some time ago that I thought he was the most qualified candidate who had talked to me about running,” Carroll said. “He’s done an outstanding job already as a new member of the House. He has been very knowledgeable with the ability to stand on his feet and express himself well and I know that he would be very helpful to our caucus in raising funds and helping elect and re-elect members of our caucus. For that reason, I told him I felt like he was the most qualified candidate that I could think of and that he would have my support.”

Carroll’s retirement will mark the end of a political career that has spanned nearly six decades, including service as governor from December 1974 to December 1979.

A Paducah-area native who turned 88 on Tuesday, Carroll served five terms in the state House, including as speaker from 1968 to 1970. He was elected lieutenant governor in 1971 and assumed the governorship in 1974 when Gov. Wendell Ford was elected to the U.S. Senate. In 1975, Carroll sought and won a full four-year term as governor.

After many years of practicing law in Frankfort, and running in the 1987 Democratic primary for governor, he returned to elected service by winning the Senate District 7 seat in 2004. He was re-elected three times, twice without opposition. The other time, he beat Graviss in a primary.

In 2017, the Senate Democratic Caucus removed Carroll as caucus whip after Spectrum News reported allegations by a male photographer that Carroll had groped him and propositioned him for sex in 2005. Carroll refused Senate Democrats' call for him to resign.

Graviss represents House District 56, covering Woodford County and parts of Franklin and Fayette counties. He succeeded Rep. James Kay, D-Versailles, who did not run for re-election last year, opting instead to run unopposed for Woodford County judge-executive. Graviss won 57 percent of the vote in beating Republican Dan Fister.

Information for this story was also gathered by the Midway Messenger.

Legislative report: Graviss lauds failure of bills on teacher-retirement board, private-school funding

By Joe Graviss
State representative, Woodford County and parts of Fayette and Franklin counties

Legislative sessions are mostly remembered for laws that are enacted, but for some people, keeping a bill from the governor’s desk is a victory, too.

            When the General Assembly wrapped up its work late last month, for example, teachers were especially pleased to see that two of the bills they strongly opposed never even came up for a vote in the House, much less the Senate.

            The most significant of those would have changed how the Kentucky Teachers Retirement System’s Board of Trustees is chosen.  In that case, teachers would have seen their authority to nominate seven of the 11 trustees drop to one, with another nominated by retired teachers.  The others would have been nominated by several educational organizations, bankers and CPAs, even though current law already requires two trustees to have investment experience.

            KTRS is one of the state’s best-funded public retirement systems and measures up well when compared to its counterparts in other states, so this proposal was simply unnecessary.  We shouldn’t tinker with a formula that is working well.

            The same can be said of another misguided education bill, which in this case would have provided up to $25 million in tax credits for those who donate to private-school scholarship funds that are used to help families afford tuition costs.

            There is a serious legal question whether this could even be allowed under the state constitution, and at a time when the current two-year budget has no money at all for new textbooks or professional development for teachers, this bill is not something we can remotely afford. Think KERA and why all that happened.

            Sometimes, bills that are popular in one legislative chamber fail to gain traction in the other.  This year, three major bills cleared the House with near-unanimous support but failed to move any further in the Senate.

            One bill would have increased the state income-tax exemption for all retirees to $41,100, which is what had long been on the books before being dropped by one-fourth as part of last year’s major tax overhaul, which I opposed.

Older Kentuckians fully affected by the 2018 change saw their income taxes go up by $500.  Unfortunately, we will have to wait another year before being able to help these citizens, many of whom live on a fixed income.

Just as the Senate was hesitant to pass this bill, it also blocked legislation that would have rolled back some of the $215,000 raise – that’s right, a six-figure raise – that Gov. Bevin gave last year to a longtime friend of his who serves as the state’s chief information officer.  This puts that official’s salary well above anyone else’s in a comparable position in other states.

A third House bill (one I co-sponsored) that the Senate chose not to act on would have improved harassment laws for the Legislative Branch.  Had this bipartisan and reasonable response to two scandals over the past five years passed, those who serve in or work for or with the General Assembly would have had greater protections from harassment.

Some bills that weren’t approved this year appear to be gathering steam.  Perhaps the most popular would have legalized medical marijuana, which would have added Kentucky to the 30-plus states that have already taken this or similar steps.

More than half of the 100 House members signed on as co-sponsors, and a committee approved the bill overwhelmingly, and yet it still never came up for a vote in the House.  This legislation was a reasonable compromise and would have given some needed relief to many citizens who suffer from such things as seizures.  This could also have played an important role in fighting Kentucky’s ongoing opioid epidemic.

Sports wagering is another activity spreading to a growing number of states, following last year’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that made this form of gaming legal outside of Nevada.

If this year’s bill had passed, it would have set aside most of state government’s portion to help pay down the long-term liabilities facing our public retirement systems.

            One of the regrets I have about this legislative session is that many worthwhile bills were never even given serious consideration.  One would have raised the state’s minimum wage, which hasn’t been increased since 2009, and another would have given voters a chance to restore voting rights to felons who have served their full sentence.  This has garnered widespread support in the House in recent years, and it’s past due to be approved, since only one other state – Iowa – is still enforcing rules as tough as Kentucky’s.

            Overall, this year’s 30-day legislative session covered quite a lot of ground, and while the time to pass new laws is over for the year, the General Assembly’s work will continue when House and Senate committees begin meeting jointly in June.  During this interim, which runs through early December, other legislators and I will review issues affecting the state and prepare for the 2020 legislative session.

            With that in mind, it is never too late to let me know your views about this work.

            You can email me at joe.graviss@lrc.ky.gov, while the toll-free message line at 1-800-372-7181 is available each weekday.  If you have a hearing impairment, the number is 1-800-896-0305.

The General Assembly’s website, meanwhile, is www.legislature.ky.gov. 

Thanks for all you do and holler anytime.