DOCSLIB.ORG

U.S. Fracking Boom Hushes Kentucky Oil and Gas Action

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
U.S. Fracking Boom Hushes Kentucky Oil and Gas Action The ® LaneKENTUCKY’S BUSINESS NEWS SOURCE Report FOR 32 YEARS JULY 2017 $4.50 U.S. FRACKING BOOM HUSHES KENTUCKY OIL AND GAS ACTION Commonwealth’s hydrocarbon resources aren’t commercially viable at current prices – but markets change Page 24 lanereport.com KY 40150 KY Lebanon Junction Lebanon LANE ONE-ON-ONE: Permit #327 #327 Permit PAID LUTHER DEATON ELECTRONIC SERVICE REQUESTED SERVICE ELECTRONIC U.S. POSTAGE U.S. President/CEO PRST STD PRST 201 E. Main St. Ste. 1402, Lexington KY 40507 KY Lexington 1402, Ste. St. Main E. 201 Central Bank TLR_July2017cover_Final.indd 1 6/30/17 3:25 PM The training revolution is underway in Kentucky Shane Daniel is working in manufacturing and going to school, thanks to an innovative new apprentice-style program called KY FAME, open to elite students, great in science and math and interested in advanced manufacturing. At the end of this unique training, Shane can start work immediately or continue his education. It’s giving him a future and a career. Kentucky is in the midst of a workforce training revolution. Find out more about how we can help your business recruit and train your current – and future – workforce. (800) 626-2930 • ThinkKentucky.com Making Business Strong. Making Life Exceptional. TLR_July2017cover_Final.indd 2 6/30/17 3:25 PM July Lane 1-20.indd 1 Corporate Government Access Healthcare Regulation Real Estate Litigation Medical Malpractice Real Estate what do you do when it’s your professional reputation under the knife? McBrayer is delighted to be joined by five new attorneys bringing a wide range of knowledge and experience in professional malpractice defense. Kyle Amber Virgin Knouff 201 East Main Street, Suite 900 Kathryn Lexington, Kentucky 40507 Chad Eckert Thompson (859) 231-8780 | www.mmlk.com 6/30/17 3:22PM Calvin Fulkerson JULY LThe ane Report 2017 Kentucky’s Business News Source For 32 Years Volume 32 Number 7 22 A LIVING LESSON IN ECONOMICS Biz Town bridges the gap between classroom learning and the real world 24 GENSCAPE CREATED GLOBAL ENERGY MARKET ANALYTICS Louisville entrepreneurs created tools to monitor production and flow of electric power, then oil, NGL, solar and more 27 RIGHT-TO-WORK MIGHT BE WORKING It’s definitely cited for bringing a $1.3 billion aluminum mill to Eastern Kentucky 30 COVER STORY FRACKING BOOM HUSHES KY. OIL AND GAS ACTION Commonwealth’s hydrocarbon resources aren’t commercially viable at current prices – but markets change 34 PLAYING CATCH UP WITH INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS With gas tax revenue decelerating, Kentucky joins search for a strategy to fund roads, bridges and more Departments 4 Perspective 36 Emerging Lane 6 Fast Lane 38 Lane List 14 Interstate Lane 39 Spotlight on the Arts 15 Kentucky Intelligencer 40 Exploring Kentucky 16 Corporate Moves 42 Passing Lane 17 On the Boards 44 Kentucky People 18 Lane One-on-One: Luther Deaton President and CEO, Central Bank On the Cover lanereport.com With the price of natural gas at around $3 Kentucky Business News Online per million BTU and crude oil at $45 a Read up-to-the-minute Kentucky business news stories, barrel, both less than a third of market current and archived copies of The Lane Report, Market Review, BG – A way of life, Next – Your Future After highs less than 10 years ago, Kentucky High School in Kentucky, Health Kentucky, Research Kentucky drilling permits are at a record low. special reports, white papers and community profiles. Faster Lane Email news bulletin Three or more times a week, the editors of The Lane Report publish Faster Lane – email bulletins of fast breaking and important Kentucky business and economic news. Visit lanereport.com to sign-up for this free, must-have, at-your-fingertips news service. July Lane 1-20.indd 2 6/30/17 5:04 PM ”CENTRAL BANK LOOKS AT CUSTOMER SERVICE EXACTLY LIKE WE DO. IT’S BEEN A KEY TO OUR SUCCESS.“ Alison Meyer – Two Chicks and Company, Lexington Alison loves how Central Bank is always willing to go above and beyond with its hometown customer service. It’s traits like these that help us remain central to her business, Two Chicks and Company. See how your business can benefit from a Central Bank relationship. Get in touch and let us know what’s Central to you. Call 859-253-6222. CENTRAL TO YOU Member FDIC 300 West Vine Street, Lexington centralbank.com July Lane 1-20.indd 5 6/30/17 3:22 PM LThe ane Report PERSPECTIVE Kentucky’s Business News Source for 32 Years EXECUTIVE EDITOR/VICE PRESIDENT governor especially. Papers large and Mark Green POLITICAL COURAGE small, from the Panhandle to Key West, ASSOCIATE EDITOR OFTEN RUNS SHORT published ongoing series of editorials. Karen Baird It began with the sunset in July. The DIGITAL EDITOR Ky. will win big fiscally if leaders heavy flak had largely died down and Jonathan Miller stand behind smart decisions acceptance was setting in two months CREATIVE DIRECTOR later when the governor flipped and Jessica Merriman BY MARK GREEN said he wanted to reverse the services CREATIVE SERVICES tax. Democratic legislative leaders Stone Advisory quickly followed suit, foreseeing the Paul Blodgett prospect of ongoing political clubbing CORRESPONDENTS ENTUCKY, like the rest of the by the governor, backed by renewed Michael Agin; Katherine Tandy Brown; nation and the world, is experienc- editorial page fusillades. Russ Brown; Chris Clair; Shannon Clinton; Kevin Gibson; Susan Gosselin; Robert Hadley; ing major change, good and bad. It was costly not just to Florida but to KChange is a reliable if not always welcome the rest of the laboratories of democ- Lorie Hailey; Debra Gibson Isaacs; Kara Keeton; Abby Laub; Tim Mandell; Esther Marr; part of life, so why not lean bravely into racy, as former Supreme Court Justice Greg Paeth; Robin Roenker; Josh Shepherd; the curves rather than let the inevitable Louis Brandeis called state govern- Sean Slone; Katheran Wasson; forces throw us from the cart? ments. Florida instead raised its general Gary Wollenhaupt; Dawn Yankeelov Our commonwealth is blessed with a sales tax another penny and anti-tax PUBLISHER/CEO central location providing one-day’s zealots across the nation were embold- Dick Kelly delivery access to most of the world’s ened to threaten public officials. Politi- ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER greatest economic market and econ- cal scientists in other state capitals have Donna Hodsdon omy. Leaning in, state officials have been afraid to tax services for the past Melissa McGarry embraced a logistics sector that is 30 years lest the experiment blow up in DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS booming and attracting investment by their faces. Nicole Conyers White the biggest players in today’s world. Kentucky today faces a very serious MARKETING CONSULTANT Now, though, the state needs to need to modernize its tax system to fit Curtiss Smith invest in itself. The governor remains today’s economic priorities and to gen- CIRCULATION/IT committed to taking on tax and pen- erate the revenue required for a com- Josiah White sion system reform to put our state’s petitive education system while also fiscal house in order, specifically men- paying down massive unfunded liabili- FOUNDER tioning higher revenues. He is to be ties for public pension systems. Busi- Ed Lane commended. Stay strong, governor. ness wants lower income tax rates, I was a newspaper reporter in Florida which requires expanding sales taxes to SYNDICATED COLUMNS in 1987 when that no-income-tax state a variety of services. Many Kentucky Creators Syndicate enacted a tax on services to broaden its business leaders say they are willing to PRINTING & CIRCULATION SERVICES sales tax base. It was an innovative and pay more for better education, the Publishers Printing Co. reasonable move, expected then, 30 foundation of workforce development, WEB MARKETING & PUBLISHING years ago, to increase state revenue by because workforce skill is where we Able Engine $1 billion a year and an additional $2.3 compete with our neighbors and the IT SERVICES billion in less than a decade. rest of the world for jobs, income and NetGain Technologies Florida had a reputation for progres- wealth generation. INTERNET SERVICES sive, smart governance then after the Today’s business budgets are tight. QX.net administrations of Reubin Askew and Abrupt adjustment to a new sales tax Lane Communications Group Bob Graham, each savvy two-term gover- on their services will be difficult and is a member of nors. Tallahassee officials spent time nerve-racking for any operation with planning expansion of the sales tax base slim margins. Business owners and and effected it passive-aggressively by managers face either raising prices to The Lane Report is published monthly by: sunsetting the exemption on services. cost-conscious customers or lowering Lane Communications Group But political leaders there lost their bottom lines. 201 East Main Street 14th Floor Lexington, KY 40507-2003 nerve and gave in at the last second, A phase-in over two or more years [email protected] snatching away defeat from the nearly would soften the blow but be tricky to For more information and closed jaws of fiscal victory. administer. It is doable, though. The advertising rates contact: PHONE: 859-244-3500 There was complaining, of course, entire job that Gov. Matt Bevin, House The annual subscription rate is $29. the loudest coming from the then-still- Speaker Jeff Hoover, Senate President (Kentucky residents add $1.74 sales tax.) significant newspaper and advertising Robert Stivers and the rest of the Gen- Newsstand price is $4.50. industry. A few national advertisers said eral Assembly face is doable – if they Send check or money order to: they would boycott, but that made no have the courage to make decisions Circulation Manager financial sense in the fast-growing, for the good of the state and stand THE LANE REPOrt 201 East Main Street 14th Floor third-largest market in the nation.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • A 10-Year Perspective of the Merger of Louisville and Jefferson County, KY: Louisville Metro Vaults from 65Th Th to 18 Largest City in the Nation
    A 10-Year Perspective of the Merger of Louisville and Jefferson County, KY: Louisville Metro Vaults From 65th th to 18 Largest City in the Nation Jeff Wachter September, 2013 Over the past 50 years, the idea of merging a city with its neighboring or surrounding county has been contemplated in many American cities, voted upon in a few, and enacted in even fewer. The most prominent American mergers have been Jacksonville, FL; Indianapolis, IN; Nashville, TN; and Lexington, KY. Other cities—including Pittsburgh, PA and Memphis, TN— have attempted mergers, but failed at various stages in the process. City/county consolidation has been a controversial topic, with advocates and opponents pointing to different metrics that support their expectations for the consequences of a merger. Louisville, KY, which merged with Jefferson County on January 1st, 2003, is the most recent example of a city/county consolidation executed by a major American city. This report examines how Louisville Metro has performed over the past decade since the merger took effect by analyzing the city’s economy, population, government spending and efficiency, and public opinion about the merger. In the late 1990s, business and political leaders came together in an attempt to address some of the issues facing the Louisville region, including a long declining population and tax- base, escalating government spending, and multiple economic development organizations fighting to recruit the same businesses (often to the detriment of the greater Louisville region at- large). These leaders determined that a merger of the Louisville and Jefferson County governments was in the best interests of the region, despite the contentious nature of merger debates.
    [Show full text]
  • Find out How Your Legislators Voted on Key Business Issues
    2011 KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY Voting Record Explanation of bills used in voting record THE ROLL CALL VOTES you see in this record reveal how legislators voted on bills the Kentucky Chamber Find out how your legislators publicly supported or opposed during the 2011 General Assembly and 2011 Extraordinary Session. Although we took positions on several bills during the session, the vot- ing record includes only those that received a full vote voted on key business issues before the entire House and/or Senate. Please note that the substance of a bill may be signifi- ach legislative session, legislators vote on hundreds of bills which could affect cantly altered during the legislative process. Unless other- wise noted, the legislation proposals — along with the Kentucky’s business climate. It’s crucial they make well-informed decisions about Kentucky Chamber’s position on those proposals — refer- a bill and its potential impact to the Commonwealth. That’s why the Chamber’s enced in the voting record are based on the last or final E version of the bill receiving a floor vote for each house. Public Affairs team informs legislators of the potential impact – both good and bad – To access the language of the bills highlighted in this document, the Kentucky Chamber invites you to visit the legislation may have on employers. We provide expert testimony at committee meetings, Legislative Research Commission’s website at lrc.state.ky.us. produce informative legislative briefs, and we personally meet with legislators creating a valuable dialogue between employers and policymakers. We do all of this with the belief DESCRIPTION OF SENATE BILLS that knowledge is key to a successful state and business climate.
    [Show full text]
  • Businesses Brace for Energy Cost Increases
    newsJUNE 2011 We all influence the health of those around us, especially in the work place. As an employer, you have a tremendous effect on employee health by the examples you set and the health care plans you choose. As a Kentucky Chamber Businesses member, you’re connected to big savings on big benefits for your small business. Help employees get more involved in their health care with consumer-driven HSA, HRA and HIA plans, or choose from more traditional solutions. Either way, brace for you can build a complete benefits package – including preventive care and prescription coverage – with one-stop shopping convenience. energy cost Talk to your broker, call the Kentucky Chamber at 800-431-6833 or visit increases group.anthem.com/kcoc for more information. PAGE 1 Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Anthem Health Plans of Kentucky, Inc. Life and Disability products underwritten by Anthem Life Insurance Company. Independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ® ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. 19075KYAENABS 1/11 JUNE 2011 Business Summit and Annual Meeting Businesses Morning Joe hosts brace for to share their views energy cost at Annual Meeting ONE OF CABLE television’s highest rated morning increases talk shows, MSNBC’s Morning Joe, is not just a NEW DATA from Kentucky’s regulated news source — it’s also been, at times, a newsmak- electric utility companies shows that the er.
    [Show full text]
  • Louisville Metro Vaults from 65Th to 18Th Largest City in the Nation
    Wright State University CORE Scholar Records of Dayton Together (MS-603) Special Collections and Archives 9-2013 A 10-Year Perspective of the Merger of Louisville and Jefferson County, KY: Louisville Metro Vaults From 65th to 18th Largest City in the Nation Jeff Wachter Follow this and additional works at: https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/special_ms603 Part of the Public Policy Commons A 10-Year Perspective of the Merger of Louisville and th Jefferson County, KY: Louisville Metro Vaults From 65 th to 18 Largest City in the Nation Jeff Wachter September, 2013 Over the past 50 years, the idea of merging a city with its neighboring or surrounding county has been contemplated in many American cities, voted upon in a few, and enacted in even fewer. The most prominent American mergers have been Jacksonville, FL; Indianapolis, IN; Nashville, TN; and Lexington, KY. Other cities—including Pittsburgh, PA and Memphis, TN— have attempted mergers, but failed at various stages in the process. City/county consolidation has been a controversial topic, with advocates and opponents pointing to different metrics that support their expectations for the consequences of a merger. Louisville, KY, which merged with Jefferson County on January 1st, 2003, is the most recent example of a city/county consolidation executed by a major American city. This report examines how Louisville Metro has performed over the past decade since the merger took effect by analyzing the city’s economy, population, government spending and efficiency, and public opinion about the merger. In the late 1990s, business and political leaders came together in an attempt to address some of the issues facing the Louisville region, including a long declining population and tax- base, escalating government spending, and multiple economic development organizations fighting to recruit the same businesses (often to the detriment of the greater Louisville region at- large).
    [Show full text]
  • DDP Report REVISED
    Louisville Downtown Development Plan City of Louisville • Downtown Development Corporation • Louisville Central Area, Inc. September 2002 To the Friends and Supporters of Downtown Louisville JUNE 1, 2003 This is a tremendously exciting time for our entire Our downtown has seen incredible momentum build that the Downtown Development Corporation, a community. We have come together to create a new – with close to $1 billion in investment over the model of public/private partnership innovation, is city government—Louisville Metro—that unites all past 10 years. New downtown projects now under the steward for implementation of the Plan. of us, center city to suburb. way total more than $330 million. An additional $490 million in downtown development is in vari- The guiding principles highlighted in these pages It’s also a tremendously exciting time for downtown ous stages of project design. Each new project propose very high standards for our downtown. The Louisville – the heart of our new city. To be a truly becomes another building block for creating the most creative and talented thinkers in the country great community, we must have a downtown that vibrant downtown envisioned by this Plan and by were engaged in this effort. These urban designers, delights, inspires, entertains, educates, provides an our community’s leaders. planners, housing and transportation experts, econ- array of services and bustles with energy … from omists, and graphic designers worked in concert its richly varied workforce to its growing number Why is a strong, vibrant, creative downtown so with those who are involved in downtown planning of residents. important? To compete in the 21st century, our and development on a daily basis.
    [Show full text]
  • Kentucky Public Library Legislative Caucus
    Kentucky General Assembly 2015 Public Library Caucus Updated 6 June 2015 House Representative Arnold Simpson Representative Jody Richards (co-chair) Representative Rita Smart Representative Bob DeWeese (co-chair) Representative Fitz Steele Representative Rocky Adkins Representative Wilson Stone Representative Robert Benvenuti III Representative Jim Stewart Representative Regina Bunch Representative Denny Butler Representative Tommy Thompson Representative Larry Clark Representative Tommy Turner Representative Hubert Collins Representative Ken Upchurch Representative Leslie Combs Representative David Watkins Representative Tim Couch Representative Susan Westrom Representative Will Coursey Representative Addia Wuchner Representative Ron Crimm Representative Brent Yonts Representative Jim DeCesare Representative Jill York Representative Mike Denham Representative Joe Fischer Representative Jim Glenn Representative Jeff Hoover Senate Representative James Kay Senator Brandon Smith (co-chair) Representative Dennis Keene Senator Robin Webb (co-chair) Representative Kim King Senator Julian Carroll Representative Martha Jane King Senator Perry Clark Representative Tom McKee Senator Chris Girdler Representative Suzanne Miles Representative Charlie Miller Senator C.B. Embry, Jr. Representative Terry Mills Senator David Givens Representative Brad Montell Senator Denise Harper Angel Representative Tim Moore Senator Jimmy Higdon Representative Sannie Overly Senator Paul Hornback Representative Ruth Ann Palumbo Senator Ray S. Jones II Representative Tanya Pullin Senator Alice Forgy Kerr Representative Bart Rowland Senator Gerald Neal Representative Ryan Quarles Representative Marie Rader Senator Dennis Parrett Representative Rick Rand Senator Dorsey Ridley Representative Steve Riggs Senator Robert Stivers Representative Sal Santoro Senator Johnny Ray Turner Senator Mike Wilson .
    [Show full text]
  • 2014 Kentucky General Assembly Directory Visitors’ Guide
    2014 Kentucky General Assembly Directory Visitors’ Guide Paid for with state funds. Available in alternative format by request. Legislative Research Commission LRC Legislative Research Commission Foreword When the fi rst Kentucky General Assembly met in 1792, its members chose the term “commonwealth” to describe Kentucky. While there is no legal difference between a commonwealth and a state, Kentucky’s early leaders perhaps wanted to assert an indepen- dence of ideals and governance. By defi nition, a commonwealth is a political unit founded on law, united for the common good, and with supreme authority vested in the people. This ultimately de- fi nes Kentucky: government by the people and for the people. Like most states, Kentucky has a part-time citizen legislature with members from diverse backgrounds and communities. All 138 members, however, serve year-round as legislators, representing constituents, helping them solve problems, and studying new ideas. Of Kentucky’s three branches of government—execu- tive, judicial, and legislative—the legislative is the one closest to the people and the one into which Kentuck- ians have the most direct input. Consequently, it is benefi cial to both the legislature and our citizens that the work of the General Assembly be understood and the legislative process be used to its full potential. Kentucky General Assembly Directory iii This publication has been prepared to help you better understand how your General Assembly conducts business during a legislative session. Marcia Ford Seiler Acting Director Frankfort, Kentucky January 2014 ContentsLRC Kentucky General Assembly Leadership . 2 Standing Committees . 4 Senate Senate District Map . 8 Senators .
    [Show full text]
  • Bormuth V. Cnty of Jackson-71-Bipartisan Legislators-Balch
    Case: 15-1869 Document: 71 Filed: 04/27/2017 Page: 1 No. 15-1869 ═══════════════════════════════════════════════ IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT ───────────────♦─────────────── PETER CARL BORMUTH, Appellant, v. COUNTY OF JACKSON, Appellee. ───────────────♦─────────────── On Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan 2:13-CV-13726 MOTION FOR LEAVE TO FILE AMICUS BRIEF ON BEHALF OF MICHIGAN, KENTUCKY, TENNESSEE, AND OHIO LOCAL AND STATE LEGISLATORS, AND THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY BY AND THROUGH GOVERNOR MATTHEW G. BEVIN, SUPPORTING THE COUNTY OF JACKSON AND AFFIRMANCE Attorneys for Amici Curiae: Ed R. Haden Jason B. Tompkins Michael P. Taunton BALCH & BINGHAM LLP Post Office Box 306 Birmingham, AL 35201-0306 Telephone: (205) 226-8765 Facsimile: (205) 448-5798 April 27, 2017 ═══════════════════════════════════════════════ Case: 15-1869 Document: 71 Filed: 04/27/2017 Page: 2 A bipartisan group of over 300 current and former state and local legislators and governors from Michigan, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Ohio request this Court’s leave to file the attached 12-page brief in support of Jackson County, Michigan and affirmance of the District Court.1 As Appendix A details,2 amici consist of: • Twelve members of the Michigan Senate, including Sen. Mike Shirey, who represents Jackson County, Michigan; • Forty-four members of the Michigan House of Representatives, including Rep. Julie Alexander, who represents Jackson County, Michigan and is a former member of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners, whose practices are at issue in this case; • The current and two former governors of Kentucky; • Thirty-one current members of the Kentucky Senate, and eight former members; • Eighty-four current members of the Kentucky House of Representatives, and forty-two former members; • Two members of the Tennessee Senate; • Seven members of the Tennessee House of Representatives; • One member of the Ohio House of Representatives; and • Eighty-four county and municipal legislators from Kentucky.
    [Show full text]
  • In the Supreme Court of the United States ______
    No. 14-574 In the Supreme Court of the United States __________________ GREGORY BOURKE, et al., and TIMOTHY LOVE, et al., Petitioners v. STEVE BESHEAR, Governor of Kentucky Respondent __________________ BRIEF OF AMICI CURIAE 106 MEMBERS OF THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN SUPPORT OF RESPONDENT __________________ On Petition for a Writ of Certiorari To The United States Court of Appeals For the Sixth Circuit __________________ Col. Ronald D. Ray Richard L. Masters Post Office Box 1136 Masters, Mullins & Arrington Crestwood, KY 40014 1012 South Fourth Street (502) 241-5552 Louisville, KY 40203 Counsel of Record (502) 582-2900 Counsel for Amici Curiae WESTERFIELD-BONTE CO., 619 W. KENTUCKY-P.O. BOX 3251, LOUISVILLE, KY i TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF AUTHORITIES .........................................ii INTEREST OF AMICI .................................................1 SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT......................................2 ARGUMENT ................................................................5 1. The Commonwealth’s Sovereign Right to Define Marriage ..................................................................7 2. Kentucky’s Definition of Marriage Does Not Violate The Fourteenth Amendment to The United States Constitution ...............................................10 3. Kentucky Has Sufficient Legitimate State Interest in The Definition of Marriage to Satisfy Review Under the Fourteenth Amendment .....................13 4. The Tenth Amendment Guarantees States The Right to Make Rational Distinctions Concerning the Marriage
    [Show full text]
  • Bipartisan Pension Reform a Slam Dunk for Businesses
    MAY 2013 PRESIDENT’S COMMENTARY Bipartisan pension reform a slam dunk for businesses THE CLOSING of the 2013 Kentucky General Assembly at midnight March 26 was more remarkable than its warm, friendly opening the first week of January. Remember January? Governor Beshear invited legislators to the Mansion for dinner, making an important, if mostly symbolic, gesture, toward the new legislature. A few days later, legislative leaders and the Governor, speaking to more than 1,000 business By Dave Adkisson and political leaders at a Kentucky Chamber of Commerce event, declared a new atmosphere of bipartisanship and civility that would lead to real progress for the Commonwealth. Frankly, some people were skeptical about how long that campfire spirit of “Kum- baya” would last. After all, legislative sessions usually devolve into political gamesman- ship. Kentucky Chamber Kentucky In spite of major philosophical differences on some emotional issues and compet- ing political agendas, the bipartisan atmosphere in Frankfort, by and large, was sus- news tained and produced real, measurable results for the Commonwealth. Several significant bills passed; the most important one for the business commu- nity was finding a solution to the state's pension crisis. That was accomplished in the final hours, with strong leadership from Governor Beshear, Senate President Stivers and Speaker Greg Stumbo. The historic public pension reforms in SB 2 will provide full funding for the re- tirement system, revise retirement benefits for new employees starting next year and reduce overall costs – saving an estimated $10 billion in employer contributions over the next 20 years – approximately $5.4 billion in savings in the plan that serves state employees and a similar amount in the plan that serves local government employees (see page 10 for details).
    [Show full text]
  • NEWS DEC 09.P65
    A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION Kentucky Retired Teachers Association Serving Retired Teachers Since 1957 VOLUME XLIV, NUMBER 2 LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY DECEMBER 2009 Over the past two months, I have had the pleasure of useless. So my talk today is not billion to the Commonwealth in 2010. Averaged out traveling around the state meeting with over 1,500 of just about this year or next, but over the last three years, that equals 6,800 jobs at you at our KRTA Workshops. It has certainly been a busy about a thought process for the $40,000 each. But our legislators and governor’s office time, but I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting as many of rest of your lives. And I hope to seem to be more excited by a Toyota Plant or a you as I could and sharing my message about how be watching for the next thirty International Horse Show than the well being of our “United We Win.” Since not all of you were able to join years and keeping tab. own retired teachers. As retired teachers, we must us at the workshops, I wanted to share some of the text of unite to make our state government realize that they my speech with you in our newsletter this month. I used As you can see my theme for must place more importance on the needs of this an analogy in the speech about building and construction. the workshops is United We dedicated group of professionals. In my presentation, I had some images that my son, John Win. Now why did I choose this Cebert Gilbert C.
    [Show full text]
  • District Office Legislator SPC 1 State Representative Steven Rudy John
    District Office Legislator SPC 1 State Representative Steven Rudy John Davis 2 State Representative Richard Heath Linda Smith 3 State Representative Gerald Watkins Leslie Heath 4 State Representative Lynn Bechler Monti Collins 5 State Representative Kenny Imes Philip Moore 6 State Representative Will Coursey 7 State Representative Suzanne Miles Brenda Loyal 8 State Representative Walker Thomas 9 State Representative Myron Dossett Larry Gillette 10 State Representative Dean Schamore Nita Allen - Phillips 11 State Representative Robert Mills Stephanie Chrisman 12 State Representative Jim Gooch Tony Clark 13 State Representative DJ Johnson Jay Velotta 14 State Representative Matt Castlen Jay Velotta 15 State Representative Melinda Prunty 16 State Representative Jason Petrie 17 State Representative Jim DeCesare Chad McCoy 18 State Representative Tim Moore Lydia Drexler 19 State Representative Michael Lee Meredith Steve Cline 20 State Representative Jody Richards James Cook 21 State Representative Bart Rowland Robert Wyatt 22 State Representative Wilson Stone James Cook 23 State Representative Steve Riley 24 State Representative Brandon Reed Joseph Hayden 25 State Representative Jim DuPlessis Pam Featherstone 26 State Representative Russell Webber Nita Allen - Phillips 27 State Representative Jeff Greer Nita Allen - Phillips 28 State Representative Charlie Miller Guy Montgomery 29 State Representative Kevin Bratcher Phil Ammon 30 State Representative Thomas Burch John Weikel 31 State Representative Steven Riggs John Miranda 32 State Representative
    [Show full text]