Senator Damon Thayer has worked very hard for the people in Kenton, Scott, Grant and Owen counties. Throughout the legislative session and year, he often writes reviews and updates regarding his efforts to improve the lives of all Kentuckians. It's his way of keeping his constituents involved with the important issues that affect individuals, businesses and organizations.
In addition, Senator Thayer is a prominent member of the Senate, and is sought by media for comments on a variety of major issues.
In this section, we will include Senator Thayer's most recent news, reviews, updates and press releases as well as links to articles by various newspapers and publications throughout the state. Please visit often as this section will be updated frequently.
For Archived News, click here.
Top News 2012
Senator Thayer’s Frankfort Report
FRANKFORT — This week the Senate focused on an array of issues ranging from the safety of slow-moving vehicles to the elimination of the office of State Treasurer.
As a member of the Transportation Committee, I voted to pass Senate Bill 75, which addresses safety options for religious groups that operate horse-drawn buggies. Kentucky has faced recent incidents of buggy-related accidents on roadways. This measure allows for one-inch reflective tape to be placed on buggies, versus the previous mandate of reflective triangles. This proposal is in compliance with their religious practices, where prior laws were rejected by Amish communities. This is a win-win for all parties involved. Kentucky will no longer clog up the justice system with people who are simply following certain religious beliefs, while this new solution provides better safety than the current triangle, especially for nighttime travels.
On Wednesday, the State and Local Government Committee approved Senate Bill 51, which proposes a constitutional amendment allowing voters to decide if the Office of the Treasurer should be abolished. As chairman of this committee and sponsor of SB 51, I think it is time to put this issue on the ballot and let voters decide if this office is needed. The General Assembly needs to identify cost-savings within state government, especially in areas like this office where duplication of duties exist and can be folded into the Finance Cabinet. I sponsored a similar bill in 2008 and look forward to further discussion on the matter.
This week, Senate Bill 62 was up for discussion in State and Local Government Committee. As the sponsor of this bill, I am looking forward to further dialogue on the issue of planning commissions. We heard several testimonies from constituents of my district relating to the dissolution of an area planning commission. SB 62 would require changing the petition signature threshold from 25% of the number of registered voters who voted in the last presidential election to 10% of the number of voters who voted in the last regular election, a more reasonable figure for petitioners. I will continue to keep you updated on this issue and look forward to report its progress in the upcoming weeks.
Meanwhile, Senate and House members remain at a stalemate on talks on congressional redistricting and so far, no meetings have been scheduled to pursue any negotiations. There appears to be lack of interest to work on this issue from the House. Legislators have been appointed to the conference committee to resolve the differences between the House and Senate’s proposals, and as a member of the committee, I am working hard to finalize a map that follows the constitution and which best serves voters of the Commonwealth. Measures to extend the January 31 filing deadline for the congressional races are currently being addressed.
As we near the end of another week of the session, I look forward to hearing from you. I would urge you to contact me by calling the Legislative Message Line at 1-800-372-7181 or by emailing me at damon.thayer@lrc.ky.gov.
Sen. Thayer comments on Redistricting
FRANKFORT — It is the General Assembly’s Constitutional duty every 10 years to realign our voting districts according to population after each census. This act fulfills the requirement of the principal and law of “one person, one vote.” In this the third week of session, that is what the Senate and House did with House Bill 1. According to tradition, the Senate draws its lines while the House of Representatives decides on theirs. My district now consists of Grant, Scott, and part of Kenton counties.
As chairman of the State and Local Government Committee, I have worked extensively over these past months with my fellow members to draw districts that follow our Constitution. The final congressional district lines are still being discussed between the chambers. Since the House has adjourned, there will be no agreement today. The Senate was prepared to continue working and is under no self-imposed constraints to pass a bill simply to pass one; the congressional filing deadline can be extended to assure citizens’ right to participate in the process.
Our position has always been that the current congressional districts should be changed minimally to constitutionally conform to population shifts so that most Kentuckians will be able to benefit from the same representation and maintain electoral accountability. Any attempt on either side to gain new political advantage from the congressional redistricting process would be futile. It is our hope is to complete the process soon so that we can move on to other issues, such as jobs, education, and health care, that matter to all Kentuckians.
On Tuesday, Governor Steve Beshear gave his Budget Address outlining his priorities for Kentucky’s budget. As I have been warning, we have close to a billion dollar shortfall; $742 million to be exact, over the biennium. I was glad to see that the Governor took a more realistic approach to the budget. He also proposed cutting certain agencies by 8.4%. However, the Governor then proposed about $800 million of additional spending. This approach will never be reviewed and considered by the General Assembly.
The House of Representatives has assigned the budget proposal to its budget subcommittees. When they have finished putting their mark on the document and the House passes the bill, the Senate will then have its turn at reviewing and revising the proposal. I will keep you updated on that process.
We are in a 60-day legislative session so there is still plenty of time to let me know what topics interest you. The heavy workload of social workers and how to curb meth abuse were just two of the topics that committees focused on this week. These and other discussions and debates will continue in the weeks ahead.
I can be reached through the Legislative Research Commission’s toll-free message line at 1-800-372-7181 or at Damon.Thayer@lrc.ky.gov. You can also check the committee schedule and learn more about what the committees are doing at www.lrc.ky.gov.
Senator Thayer Recaps Day 1 of 2012 Session
FRANKFORT – The 2012 Session of the Kentucky General Assembly began this week on January 3, 2012 at noon. This day marked the beginning of a 60-day session to develop the two-year budget for the state.
Kentucky legislators will be faced with many fiscal challenges in the upcoming months. The tight budget situation has not been overstated, and only through responsible and practical measures will we be able to craft an appropriate bi-annual budget. The fact that Kentucky is facing a projected $500 million shortfall over the biennium is one of the many problems we are faced to resolve. This total does not include a Medicaid request for $200 million, school funding for $120 million, as well as requests for the public pension system, health insurance for state employees, and the corrections system.
The public employee pension system has a $25 billion unfunded liability. The Senate has offered multiple plans in the past and will continue to advocate moving future state employees to a 401k-style plan commonly found in the private sector. This proposal would not include teachers or current employees. If this unfunded liability is left unaddressed, it will put an incredible strain on public services. This transition would be a responsible solution because it would not only protect current employees but also protect taxpayers.
In addition to the budget, the “Road Plan” for the next two years will understandably consume a considerable amount of time this winter for the Kentucky General Assembly. The new Medicaid Managed Care Plan is off to a predictably shaky start and is sure to demand precious hours out of the legislative calendar.
While the road plan, funding unemployment insurance, the budget, redistricting, and Medicaid Managed Care are among the central issues, we obviously have a mass of other public policy initiatives that will occupy our time as well. Sudafed as a prescription drug, state debt ceiling, tax reform, pro-life legislation, and improving college readiness are just a few other topics that will surely surface.
Furthermore, the Senate awaits a proposal from the Governor on expanded gambling, an issue that he says he will push.
With the first day of session complete, I look forward to your feedback in the upcoming weeks. Please feel free to leave messages toll-free by dialing 1-800-372-7181 or TTY 1-800-896-0305. You can also find us on the World Wide Web at www.lrc.state.ky.us.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you, and I wish all of you a very happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year.
###
Senator Damon Thayer (R-Georgetown) represents the 17th Senate District which includes southern Kenton County, and all of Grant, Owen and Scott Counties. He is the Chairman of the Senate State and Local Government Committee and serves on the Agriculture Committee, the Licensing, Occupations & Administrative Regulations Committee, and the Transportation Committee. For a high-resolution JPEG file of Senator Thayer, please log on to www.lrc.state.ky.us/pubinfo/ephoto.htm.
