SENATOR PHILLIP WHEELER’S LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

SENATOR PHILLIP WHEELER’S LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

The 60-day legislative session is moving right along here in Frankfort as the General Assembly begins to advance 2020 legislative priorities this week.

First, allow me to offer my congratulations to our newest member of the Republican Senate Majority, Senator-elect Mike Nemes, who was elected with an overwhelming majority in the 38th Senate District, which encompasses Bullitt County and part of Jefferson County. I look forward to welcoming him to our caucus.

A couple highlights of my week include a floor speech I gave on last Tuesday afternoon in support of our coal miners on the tracks in Kimper. I was happy to see this particular case result in a positive resolution; but as I stated on Tuesday, I will not rest until this problem is resolved. I am grateful to my colleges in the Senate Majority who have shown unity with me on this important cause. Miners who has provided a hard day’s work deserve their pay for that work. They should never have to stand on a track to demand the check they have already earned. I will continue to be diligent on this issue. I honored to be recently appointed as Vice-Chairman of the Natural Resources and Energy, and I assure you this issue will be a top priority for me in this role.

Another issue I will not rest on is to advocate and protect the most vulnerable among us. This includes the defenseless and the sick.

Last week, I proudly co-sponsored Senate Bill 9, the Born Alive Infant Protection Act. A bill that would require a baby be provided care upon their birth. There have been disturbing comments from officials in states like New York, California, and even as nearby as Virginia, that have argued that a baby that survives an abortion should not receive lifesaving medical care. Senate Bill 9 ensures that care is provided, and the bill is getting significant bi-partisan support.

I am continuing to work on my bills to address the outrageous cost of insulin. Senate Bill 23 has been referred to the Health & Welfare Committee and Senate Bill 69 has been referred to the Banking & insurance Committee. You can read those bills by visiting legislature.ky.gov.

On Tuesday, Kentuckians and legislators from both sides of the aisle listened to Governor Beshear propose policy goals and recommendations to the Kentucky General Assembly in his first State of the Commonwealth Address. The Governor also noted his legislative priorities for 2020, which included fully funding pension obligations, criminal justice reform, and plans to improve Kentucky public education, starting with a statewide teacher salary increase. As the legislature begins to prepare the biennial budget, Governor Beshear will also be delivering a budget address on January 28. Both of these addresses are customarily presented by the governor and serve as a beneficial element in our state’s separation of powers. We eagerly await to hear how the Governor plans to execute the ideas he has laid out.

Crafting a budget will not be an easy task. Demands placed on state government by our priorities, and other costs continue to outpace revenue growth. In the coming weeks, legislative branch staff and other resources will be utilized to help the General Assembly better determine a path forward for this year’s budgetary balancing act. Per the Kentucky Constitution, budget bills must start in the House. I will keep you informed as the Senate begins to deliberate budgetary matters in the coming weeks.

While the new administration formulates its agenda and presents it to the legislature, the majority leadership in the General Assembly is continuing to move forward with a legislative agenda supported by Kentucky voters. Committee meetings are now in full swing, as this past week legislators began discussing legislation. Like my bills, various pieces of legislation have been assigned to their respective committees. Some have received considerable traction and have even passed the State Senate.

Senate Bill 56 (SB 56) passed unanimously out of the Health & Welfare Committee on Wednesday during its first meeting of the 2020 Session. The committee heard student testimony as well as a presentation from the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. SB 56 ensures Kentucky complies with federal minimum legal age for the sale of tobacco products and eliminates purchase, use, and imposes possession penalties for youth up to age 21. This encourages our youth to lead healthier lives.

The State Senate passed Senate Bill 3 (SB 3) on Thursday. This a great bill that proposes a constitutional amendment to the voters of Kentucky. If adopted, the amendment would move Kentucky’s statewide elections to even number years, in unison with Presidential elections. This would save the state $3.5 million dollars and counties $13 million dollars. It’s a fiscally responsible measure that will both alleviate voter fatigue, and increase voter engagement in the election of our state Constitutional Officers. Senate Bill 11 (SB 11) also passed favorably on the Senate floor this week. SB 11 provides recourse for property owners to pursue criminal penalties for intentional damages done to residential rental property. It would classify intentional or wanton destruction, defacement, or damage to such property as criminal mischief under Kentucky Law.

SB 3 and SB 11 will now head over to the House for consideration.

As we head into the third week of the 2020 Regular Session, your input is greatly appreciated. Kentuckians have many avenues to follow the General Assembly throughout the session, including seeing legislative action in person here in Frankfort, or viewing online at KET.org/legislature.

If you have any questions or comments about these issues or any other public policy issue, please call me toll-free at 1-800-372-7181 or email me at Phillip.Wheeler@LRC.ky.gov.  Remember, you can review the Legislature’s work online at www.legislature.ky.gov

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Note: Senator Phillip Wheeler (R-Pikeville) represents Kentucky’s 31^st State Senate District, which includes Elliott, Lawrence, Martin, Morgan, and Pike Counties. Senator Wheeler serves as Chair of the Natural Resources and Energy committee, the co-chair of the Public Water and Wastewater System Infrastructure Task Force.  He also serves as a member of the Senate Standing Committees on Judiciary, and Appropriations & Revenue. Senator Wheeler is also a member of the Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government, Finance and Public Protection; the Program Review and Investigations Committee; the Government Contract Review Committee, and the 2020-2022 Budget Preparation and Submission Statutory Committee.