Journal-Times (Grayson, KY) Columns

Questioning proposed budget cuts

2012-01-26T10:29:48-05:00

Where do we draw the line?

2011-04-27T09:24:31-04:00

A question from the audience Monday at a Commerce Lexington luncheon illustrates the philosophical conflict for some of today’s conservative right and even for the public at large.

Bi-partisanship the key to penal code reform

2011-03-09T10:34:33-05:00

Much has been made of the bi-partisan process which produced the General Assembly’s major reform of the state’s penal code.

Senate week in review: Medicaid

2011-03-09T10:30:59-05:00

This week, we saw some very good legislation and, unfortunately, some very poor legislation moving through the legislative process. Legislation I strongly opposed dealt with a proposed measure to balance the Medicaid budget. Medicaid needs to be fixed – no doubt about that -- but it needs to be fixed with Medicaid money and not by sacrificing education as well as other state programs and jobs.

Landmark legislation revamps corrections

2011-03-09T10:27:27-05:00

With little time remaining in the 2011 Regular Session, legislators used their time to amend and act on legislation.

Legislative week in review

2011-03-02T08:52:52-05:00

There was more than one “somewhat unusual coalition” on display last week in Frankfort. That was the description used by Tom Fitzgerald of the Kentucky Resource Council which advocates on environmental issues and usually represents “the little guy.”

Legislative action picks up speed in General Assembly

2011-03-02T08:50:20-05:00

With only eleven legislative days remaining in this year’s session, our time was used to act on numerous pieces of legislation this week in order to have enough time for the Senate to consider and approve these bills prior to the ten-day veto period.

Senate week in review

2011-03-02T08:47:14-05:00

Each week brings new challenges in the Kentucky State Senate and this week was no different. The 30-day "short session" we hold in odd years may not seem like enough time to discuss and approve laws that could change the lives of ordinary Kentuckians, but we have managed to pass important bills.

Senate week in review

2011-02-23T08:27:21-05:00

There was an alarming budget development in Florida that would have a huge impact on the illegal prescription drug use in Kentucky. Republican Governor Rick Scott has announced his decision to cut the $500,000 budget item for the state’s electronic prescription monitoring system, the equivalent of our KASPER tracking system.

Jailer explains finances and “Bad Cats”

2011-02-16T08:49:57-05:00

During the fiscal court meeting on Tuesday there was much talk concerning county, state, and federal inmates at the Carter County Detention Center. I do understand on the surface that people may have concerns over federal inmates.