Columns

FRANKFORT – We are now a quarter way through session.  Bills are flowing through the committee process and arriving on the Senate floor for consideration before the entire chamber.

Three bills won passage this week and will now head to the House of Representatives. Senate Bill 55 allows for interstate mutual aid agreements among first-responders and other emergency response personnel. That is to say, that if an emergency occurs near local or state borders, emergency personnel can respond regardless of their home base.

Hearing Governor Beshear’s budget address reminded legislators of the many challenges that lay ahead if we are to meet our obligations and still find ways to move Kentucky forward.

Even though our economy is slowly improving the reality is that we must bridge a $742 million shortfall for the next two years.  As in any budget year, the Kentucky General Assembly must now study the governor’s plan and make changes and edits.  This is a long process that will take weeks of analysis, discussion, committee meetings, and compromise.

 The year has just about passed and it is already time to look forward to 2012.