As we close in on the final week of the 2016 Regular Session of the Kentucky General Assembly, the Legislature is working day and night to finish conducting the people’s business, which includes passing a timely and fiscally responsible budget.
One bill that passed the House this week on a bipartisan basis is the so called “DUI lookback” bill. SB 56, which is now headed to the Governor’s desk, expands the look-back window for prior drunk driving offenses from 5 years to 10 years, for sentencing purposes. This bill would put into place additional deterrents to prevent those who drive recklessly from harming our children and families – a principle that rises above partisan politics.
Sal Santoro
While the executive branch and judicial branch budget passed the House last week, this week a road plan made it through the chamber. HB 305, and House Joint Resolution 91—which includes projects for the last four “out” years of the state’s 2016-2022 six year highway plan. The project funding, found in the House’s proposed Transportation Cabinet budget, or HB 304, would only be appropriated for road and bridge projects marked for funding between fiscal years 2016 and 2018. Those projects, which total $4.8 billion in projects across the Commonwealth, are all tucked into HB 305.
Following House passage of the state’s operating budget of the next two years, the Senate passed their own budget this past week, which strongly concurs in many ways with Governor Bevin’s proposed budget. While there are some differences, their budget commits to the conservative principles of fiscal responsibility, long-term budgeting, and protecting the most vulnerable among us while cutting waste, fraud, and abuse in government. Since there are such serious disagreements among the House and Senate, leadership of both bodies are meeting daily in Conference Committee, in order to hammer out a compromise budget to send on to the Governor. I would like to personally thank my colleagues in the Legislature, and the many staffers on both sides who are putting in long hours to get a final budget sent to the Governor.
The remaining legislative days, which includes time to override any potential vetoes from Governor Bevin, will be spent working on required legislation, like the budget, and passing other bills that lawmakers want signed into law. At the conclusion of the concurrence and veto days, this year’s legislative session will come to a close.
As always, I welcome your comments and concerns on any issues facing our Commonwealth during the 2016 Regular Session. I can be reached through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181, or you can contact me via email at sal.santoro@lrc.ky.gov. You can keep track of committee meetings and potential legislation through the Kentucky Legislature Home Page at www.lrc.ky.gov.
Sal Santoro is a state representative from Boone County, serving District 60.
