It looks like there is not going to be a special session for pensions as the House of Representatives does not seem inclined to take up the issue when the regular session is just around the corner.
Rest assured, this problem is going to be addressed. Governor Bevin and I, as well as my colleagues, are fully committed to solving this issue. I will continue to meet with all interested parties as we try to find a solution to this difficult situation.
As chair of the Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations Committee, I serve as the gatekeeper for almost all business issues which come through the Kentucky General Assembly. I am fortunate that my colleague, State Representative Adam Koenig, chairs the same committee in the House and we work well together.
We have made great strides in recent years, making our statutes and regulations more business-friendly. One of the best examples is our small-farm wine industry, craft breweries, and distilleries. However, much work remains to be done.
As well as being a budget session, the upcoming session will also approve the two-year road plan.
We have been very successful in recent years directing road money to Northern Kentucky. Currently, the almost $50 million project, including right of way and construction, on Mt. Zion Road is progressing well. The left-hand turn from U.S. 42 onto Hopeful Church Road is scheduled to be bid out this spring for construction and is almost a $3 million project. This will help alleviate congestion in one of Northern Kentucky’s busiest intersections.
Another priority for funding will be construction money for the middle section of Pleasant Valley Road. With right-of-way purchases almost complete, it is imperative that we receive construction money this session. My colleague in the House, State Representative Sal Santoro, is chairman of the Transportation Budget Review Subcommittee and is working hard on this issue. I want to thank him for his leadership.
It is imperative that we keep the Graves Road interchange moving forward, and we will be working hard to secure the design money this session. Also, the Richwood Road interchanges and Mt. Zion Road interchanges need to be a priorities as well as roads around the airport to accommodate all the growth of Amazon and other projects. We are blessed in Boone County to have a booming economy. I know my colleagues in the House who represent Boone County are working hard to make sure the state road plan keeps up with the growth.
The 2018 Legislative Session will commence on Tuesday, January 2, 2018.
Senator John Schickel (R-Union) represents the 11th District in Boone County. He serves as chairman of the Senate Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations Committee; as well as a member of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee; Judiciary Committee; Natural Resources and Energy Committee; and the Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary.
