Fall is officially upon us, which means the end of the interim is quickly approaching. It is hard to believe that in less than 100 days, the General Assembly will convene at the Capitol for the 2020 Regular Session.
Advancing public policy is one of the cornerstones of the legislative branch. The General Assembly is utilizing this time away from Frankfort to reflect on current structures and better determine which issues should be focused on primarily here in the upcoming session. Several preliminary policy discussions are already underway for 2020, including new measures on education, public safety, economic development, and transportation.
One of my main interests has been school governance in Kentucky with the majority of the state budget being spent on education, it is important that we get this right. On November 20th at 1 p.m. the Education committee will hear testimony from myself and a variety of stakeholders with regard to this issue. I am also interested in the issue of raising the gasoline tax and would like to know your views on this matter. I feel as if there will be a proposal in this next legislative session to raise the gas tax to fund Kentucky road infrastructure.
Sen. Schickel
Legislators use this time to meet in groups made up of both Senate and House members called Interim Joint Committees (IJC). Similar to standing committees during the regular session, these meetings are held to introduce new initiatives and policy matters as well as to discuss how current legislation can be improved.
Throughout the interim months, committees are hearing from a wide range of constituents, organizational representatives, company officials, and fellow legislators in an effort to gain a deeper understanding of the diverse issues facing our Commonwealth.
A measure has also been introduced to reduce distracted driving. While Kentucky law already prohibits drivers from texting while in motion, this measure— Bill Request 166 (BR 166) — would ban drivers from using tablets, mobile phones, laptop computers, and other personal communication devices while operating a vehicle. BR 166 includes exceptions for voice-activated programs such as GPS navigation and Bluetooth features. I look forward to discussing this measure and would also like to know your thoughts on this issue and other pressing safety-related legislation.
Lastly, I would like to remind everyone that Kentucky is holding elections for statewide offices, including governor, on Tuesday, November 5. The right to cast votes for your democratically-elected officials is one of the great privileges of our society. Please visit Elect.Ky.Gov for information on how to register and where to vote. I strongly encourage everyone go to the ballot box on Election Day and let your voice be heard.
While the interim is slower paced, the General Assembly is gaining momentum for another productive budget session. Thank you for your continued support and for engaging in the legislative process. It is an honor to serve you in Frankfort.
If you have any questions or comments about these issues or any other public policy issue, I can be contacted by phone in Frankfort at 502-564-8100 ext. 617, or at home at 859-384-7506. You can also reach me on twitter @Senatorschickel, or on Facebook at State Senator John Schickel You can also review the Legislature’s work online at www.legislature.ky.gov
I think that increased gas taxes might be the fairest way of raising funds for Kentucky’s roads. I’m all in favor of electric vehicles but their owners should also contribute in some way. The Legislature should also keep the trucker’s in mind when adjusting taxes. We don’t want to encourage truckers to fuel up in Ohio then wait until they get to Tennessee to refuel again. We need to keep our neighboring states fuel taxes in mind before making an adjustment.