Tagged: Kentucky General Assembly

Your online purchases could alleviate some of Kentucky's budget woes.

The federal legislation that allows states to collect sales taxes from more online retailers would benefit the Kentucky state budget, argues a policy group focused on economic policy.

If such legislation passed, Kentucky could gain $130 million to $200 million in revenue per year, the state's Blue Ribbon Tax Commission has estimated.

Kentucky's agriculture commissioner says a recent legislative setback shouldn't cause hemp supporters to give up hopes of getting the crop legalized. James Comer says he's not surprised that language legalizing industrial hemp wasn’t added to the first drafts of farm bills in the U.S. House and Senate.

Last week, a group of Kentucky U.S. Senators and House members tried--and failed--to get the provision included in the legislation.

Independent state house candidate John-Mark Hack released a 10-point platform aimed at making Kentucky's government more accountable and transparent.

Hack is running for the 56th House District seat covering Woodford County, including parts Frankfort and Lexington vacated by former state Rep. Carl Rollins, who resigned.

The three-way special election also features Republican Lyen Crews and Democrat James Kay, and is being closely watched due to the close party margins in the state House, where Democrats hold the majority by just a 5-seat margin.

The proposals unveiled by Hack's campaign on Friday include withholding the salaries of state lawmakers if they fail to pass a budget, creating a non-partisan commission to draw legislative district lines and eliminating annual sessions.

Hack says the proposals are about changing the political culture of "arrogance and self-interest" in Frankfort.

Check them out:

It appears likely that Governor Beshear will call a special session of the Kentucky General Assembly to redraw legislative districts for the House and Senate.   The governor says details are still being worked out.

"I’m talking with legislative leaders in the House and Senate right now," Beshear said.   "And I think everybody, if we can work it out, would probably like to do it in the fall and let everybody have the summer while kids are out of school and they have some vacation time, and then wait until we get in back in school before we have the special session."

The special election for the 56th House District—covering Woodford County and portions of Fayette and Franklin county—will likely be the only election this year.

This puts added pressure on both parties to come through with a victory, as Democrats try to maintain their majority and Republicans attempt to make in-roads in taking the House. Republican nominee Lyen Crews faces defeat Democrat James Kay on June 25

Right now, Democrats have a five seat majority over Republicans.