February 7, 2005

A Lesson for the New Guy

Governor Fletcher last Tuesday presented for us budget options: a modest budget; and a JOBS plan that would modernize our state's tax code. We are now working on the budget. I hope that we can agree on tax modernization, too, because we need JOBS. More JOBS means more working families and, yes, it means more tax revenue for schools, roads, and help for the weak and vulnerable.

We (the House) passed on Friday HB 132, which uses agriculture funds from the state's Phase I master tobacco settlement to make 2004 Phase II settlement trust payments to Kentucky's 163,000 tobacco farmers and quota holders.
In the Health & Welfare Committee we approved HB 56, which would place limits on junk food and sugary soft drinks in school vending machines and school cafeterias. The bill is intended to eliminate obesity in our children. I voted "no" for two reasons: first, I believe in local control that responds to local people. We have PTO, school boards and site-based councils and they are responsive. Second, local public school districts already comply with these principles and they didn't need the legislature to tell them to do it. I banned certain soft drinks from my home a long time ago; but it's my family and my home. You might be different.

If we want to get serious about childhood obesity, we ought to put physical education back in the schools. We now force schools to take precious time to "teach" character, drug/alcohol, ethics, and so on. I say, make those optional and bring back P.E. A child will learn more about character and ethics on the playing field than she will in the classroom. Douglas Macarthur said "On the fields of friendly strife are sown the seeds that, on other days, in other fields, will bear the fruits of victory." Amen to that!

Special Interests

A "special interest" is just a person or group that wants to get something changed, or keep it from being changed. I get a lot of messages from people who are for or against a certain bill or an idea. These individuals are really people with a special interest. And so there's really nothing wrong with special interests. (Keep calling, by the way. 1-800-372-7181. I appreciate that you call! And keep sending in those questionnaires; I'll publish the results in this column when it's time.)

I was introduced to the negative side of "special interests" last week. Following last November's election I visited with different local groups and office-holders to learn how I could help get things done for our district. Out of that came several bill proposals. Two of my bills brought down powerful forces to disagree with me and explain to me the error of my ways. Both bills are good ideas, since they save taxpayer money and increase citizen's safety. But the special interests knew that if my bills passed, it would cost them money.

The special interests called me at home and in my Frankfort office. They sent emails and faxes. They called friends of mine and asked them to call me. They visited my office. They were alternately friendly and threatening. It was kind of fun.

On one of the bills, I was wrong. It turns out that there already exists a 2004 statute that answers the concerns of the local office-holder; the statute just doesn't go into effect until January, 2006. This I discovered with the help of another House member, by the way, who had sponsored the 2004 legislation. Since my bill was now moot, I withdrew it.

But as to the other bill - I still believe that it is right and, although it will be tough to get it done, I will work for passage.