Task Force Recommendations Accepted - Corrections

The Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary accepted recommendations to change the penal code and drug law. This is a very important issue that the General Assembly has been working on for two years. It is likely that this will be one of the major issues to come out of the 2011 session. The LRC press release is below:

For Immediate Release

January 19, 2011

Committee accepts recommended changes to penal code and drug law

FRANKFORT – A state legislative committee today moved a step closer to reducing the state's $500 million annual correctional system costs by accepting task-force recommended changes to Kentucky's prison system.

Recommendations that would strengthen the state's probation and parole system, improve how drug users are handled by the courts, give more support to crime victims and improve government performance in public safety and corrections spending were explained by officials from the Pew Center on the States before they were accepted today by the Judiciary Committee. The Center worked with the state Task Force on the Penal Code and Controlled Substances Act to craft the several pages of recommendations, which will be used to draft legislation overhauling criminal penalties and drug laws for consideration during the 2011 Regular Session.

Committee Co-Chairman Rep. John Tilley, D-Hopkinsville, said legislation including the recommendations will be filed the first week of the second part of the session, which begins Feb. 1.

Some of the recommendations shared by the Pew Center's Richard Jerome  include codifying existing risk and needs assessment tools used on inmates by the prison system, allowing certain inmates to serve the last nine months of their prison sentence on release with mandatory supervision, allowing GPS to be used for pretrial, probation and post-incarceration, earned credits for parolees and those on probation, creating a "presumed sentence" such as probation and treatment for simple drug possession.

"Dealing with users (who have not engaged in) other criminal activity, there are often better ways than incarceration," Jerome said.

Other key recommendations would create a tracking system for victim restitution payment, and require fiscal statements on corrections spending to include the source of money that is spent.

Lawmakers began considering changes to the state's Corrections system in recent years after national studies showed Kentucky had the fastest growing prison population nationally through 2007. Pew Center officials said Kentucky's prison population rose 45 percent over the past decade—compared to a 13 percent increase nationally—although the state's population has dipped slightly in recent years.

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Why Are Gas Prices Rising?

Good post from API on Gas Prices...

Why Are Gas Prices Rising?: "No matter where you live, the cost of filling up your car with gasoline has increased in recent months, which has some consumers asking: 'What's causing this spike in gas prices?'
A number of factors help dictate the price of gasoline, but the cost of crude oil on the global marketplace is the main component, and crude oil prices have been steadily rising. With current economic conditions improving worldwide, global demand for oil is rising, leading to the higher prices we're seeing today.

Gasoline prices are also affected by other factors, including weather events, inventories, refining and distribution costs, marketing and taxes. For example, every time U.S. motorists pull up to the pump, they pay an average of 48 cents in state and federal taxes per gallon of gasoline.
One way to address the issue of higher prices is with more supply. Increased production of America's oil can put downward pressure on crude oil prices and therefore, the cost of producing gasoline. Yet despite this, project delays, drilling moratoria and lease sale changes have created an environment of uncertainty for U.S. companies, impeding our ability to produce U.S. oil and natural gas resources.
As our economy recovers from the recession, policies that support domestic oil and natural gas development will help ensure we have the safe, reliable and affordable energy, jobs, and revenue our nation needs now and in the future."

2011 KY GA Leadership Elections

The General Assembly has completed its elections for Legislative Leadership. Here are the 2011-2012 leaders, changes are highlighted in yellow:

House Democrats
Speaker of the House Greg Stumbo
Speaker Pro-Tem Larry Clark (Defeated challenger Jody Richards)
Majority Floor Leader Rocky Adkins
Majority Whip Tommy Thompson (Defeated current Whip, John Will Stacy)
Majority Caucus Chairman Bob Damron

House Republicans
Minority Floor Leader Jeff Hoover
Minority Whip Danny Ford (Defeated Brad Montell after current Whip, David Floyd dropped out)
Minority Caucus Chairman Bob DeWeese (Defeated challenger Jim Decesare)

Senate Republicans
President of the Senate David Williams
President Pro-Tem Katie Stine
Majority Floor Leader Robert Stivers
Majority Whip Carroll Gibson
Majority Caucus Chairman Dan Seum

Senate Democrats
Minority Floor Leader RJ Palmer (Newly elected to replace retiring Sen. Ed Worley as Leader)
Minority Whip Jerry Rhodes (Fended off a challenge from Joey Pendleton)
Minority Caucus Chairman Johnny Ray Turner

We will have more details once available on Committee Chairs and Committee assignments.

Challengers emerge against state House leaders of both parties

As we discussed in our last blog post, it looks like there will be some leadership races in the House...From CN2 Challengers emerge against state House leaders of both parties

Roundup

Its been awhile since we sent out something on general political news, but with the end of the year approaching and a lot of items percolating around now seemed like a good time, so here goes... 

2011 Session - Priority Issues for Governor Beshear and Legislative Caucuses

With the 2011 Session around the corner the Governor and Legislative Leaders have been announcing their policy platforms for the upcoming session. With everything from a sportsman's bill of rights to immigration reform on the minds of policymakers, the real question remains....What will they accomplish?

Beshear wants limited agenda for legislative session does a good job of laying out the top priorities for Governor Beshear...Medicaid budget corrections and raising the dropout age.

President Williams and the Senate Republicans announced their agenda last week and it includes a Commission on Tax reform, providing for Charter schools, reforming pensions, and several others...Download Here

House Democrats are caucusing in Frankfort this week though no formal announcement of their platform has been made, however the Chamber heard House Speaker Stumbo's legislative priorities at a meeting earlier this week.

House Republicans - Announced their 2011 platform prior to the November elections back in September. Ky. House GOP unveils accountability agenda

Senate Democrats caucused earlier this week, though no platform has been announced yet this was up on their website: Democrats moved Kentucky forward, renewing our commitment to improving education, safeguarding our youth, promoting energy independence, creating and keeping jobs and protecting Kentucky’s small businesses through tax relief and improved health care.

General Assembly Organization - Leadership Races, Committee Assignments, and New Chairs

The 2011 General Assembly session will begin in January with the ever-important Organizational Session where the legislature will elect leaders, appoint Committee Chairs, and assign members to committees. Although most of this will not be official until the first week in January some of the Caucuses have made a few announcements.

Senate Republicans - These articles lay out several announcements related to their 2011 organization:

GOP caucus again elects David Williams to head state Senate

David Williams places all 4 freshman GOP senators on budget committee

NKY gains clout in state Senate

House Democrats - Won't finalize their organization until the first week of the session, but their may be some contested leadership races Former House Speaker Jody Richards reportedly to challenge Larry Clark.

Senate Democrats - With the retirement of Sen. Ed Worley, the Senate Democrats must elect a new Senate Minority Leader..R.J. Palmer seeking Democratic Senate leader post, Julian Carroll might too

Meet the Freshman
The 2010 Elections have produced some new faces that will arrive in Frankfort in January. Here are a few resources to help you get to know them better:
LRC Freshman List with Pics
CN2 - Focus on Freshmen and CN2 - Freshman State Senators
House GOP - Videos w/ Freshmen

November Revenue
Sort of interesting that nearly no one in the mainstream media reported that the state revenue report was released last week and the news was good. General Fund and Road Fund revenues were both up in November making it five months straight of revenue growth. The three main takeaways are:
1. These increased revenues were budgeted for, meaning that there really isn't any surplus, revenues are only slightly ahead of budget.
2. In order to meet the General Fund budgeted revenue projections, revenues have to increase 3.7% more by July 2011.
3. There is almost no way the Road Fund will not beat the budgeted revenue estimate, it only has to grow 0.4% more in the next 7 months.
Download Full Report

Secretary Jackson Stepping Down-Longmeyer Named Replacement

Gov. Steve Beshear today announced that Nikki Jackson, secretary of the Kentucky Personnel Cabinet, has submitted her resignation to accept the position of vice chancellor for human resources with Maricopa Community Colleges in Tempe, Ariz. Jackson’s last day with the Cabinet is Jan. 7, 2011. Gov. Beshear has named Tim Longmeyer as the new Personnel Cabinet Secretary. He has served as deputy secretary of the Cabinet since January 2008. Press Release

Kentucky's U.S. Senators, New Louisville and Lexington Mayors Announce Staff Appointments

Senate aide Josh Holmes named McConnell’s next chief of staff:

U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell has named Josh Holmes, who heads the Senate Republicans’ communications center, as his next chief of staff in his his Washington, D.C., office. Holmes will take over for Billy Piper, who is leaving at the end of the month to join a Washington lobbying firm after serving as McConnell’s top aide since 2002.

Sen.-elect Paul announces staff appointments: U.S. Sen.-elect Rand Paul, R-Bowling Green, announced several appointments Tuesday to his official staff.

Fischer begins shaping administration with 8 appointments: "Louisville Mayor-elect Greg Fischer gave a glimpse into his new administration Friday, naming a diverse group of people to eight key positions."

Mayor-elect Gray names transition team: "Lexington Mayor-elect Jim Gray announced Tuesday the process he will use for his transition into office, and he named leaders of a team that will help make it happen."

With the new year approaching we will be posting more...stay tuned.