The Interim Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee heard from Natural Resouces Secretary James Bickford about the governor's proposal to require statewide mandatory garbage collection and allow counties to double the penalty currently placed on those who refuse to pay their garbage bills. According to Secretary Bickford,
there are an estimated 3,400 illegal dumps located throughout Kentucky.
The General Assembly is searching hard for a solution to this ongoing environmental
problem. The committee meeting provided the legislature with the first
real look at the governor's proposal and the first chance to question Secretary
Bickford, who would ultimately be responsible for making sure the plan
is enforced. I am hesitant to pass this unfunded mandate any financial
burden along to counties, especially with the state's economic experts
predicting rough times ahead. Many counties are
I also have reservations about how the proposal will effect the 80 percent of Kentuckians who have been properly disposing of their trash all along. As the law currently stands, each county is already required to provide citizens with access to an approved landfill. However, the biggest question I have is whether or not curbside pickup will actually stop illegal dumping and litter. Will doubling the penalty really discourage those who obviously aren't daunted by the penalty already imposed? Will that very small number of Kentuckians who illegally dump actually stop because of this program? We need to look for answers to these questions before enacting legislation whose cost may not justify its effect. Another issue the General Assembly must address this month is the estimated $300 million shortfall expected in the Medicaid programover the current two year budget cycle. Members of the Health and Welfare Committee heard testimony from Health Services Secretary James Helton. According to Secretary Helton, a large portion of the shortfall is caused by an increase in the number of Kentuckians eligible to participate in the program. Helton also added that the rising cost of prescription drugs has taken a larger chunk out of the budget than originally predicted. The administration's first response was to threaten a cut in the reimbursement rate paid to physicians, nursing homes and other health care providers. The existing rates already make it difficult for some in the medical field to keep their doors open to Medicaid patients. There is no doubt that this response would only harm the 580 thousand Kentuckians who receive Medicaid coverage and possibly prevent them from seeking medical treatment. However, we're still left with the task of bringing the program's budget out of the red. Several suggestions have already been floated to help ease the shortfall, including a reappearance of last year's bill to use 10 percent of the national tobacco settlement to stabilize the program's budget. Since the tobacco settlement has already been allocated for this year that measure may have to wait until next year's session when the budget it up for debate again. Another suggestion would require Medicaid recipients to make co-payments for doctor visits. This approach merits consideration. Most of us face co-pays for medical care, and their use may prevent unnecessary doctor office visits. The 2001 General Assembly
session reconvened in Frankfort on Tuesday, February 6. We will be in session
until March 23 when we adjourn this year's Regular Session. Please feel
free to write or call me with your opinion on these or any state issues.
My Frankfort office address is Room 413B, Capitol Annex, Frankfort, KY
40601 or I can be
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Representative Report
