Report to the People
By: State Senator Ernie Harris

I wish for each of you a blessed holiday.  This is no ordinary Christmas season.  America is at war.  Brave men and women are standing in harms way to protect our freedoms.  Some have already made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.  They were heroes and we will be forever indebted to them for their contributions to the defense of democracy. 

Of course one of our most basic freedoms in America is to worship God.  Christmas is the time we remember the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.  This holiday season will be one in which the prayers of our unified nation will be for justice and peace on earth.

Another guiding principle of our democratic republic is a government that is “of the people, for the people and by the people.”  In Kentucky, we in the General Assembly are preparing to meet for our Regular Session of the Legislature next month in Frankfort.  The people’s business we will take up will cover hundreds of issues and will have an impact, either directly or indirectly, on you.

The major items we will confront include devising a budget strategy to deal with revenues that are much lower than predictions.  Kentucky’s budget deficit is more than $700 million dollars.  While that sounds ominous, as a fiscally responsible Senator, our current budget shortfall offers opportunity.  Myself and others in the Kentucky State Senate will work hard to set priorities and ensure your tax dollars are spent wisely.

I share your commonsense values and problem solving approaches.  We must have more accountability in government.  No longer can money be doled out without any controls, restraints or accountability.  As your State Senator, I will work to continually improve government’s accountability to you.

We are also moving forward to take action against fraudulent and annoying Telemarketers.  Because the majority of calls come into Kentucky, from other states in which we have no control, this is clearly an interstate commerce issue.  I do not want our people being tricked into believing the problem is fixed by a feel good law.  The Federal Trade Commission, at the request of the Senate Majority, has agreed to formulate a national no call list.  Since telemarketing is an interstate commerce issue, the national no-call list can be enforced and it will stop unwanted calls.

Our government is by the people, for the people and of the people.  We have a constitutional duty to engage in redistricting in Kentucky as soon as possible.  Currently, around 75% of Kentuckians are living in unconstitutional legislative districts.  The districts either have too many or not enough people to meet constitutional requirements.  I think your right to fair representation, one person one vote,  is more important than political gerrymandering.

There are many challenges, on many different fronts, this holiday season.  In 2002, we will face these challenges, remove obstacles and make this great Commonwealth and our great country even stronger.