 Representative
Report |
|
By:
Representative Tim Feeley |
|
As we begin
the fourth week of the 2002 Kentucky General Assembly, two topics continue
to dominate the discussions in Frankfort; redistricting and the budget.
Redistricting, done each four years in response to census data, is always
a political battle. Yet this year, with a split of political power between
the Democratic controlled House and the Republican Senate, the maneuvering
and strategies have been more heated than normal. It is likely that court
intervention may finally decide state and federal representation boundaries.
I am more convinced than ever that a special session of the legislature
should have been called in late 2001 to deal with this issue.
The Governor released his
draft budget for the 2002 to 2004 biennium last week. It reflects tight
economic times. No new funds are anticipated for capital construction projects.
State and school district employees face lower raises than they have received
over the last eight years. The only potential source for new revenue during
the next two years would be from expanded gambling in the state. I expect
that topic to be debated in the next few weeks. I continue to work with
Senator Harris, the Governor’s budget staff and fellow legislators to seek
ways to reprogram funds to address Oldham County’s growing needs, especially
in the area of additional school facilities to serve our growing student
population.
While those two matters
dominate, I have continued to work on a variety of other legislative matters.
The House passed a telemarketing bill last week. It certainly will not
solve the irritation of unwanted telephone solicitations, but it is a step
in the right direction. I am working with Rep. Royce Adams (D, Grant County).
Rep. John Draud (R, Kenton County) and Governor Patton’s staff on bills
which would give greater local control over the location of cell towers
and merchant power plants.
I have co-sponsored a bill
which would grant status to an unborn child in the case of an accidental
or negligent death. Likewise, I am a primary co-sponsor of a bill to outlaw
the death penalty in Kentucky when a criminal defendant is under the age
of eighteen at the time he or she commits a crime.
I have been working with
several attorneys, law students and police officers to revamp Kentucky’s
inadequate elder abuse statutes, and expect to have a bill ready for filing
within the next week. Many of our sister states have upgraded their laws
in this area to respond to changes in our society as our population ages.
At the request of several
Oldham County residents, I have drafted a bill to modify vehicle titling
statutes concerning antique or historical automobiles. This bill will allow
collectors to purchase non-operative vehicles from out of state, and to
title them in Kentucky without having to declare them as “salvage” vehicles.
I have also been working
with Lieutenant Governor Steve Henry on a children’s health initiative
which will be introduced this week. This bill will address the growing
problems of childhood obesity, juvenile on-set diabetes, and worsening
oral health in many children. The bill calls for added physical activity
during school days and the elimination of junk foods in school cafeteria
and vending machines. Healthy food and beverage alternatives will be suggested,
and eventually required.
After a discussion with
Mayor Deibel, I recently filed House bill 334 to reclassify the City of
Crestwood from a sixth class city to a city of the fifth class to recognize
the growth within city limits.
I remain honored to represent
the 59th District, including all of Oldham County, in the Kentucky House
of Representatives. I invite you to contact me to discuss issues
or legislation of interest to you. You may leave a message for me
in Frankfort by calling the legislative toll-free message line, 1-800-372-7181,
and you can check the status of legislation this session by calling the
Bill Status Line toll-free at 1-888-829-0021. You can also reach
me or any other state legislator through the Legislative Research Commission’s
website at www.lrc.state.ky.us.
My home address is P.O. Box 64, Crestwood, Kentucky 40014.
|
