Kentucky Club for Growth
fighting and winning for economic freedom

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February 17, 2007

Herald-Leader on board against HB 184

Editorial:

You should log onto your e-mail, pick up the phone, collar your representative in person, or even take pen in hand to protest this bill. It is a license for government by the few, in secret.

HB 184 is arcane, legalistic and procedural. But what it essentially says is that when a few powerful House and Senate members get together to hammer out the final details of the budget that, in addition to fiddling with appropriations, they can change anything that's been passed that session.

It goes even farther, because they've already been doing that. It says those changes will be permanent, not just for the period the budget is in effect, as is currently the case.

If this bill passes, most legislators, and all ordinary citizens, will be locked out of the process of making the laws that govern us.

What's done in the open, through committee hearings, debate and compromise, could be undone in secret. History and human nature tell us that that would lead to government for the privileged few with access and power.

Kentucky's history is unfortunately littered with examples that prove the point. The fallout is everywhere around us: poverty, ill health, limited economic opportunity, lagging educational achievement and a damaged environment. The bill's champions, most notably its sponsor, Rep. Harry Moberly, D-Richmond, say it's really a simple matter, a way of setting things straight because courts can't seem to understand this is the way laws are supposed to be made.

The Kentucky Constitution says revenue bills are not supposed to deal with anything but revenue (Sec. 47) and that a bill should deal with only the one subject described in the title (Sec. 51).

Congrats! Good job! 

 

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04/17/07 : 2007 Kentucky Club for Growth Scorecard

03/26/07 : House Bill 228 shields porkers from scrutiny

03/09/07 : Kentucky's senate votes to raise minimum wage

02/24/07 : HB 305: Wage controls

02/22/07 : KEY VOTE ALERT

01/07/07 : Key Vote: Budget Transparency

11/30/06 : A constitutional amendment to reduce lawmaker accountability?

Donor records might have similarities - Lexington Herald-Leader

Club for Growth launches in Oregon

The Kentucky Club for Growth is proud to announce its 2007 scorecard rating members of the Kentucky General Assembly on fiscal issues.

How did your legislators do?


Club for Growth eyes spending - by Patrick Crowley, The Enquirer

Political group taking on state - by Stephenie Steitzer, Kentucky Post

Projected state budget surplus is trimmed - by John Stamper, Lexington Herald-Leader

UK study: Tax breaks create fewer jobs than state claims - by John Stamper, Lexington Herald-Leader

Tax breaks don't create as many jobs as state claims, UK study finds - by John Stamper, Lexington Herald-Leader

Ky. minimum wage fight likely - editorial, The Enquirer

A brisk rise in American Wages - By Mark Trumbull, The Christian Science Monitor

Fletcher expects $278.9 million surplus - by Jack Brammer, Lexington Herald-Leader

Unemployment lowest in 5 years - By Jeannine Aversa, Associated Press

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The KY Club for Growth seeks principled candidates who are committed to the following:

* Free market principles
* Lowering taxes
* Reducing spending
* Decreasing the size of government
* Judicial reform
* Protecting property rights
* Expanding school choice
* Reducing needless regulation

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