Today in Frankfort - February 17, 2011
HB 421 - State Jurisdiction Over State Commerce
House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment
A good piece of legislation that asserts that the EPA and other federal agencies have no jurisdiction over coal that is mined and consumed in Kentucky. POTENTIAL KEY VOTE
HB 433 - Paperwork for Tire Sales Working Group
House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment
This silly bill creates a working group to develop paperwork to require of tire sales. The ambition is to improve proper disposal of tires in Kentucky. The only impact will be the waste of paper products.
HCR 37 - The EPA and SD1
House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment
The resolution instructs the EPA to consider affordability when ruling on sewer control operations. A good sentiment if a fool's errand.
HB 462 - Tax Breaks for Large Existing Businesses
House Committee on Economic Development
Another $7 million admission that Kentucky's tax code is not adequate. Provides the state the ability to extend tax credits to businesses making $2.5 million investments in technology that employ at least 200. Instead of carving out so many exemptions from the tax code, just reform the code already.
HB 195 - Abolishing an Inactive State Agency
House Committee on Economic Development
Rep. Adam Koenig attempted this last year, and it never received a vote in the House. How hard can it be to abolish an inactive state agency? POTENTIAL KEY VOTE.
HB 353 - Large Animal Release
House Committee on Tourism Development and Energy
Not really an issue of economic freedom, but the legislation prohibits " the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources or any other state agency from releasing a species that in adulthood may weigh more than five hundred (500) pounds without the approval of the legislative body for the county into which the species is to be released."
"Dear Magistrate. I am writing to inform you that we are releasing a large bear into your county. Please do not take it personally. Sincerely, DFWR."
KEY VOTE HB 455 - Electric Rate Hike
House Committee on Tourism Development and Energy
As we wrote Tuesday:
HB 455 directs the Public Utilities Commission to consider an "power supply contract to be reasonable and prudent" if the utility purchases power derived from biomass and it "shall not increase more than three percent (3%) in any subsequent year" for the live of a 20-year contract.
The legislation allows the original cost of the purchased power to be 44% higher than current electric rates and then increase 3% a year and to pass that cost directly to the consumer.
HB 208 - Drug Screening for Recipients of Public Assistance
House Committee on Health and Welfare
Legislation requires recipients of public assistance - welfare, food stamps, Medicaid - to submit to random drug testing and remain drug free. POTENTIAL KEY VOTE
HB 217 - Licensing "Diabetes Educators"
House Committee on Health and Welfare
Creates a new board of licencure so that individuals may pay a fee and submit to regulations in order to call themselves a "licensed diabetes educator". Because our health care system needs another regulatory agency. POTENTIAL KEY VOTE.
HB 305 - Medicaid Bandaid
Senate Committee on Appropriations and Revenue
Attempts to plug a $350 million hole in the Medicaid budget this year by borrowing it from the next year. Will likely lead to a budget hole next year, as a year-on-year $625 million increase is now budgeted to be a $125 million decrease in spending next year. We'll see. POTENTIAL KEY VOTE.
