Five Things to Know Today
The Beshear budget address
The basics
Gov. Andy Beshear delivered his first budget address last night, proposing a budget that “ends 14 years of cuts.” Here are the basics of that budget. (Forward Kentucky)
The reactions
Via Twitter and other channels, here are some of the reactions to Governor Beshear’s budget address. (Forward Kentucky)
KY Republicans unveil bill to help people move from public assistance to paying jobs
HB1 would allow the state to pay health insurance premiums for low-income workers, and could eventually apply work requirements to Medicaid recipients. (Forward Kentucky)
Mitch McConnell doesn’t have votes to block John Bolton testimony, reports say
Donald Trump’s alleged participation in a quid pro quo with Ukraine is at the center of the impeachment trial that began this month in the Senate. Revelations leaked from John Bolton’s new book are intensifying calls for witnesses to appear. (Courier-Journal)
Transgender Kentuckian seeks House seat amid a flurry of anti-trans bills
Ramona Thomas is looking to be Kentucky’s first transgender legislator even as the General Assembly is poised to debate a series of anti-trans bills. (Courier-Journal)
Poll: 75% of Ky. adults support tax on e-cigarettes
The latest Kentucky Health Issues Poll shows three out of four Kentucky adults support taxing electronic cigarettes, which is the only tobacco product in the state that isn’t already taxed. The poll, taken Oct. 16 to Dec. 6, found support for a tax on e-cigarettes, at a similar rate as a pack of cigarettes, was virtually the same among Democrats (78%) as among Republicans (76%), with independents (72%) close behind. (Richmond Register)
KYGA20 Run-Down
The bills, they are a’movering. Rather than pull any of these stories into the “five things to know” section, we’re simply listing some of the stories in the media. Note that some of these may never even be heard in committee, while others may wind up on a fast track for passage.
Youth mental health bill clears House hurdle – Legislation that would allow older homeless teenagers to receive outpatient mental health care without parental consent has passed the Kentucky House. House Bill 213, sponsored by House Minority Leader Joni L. Jenkins, D-Shively, and House Speaker Pro Tempore David Meade, R-Stanford, would allow homeless youth ages 16 to 18 who are defined as “unaccompanied youth” under federal law to receive outpatient mental health counseling from a qualified provider at the child’s request. (Falmouth Outlook)
Senator wants to ban pharmacy middlemen from Kentucky Medicaid program – State Sen. Max Wise’s proposal has alarmed those who operate a network of community health clinics and other facilities across Kentucky. (Courier-Journal)
KY House passes bill to hurry construction of veterans’ nursing home – A bill that would speed up plans to bring a fifth veterans’ nursing facility to Kentucky moved closer to becoming law after its passage in the state House on Monday. House Bill 24 sponsor Rep. Michael Meredith (R-Oakland) said his bill would appropriate $2.5 million in state moneys needed to complete design and pre-construction work that will expedite construction of the 90-bed facility by as much as six years. The facility will be located in Bowling Green on several acres of donated land. (Lane Report)
Kentucky bill requires care for infants surviving abortion – A bill that would require doctors and other health workers to provide life-sustaining care for an infant born alive after a failed abortion attempt was approved by the Kentucky Senate on Monday. The measure sailed through the Senate on a 32-0 vote and heads to the House next. It’s the latest in a series of abortion-related bills to surface in the Republican-dominated legislature in recent years. (Glasgow Daily Times)
Bill advances to let KY school boards skip charter school training – A bill received initial approval Tuesday that would allow local school boards to delay charter school training until they received an application from a group wanting to open a charter school. (Herald-Leader)
Kentucky bill would ban the use of phones while driving. Here’s what to know – State Rep. James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, introduced House Bill 255 or the “Phone-Down Kentucky Act.” (Courier-Journal)
Reminder
Not all stories on Forward Kentucky make it to the top “Five Things” section of the Forward Five! Many stories only show up in the yellow section below, which is a running list of pretty much everything published. So, be sure to scan the lower section each day as well, so you don’t miss anything.
A word from publisher Bruce Maples
Members and friends – We are in the second week of a three-week membership campaign. As you already know, almost all of our budget comes from our paying members. And because of our paying members, we have gone from a startup funded primarily out of my pocket to an ongoing and almost-breaking-even media outlet.
If you are already a paying member, thank you! And if you are not, please consider becoming one. The Basic Monthly membership is $3 a month, or less than one large coffee from Starbucks. Your support will help us do more, cover more, and reach more.
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Did you miss any of these?
Featured Content on Forward Kentucky
([new] indicates new since last Forward Five; 🔥 indicates lots of reads)
News
[new] Bills go after transgender young people … and their doctors – Multiple bills have been introduced in this year’s General Assembly that target transgender young people, their doctors, and their parents. (read)
🔥 [new] ‘Bye, Mitch’ — Democrats vying to unseat McConnell jab him on impeachment – Four of the ten Dems running to face Mitch McConnell spoke at a forum on Saturday morning, their message was simple: it is time to say “Bye Mitch.” (read)
🔥 First abortion bill of session clears committee; 2 more in hopper – The first KYGA20 abortion bill cleared committee, with two more fills already filed. Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood can now apply for a license. (read)
Senate president Stivers sees ‘a narrow path’ for medical marijuana – Senate president Robert Stivers, long a legislative opponent of legalizing medical marijuana, said Friday that there is a “narrow path forward” for it. (read)
Policy
[new] Repubs don’t want you to vote. Here’s 7 ways they try to stop you. – Republicans don’t like voting, especially for certain groups. Are YOU one of the ones they want to stop? Here are 7 tactics to watch for. (read)
Commentary
KEA president issues statement on scholarship tax credit bill – For the third time, a scholarship tax credit bill has been filed in the Kentucky legislature. Senate Bill 110 was filed on Friday by Senator Ralph Alvarado. The president of the Kentucky Education Association, Eddie Campbell, issued this statement about the bill and about scholarship tax credits in general. (read)
Lawmakers need to ban discredited ‘conversion therapy’ for children – Two members of the legislature filed bills banning conversion therapy, which is used to try to change sexual orientation or gender identity of minors. (read)
Media
[podcast] Sports gambling bill & school safety bills, Linda Story Edwards interview – Linda Story Edwards, a Democratic Candidate in House District 6, joined Robert and Jazmin this week. Before that, they analyzed bills: the Sports Betting bill, the School Safety bill, and SB 3, a constitutional amendment which would move the election of constitutional officers to Presidential years. (listen)
Posts with Most Social Media Shares in Past Fourteen Days
(🔥 indicates post with surge of recent shares)
- McConnell’s thirst for power turns impeachment trial into farce (849 shares)
- Watchdog group files ethics complaint against McConnell (625 shares)
- 🔥 ‘Bye, Mitch’ — Democrats vying to unseat McConnell jab him on impeachment (454 shares)
- Republican lawmakers join the fight to ban conversion therapy in Kentucky (434 shares)
The Forward 5 is published Monday to Friday by Forward Kentucky, an independent media organization focused on progressive news and issues in Kentucky, and is re-posted with permission. You can sign up for the email version of the newsletter on their website.
