It was, in a word, fast.

The 2013 Legislative session should be the session of  reform, reform, reform: Pension reform, tax reform, and constitutionally required redistricting which needs to be completed by 2014.  In addition, I have long believed that Kentucky needs budget reform.

No excuses!  The KY pension system is fractured and close to terminal life support.  This General Assembly must take the  action necessary this session, just as the private employers have done many years ago.   The taxpaying citizens of Kentucky and our State employees deserve our diligence to this task. Pension reform legislation in the House will be vetted by the House State Government Committee, which oversaw the Kentucky Public Pensions Task Force.  Pension-reform legislation was approved by the full Senate by a vote of 33-5 last Thursday and  sent to the House.

I plan to introduce (PBB) Priority-based or priority directed budgeting legislation.  PBB increases efficiency and controls spending, streamlining the activities of agencies, and eliminating waste.  The Legislation proposes that Cabinets and programs utilize outcome measurements and results-driven performance reviews to determine how funding is distributed.  This method differs markedly from baseline budgets, which consist of a base amount and subsequent yearly increases to account for inflation and additional agency needs that may be unnecessary. In priority-based budgeting, any additional spending has to be justified through strategic and measurable cost benefits and outcomes.  The PBB model shifts the focus from the “business-as-usual” approach.

I have also introduced Kentucky Second Amendment legislation along with many of my colleagues.

Additionally, I have reintroduced several pieces of legislation, including: HB 74, Tamper Resistant Narcotics, and HB 3, Human Trafficking Victims’ Rights bill, and the Kentucky Reins Act (aimed at reducing excessive spending by executive branch without legislative approval)

HB 74, STOPP Kentucky Act 2013 (Stop Tampering of Prescription Pills in Kentucky).  STOPP KY prohibits the unauthorized substitution of an FDA-approved opioid product that incorporates tamper-resistant technologies for a product that does not.  Tamper resistant formulations, or TRFs, make it much more difficult to crush, melt, or otherwise alter medication into a form that is easier to abuse.

Rep. Overly and I are  sponsoring HB3, the Human Trafficking Victims’ Rights bill.  Reflected in HB 3 are measures from our 2012 legislation and also provisions for the safe harbor of minor victims of human trafficking including early screening and intervention provided by law enforcement, social workers and human trafficking advocates.  Thank you colleagues – as of  Friday we have sixty-four co-sponsors.  HB 3 should be heard in House Judiciary this week.   Human trafficking is the fastest-growing form of trafficking, along with drugs and guns.

It is a short session, yet critical that we take bold steps, dramatically change the way Kentucky does business and address issues that have long been passed over.  As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 9, 2012) – Greetings from Frankfort! We arrived last Monday with heavy hearts, several legislators describing parts of their home communities devastated by storms, some friends and towns gone forever. We shared our prayers and support, knowing Kentuckians are strong and resilient folk, committed to rebuild if at all possible.

Wednesday, the House passed the two-year budget for the Commonwealth by a vote of 78-17. Folks, I was one of the 17 “no” votes and will explain why later in this article.

Keep in mind the budget is a process. The Governor proposes a budget, and the House of Representatives then spends weeks reviewing his budget proposal. We have seven budget sub-committees consisting of approximately 75 House members reviewing the subsections and listening to hours of public testimony. Then the Appropriations and Revenue Committee reviews and rewrites the budget, which then comes before the House for a vote. Next, the process continues as it moves on to the Senate. The Senate makes their revisions and votes, and then it comes back to the House, at which time no one usually agrees, and we then have to go to Conference Committee to hammer out the final budget. It is an long process, and often not a pretty one.

I had several concerns with the House-proposed budget, and the revenue bill, House Bill 499, that accompanied the budget bill. My concerns were the debt ratio, the structural imbalances, and another rush to vote!

In recent years, we have stressed the need for transparency and providing time for the voting members and the public to review the budget. It is too important to Kentucky and her people to vote on a $19.5 billion dollar budget when we are only given a few hours to review the complex 297 pages of budget language before casting that vote. The people of Kentucky deserve good government!

On the matter of debt ratio, I recently joined many of my caucus members in sending a letter to the chairman of the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee asking him to hold a hearing and vote on Senate Bill 1, which passed the Senate 34-2 last month. Senate Bill 1 is sound fiscal policy and essentially would limit the general fund debt service to not exceed 6 percent. Even with all the reductions, the debt ratio in the proposed House budget was 6.71 percent. As I have said time and time again, it is imperative that we bring the Kentucky in line to live within our means, as we cannot continue to spend more than we take in.

The budget that passed the House did implement across-the-board cuts of 8.4 percent in all three branches of government. Higher education, which is our state’s public universities, is receiving a budget cut of 6.4 percent.

The SEEK formula for local school funding does not incur the cuts above and maintains the current 2012 funding level for the 2013-2014 school year. But in essence, growing districts, such as Boone and Walton Verona, would experience some reduction when there is the same amount of money, but more students to serve.

We have taken several budget cuts the last few sessions, but like the citizens we serve, Kentucky government is learning to rework our priorities and live within our means. Again, please keep in mind that the budget is a process, and there are several more votes to be made before finally passage.

As always, I welcome your comments and concerns for the upcoming session.

Addia K Wuchner , State Representative District 66