FRANKFORT – The 2012 session of the Kentucky General Assembly is officially one-third of the way to completion. Unfortunately, few bills passed addressing some of the most complex issues we face in Kentucky, including tax reform, bills to help businesses create jobs in the private sector, energy independence, and most importantly, the passage of a biennial budget for the commonwealth.
One of the largest issues we were facing when we arrived in Frankfort this year was the redistricting of the legislative boundaries. The House and Senate took action, while Republicans in the House generally opposed the Democrats’ plan and the Democrats in the Senate opposed the plan submitted by the Republican leadership.
Following what the Republican leadership in the House characterized as the unconstitutional redrawing of some districts, a lawsuit was filed, and the action is now in the hands of Franklin Circuit Court.
Despite everyone’s focus on redistricting, there have been a few more bills move through the House. One is House Bill 30, a bill co-sponsored by Reps. Brent Housman, Lonnie Napier and Brad Montell, will provide the ability of school districts to sell advertising on school buses. The law would specifically prohibit political candidates and businesses engaged in the sale of pornographic items from advertising on the buses.
