Senator John Schickel spoke at the Florence Rotary Club meeting on April 9 about the recently completed Kentucky Legislative Session. Schickel characterized it as a difficult session with progress made in some areas. The two items demanding almost all the time were redistricting and the state budget.
The Senator started by saying that he takes his responsibility to represent 140,000 Kentuckians seriously. He understands his constituents hold different views and often are on different sides of issues coming before the Legislature. By electing him, the people of Northern Kentucky have put their trust in him to vote in their behalf.
He then went on to explain why redistricting and the budget required so much effort. Every ten years there is a census. The results of the census require redistricting. So that everyone in Kentucky has equal representation, districts need to be equal in size.
The census showed that over the past ten years population has grown between and near I-65 and I-75. The far Eastern and far Western parts of the state have lost population. Redistricting is to correct that imbalance. Because of population increase in Northern Kentucky, Senator Schickel actually represents more people than he should. Schickel conceded that redistricting is a political process and has always been controversial.
The budget plans the spending of the three branches of government, Legislative, Executive and Judicial. The largest part of the budget goes to the Executive branch to oversee three areas – to educate, to medicate, and to incarcerate.
Education is the biggest priority in the budget. Our founding fathers fought for public education so the citizens of this new country would be educated enough to participate in a representative republic.
There is nothing in the constitution about medicating or health care for the citizens. This is a murky area and has come about only in the last 40 to 50 years. It is clear that in relation to other states, many Kentuckians don’t have healthy lifestyles and they need help. It is also quite clear that we have a Medicaid crisis.
The responsibility for the state to incarcerate is in the Commonwealth Constitution. The state prisons take only 5% of the budget. Not much can be done to reduce this expense except, perhaps to get minor drug offenders out of prison and into rehabilitation.
The Judicial Branch gets a small portion of the budget. In the past, buildings were built that today may seem extravagant. Those were better economic times. The Judicial has taken a big cut and there is no new funding in the current budget.
Briefly touching on the transportation budget, Schickel said funded by gas and new car taxes, these monies go into road projects. Transportation dollars for Northern Kentucky fared well in the budget and we can expect to see a lot more orange barrels. Hopefully, the Transportation Conference Committee will be kind to Northern Kentucky. Decent roads are good for business, for the local economy, and the overall quality of life. Building and maintaining them create jobs.
Senator Schickel wrapped up by talking about his Chairmanship of the Licensing and Occupation Committee. He said this lets him be a gatekeeper for business issues that come through the Legislature. It’s his belief that strengthening small businesses is a way to improve the economy. So in considering proposed bills, he always tries to determine how each would affect small businesses.
For information about weekly meetings, guest speakers and community service opportunities of the Florence Rotary Club, contact Pat Moynahan, President, at amoynahan@insightbb.com or 859-802-0242. Visit the Rotary web site at www.florencerotary.org. Florence Rotary meets weekly on Mondays at noon at the Airport Hilton Hotel in Florence.
