100 Most Recent Comments

See individual bills for more.

about the Government [by Anonymous Citizen on May 10, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 775 (Prohibit anonymous blogging)
When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. - Thomas Jefferson

They better remember something, a majority of all American citizens have guns, and if you piss off your people, they won't hesitate to defend their rights and freedoms.
Reply New Comment View Thread

good [by Anonymous Citizen on May 9, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 114 (Deadly weapons on college and university campus)
I think responsible citizens should be allowed to carry on college campuses. NIU and VT demonstrate loud and clear that gun free zones only keep the good guys from having guns, not the bad guys. In other words, they don't work.
Reply New Comment View Thread

which is why [by Anonymous Citizen on May 9, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 578 (Charter schools)
which is why it will never get passed. go frankfort! screwing us over year after year!
Reply New Comment View Thread

don't worry [by Anonymous Citizen on May 9, 2008]
about 2008 Senate Bill 1 (Eliminate Commonwealth Accountability Testing System)
Don't worry. I took my kid out of the public schools so he could be better educated elsewhere.

My child was put into the classes with the "regular" teachers, because "he didn't need special attention". My frustration is that my son was bored.

This isn't to say that private schools are perfect, either. I was bored throughout my years in private school, as well.

For me, I just wish I could get the tax dollars for it -- since it's still education, just a better one.

Reply New Comment View Thread

Kentucky [by Anonymous Citizen on May 7, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 304 (Increase law enforcement powers over illegal immigration)
I was born in California and I never left my house armed for fear of my safety. I also never heard of these "mobsters" you speak of that prey upon illegal immigrants. I am proud of being a Hispanic born in the US who has had the pleasure to have found a home in Kentucky. Most of the people in the commonwealth have opened their arms to Hispanics. They see that even Hispanics that are illegal immigrants have come to Kentucky to work,and work is exactly what they do on farms, in construction, and in factories. They are doing jobs that are vital to the Commonwealth's economic intrest. So please don't sterotype us. I promise we're not here to rob or kill anyone.
Reply New Comment View Thread

2008 House Bill 201 [by alcyon on May 7, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 201 (Require adequate supervision of inpatient person with mental disability)
How does the state purpose to monitor or make a determination that a direct care staff person has "failed to supervise a resident according to the resident's care plan..... where such failure results in injury to the resident." This language was in the SCS (2) amendment. From what I can tell this language passed. If it did pass, what is the degree of injury that the law considers punishable by dismissal, civil or criminal action?
What will be the monitoring mechanism, who will make the determination, who will or may take the civil and or criminal action and what if any protection will the state provide a state employee or a contracted employee against false allegations of injury, as this statute will be a great disincentive in trying to hire staff to work with this population.
It is a completely understandable statute from a protective persepctive, but it opens many questions from a practical stand point of equitable administration.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Anonymous Citizen [by Anonymous Citizen on May 7, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 320 (Give judges home security systems)
I completely support this bill. If anyone has actually stepped foot in a District or Circuit Courtroom and witnessed the verbal and physical threats that Judges receive, you would support this bill too. Further, has anyone actually read the news lately, with so many Judges and their families gunned down and threatened, I think this is the least we can do for them.
Reply New Comment View Thread

CATS test not given to 2nd graders [by Anonymous Citizen on May 5, 2008]
about 2008 Senate Bill 1 (Eliminate Commonwealth Accountability Testing System)
You need to become a little more involved in your child's education it sounds like. The CATS test is not administered at the second grade level. It also does not indicate a reading level other than novice, apprentice, proficient, or distinguished. Your child must have taken an Accellerated Reader STAR test. You should get your facts straight before you run teachers into the ground for your child's difficulties in school.
As far as your movement to private schools goes, it sounds like that might be the best thing for you. Maybe they can take care of all your problems and you'll never have to work with your children at all. The public school system has enough difficult parents to worry about without having to deal with uninformed people like you spouting out a bunch of nonsense.

Second grade teacher

Reply New Comment View Thread

Higdon and Couch [by Anonymous Citizen on May 5, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 775 (Prohibit anonymous blogging)
How funny #3 post as anonymous. if making enemies of the public at large was the goal of Jimmy Higdon and Tim Couch they have suceeded. There will always be low-lifes that try to destroy our constitutional freedoms. I suppose you are also under the delusion that we live in a democracy. The united states is not a democracy it is a republic.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Slippery slope [by Anonymous Citizen on May 4, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 374 (Prohibit sale of energy drinks to minors)
And this is what we call the slippery slope!!! I'm a mother of four children, and I drink energy drinks, and I allow my children to have sips of my coffee, I even allow my 13 year old son to have an occasional energy drink himself. But I regulate it, it's not the government's job to regulate our children's caffeine intake, it's the parent's job. The government already has too much to worry about uh like getting our troops out of Iraq for instance. Why don't they focus their attention on that instead of trying to control yet another thing in our lives .....parenting.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Raw Milk [by sjacobs on May 2, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 82 (Allow sale of unpasteurized goat milk)
Could this bill be expanded to include cow milk?

I think this bill needs to be passed. Why has nothing been done on this the whole legislative session?

From my own experience I know several people who cannot drink "store" milk. It gives them bad cramps, etc. But when they had the forbidden "raw" milk they were able to digest it without any problems. This includes not just milk but all dairy products. I know they typically refer to this problem with dairy products as lactose intolerance. This problem seems to be growing. Is it time to return to the small dairy operations as an alternative? Why not? I think in my case the benefits outweigh the risks and I know plenty of people who would love the chance to try raw milk.

If you still think it is a problem maybe an information packet needs to be included with the sale of any raw milk to explain risks involved?

Reply New Comment View Thread

Support HB 578 [by Anonymous Citizen on April 30, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 578 (Charter schools)
Competition will help improve all schools in KY. This bill will challenge all educators to do a better job for our children.
Reply New Comment View Thread

manager [by Anonymous Citizen on April 30, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 500 (Increase regulation of check cashers)
Well I have no reason to lie about who uses our services here at BCA. People from all walks of life need a little help now and then. How do you know that with the recession that you won't need our help one day. I'm sure these gas prices are causing alot of people hardship but I dont see people trying to shut down the gas station
Reply New Comment View Thread

HB 715 [by Anonymous Citizen on April 29, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 715 (Require serial numbers on every bullet)
This was clearly a bad bill, and the sponsor did the right thing when she withdrew the legislation from consideration March 5th.

All bills that were not passed in the 2008 Session of the Kentucky General Asembly died at the end of April 15th, when the Session ended. They are no longer under consideration. New bills will be filed when the 2009 Session Session starts next January
Reply New Comment View Thread

Primary & Secondary Laws [by Anonymous Citizen on April 28, 2008]
about 2006 House Bill 86 (Make seat belt violations legal grounds to stop and cite motorists)
Obviously some people don't know the difference between Primary and Secondary motor vehicle laws. To clear it up Primary laws are laws which an officer can stop someone when they see it being violated. The mandatory seat belt law will never be legally a Primary law sinse many people have papers exempting them from such laws, thus officer's do not know if they are breaking the law untill they check the papers. This is illegal according the Supreme Courts landmark decision in the case of Delaware v. Prouse.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Stupid Bill!!! [by ReformedPatriot on April 28, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 715 (Require serial numbers on every bullet)
I hate to be rude and pithy, but this Bill is STUPID!
Reply New Comment View Thread

Do These Politicians Know… [by rossh on April 28, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 374 (Prohibit sale of energy drinks to minors)
…how to look up the two Constitutions under which all laws in Kentucky are (supposed to be) based?

Brain dead laws like this are piling up on the books, and are getting completely out of hand. The government has no right to seize control of the distribution of sodas in stores heh. What sad times we live in, when considering the God-given liberty our great country was once known and envied for.


Reply New Comment View Thread

gov. gives there self a raise [by Anonymous Citizen on April 28, 2008]
about 2007 Senate Bill 5 (Increase Kentucky minimum wage 41% by 2009)
theres one thing i do know is ever time the gov. raise's the min. wage they get more money lot of people dont know this take a look at this example.
person works 40hrs @ 5.85=234.00 now X 7.65% payroll tax= 17.90 now give this person a incress
40hrsx 6.55=200.45 x 7.65% tax =20.04 cool the gov. just gave them self a 2.14 raise per ever person in the U.S that makes min. wage.this is a 11% gp % rase man i wish i could do that. and this dosnt count the worksman comp. companies, insurance, and unemployement who charges % on the payroll and you wonder if the cost of things will go up HA. anyway thats why they make the big bucks
good luck to the U.S
Reply New Comment View Thread

Freedom Of Speech? [by Anonymous Citizen on April 26, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 775 (Prohibit anonymous blogging)
This is just another attack on freedom in this county. Every time you turn around the police are after you. The Thought Police, careful what you think about someone it might offend them or could be a hate crime. The Speech Police, The Smoking Police, and now the Political Police, careful what you say they have your name and number and know where you live. Is this the Republic of Kentucky in the making, but wait we are a Republic. Maybe Rep Couch likes the communist style of Republic better. It does protect the entrenched politicians better.
Reply New Comment View Thread

I agree [by Anonymous Citizen on April 25, 2008]
about 2008 Senate Bill 1 (Eliminate Commonwealth Accountability Testing System)
You go girl! I agree, thats the same thing with my fourth grader. She knows she made all the right answers, and her school even said this, and it said she got a perfect in everything! It wasn't a typo. They are so strict about things like that.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Why bann the unknown? [by Anonymous Citizen on April 24, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 374 (Prohibit sale of energy drinks to minors)
Why would the government waste their time on kids and the sales of energy drinks? These people who have this caffeine disease should just find healthier ways of getting a boost. Why would you take it away from the people who dont drink it irresponsibly? And why are the people who cant drink it trying to ban it for everyone??? Is it because their angry?? Or is it that if they cant have it why should anyone?? Doesn't the government have anything more productive than to bann caffeine drinks (that kids can still get with their parents help)like the war on terrorism?Or the crime rate in the U.S.? Or is it that Energy drink industries are making millions in the business and Gov. officials are jelious that they acually did something for their money?? Think of what law your making and if its even worth the efforts???
Reply New Comment View Thread

Why??? [by Anonymous Citizen on April 24, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 374 (Prohibit sale of energy drinks to minors)
Why would anybody in their right mind pass a law that would ban energy drinks, I mean a lot of kids would crash and probably go Colombine due to loss of high cafination, and another thing if we (as in the children of America) wanted to quit drinking energy drinks we would, but unfortunately we don't and it's nobody's fault but our own. Besides If the government wanted to waste money on trying to enforce this law it would be BIG.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Who voted for you? [by Anonymous Citizen on April 23, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 775 (Prohibit anonymous blogging)
Whoever voted for this Tim Couch retard...YOU ARE DISGRACE TO KENTUCKY...I hate living here because of retards like you, Mrs. Couch.

Please continue to fail so you can get voted out of the office!

-270 kentuckian.
Reply New Comment View Thread

in god we trust license plate [by Anonymous Citizen on April 23, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 207 (Create "In God We Trust" license plate)
Having an In God We Trust license plate might be looked at as a volation of church and state laws. No states should be promoting church and reglion.
Reply New Comment View Thread

:) [by Anonymous Citizen on April 22, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 150 (Legalize alcohol purchase and consumption by miliary members under age 21)
I concur
Reply New Comment View Thread

... [by Anonymous Citizen on April 22, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 150 (Legalize alcohol purchase and consumption by miliary members under age 21)
I'd like to point out that the right to vote is no where in the US Constitution. And by the way did this bill pass? I'm a 19, almost 20 year old, in the KY National Guard.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Right to work? [by Anonymous Citizen on April 21, 2008]
about 2006 House Bill 38 (Make Kentucky a "Right to Work" state)
The right to work in any state is a special interest goal to keep labor cheap and it's also designed to attract illegal aliens and steering this country toward a third-world country. Look at the current state we're in now! Ask yourself honestly, who profits off an economy like this?
This is not a comment but a real fact! Take a look around and see the destruction of our country.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Strange… [by rossh on April 21, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 207 (Create "In God We Trust" license plate)
I'm sorry to be blunt but this is kind of stupid. I am a firm believer in the Enlightened understanding that our right to existence and self determinism, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are given to us by God, and not by a government, and cannot logically be taken away by a government (although they are working hard to try it anyway, every day). But these promotional plates are getting silly, frankly. I particularly love the environmental ones heh. I wonder how many resources are going to producing excess license plates, stacked up in piles in every county court house in every county in Kentucky, when a stock of standard white plates as we once had provided a far more efficient utilization of resources. Mechanical specialization always takes more resource.

I believe in God, and the Founders' admonition that He gave us our rights, not to be surrendered without severe consequence to us all. I intend to show my respect for God, His rights given to me, and my respect for our limited resources by continuing on with my plain old white plate.


Reply New Comment View Thread

IN GOD WE TRUST [by Anonymous Citizen on April 20, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 207 (Create "In God We Trust" license plate)
Thank you so much for your great comment. Christians shall prevail! I love the new license plate "In God we trust"! In God I trust!
Reply New Comment View Thread

another clueless legislator [by Anonymous Citizen on April 19, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 775 (Prohibit anonymous blogging)
um relax deep breath we already have a national political do not call list people can choose to be put on. if higdon wasn't a clueless legislator he would inform his constituents to be placed on that instead of wasting tax payers money and time trying to reinvent the wheel. or was this just another "mistake"? what a joke. http://www.stoppoliticalcalls.org
Reply New Comment View Thread

HB635 [by Anonymous Citizen on April 19, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 635 (Expand restaurant tax to certain cities of the third class)
If Rick nelson was able to get this bill passed, the citizens of Middlesboro and Bell County should do everything they can to make sure this is his last term in ofice and find out who and for what reason with times as hard as they are, and Middlesboro with surplus funds in their coffers, that this bill would even be summitted.
Reply New Comment View Thread

CATS is false, anyway [by Anonymous Citizen on April 18, 2008]
about 2008 Senate Bill 1 (Eliminate Commonwealth Accountability Testing System)
My son was in public schools for a few years. He took the CATS test at the end of 2nd grade. He supposedly was reading at an 11th grade reading level. (Which, in my opinion, is impossible).

Now coming out of 5th grade, he just took a test using a real testing system, and his reading level is 8th grade.

Now he didn't lose braincells along the way. That tells me that CATS testing is fundamentally flawed, and explains why in Kentucky, we're now #48, competing for last in education. Go us!

Thanks, teachers unions, you guys do such a great job helping our kids get an education. Oh wait, no, that's lining your pockets that you do well. Well, whatever.

And that's why my kids go to private school now.
Reply New Comment View Thread

because... [by Anonymous Citizen on April 18, 2008]
about 2008 Senate Bill 151 (Begin sexual offense investigations without requiring victim polygraph)
now vindictive girlfriends can now ruin their ex-boyfriend's life without cause or ramifications?

i understand your position, but if it happened, it happened. there will be physical evidence, but that could still be consensual. unfortunately, until everyone in the world is honest, i think keeping the lie detector test would have been wise.
Reply New Comment View Thread

really? [by Anonymous Citizen on April 18, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 262 (Increase multiple Kentucky taxes)
I'm pretty sure the majority of smokers are the poor. And this bill increases their taxes.

Meanwhile, I did do it without public assistance. My county police force was almost non-existent, my parents sent me to private school at a great financial burden to them, as they were middle class. Today, I'm considered "rich". Hardly. With a wife and 2 kids in school, paying for a modest home for us to live in, and a nice vehicle for my wife to drive to keep her and the kids safe. There's no extra money at the end of the day.

And yes, I smoke. So now the state is hurting my budget even more.

Oh well. These nasty fire-safe cigarettes don't taste very good anyway. (Fire safe cigarettes? What a bunch of morons.)
Reply New Comment View Thread

bars and restaurants? [by speechlady on April 17, 2008]
about 2007 House Bill 53 (Mandate use of child booster seats)
Do you not even know what a booster seat is in this context? It is for the vehichle! They are not referring to the booster seats to eat! DUH
Reply New Comment View Thread

please help us kill it. [by newmark on April 17, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 262 (Increase multiple Kentucky taxes)
Mr. House Legislator,

Please help us kill this bill. We're over-taxed as it is. I know a number of small businesses that are on the brink of going under right now. With the increased cost of goods and transportations, our small businesses are the ones hurt the most, because they don't have the financial backing to ride out the more severe changes in the marketplace.

Likewise, the people are being hurt very badly by the cost of gasoline. $3.49/gal for regular yesterday. People's budgets are really getting strapped now. I have the option to work from home, so I've been using it, to save on fuel costs -- but not everyone has that option.

Frankfort is more than willing to increase minimum wage, which in the end doesn't really help anything but inflation, but is unrelenting when it comes to increasing existing and creating new taxes. Please cut us some slack.


Reply New Comment View Thread

Thank You [by Anonymous Citizen on April 16, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 586 (Raise court costs to pay deputy circuit court clerks more)
All Deputy Court Clerks across Ky need a raise
more than 1%. That is like a slap in the face.
If the courts system didn't have clerks. The courts would be in chaos.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Jurisdiction?? [by Anonymous Citizen on April 16, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 287 (Expand jurisdiction of certain police departments)
Hell, I think we ought to have an officer assigned to each and every household in the commonwealth!!
Reply New Comment View Thread

Commercial Operators??? [by Anonymous Citizen on April 16, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 192 (Increase certain regulations on commercial vehicle operators)
Make sure all this crap applies to the ever increasing number of Mexican trucks and buses that are driving through our commonwealth.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Stein has no integrity [by Raffica on April 16, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 715 (Require serial numbers on every bullet)
Charleton, Stein has no integrity BECAUSE she entered the bill in the first place. Her stance against the right to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by both the US and the Kentucky constitutions is well documented. Bills like this rediculous mircrostamping bill prove her disdain for America's 75 million gun owners and the core civil liberty that binds them together.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Kentucky Woman [by Anonymous Citizen on April 16, 2008]
about 2007 Senate Bill 5 (Increase Kentucky minimum wage 41% by 2009)
Have you stopped and looked at how the cost of living has increased since the minimum wage increase? This doesn't help people in poverty at all. The cost of milk has risen to almost $4 per gallon, detergent at Wal-Mart has risen astronomically, a loaf of bread is almost $2. After the July 1st increase this year, watch the prices rise again.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Charlton [by Anonymous Citizen on April 15, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 715 (Require serial numbers on every bullet)
If Rep. Stein believed in this bill she would have not pulled it after 2 days. The fact is that she without integrity. Shame on you Mrs. Stein! Go home.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Not in the Schools [by msking on April 15, 2008]
about 2008 House Joint Resolution 6 (Include Holocaust in school curriculum)
This subject should be taught at home by their PARENTS or PASTORS of their church. This is just another subject for the schools to misinform our children. Example: It's taught in schools that the civil war was started because of slavery. Slavery did not become an issue in this war until 1863. Two years after the war had begun. Do NOT pass this bill. We do not want the schools to misinform our children because of some book that some professor wrote that conveys only his belief or interpretation.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Incorrect [by rossh on April 15, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 775 (Prohibit anonymous blogging)
You seem to be under the delusion that many politicians are under, and that is that government holds all power, and selectively bestows rights and liberties upon its citizens as it sees fit. This is of course orthogonal to the reality that citizens selectively give rights to government. It simply does not work your way. By seizing control of privacy, one little bit at a time, government is not giving you rights heh. They are stealing them. Please don't make this all-too-common error again.
Reply New Comment View Thread

relax, deep breath [by Anonymous Citizen on April 15, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 775 (Prohibit anonymous blogging)
While co-sponsoring the Tim Couch internet bill was a mistake for Jimmy Higdon, he is not an "enemy of the constitution..." His bill against robo-calls does not "ban" them, it only empowered citizens to be removed from the calling list if they so choose. Giving power to the people is explicitly pro-constitutional.

And he has an A+ rating with the NRA, so trying to scare gun owners with conjecture will get you nowhere.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Illegals know more than you think! [by Anonymous Citizen on April 13, 2008]
about 2008 Senate Bill 104 (Drivers licenses for illegal aliens)
I live in Ohio and know of illegals who do infact file income tax refunds just like you and I!!They claim many dependants to pay out as little as possible, then they get earned income credits and child tax credits and get back thousands! They either happened to get(thru buying and stealing)
a good SS# or are able to get an ITIN number or a TIN from the IRS, explained on the IRS website at this adress:
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/international/article/0,,id=96696,00.html#itin

Here is an excerpt from the IRS website page listed above explaining the ITIN:
Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN)

A Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) is an identification number used by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the administration of tax laws. It is issued either by the Social Security Administration (SSA) or by the IRS. A Social Security number (SSN) is issued by the SSA whereas all other TINs are issued by the IRS.


Taxpayer Identification Numbers

How Do I Get A TIN?

ITIN

An ITIN, or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, is a tax processing number only available for certain nonresident and resident aliens, their spouses, and dependents who cannot get a Social Security Number (SSN). It is a 9-digit number, beginning with the number "9", formatted like an SSN (NNN-NN-NNNN).

To obtain an ITIN, you must complete IRS Form W-7, IRS Application for Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (PDF) . The Form W-7 requires documentation substantiating foreign/alien status and true identity for each individual. You may either mail the documentation, along with the Form W-7, to the address shown in the Form W-7 Instructions, present it at IRS walk-in offices, or process your application through an Acceptance Agent authorized by the IRS. Form W-7(SP), Solicitud de Número de Identificación Personal del Contribuyente del Servicio de Impuestos Internos (PDF) is available for use by Spanish speakers.

SO there you have it! Get educated ppl, illegals are getting bolder! They are coming to know laws and regulations, they are being educated by pro-illegal supporters and advocates on ways to get around the system!Start protesting and boycotting businesses that hire them and cater to them. Start reporting employers and landlords etc.. that hire and help them!Vote elected officials out of office that wont enforce our laws!
Reply New Comment View Thread

Lets beat the illegal criminals at their own games! [by Anonymous Citizen on April 13, 2008]
about 2008 Senate Bill 104 (Drivers licenses for illegal aliens)
I have an idea , why dont we go along with letting corrupted greedy officials, like this one, give the illegals ID. Not equivilent to that of Americans and legal immigrants, but a special ID for illegals only, so that ICE and our police departments can get a lead on where these people live, and have a tool to track these criminals. One of the main problems facing ICE is the fact that illegals are untracable! They can change their names to suit the situation, get out of court appearances, tickets, paying bills etc.. all because they have no way of being tracked. Now that certain government officials are starting to enforce our immigration laws, I would think they would need a way to find them, besides us reporting employers who hire them, and businesses that do business with them despite the fact that they lack proper identification and a ss#. Lets give them ID on the pretense of helping them, then track them, hunt them down and deport them!
Reply New Comment View Thread

Why are we playing games? [by Condit on April 12, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 550 (Casino amendment)
Casino gaming is the wrong way to go for Kentucky. Let’s do something different and leave the games to be played by our bordering states. Give Indianans’, Illinoisans’, and West Virginians’ another reason to come to the Blue Grass. Pass a law allowing sport books to opperate at all of Kentucky’s' horseracing facilities.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Family Court [by Anonymous Citizen on April 12, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 320 (Give judges home security systems)
I understand your anger and anxiety.

If you have documents or other proof of which you speak then you have some validity in your claim.
If it is anger release without substance, then you may have a very difficult time advancing this allegation.

If true, best of luck.

Jim Anderson Stivers
Frankfort, KY.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Why are we playing games? [by Anonymous Citizen on April 12, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 550 (Casino amendment)
Casino gaming is the wrong way to go for Kentucky. Let’s do something different and leave the games to be played by our bordering states. Give Indianans’, Illinoisans’, and West Virginians’ another reason to come to the Blue Grass. Pass a law allowing sport books to opperate at all of Kentucky’s' horseracing facilities.
Reply New Comment View Thread

HB 262 - No new taxes [by Anonymous Citizen on April 11, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 262 (Increase multiple Kentucky taxes)
It is clear from my e-mails, letters and phone calls that a very high percentage of Kentuckians do not want their taxes increased. Kentuckians rank 13th in the percent of their income they pay in taxes, but we rank only 46th in average income. When we are in an economic downturn, do we really want to tax our citizens as well as business and industry even more, I think not.

House Legislator
Reply New Comment View Thread

'Looks Great to Me [by Anonymous Citizen on April 11, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 164 (Change requirements for restoring surface mines)
HB 164 looks like common-sense legislation to me.

You can't bury streams? Damn - I didn't think that was legal to begin with!

It turns out the coal companies are making money hand-over-fist to pay their owners and stockholders outside the state and are externalizing a lot of their costs at the expense of our water quality and way of life in the state.

'Doesn't seem fair to me. I hope they pass this bill next year.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Tax me - Really [by Anonymous Citizen on April 11, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 262 (Increase multiple Kentucky taxes)
I'd really like to have decent schools, good roads, a safe community, a healthy democracy, good health care, and a social net to help if things go wrong.

These things are important to me and I don't mind paying for them.

Tax-away - particularly on goods and services most used by wealthier Kentuckians such as myself.

If you can afford chartered jet flights, limo service, and estates over $3.5 million, you can afford to pay your fair share for public education.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Good Run [by Anonymous Citizen on April 11, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 70 (Restore voting rights to convicted felons)
Most states have had harsh laws about not giving former felons their voting rights back at some point in their history. All but Kentucky and Virginia have wised up and changed them because it makes their states fairer, better places to live.

Studies also show that former felons who vote are half as likely as one who don't to commit future crimes. People who feel like they're really part of a society have a lot less reason to act out against that society.

HB 70 is a great bill. It passed overwhelmingly in the House and I think we can take a serious run at passing it in the senate next year.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Online bullying & robo calls [by Anonymous Citizen on April 11, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 775 (Prohibit anonymous blogging)
The legislators who filed these bills did so knowing the bills would never be voted on, but did so to get some discussion on the issues. Citizens are sick and tired of robo calls, and candidiates who use them may lose more votes than they recieve. Online bullying is also a very sad thing. However while legislators recieve many complaints about those issues, they understand they are allowed due to our freedom of speach. This was their effort to get this matters discussed, it seems their efforts worked. A discussion of the issues is the best that can be done, and that should be done. The legislators understand and know that. My hat is off to them for bringing these matters out in the open, however nothing else can be done for there will always be low-lifes who take advantage of our very dear freedom of speach.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Jimmy Higdon an enemy of the Constitution [by Anonymous Citizen on April 11, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 775 (Prohibit anonymous blogging)
Let's not forget Jimmy Higdon Co-sponsored this unconstitutional bill. Higdon is also trying to ban robo calls which is also unconstitutional, next he'll be taking our gun rights. Time to send him home.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Another stupid bill [by D-Fens on April 9, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 264 (Tighten penalties on certain DUI convictions)
Another stupid proposal to pander to the "tough on crime" folks. It will do little more than clog our jails and take our tax money.
Reply New Comment View Thread

This is [by D-Fens on April 9, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 657 (New tax on sexually oriented businesses)
One of the stupidest things I've seen.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Excellent. [by D-Fens on April 9, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 513 (Reduce sentences for certain offenses)
I fully support this bill.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Islam.. [by Anonymous Citizen on April 8, 2008]
about 2008 House Joint Resolution 6 (Include Holocaust in school curriculum)
Be careful where you go with this..if we teach about the evil done by a few Islamic extremists, then we MUST teach about the evil done by Christian extremists; the slaughter of the native Americans( north and south) by " missionaries", and the Inquisition spring quickly to mind.
Reply New Comment View Thread

THANK YOU! [by Anonymous Citizen on April 7, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 500 (Increase regulation of check cashers)
I HAVE BEEN THERE!
Reply New Comment View Thread

JUST ANOTHER STRESS [by Anonymous Citizen on April 7, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 500 (Increase regulation of check cashers)
I have used payday loans myself and find i borrow then pay to turn around and borrow again. I have actually had one come to my place of employment when I was late. It was easy in, but hard out. Like a loan shark or drug shark or drug dealer.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Unbelievable!! [by Anonymous Citizen on April 5, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 552 (Involve state government in late homeowner mortgage payments)
You people can't even handle the stuff you should be taking care of and now you are in the mortgage business to boot. I never thought I would live long enough to see mass gutlessness like this.
Reply New Comment View Thread

voter [by Anonymous Citizen on April 5, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 444 (Inmate organ donation program)
Sounds good to me. Make those who are a drain on society worth something! And the state is not out a cent. Great bill!!!
Reply New Comment View Thread

Anonymous [by Anonymous Citizen on April 5, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 775 (Prohibit anonymous blogging)
Nein, das geht nicht. Total schlect. Ich kann nicht , uh, what's the german for anonymous posting?
Reply New Comment View Thread

Hold the phone [by Anonymous Citizen on April 4, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 500 (Increase regulation of check cashers)
I really DOUBT that a lawyer or nurse for that matter would NEED a check cashing business,
Reply New Comment View Thread

What a wonderful plan... [by Anonymous Citizen on April 4, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 91 (Require "bullying" policies in schools)
That is a great plan. Lick 'em and kick 'em?Let's teach our children not to bully by...what...bullying them? Yes, sir...I am going to stop little Johnny from threatening his friends by threatening him with physical harm. Genius! It sounds like you really know kids...they always listen to what we say, don't pay attention to what we do, and can make perfect sense of the discrepancies between the two. Now, I do concede that bit of your plan is a good thing (seriously). Natural consequences of behavior and the chance to redeem yourself for your wrongs is on the right track (detention, suspension, extra work to make up for missed work), but I would also add some restitution to the student harmed or to the school in general to make up for a negative environment...it is actually to help out the kid who did the wrong learn from his mistake as much as it is for the student and/or school. A lot of schools, currently, are pretty good at this. If you ask me, I do not really want to go back to the schools of 50 years ago (not that we can not learn very valuable lessons from them).

An additional comment related to your view of social workers. I challenge you to walk in the shoes of a social worker any day of the week. Especially one that works for child protective services and is on the front lines daily. Overworked, underpaid, and totally committed to the well being of the children they are working for. If you had half the cojones they did, you would think before you made half-cocked statements about how the world should work...
Reply New Comment View Thread

mother of victim [by Anonymous Citizen on April 4, 2008]
about 2008 Senate Bill 151 (Begin sexual offense investigations without requiring victim polygraph)
I support this bill completely because lie detector tests are not admissible in court. Why should they be used to determine innocence or guilt? They should not.
Reply New Comment View Thread

a suggestion..READ the Bill before making a comment... [by Anonymous Citizen on April 3, 2008]
about 2008 House Joint Resolution 6 (Include Holocaust in school curriculum)
Please, anonymous citizen, READ the Bill before you comment on it. You are apparently unfamiliar with modern Holocaust / genocide education and pedagogy.
To study the dynamics of the Holocaust IS to study ALL other genocides. Modern Holocaust / genocide curriculum is geared at being universal and inclusive. Read the Bill and examine its amendments. This Bill was rewritten to also include the word GENOCIDE ( it is a Holocaust AND genocide education Bill) meaning that ANY teacher can choose from ANY of the events you have mentioned and teach them with the support of curricular materials.
You have obviously never taught in a classroom. It is IMPOSSIBLE to " teach it all" , but it is possible to teach aspects and highlights which become bridging and relevant to other events. Your argument that we must " teach it all or teach nothing" is utterly senseless and shameful. Why should we ignore this chapter of human history because we can not teach the ENTIRE history of inhumanity. I homor your father service in WWII, however, his statistics about the number of deaths are suffered by Jewish and non-Jewish victims is inaccurate. Ask any Kentucky Holocaust teacher about the realities of your numbers.
UNfortunately, unsupported, illogical views and arguments such as yours permeate Kentucky's educational system. It leaves little wonder why it is that Kentucky students lag so far behind the nation
Reply New Comment View Thread

What's wrong with the old plan? [by Anonymous Citizen on April 3, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 91 (Require "bullying" policies in schools)
When I was in school in the late 50's and all through the 60's every school I attended had a workable and very successful plan for students that bullied other students. The first offense they got their butts paddled and stayed after school, the second offense that got twice as many licks, were kicked out of school for 1 - 2 weeks, got F's for that time and then had to stay after school and do extra work to make up their grades. On the third offense they were transfered from public school to reform school.
But, this was back before everything was society's fault and students were made to take responsibility for their actions and parents were held responsibile for their childs behavior and if a social worker tried to butt in the social worker was fired and if necessary put in jail. It worked and was a whole lot cheaper.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Big Brother [by Anonymous Citizen on April 3, 2008]
about 2008 Senate Bill 21 (Reporting of prohibited activities by a nurse)
A few years ago we passed laws requiring anyone with knowledge of child abuse to report it, which sounded good on the surface, however we now send people to prison for not reporting a crime they may not have known about but some agency thinks they should have known. We also opened the door to false accusations. Now we will require people (relatives, friends, associates) to make vague false reports about suspected drug abuse just to keep from being prosecuted. How soon before we require our neighbors, friends and ministers to report on us because we may have driven without insurance for a week or driven with out a seat belt or had a beer within four hours of driving, or some other "Crime". Big brother is trying to make a snych and a felon out of everyone except the elite. More felons less voters I guess.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Irony. [by Anonymous Citizen on April 3, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 775 (Prohibit anonymous blogging)
It is ironic that you propose a bill for the cancellation of Anonymity on the internet Mr. Couch, when this very website allows one to post as such.

Failure is something that is not tolerated.

Many lulz to come I fear.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Missing the point [by rossh on April 3, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 304 (Increase law enforcement powers over illegal immigration)
I'm not opposed to flexible immigration. Unfortunately we have an intricate system of government entitlements that regularly allows abuse from people of all stamps. We now must engage in immigration territorialism in aimless hopes of preventing these poorly run, broken-from-the-start, inefficient, and most important, unconstitutional rackets from bankrupting us. Once the government takeover of the health care system completes, and the downward spiral of the quality of care begins, the immigration reform will become an even more urgent issue. No doubt the government will make us aware of a series of crises whereby further government intrusions into our liberties will ensue, out of necessity, protection from terrorism, protection of the children, or whatever other mindless buzz phrase the less intelligent among us buy into.

Reply New Comment View Thread

C. Moakler [by Anonymous Citizen on April 3, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 304 (Increase law enforcement powers over illegal immigration)
I grew up in California, and due to gangs of second and third generation hispanics you can't go outside unarmed. What might you expect when they are taught to break every law pertaining to employment from the minute they step over the border. Assimilation for most illegals mean working eighty hours plus per week for streight time wages, and handing over part of their wage to the mexican mobsters that arrange the jobs. As conditions of employment they have to live and eat communially and work at the job designated by the mobsters; this is apartheid. It is time for the states to get in front of this slavery. If employers want cheap labor then at least they need to abide by labor law.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Supporrt [by notrade on April 3, 2008]
about 2007 Senate Bill 43 (Establish crime relating to human trafficking)
I most strongly support this bill. I would like to see more information on law enforcement training. Not only in awarness. spotting trafficking. but sensitiveity in treating victems as victims, and not criminals. Remember a law is only as good as it's enforcement. Thank you for your time in reading my comment.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Charter Bill 578 [by Anonymous Citizen on April 3, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 578 (Charter schools)
I think this is the best bill ever and I support it 100%.
Reply New Comment View Thread

By God we don't have to listen to you [by Anonymous Citizen on April 3, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 734 (No voter recall of growth nickel tax)
Here is just another example of our elected "Representatives" deciding they don't have to listen to us (the voter) and they wil do as they please.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Tell the truth for a change [by Anonymous Citizen on April 2, 2008]
about 2008 House Joint Resolution 6 (Include Holocaust in school curriculum)
1st of all, i would like to shake the hand of the rep that voted against this Mickey Mouse bill. Evidently he is a well educated person. My father served from 1940 to 1945 during WW2. True there may have been 6 million killed,but not all 6 million were jews. Dad fully informed me of this, and he would have no reason to lie to me. The people that were exterminated were a mixture of Jews and German citizens. All that were exterminated were anti Nazi. Sort of like anti government people here. This country like Germany back then is going thru the same phase. If you are going to teach genocide, teach it in it's entire scope. Teach about how many innocent Iraqi people have been killed needlessly,how many innocent Afgan's have been killed. Teach how many of our wonderful troops have been killed by their own government by the use of depleted uranium in ammunition. Teach how our own government killed thousands of Native Americans, and the needless deaths of the people at the church at Waco Texas. Teach about the innocent people that were killed in the 90s by our government bombing of an aspirin factory and milk factory in Sudan and Afghanistan. Teach about the needless deaths of people in this country by the heavy handed tactics of swat teams getting the wrong address. Teach it all or teach nothing. A half truth is the same as a bold faced lie. Teach it all so our kids will know what they face in the future because their parents didn't have the guts to fix what was wrong. Ladies and gentlemen, our kids will spit on our graves for what we have allowed to happen in this country. Believe it or not, i am ashamed to be an American. Yes, the Senate is doing the right thing. Let it die so our children won't learn of the horrors that we have allowed to happen.
Reply New Comment View Thread

What about all the other murder? [by Anonymous Citizen on April 2, 2008]
about 2008 House Joint Resolution 6 (Include Holocaust in school curriculum)
I agree with Norman Davis and his correct recital of some of the most brutal acts of the 20th Century, mostly ignored.

I would add to that the ethnic cleansing, "re-education", slavery, and murder that happened in SouthEast Asia (that's Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia for you young-uns that have been denied the truth of this history) after spineless liberals in Congress, the liberal media led by the liar Walter Cronkite, the teams led by communist Hanoi Jane and John "Ho Chi" Kerry, and naive peace-hippies demanded with withdraw from South Vietnam after the State Department and MacNamera's boys wouldn't allow us to win.

The liberals in the public schools and those who write the textbooks continue to tell the lie to the children that pulling out of Vietnam saved lives, when the opposite is true, and then over 2000 Americans were abandoned to the communists for political expediency by the Kissinger bunch and each and every presidential administration and State Department since.

It would be real easy to clear up America's woes if the gubbament cheese education dynasty were taken back from the leftists who have perverted it from teaching knowledge into indoctrinating in the mental disorder of liberalism and world socialism.
Reply New Comment View Thread

What else should we be teaching??? [by Anonymous Citizen on April 2, 2008]
about 2008 House Joint Resolution 6 (Include Holocaust in school curriculum)
Why not also include the numbers of people worldwide who have perished by the dictates of Islam...ie. terrorist attacks, honor killings, the beheading and stabbing of journalists and authors, wars waged by Islamic terrorist gangs bent on waging jihad, etc...
Reply New Comment View Thread

Norman Davis Says [by Anonymous Citizen on April 2, 2008]
about 2008 House Joint Resolution 6 (Include Holocaust in school curriculum)
If you want this passed into law lets not discriminate, lets teach about the other acts of Genocide while we are at it such as:

1)1915-1917 Ottoman Turkey murdered 1 to 1.5 million Armenians

2)The Soviet Union murdered approximately 20 million anti-communists, anti-Stalinists in 1929 to 1953

3)China 1949-1952, from 1957-1960, 1966-1976 murdered some 20 million

4)Guatemala from 1960 to 1981 murdered a 100,000 Mayan Indians

5) Uganda murdered 300,000 from 1971 to 1979 Christians and political rivals; and last but certainly not least,

6) Cambodia from 1975 to 1979 murdered 1,000,000 of its' educated people.

You don't believe it then check it out. The best place to begin with is www.jpfo.org or buy a book called "Lethal Laws"!

Lets not just pity one group of people lets feel for all those tortured and killed and teach the children about these terrible acts man does to his fellow man.

These above horrible atrocities have ocurred in JUST THE 20TH CENTURY. Just imagine how many people have been killed throughout history.

Lets teach it all instead of just picking and choosing! Amend the bill to mandate such teaching. Oh, and lets teach that all of these people were disarmed before the massacres! Lets not forget that point even if it is not politically correct. Lets teach the truth.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Cigarette tax increases [by aalf on April 2, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 262 (Increase multiple Kentucky taxes)
Reality Check: About 70 million people in this country are NOT going to quit smoking - because we DON'T WANT to. It is NOT about nicotine. I don't care how many more hundreds of millions of dollars the drug industry spends on propaganda, it is NOT about nicotine. It's about smoking. People have ENJOYED smoking for thousands of years. The father of our country, George Washington, was a TOBACCO farmer, and a SMOKER. Tobacco financed the American Revolution. We probably would not HAVE a country if it weren't for tobacco.

As to increasing the tax, smokers DO NOT pay the tax. EVERYONE pays it. Smokers are NOT the Federal Government, so they can't just print themselves up some more money for that. They shift ALL that extra cost from SOME OTHER PART of their budget. EVERY business in America is losing money because SMOKERS are paying EXTORTION. The previous .27 cig tax increase in KY has been sucking about 2.2 BILLION dollars/YEAR out of the general economy in KY, and it is one reason we HAVE a budget shortfall. The ONLY reason The People's Republic of California is still afloat AT ALL financially (and yes, they are in REALLY BIG trouble in that area - isn't communism wonderful - NOT) is thanks to the BOOTLEGGERS and the NATIVE AMERICANS.

Higher cig taxes are NOT forcing people to quit who don't want to. They make bootlegging profitable, and the INDIANS are getting rich. They impoverish EVERYONE else. Guess we didn't learn a thing from alcohol prohibition???

Oh, extremely high cig. prices actually correlate with INCREASES in youth smoking rates. Guess those bootleggers just don't bother much with checking IDs.

The other reason we are having budget problems in KY now is due to economic losses in our hospitality sector due to SMOKING BANS in all our biggest population centers, especially The People's Republics of Louisville and Lexington. The People's Republic of California alone has lost 100 BILLION dollars SO FAR due to their 10 year smoking ban.

There really is NO way to force smokers to pay good money for a nice restaurant meal, if they are supposed to 'enjoy' the BEST cig of the day, the one after they eat, standing outside in inclement weather like the new 'leper class'. NO, not happening. And, smokers enjoyment of MOST recreation venues is severely negatively affected by 'no smoking', so losses are BIG in ALL recreational type venues. And EVERYONE is paying for those loses, NOT just smokers.

Lynda Farley, Edmonton, KY
www.aalf.ws/smokingmad www.forces.org
Reply New Comment View Thread

Classic [by rossh on April 2, 2008]
about 2008 Senate Bill 1 (Eliminate Commonwealth Accountability Testing System)
This is what happens when government treads where it has no constitutionally defined authority to do so. What a rattletrap.
Reply New Comment View Thread

YIKES [by Anonymous Citizen on April 2, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 715 (Require serial numbers on every bullet)
It amazes me how stupid some people are.

Real life statistics show that in EVERY venue where gun carry laws were passed, crime went down.

The bad guys will simply buy bullets on the Black market and nothing will change except it will cost law abiding citizens more to buy ammunition for them to shoot with.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Being informed is a right. [by Anonymous Citizen on April 2, 2008]
about 2008 Senate Bill 40 (Require pre-abortion ultrasound imaging and consultation)
If information produces guilt, is be a legitimate warning to protect a person from actions that violate their conscience. I had an abortion thirty years ago when I was married and in college and felt that a baby was an imposition on my life at the time. That action did not improve my life or make me more free, just more irresponsible. Years later when I had my "first" child and actually bothered to get educated about what a baby is even in the early weeks of gestation--there are no words to relate the horror. Some plain truth in my face might have spared me a life of recurrent anguish and bitter regret.
Reply New Comment View Thread

HB 70 Passes House! [by Anonymous Citizen on April 2, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 70 (Restore voting rights to convicted felons)
(from KFTC's blog at http://www.kftc.org/blog )

House Bill 70 to Restore Voting Rights to Former Felons who have served their debt to society has finally been called up for a vote on the House Floor today and passed with an overwhelming 80 "yes" votes to 14 "no" votes!

We're not at all happy that the House took so very long to act on this bill, giving very little chance for it to get through the Senate, but we're very pleased that the bill did pass by such a wide margin.

The six floor amendments to the bill that KFTC opposed were all defeated, but Rep. Sal Santoro of Boone County, attached an amendment that exempted former felons convicted of manslaughter from the automatic restoration. KFTC opposes this change because we want all former felons to have the same chance to get their rights back.

We now have a tiny window of opportunity to put pressure on the Senate on this issue that could make a big difference whether or not they act on it this year.


Action Alert:

Call the Legislative Message Line at 1-800-372-7181 any time from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m.

Leave a message for "Senate Leadership" (David Williams, Katie Stine, Dan Kelly, Dan Seum, Carroll Gibson) and your own senator.

Message:
"Please support House Bill 70 and expand it to restore voting rights to all former felons."
Reply New Comment View Thread

Comer's Amendment [by Anonymous Citizen on April 2, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 70 (Restore voting rights to convicted felons)
(Responding to David Dunn)

No, no - this isn't a poll tax.

I think you're looking at the unfriendly amendment that Comer tried to put on the bill that would make former felons pay to get their voting rights back. That floor amendment was defeated.
Reply New Comment View Thread

No [by Anonymous Citizen on April 1, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 339 (Create new program for drug treatment for certain felony defendants)
This bill sounds a whole lot like Senate Bill 72. I am confused that everybody is writing different versions of the same Law. They are right. These people do need treatment if they are going to be locked up for their disease and they will be. If they are locked up everybody wins. The Courts receive money for the fines and the state pays the detention center/prison for their incarceration. The attorneys make money for their representation. If you watch the court dockets and know your community, you will see people who nobody cares about, no family, no job, no attorney....they will walk because there is nobody to make money off of. God forbid if you have a child you care about caught in this system for drug abuse, not a dealer, they have money. Currently, a lot of the Drug Courts are teaching addicts how to be functioning. How to do their drugs and get away with it. They need educated personnel that have drug addiction knowledge running them if they are going to do anything other than teach them how to be functioning addicts. By the way system...the money is gone.. the state can no longer afford your job security.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Response to last comment [by Anonymous Citizen on April 1, 2008]
about 2008 Senate Bill 72 (Substance abuse treatment program in Department of Corrections)
I can tell you how it is different. With the Drug Court system the individual pleads guilty to a crime and agrees to serve the maximum sentence for that crime before ever receiving any treatment and if they fail they serve the maximum term of 5 years for their crime. From what I am reading here they receive treatment before they plead. They at least know what they are in for. I know my child is serving 5 years in prison on a possession charge. If Drug Court could have their way she would serve out every day. Thank God Dept. of Corr. takes over after 6 months. By the way the prison system is so full that my pregnant daughter is in general population even though she should be in community (that is where they put low risk offenders)IT HAS BEEN FULL FOR A LONG TIME. She shares a room with someone who committed murder and has aids.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Lets think about this [by Anonymous Citizen on March 31, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 775 (Prohibit anonymous blogging)
Now I may be just a simple anonymous poster on these here parts of the tubes, but I think that you all have better things to do that infringe on our right to speech. Also how will this really stop people from bullying? Think about it they will just create proxies and get you that way. Don't waste your time.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Honest Tax Payer [by windowmasters on March 31, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 262 (Increase multiple Kentucky taxes)
This is the most ridiculous and frustrating thing I have come across in over 20 years of window cleaning. HB 262 is essentially a tobacco and fuel tax. I agree tobacco should be taxed. Anyone who uses tobacco except as an insecticide should be taxed in my humble opinion because the tax might help them quit using tobacco. But why in the world did they throw in the taxing of window cleaners in this bill? The bill reads almost like an afterthought. "Tobacco, gasoline, oh and let's tax those pesky window cleaners!"
Reply New Comment View Thread

Taking away my job!! [by Anonymous Citizen on March 30, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 133 (Prohibit unlicensed practice of orthotics, prosthetics and pedorthotics)
I have been a O and P provider in this state for over 10 years and if this bill is placed into law I will be out of a Job. Thanks for nothing.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Obviously Unfamiliar With the New Guidelines [by Anonymous Citizen on March 30, 2008]
about 2008 Senate Bill 199 (Follow old American Medical Association disability guidelines)
Take a look at the new guidelines and their changes before accusing greed is the motivator rather than a poorly drafted and speculative medical publication which claims not to be designed for workers compensation use but unfortunately is as the goals go to impairment of activities of daily living and not disabilities.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Re-Tobacco Farmer and Smoker [by Anonymous Citizen on March 30, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 443 (Cigarette tax increase)
We need to raise taxes on all tobacco products by at least $0.25- cents per year , until we have a $3.00- dollars per pack sales tax on all tobacco and cigarettes products sold in kentucky.Tobacco products cause more harm and deaths and increase healthcare costs than any other products sold anywhere in the state of kentucky.It time to stand up and demand increase sales taxes on tobacco and cigarettes products ( i also think we need alot more sales taxes increases on all alcoholic beverages products sold in kentucky as well ).Sales taxes increases on tobacco and cigarettes does not hurt or effect and do any harm to the tobacco farmers or tobacco manufacturing companies.But sales tax increases will stop people from smoking , especially the children in kentucky and over time adults will begin to stop smoking as well because of the increase sales taxes on tobacco and cigarettes products.We need to send a very clear and strong message against tobacco and cigarettes products sold or made in kentucky and the usa.We to let the tobacco companies know that there harmful products are not wanted here in the state of kentucky.There is no products that cause more harm,deaths,diseases than tobacco and cigarettes.Its time to wake up and say no to tobacco and cigarettes.
Reply New Comment View Thread

SB 25 [by Anonymous Citizen on March 30, 2008]
about 2008 Senate Bill 25 (Tighten DUI penalties)
Almost everyone has been effected by DUI crashes and known victims of these offenses. It is very sad and completely undescribable I am sure. And these victims deserve justice. However, most state laws are not made to get revenge upon these offenders. The laws are made so that the justice system can be fair and consistent. When you have a judge in eastern Kentucky granting shock probation on huge amounts of cases (not that there is a judge in eastern Kentucky doing this)and then there is a judge in central Kentucky not giving shock probation at all there is a problem. It undermines the entire system. If drunk drivers are guaranteed prison time when they cause a fatality it needs to be consistent. And since we cannot seem to get all the sentencing judges on the same page it is time that our legislature step in a set standards. SB 25 is not invaded the rights of judges to make desicions. When shock probation was originated, offenders were sent directly to prison after sentencing and they were subjected to actual prison life. Now, with the high population in our prisons, most never make it from the local jails to prison before being shock probated. So, it defeats the purpose. Let some of these criminals out that are not a threat to society and lock up these people that are killing law abiding citizens. Let's face the problem and not try to complicate it to be in our favor.
Reply New Comment View Thread

The proof is in the pudding [by Anonymous Citizen on March 30, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 443 (Cigarette tax increase)
You know, we pass statutory rape laws to protect 14 year olds from having sex. Why? Because they don't have the maturity to make the decision. For the exact same reason, we need to reel in the pay day lenders. Any person that believes borrowing money at usurous rates of over 400% is a good deal is in no better position than a 14 year old being wooed by older men. She might know she is getting screwed, but she has no idea of the harm being caused. Anybody that fights for the right to be charged pay day lender interest rates deserves to be protected by this bill. Just like we protect our children from sexual predators, we need to protect the financially immature citizens from our state by the financial rape impose upon them by pay day lenders. Anybody who writes in support of pay day lenders is either getting an easy paycheck by taking advantage of the poor and disenfranchised, or they are the working poor who have been brainwashed by the loan sharks. Nobody starved today before 'cash advance' type business opened their doors. Encourage financial responsibility and pass this bill.
Reply New Comment View Thread

Was a good bill [by Anonymous Citizen on March 29, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 170 (Increase penalty for leaving the scene of an accident)
This was a good bill until Mr. Jones' interjected amendment. I see no problem with the aggravating circumstances issue but taking away anyone's right to contact an attorney takes us down a dangerous path. I would hope that this amendment would be deleted for this reason. I wonder what Mr. Jones' problem with a potential suspect contacting a lawyer is? It is these very "rights" that separate us from the police states of the world.
Reply New Comment View Thread

I Wonder [by Anonymous Citizen on March 29, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 202 (Ban alcohol vaporizing devices)
Sometimes I wonder if these "representatives" even read these bills let alone do any research, particularly, the unintended consequences of some of these potential LAWS. I would almost bet that most do not even read them thoroughly. This can be evidenced by contacting a representative and questioning them about a particular bill. I know there are a lot of bills and time is finite, but some of these laws affect some people profoundly and these people deserve to know that their representatives have weighed the cost vs benefits and vote the best way they know how. By watching the voting patterns it just seems to me that some vote just because most others vote a certain way.
Reply New Comment View Thread

In Response to Music Man [by Anonymous Citizen on March 29, 2008]
about 2008 Senate Bill 1 (Eliminate Commonwealth Accountability Testing System)
I agree that music and the arts are important. I understand and acknowledge that students in high quality music program do very well on standardized testing. However, I do not think that what we are doing in our KY schools today is anywhere near a copy of what research has studied. We are bombarding our students with art facts and music facts and drama vocabulary, but are forgetting the actual appreciation of it all. You don't teach appreciation, you earn it or encourage it through experiences. We can't give children the experiences because of the accountability. That does not involve memorizing facts or composing new music. My goodness, what we expect our 5th grade students to know and do when most of them haven't even memorized the basic multiplication facts. We have got to get a good foundation...a solid foundation in the basics...so children will have he tools necessary to expand in other areas. We are not doing a real good job of anything. We are just hitting and missing in every content area in order to prepare for the "accountability". Children do need music and art. They need to sing and dance and paint and sculpt...not read art content textbooks or music theory or compose music for accountability...not in primary for sure!
Reply New Comment View Thread

Peoples Cash Advance [by Anonymous Citizen on March 29, 2008]
about 2008 House Bill 500 (Increase regulation of check cashers)
Finally!!!!!
Reply New Comment View Thread