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Buffett update Senate Republicans just blocked President Obama’s “Buffett Rule”, which would have closed the loopholes that allow corporate CEO...

Senate Week In Review: 4/13/2012 FRANKFORT – Last night, the 2012 60-day Regular Session of the Kentucky General Assembly came to a close. In the evening hours bef...

Senator Harper Angel Supports Extending Tuition Tax Credit

FRANKFORT – Senator Denise Harper Angel, D-Louisville, supported legislation last week that extends the tuition tax credit for students participating in the Metropolitan College until April 15, 2017.Metropolitan College was established as a Louisville, Kentucky-based partnership among Jefferson Comm...

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Buffett update

Senate Republicans just blocked President Obama’s “Buffett Rule”, which would have closed the loopholes that allow corporate CEOs to pay a lower tax rate than the rest ...

IMPORTANT: LD Chairs & Vice Chairs Election

District LD Chair Meeting Location ...

Attention Jefferson County Democrats:

Democratic Legislative District Conventions will be held April 14, 2012 at 10:00am. Check here for the location of your meeting. Your attendance at your Legislative Di...

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13-04-2012 Denise Harper-Angel State Senate Newsletter

Senate Week In Review: 4/13/2012

FRANKFORT – Last night, the 2012 60-day Regular Session of the Kentucky General Assembly came to a close. In the evening...

12-04-2012 Denise Harper-Angel State Senate Newsletter

Senator Harper Angel Supports Extending Tuition Tax Credit

FRANKFORT – Senator Denise Harper Angel, D-Louisville, supported legislation last week that extends the tuition tax cred...

11-04-2012 C2 State Senate Newsletter

Summary of the 2012 Legislative Session

Budget Highlights Enacted on time, with no new taxes, low levels of borrowing, and much less reliance on one-time fun...

24-03-2012 C2 State Senate Newsletter

We protected education as well as we could. Under the latest version of the plan, our public universities and Education Cabinet were spared the full impact of the 8.4 percent cut. The Senate added provisions to provide relief for school districts impacted by the recent tornadoes, including additional disaster days, and a special process to calculate SEEK funding for 2012-2013. Even with a tight budget, members of the General Assembly feel it is important to help our storm-ravaged communities to get back on track. Legislative and judicial branches of government, not included in the $19.5 billion executive branch budget, will face the full 8.4 percent cut, as well. More money was eked out in a few essential areas, including social services, in response to frontline workers’ overwhelming caseloads. We also provided additional funding for transitional living for developmentally disabled Kentuckians. Even in the dire situation we are in, we must ensure that our most vulnerable citizens are protected. While our bleak financial situation squelches any substantial hope that major funding changes will occur in the budget plan, it is important to keep in mind that the details are not yet final. They will not be until a conference committee, comprised of members of both chambers, iron out the differences in each of their plans. We are hopeful the final version of the budget will reflect a responsible level of debt and carry us through the next two years, to a better economy where Kentuckians are back at work and businesses big and small are thriving. We also considered other important legislation this week, as well. We unanimously passed House Bill 390, in an effort to decrease the theft of items containing copper or other valuable metals. The measure forbids cash payments by metal recyclers for items – too often stolen -- such as catalytic converters and copper parts from air conditioning units. It requires that payment be made in the form of a mailed check the day following the purchase. Under the provisions of the bill, secondary metal recyclers would also have to register with the State and undergo a background check. The bill also establishes misdemeanor and felony crimes relating to the destruction of property for the intent of stealing valuable metals. We hope this will help prevent homeowners, churches, builders, and others from dealing with vandalized and damaged property stripped by thieves of valuable metals -- a growing problem that has already plagued many Kentuckians. We passed House Concurrent Resolution 129 that establishes a task force to study our juvenile code that dates to the mid-1980s. The task force, which would be comprised of judges, lawyers and other juvenile justice officials, would study issues ranging from status offenders, to the use of community resources, to the feasibility of establishing an age of criminal responsibility. The task force would report to the Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary and LRC no later than January 7, 2013. The following is a list of legislation that I have filed as the primary sponsor and the status of those bills: SB 36 -- Relating to missing children. Assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Chair is Senator Tom Jensen. SB 37 – Relating to fingerprint background checks of long-term care employees. Assigned to the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, Chair is Senator Julie Denton. SB 39 – Relating to school collection of data on body mass index, height, and weight. Assigned to the Senate Education Committee, Chair is Senator Ken Winters. SB 44 – Relating to dating violence. Assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Chair is Senator Tom Jensen. A mirror image of SB 44 – House Bill 498 – passed the House and has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee. I urge you to contact Chairman Jensen and ask him to hear HB 498. SB 93 – Relating to brain impaired missing persons. This bill has been placed on the Senate Consent Calendar. SB 104 – Relating to the protection of adults – an adult abuse registry. Assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Chair is Senator Tom Jenson. SB 128 – Relating to the imposition of tolls or fees on existing federal interstate highways. Assigned to the Senate Transportation Committee, Chair is Senator Ernie Harris. SB 156 – Relating to collective bargaining rights for police and firefighters in second class cities. Assigned to the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee, Chair is Senator Bob Leeper. If you support my legislation, you can assist me in getting these bills moving by calling the chairman of the respective committees to ask that a committee hearing be given. With only a few more working days remaining, the session is quickly winding down. There is still time, though, for important measures – such as those addressing substance-abuse issues – to become law. I encourage you to take this opportunity to have your voice heard in this legislative session. To learn more about the Kentucky General Assembly and the work of the 2012 Regular Session, visit our home page, www.lrc.ky.gov. You can also call 1-800-633-9650 for a taped message containing information on legislative committee meetings. To check the status of a bill, you may call the toll-free Bill Status Line at 1-866-840-2835. To leave a message for me, or any legislator, call the General Assembly’s toll-free Message Line at 1-800-372-7181. People who prefer to offer their feedback in Spanish can call the General Assembly’s Spanish Line at 1-866-840-6574.You may also e-mail me directly at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Senator Harper Angel represents the 35th Senate District in Jefferson County.

Senate Update - March 23rd - Angel

FRANKFORT – The Commonwealth’s two-year budget plan continued to dominate much of the Senate’s attention this week. T...

24-03-2012 C2 Kentucky State House

So here’s what happening. Next week should be interesting. Budget sub-committee chairs, members and staff will be pouring over the Senate budget with fine toothed combs this weekend. We’ll be looking for any language that changes how we believe your tax dollars should be spent. This is work that one simply has to grind your way through. It’s not pretty, and the budget document is long, but this is absolutely necessary. It could also spell the end of this warm and fuzzy period between the members, and the chambers. A Conference Committee is already appointed and ready to start resolving any conflicts found between the House and Senate versions. Any compromise between the two versions of the budget must be agreed upon within the next few days and returned to both chambers for approval. Our 2012 session will come to a close on April 12th after the Governor has exercised a 10 day period that allows him to either sign bills into law or veto them. The end of our session could go out like a lamb – or a lion. With the weather we’ve been having, who knows? We’ll just have to keep our eyes open, watch carefully and read every detail. SO, HERE’S WHERE YOUR BUTTER GETS CHURNED: A very decent proposal to aid our immigrant communities was passed this week. HB 183 cleared the full House by a vote of 84-8 on Monday and will allow —but not require—local school districts to enroll refugees and legal resident aliens in their high schools, even if the students would be over 21 years of age by the time they receive their diploma. Current law allows students to attend public school until they reach age 21. This will help place more immigrees in better positions to be contributing taxpayers with access to higher paying jobs. SB 89 was sent to the governor after passing the House on Tuesday. It was filed in response to a 2010 crash on I-65 near Munfordville that killed 10 members of a Mennonite family who were riding in a 15-seat van when it collided with a tractor trailer. Reports indicated that most of the van’s passengers were not wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. Current state law only requires seat belt use in vans designed to carry 10 or fewer people. This is expanded to include 15-seat vans. HB 165 cleared the House and is sent to the Senate. It will offer a refund on sales and use tax paid on materials used to rebuild in storm-ravaged counties that are declared to be federal disaster areas. And it reaches out to school districts and their staff in those disaster areas by allowing the state’s education commissioner to waive up to 10 instructional days missed as a result of the storms. The “disaster” declaration would preserve schools’ state funding, while ensuring that all school personnel receive salary, wages and benefits for those days. A statewide “Blue Alert” system to help law enforcement apprehend someone suspected of killing, wounding or abducting a law enforcement officer cleared the House Transportation Committee this week. The system will broadcast identifying information similar to that sent out under the Amber Alert system now in place for missing children. Blue Alerts would be issued only upon request of a law enforcement agency after it is determined that an officer has been killed, injured, or is missing. An important ABA study from 1976 – 2010 found a nearly 60% error rate in death penalty cases! Of the 98 death penalty cases examined, 50 were overturned. HCR 173 calls for the creation of the Kentucky Death Penalty Reform Implementation Task Force to develop a strategy to implement recommended reforms in these cases. Protection from domestic abuse was extended to include people who are dating. The bill would only apply to those dating couples who are 18 years of age or older. Question of the Week – What issue have we not addressed that you feel the General Assembly should address during this legislative session? CONTACT ME: Call me directly at 502.564.8100 Write me at Rm. 329C, Capitol Annex, 702 Capitol Avenue, Frankfort, KY 40601. I’m on FACEBOOK at http://www.facebook.com and online at http://reginaldmeeks.com. To reach any particular legislator, contact our toll - free number at 800.372.7181. For the deaf or hard-of-hearing, that number is 800.896.0305. REGINALD

March 19 – March 23, 2012

I wasn’t sure what I was going to write about this week. Normally I have pieces of info or partial thoughts or ideas se...

16-03-2012 C2 State Senate Newsletter

Senate Bill 198 ensures that diabetes educators have the proper instruction and credentials. It is important for our citizens to receive correct and appropriate information about the disease. We want to make sure the people teaching them about one of our most serious public-health issues are qualified to do so. A recommendation from the Taskforce on Childhood Obesity, Senate Bill 110 would give school districts the option to allow citizens access to school sports and physical fitness facilities during non-school hours. The measure allows schools to charge a fee for community use, and protects districts from liability if anyone is hurt. It also allows artistic, civic, literary and other activities in addition to the recreational and sports usage originally envisioned by the taskforce. Another bill that gained our approval this week was Senate Bill 8 that would require that any administrative bodies appointed by the Governor be dissolved within 180 days after the end of his or her term. They could, however, be reappointed by the Legislature if deemed necessary. Supporters say this would reduce the number of appointed bodies that remain in place, costing taxpayers money years after they are no longer relevant. These measures now go to the House for their consideration. We passed House Bill 293 this week, a bill that pertains only to those rare instances in which there is only one candidate running in an election. The measure allows districts to open only one polling booth in such elections. Supporters say this would save precincts a lot of money in elections that usually have extremely low voter turnout because they are often viewed as a formality. The bill now awaits the Governor’s signature. The end of this legislative session is quickly approaching. If this was a basketball game, we would be in the final quarter with about eight minutes left on the clock. As you know, this is when it really counts. A lot can happen. Many more shots will be taken and plenty of points can still be scored. While we do not deny that lawmakers represent their own ‘teams,’ the goal of the full General Assembly is to ensure the Commonwealth is the winner when the final buzzer sounds. In our case, that is when the final gavel falls, 11 working days from now. To learn more about the Kentucky General Assembly and the work of the 2012 Regular Session, visit our home page, www.lrc.ky.gov. You can also call 1-800-633-9650 for a taped message containing information on legislative committee meetings. To check the status of a bill, you may call the toll-free Bill Status Line at 1-866-840-2835. To leave a message for me, or any legislator, call the General Assembly’s toll-free Message Line at 1-800-372-7181. People who prefer to offer their feedback in Spanish can call the General Assembly’s Spanish Line at 1-866-840-6574.

Senate Update - March 16th - Clark

FRANKFORT -- Work continued in earnest this week on a budget proposal sent to us by the House, as our days were filled w...

16-03-2012 C2 State Senate Newsletter

We also passed bills this week to address obesity and obesity-related illnesses. The Trust for America’s Health ranks Kentucky third in the nation – a bad third, not a good one -- for childhood obesity, a precursor to Type II diabetes. We need to do something to change those numbers. Senate Bill 198 ensures that diabetes educators have the proper instruction and credentials. It is important for our citizens to receive correct and appropriate information about the disease. We want to make sure the people teaching them about one of our most serious public-health issues are qualified to do so. A recommendation from the Taskforce on Childhood Obesity, Senate Bill 110 would give school districts the option to allow citizens access to school sports and physical fitness facilities during non-school hours. The measure allows schools to charge a fee for community use, and protects districts from liability if anyone is hurt. It also allows artistic, civic, literary and other activities in addition to the recreational and sports usage originally envisioned by the taskforce. Another bill that gained our approval this week was Senate Bill 8 that would require that any administrative bodies appointed by the Governor be dissolved within 180 days after the end of his or her term. They could, however, be reappointed by the Legislature if deemed necessary. Supporters say this would reduce the number of appointed bodies that remain in place, costing taxpayers money years after they are no longer relevant. These measures now go to the House for their consideration. We passed House Bill 293 this week, a bill that pertains only to those rare instances in which there is only one candidate running in an election. The measure allows districts to open only one polling booth in such elections. Supporters say this would save precincts a lot of money in elections that usually have extremely low voter turnout because they are often viewed as a formality. The bill now awaits the Governor’s signature. The following is a list of legislation that I have filed as the primary sponsor and the status of those bills: SB 36 -- Relating to missing children. Assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Chair is Senator Tom Jensen. SB 37 – Relating to fingerprint background checks of long-term care employees. Assigned to the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, Chair is Senator Julie Denton. SB 39 – Relating to school collection of data on body mass index, height, and weight. Assigned to the Senate Education Committee, Chair is Senator Ken Winters. SB 44 – Relating to dating violence. Assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Chair is Senator Tom Jensen. A mirror image of SB 44 – House Bill 498 – passed the House Judiciary Committee and is posted for passage in the House Consent Orders of the Day for Monday, March 19, 2012. I urge you to contact Chairman Jensen and ask him to hear HB 498 when it is received in the Senate. SB 93 – Relating to brain impaired missing persons. This bill was removed from the consent calendar and sent back to the Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection Committee. Please contact Chairman Jack Westwood and all members of the committee and ask that this bill be released for further consideration in the House. The Senate members serving on the committee are Joe Bowen, Perry B. Clark, Carroll Gibson, Vernie McGaha, Dennis Parrett, Joey Pendleton, Dan Seum, Tim Shaughnessy, Kathy W. Stein, Mike Wilson and Ken Winters. SB 104 – Relating to the protection of adults – an adult abuse registry. Assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Chair is Senator Tom Jenson. SB 128 – Relating to the imposition of tolls or fees on existing federal interstate highways. Assigned to the Senate Transportation Committee, Chair is Senator Ernie Harris. SB 156 – Relating to collective bargaining rights for police and firefighters in second class cities. Assigned to the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee, Chair is Senator Bob Leeper. If you support my legislation, you can assist me in getting these bills moving by calling the chairman of the respective committees to ask that a committee hearing be given. The end of this legislative session is quickly approaching. If this was a basketball game, we would be in the final quarter with about eight minutes left on the clock. As you know, this is when it really counts. A lot can happen. Many more shots will be taken and plenty of points can still be scored. While we do not deny that lawmakers represent their own ‘teams,’ the goal of the full General Assembly is to ensure the Commonwealth is the winner when the final buzzer sounds. In our case, that is when the final gavel falls, 11 working days from now.

Senate Update - March 16th - Angel

FRANKFORT – Work continued in earnest this week on a budget proposal sent to us by the House, as our days were filled wi...

15-03-2012 C2 Kentucky State House

Here’s what I know: We have sent to the Senate proposed legislation totaling some $19.2 billion over the two-year biennium. 56% for r Education: K – Higher Ed 22% for Medicaid and Human Services] 11% for Criminal Justice 11% for everything else needed to operate the state and provide for our citizens “Will this meet all our needs”? No. Modest income growth has met with rising costs, the loss of federal stimulus funds and the previous use of one-time funds. We are short about $700 M.“So, why not just cut more”? Most agencies are cut by 8.4%. Some have already been cut as much as 25%.“Is everyone cut the same amount”. Yes. All three government branches are cut the same 8.4%.“Yeah, but I bet there were SOME exceptions! Right”? Right. The SEEK funding was not cut. Family Resource Centers were maintained at current spending levels. No cuts to student financial aid and the KEES program; and Social Services gets a $20 M bump to hire more social workers. More cheddar was placed into Gifted and Talented, Read to Achieve and into extended school services programs.And there’s more...SO, HERE’S WHERE YOUR BUTTER GETS CHURNED:We saved $372 M over the upcoming biennium by reforming Medicaid and going to a managed care system.We also began reducing what was the fastest growing prison population in the nation, by more than 4,600 inmates. This allows us to plow $9 M back into the system for substance abuse treatment. Hopefully, some of this will also be used for prevention.Unfortunately, for the second year in a row, state workers – including judges, retirees and yours truly and those of my ilk – will not receive a raise. There is no COLA for retirees and teachers have to pay more into their retirement for health benefits.Veterans Affairs and coal severance funding is not getting cut. A new Veterans nursing home is authorized – pending approval from the Feds – in Hardin Co.Meals-On-Wheels and other elder services gets an extra $5M.Listen UP if you’re tardy with your taxes…. The first Tax Amnesty program in 10 years is authorized. We think it will bring in about $55M when folks take advantage of it.Now, each of the House Budget bills [the Executive, Judicial and the Legislative branch budgets] heads to the Senate. There, they are likely to be “overhauled” – which will lead to the assignment of a House and Senate conference committee to work up a budget compromise…hopefully. Of course the Senate could simply agree these plans are brilliant and represent the best use of limited state resources…Would you recognize a “Pill Mill” in our community? Ever noticed the many “pain clinics” that have opened around town? Or the “Pain Doctors” offices that are newly opened? I have, and so has the legislature. More on these later, but as you drive around, let me know what you observe.Last week’s tornado outbreak weighed heavily on each of us this week. Many or our members wanted to be home with their families and helping their communities cope. They chose, instead, to remain in Frankfort; conducting the People’s Business. We in the House pledged to raise $10 K toward the relief efforts for all Kentucky. Repubs and Dems. Members and Staff. I was proud to be part of this commitment! As of today, I can report we have raised over $22 K -- and are working to have $25 K by Monday! Question of the Week: Good idea or Bad idea? Allowing people to come into our state parks or on state property to hunt for and collect items using metal detectors. CONTACT ME: Call me directly at 502.564.8100 Write me at Rm. 329C, Capitol Annex, 702 Capitol Avenue, Frankfort, KY 40601. I’m on FACEBOOK at http://www.facebook.com and online at http://reginaldmeeks.com. To reach any particular legislator, contact our toll - free number at 800.372.7181. For the deaf or hard-of-hearing, that number is 800.896.0305. REGINALD

March 5 - March 9, 2012

GO CARDS! GO RACERS! GO TOPPERS…..and you too PUDDYCATS!!I don’t mind telling you, if earlier in the ...

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