• Expanded Gaming Amendment: The Governor will soon introduce a bill in the Senate to allow Kentuckians to vote on the issue of expanded gaming - a move which would return millions of dollars to the state to protect and support key priorities such as public protection, education and job creation.


• Balanced and Strategic Budget: Later this month, Gov. Beshear will submit his proposed biennial budget. The Governor has warned lawmakers that this will be the most difficult budget of his administration, and will include significant cuts in order to balance. However, Gov. Beshear has also made clear that we must continue to make investments in our future and should not allow a dismal budget to become a barrier to progress in education and job preparation.


• Prescription Drug Abuse: Gov. Beshear, along with Speaker Greg Stumbo and Attorney General Jack Conway, will push for legislation to make participation mandatory in the state's electronic prescription reporting program, KASPER. The legislative package will also crack down on pill clinics.


• Strengthening Tomorrow's Workforce through Education: The Governor called on legislators to pass the "Graduation Bill," which would incrementally increase the legal dropout age from 16 to 18. This bill has enjoyed bipartisan support and has been passed by the House three times. He also asked legislators to pass a bill that will authorize his Early Childhood Advisory Council, as well as streamline the administration of Career and Technical Education.


• Encouraging Private Economic Investment: Gov. Beshear will push for tax credits for so-called 'angel investors' - private investors who provide funding for mid-level entrepreneurs. These entrepreneurs are often too small to attract big venture capital and too large for other forms of start-up assistance. This bill would mean that Kentuckians who invest in Kentucky start-ups to create Kentucky jobs would receive a credit on their Kentucky income taxes.


• Protecting Children: In light of recent discussions regarding the protection of Kentucky's most vulnerable children, Gov. Beshear will propose the "Child Protection Act of 2012," which includes legislation to formalize what records should be released after the death of a child. The package also includes a bill to create an independent review panel, appointed by the Attorney General, to review all child fatalities and near fatalities where child abuse or neglect is alleged.


• Supporting Military Families: Gov. Beshear will support legislation providing a tax credit for Kentucky National Guard families who adopt a child. Currently, all other military branches except the Guard enjoy this benefit.

Call for Bipartisan Cooperation

In his first legislative address since his re-election, Gov. Beshear asked legislators to put aside partisan decision-making to make real and lasting change for Kentuckians.

"We have an opportunity this session to make Kentuckians' lives better, both in the short term and long into the future," said Gov. Beshear. "And we will succeed if we're bold. We will succeed if we put the focus where it belongs - on creating a better Kentucky for the people we serve."

The Governor will next address the full legislative body on January 17, when he delivers his budget address.

This story was posted on 2012-01-05 08:19:35

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