HB 465 Will Further Undermine Worker Protections and Job Quality
Kentucky already has a growing problem with worker misclassification, in which employers inaccurately and often unlawfully treat employees as independent...
HB 255 Weakens Child Labor Laws and Will Fuel More School Dropouts
Alarming growth in exploitative child labor is already a problem in Kentucky, with violations rising and the state making national news on the issue. A nationwide effort funded by corporate...
House Passes Austere Budget That Adds to Already Overfunded Reserves and Aims for More Tax Cuts
Kentucky has a historic opportunity to invest in critical community needs, but the House passed a modest budget – lacking adequate funds for areas like education, child care, housing and...
Kentucky Plummets in State Ranking of Tax Fairness
Because of recent legislative changes, Kentucky’s tax system is rapidly becoming much more inequitable, according to a new report by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP). Kentucky has...
Substantial Revenues Are Available for Both Recurring and One-Time Needs, Unless Lawmakers Budget for More Tax Cuts
The budget debate is well under way in Frankfort, but the discussion is clouded by confusion and misinformation about the types of resources available and the consequences of taking advantage...
Governor’s Budget Invests in Education and Infrastructure Using Dollars Otherwise Piling Up in Excessive Reserves
Governor Beshear’s 2024-2026 budget proposal expands investment in a variety of public services, with a focus on education and infrastructure, and pays for that expansion with billions of dollars otherwise...
The Money Is There and So Are the Needs: Preview of the 2024-2026 Budget of the Commonwealth
Introduction The General Assembly faces a critically important opportunity with the 2024-2026 Budget of the Commonwealth. A strong national economy has resulted in robust recent state revenue growth, but the...
Union Victories Could Spark New Blue Collar Power in the Bluegrass
Is it possible that blue collar Kentucky workers could finally be reaching a turning point in the long slide in their standard of living? If so, history may credit the...
Local Sales Tax Amendment Could Lead to Wider Inequality Without Better Funding Local Services
Under Kentucky’s constitution, there are limits on the types of taxes the General Assembly may authorize local governments to levy, and local sales taxes are not allowed. [efn_note]As currently interpreted,...
State Report Describes Growing Educator Shortage, and Lack of Funding Plays a Key Role
The growing shortage of teachers and other school personnel is becoming more severe, according to a new report by the Kentucky legislature’s Office of Education Accountability (OEA). Inadequate funding and...