Regressive Kentucky Laws Are Bringing Back the Bad Old Days
Addressing the long list of pressing modern challenges facing Kentucky requires a unified effort from all of us. How will...
Budget & Tax
Mirage of Inflation-Driven Surpluses Is No Basis for Permanent Tax Cuts
Kentucky is experiencing record revenue surpluses due to high inflation and temporary federal stimulus that spurred a faster-than-expected recovery from the pandemic recession. But under House Bill (HB) 8, lawmakers are...
More Disasters Are Coming. Kentucky Must Be Prepared
The last couple of years have marked a chaotic time in Kentucky with our communities rocked by a pandemic, recession, tornadoes and floods. The turmoil that our more vulnerable neighbors...
With Mounting Needs and Fear of Recession, State Should Suspend Tax Cuts
After many years of tight state budgets, Kentucky is now experiencing healthy but temporary revenue surpluses that are growing its rainy day fund, the state’s emergency savings account, to an...
Flood Relief Legislation Only a First Step, Leaves Out Housing Aid
A relief package introduced in the special legislative session includes over $200 million to help with emergency costs for local governments, schools, utilities, infrastructure and other needs in the wake...
State Must Go Beyond FEMA Aid to Adequately Address Housing Need From Eastern Kentucky Floods
The multi-colored houses on Knott County’s Rainbow Lane were reduced to rubble. Raging flood waters tossed and twisted mobile homes in Letcher County. In Hazard, an engorged North Fork lifted...
Kentucky Must Do More to Increase Flood Resilience
The catastrophic flooding that recently hit southeastern Kentucky resulted in the death of 39 people, devastated communities and destroyed many homes and buildings. The problem is not new: Kentucky has...
Let’s Learn From Braidy, and Seek More Answers From Each Other
News that a company called Steel Dynamics will take over what’s left of Braidy Industries and abandon the proposed Ashland aluminum plant is likely the end of this five-year debacle. Whether it’s...
What the New Climate and Health Legislation Will Mean for Kentucky
President Biden on Tuesday signed new legislation that takes critical steps toward addressing the climate crisis, improves access to affordable health care, creates jobs in clean energy and puts downward...
Temporary Surplus Should Not Trigger Permanent Tax Cuts that Threaten Future Budgets
Driven by a strong economic recovery and by high inflation, the state ended the year with a General Fund surplus of $1.034 billion more than projected. These extra dollars are...