Visual: Medicaid Expansion Helps, Not Hurts, State Budget
Through the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Kentucky expanded Medicaid eligibility to those with incomes up to 138 percent of the...
Budget & Tax
April 15 Isn’t Popular, But Taxes Still Important
Few people like Tax Day. Filling out forms and mailing off checks doesn’t usually inspire reflection on the bigger purpose of taxes. Yet most people can agree on the priorities...
Kentucky a Loser in Proposed Tax Giveaway to Wealthiest
The U. S. House of Representatives is expected to vote this week to repeal the federal estate tax, an idea that would worsen growing inequality and reduce revenue needed for...
How Several Bills Passed This Session Changed the State Budget
The 2015 General Assembly reopened the 2014-2016 budget to appropriate new monies for several initiatives. These were largely paid for — and the state’s rainy day fund was boosted by...
County, Rural Roads Will Lose Millions Without Gas Tax Freeze
The clock is ticking on the 2015 session and legislators have yet to guard Kentucky’s city and county roads and bridges from the consequences of a pending 5.1 cent drop...
Inaction on Gas Tax Will Drop Rate to Historically Low Levels
lf legislators end the 2015 session without preventing the pending 5.1 cent drop in the gas tax, the rate will fall to a level near its historic low over the...
Local Economies Harmed If Lawmakers Fail to Safeguard Road Fund
With just two days left in the 2015 General Assembly, legislators are running out of time to protect the Road Fund from another decrease in the motor fuels tax. On...
How Sentencing and Costs Compare in Heroin Bills
The following table shows how proposed changes to Kentucky’s current heroin trafficking laws—including the House’s new proposal from last night (SB 192)—would affect sentencing and corrections costs. Increasing sentences and/or...
Stiff Penalties Cost Both Ky., Addicts
As the Kentucky House and Senate work together to pass much-needed legislation to combat rising heroin use, it’s important that they don’t undermine the state’s recent landmark corrections reforms. Before...
Corporations Shouldn’t Get Pass on Local Option Sales Tax
Large, profitable corporations are now saying they shouldn't have to pay their share if the legislature moves forward with putting a local option sales tax on the ballot, according to...