Sunday, April 19, 2009

The special sessions we need

Speculation about a General Assembly special session being called in June has been running rampant for weeks. The conventional wisdom is that the House and Senate will agree with Gov. Steve Beshear about a new package of tax increases and run back in town for a week of ridiculous speeches.

Affirming votes and collective backslapping will ensue. And real, positive change will be pushed off to another day. Again.

Instead, we need a special session to fix the MUNIS system. Or to better manage labor cost policies. Or to really address public employee benefits. Or to disincentivize dependency on government.

Forcing government transparency would be worth a week of legislative meetings. Heck, we might even get our promised efficiency study if we got our elected representatives to consider the long-term health of the state rather than the short-term health of their political careers.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well then, let's start writing our legislators! If there's something we can do to stop the spending and new taxes, then let's do it!

Pilgrim said...

if such a session is announced we should promptly organize a gathering. Take the message directly to these folks at the Capital.

I wonder if there are any restrictions about taking signs inside the building? No sticks with signs on them...just the signs. We start at the Capital steps and walk into the Capital peacefully and quietly but with the signs.

Anonymous said...

"Instead, we need a special session to fix the MUNIS system. Or to better manage labor cost policies. Or to really address public employee benefits. Or to disincentivize dependency on government."

NO! Kentucky is much better off when these guys simply stay away from Frankfort. Why pay them extra for stuff they should have been doing during the regular sessions to begin with?

David Adams said...

Ha! Relax, 10:01. There is no chance they are going to go back in to Frankfort for anything but tax increases this June. Since they are coming anyway, I was just suggesting a better way for them to spend their time.