Legislative Philosophy

As a Conservative Democrat in my eighth term,  I work hard to be an effective voice for the people of Jessamine and Fayette Counties.  I will continue to stress fiscal responsibility in state government and to insure that state government remains responsive to the needs of all Kentuckians. 

Stance On Issues 

TAXES & FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

• Co-sponsored legislation that repealed taxes on inheritances, private pensions, and intangibles.

• Sponsored legislation that would establish a sales tax holiday for “back to school items” during the first week of August each year.

• Consistently named a TAXPAYERS BEST FRIEND by Kentucky Taxpayers United for his stand against raising taxes and unnecessary spending.         

ETHICS                        

• Led the fight for passage of the 1993 “no cup of coffee” Ethics Reforms.

• Co-sponsored legislation establishing and ethics code for local government officials.

• Named as “One of The Most Ethical Legislators in Frankfort” by Common Cause of Kentucky.

AGRICULTURAL

• Co-sponsored tort reform to protect farmers from frivolous lawsuits.

• Successfully supported and protected the needs of our Tobacco Framers by insuring that a minimum of 50% of the Tobacco Settlement Funds are dedicated to sustaining Agricultural and Our Family Farms.

CRIME

• Sponsored Kentucky’s Fetal Homicide Bill.

• Co-sponsored legislation that gets tough on violent juvenile criminals and provides public disclosure of a juvenile’s violent criminal record to school officials.

• Sponsored legislation that prohibits shock probation or suspended sentences for felony sex offenders.

• Co-sponsored legislation that enhanced the penalty on a criminal who attempts to disarm a police officer.

• Co-sponsored legislation that requires violent criminals to serve a minimum of 85% of their sentence before being considered for parole.

• Sponsored Kentucky’s Megan’s Law which provides full community disclosure of the location of sex offenders in our community and prohibits convicted sex offenders from living within 1000 feet of a school or day care center.

EDUCATION

• Supported increased funding for school technology and for improvements in the student/teacher relationship.

• Sponsored legislation that requires the inclusion of Character Education in the curriculum for all students in primary school through high school.

• Sponsored legislation permitting voluntary, student initiated prayer at graduation and other non-instructional times.

VETERANS AFFAIRS

• Sponsored legislation that increased funding and staffing for the Thomson Hood Veterans Center in Wilmore.

• Co-sponsored legislation that established two additional state veterans’ nursing homes in the Kentucky.

• Sponsored legislation, which guarantees every Veteran of Military Service, military burial honors and established the funding and the process for a family to request military burial honors.

HEALTH CARE

• Sponsored Kentucky’s “Patients Bill of Rights” that provides consumers of health care and their doctors more say over their health care decisions.

• Co-sponsored legislation that provides for an independent external review of any health care coverage decision made by an insurance company that a consumer and their doctor disagree with.

• Sponsored legislation that prohibits insurance companies from discriminating against people with mental illness on health insurance groups.

• Sponsored legislation that requires coverage for mammography and breast screenings as ordered by a woman’s doctor.

SENIOR CITIZENS’ CONSUMER PROTECTIONS

• Sponsored legislation that requires all Assisted Living Facilities to be State Certified with clear requirements and consumer protections for their residents.

• Sponsored legislation that established Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC) which allow Seniors to age in the same location, regardless of changes in their health condition. The legislation also applies many of the consumer protections contained in the Assisted Living legislation to a CCRC.

• Sponsored legislation to provide for assistance with prescription drugs for low income seniors.

• Sponsored Kentucky’s Predatory Lending Law, which has become a model for the nation.

• Sponsored legislation that regulates Viatical Settlements and provides consumer protections recommended by the Kentucky Department of Insurance.