The Richmond Register

Local News

March 4, 2013

Hemp bill on table again; redistricting in ‘final phase’

Frankfort

FRANKFORT — Watching the 2013 General Assembly is a bit like watching Kentucky’s weather. If you don’t like what you hear one day, just stick around for what they say the next.

When lawmakers left town Friday, a bill sponsored by Sen. Paul Hornback, R-Shelbyville, to regulate hemp cultivation if the federal government allows it and pushed by Republican Agriculture Commissioner James Comer appeared dead in the Democratic-controlled House.

Meanwhile, Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, told reporters he expected to share a House redistricting plan with the Democratic House caucus Monday.

Check both of those.

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom McKee, D-Cynthiana, said Monday afternoon that after Comer visited McKee’s home county of Harrison County earlier that morning the House committee would take up Hornback’s bill Wednesday. And, McKee intends to vote for it.

“That’s correct,” McKee said when asked about the turnaround. “I’m going to vote for it. I don’t know how anyone else will vote.”

The last time the bill was before McKee’s committee, McKee said he intended to offer a substitute version, but the committee appeared prepared to vote for the original bill. So McKee first recessed, then later adjourned the committee without a vote on either.

His new position would appear to mean the bill will pass out of McKee’s committee, but that doesn’t mean it will get a vote on the floor of the House.

Stumbo said Monday afternoon he still opposes the bill.

“I’m not for the bill,” Stumbo said. “I don’t think we need it.”

Comer has said he thinks the bill would get upwards of 60 or 70 votes if it receives a vote in the 100-member House. But even if it passes out of McKee’s committee, the bill could still be bottled up in the Rules Committer by the House leadership.

Stumbo said he’s requested an opinion from Attorney General Jack Conway about whether a 2001 law already on the books prepares Kentucky to move immediately on hemp cultivation if the federal government either legalizes its growth or offers Kentucky a waiver to test its cultivation.

Redistricting also will have to wait another day.

“It is in its final phase,” Stumbo said when asked about redistricting, giving that answer for what seemed the third or fourth consecutive day. “We hope to be able to present it to the caucus (Tuesday). They’re ― as we speak ― still working to get everything correct.”

The near-constant delay on redistricting in the House suggests disagreement within the Democratic caucus. Republicans still haven’t seen even a preliminary map.

The problem apparently is trying to satisfy everyone inside the “mountain caucus” of eastern Kentucky.

Rep. Kevin Sinnette, D-Ashland, said Monday there have been several “final” votes on maps for the eastern Kentucky districts.

“It seems like we vote on a plan and then afterward, they come back with another plan,” Sinnette said.

Even if House Democrats approve a plan for their chamber, Republican Senate leaders have said they don’t intend to take up re-districting.

Stumbo said he still thinks the Senate should pass the House plan ― “and we’ll stand up publicly, and say we’ll pass their plan” whenever the Senate acts.

But Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, said the Senate isn’t likely to pass the House plan with only a guarantee that the House will then approve whatever plan the Senate comes up with.

“You always cut the deck before the cards are dealt because it’s customary among gentlemen and necessary among thieves,” Stivers said.

The two chambers also remained at an impasse on what was expected to be the biggest issue of the non-budget, 30-day session: state-employee pension reform.

The Republican-controlled Senate passed a fix based on recommendations of a bi-partisan task force with no provisions for how to fund the annually required contributions to the system.

The House re-wrote the bill and passed a companion bill to fund the system through growth revenues from the lottery and revenues from instant racing.

Neither chamber will accept the other’s bills, citing various alleged procedural deficiencies.

Stumbo said Monday he still hopes the two chambers can set up a conference committee to work out their differences and thereby avoid a special session.

Stivers said the Senate is ready to discuss the pension impasse, but he continued to say the funding mechanism should be taken up in the 2014 budget session. Budgets, he said, are to establish priorities.

He also suggested that “any subject discussed in the General Assembly” could be brought up in a free conference committee between the two chambers, apparently holding out the prospect that both the pension framework and funding measures could be discussed in such a committee.

At least one thing got done Monday; the Senate passed a bill already passed in the House to “tweak” last year’s bill to crack down on pain-pill abuse. The changes were adopted to allow hospitals, hospices and long-term care facilities to prescribe the drugs without pursuing full reports on past use by patients.

House Bill 217 now goes to Gov. Steve Beshear for his signature.

Ronnie Ellis writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com. Follow CNHI News Service stories on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cnhifrankfort.

 

Text Only
Local News
  • download-3.jpg White Hall teachers say farewell for the summer

    White Hall Elementary kindergarten assistant Patti Von Fischer said she found a poem on the Internet that seemed to fit the last day of school perfectly.
    “The teachers jumped out of the windows; the principals ran for the door; the nurse and librarian bolted; they’re not coming back anymore,” Von Fischer read over the loudspeaker Friday before students left for the summer.

    May 25, 2013 6 Photos

  • Benson will be state’s third highest paid university president

    When Michael Benson begins his tenure as the 12th president of Eastern Kentucky University on Aug. 1, his $400,000 salary plus benefits will make him Kentucky’s third-highest paid state university president.
    Benson’s pay will be less only than that of Eli Capilouto, president of the University of Kentucky, $500,000 a year, and Gary Ransdell, president of Western Kentucky University, $423,588 a year, according to figures obtained from the state Council on Post-secondary education.

    May 25, 2013

  • Detective Monte H. Owens Richmond post troopers recognized at annual ceremony

    The Kentucky State Police announced the 2012 Trooper of the Year, Detective of the Year, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officer of the Year and other awards for acts of bravery, life-saving, professionalism and dedication to duty Friday at the Capital Plaza Hotel in Frankfort.

    May 25, 2013 3 Photos

  • 5-25 Balloon1.jpg Second-grade classroom receives recognition for reading nearly 1,400 books

    A project at Mayfield Elementary School has received recognition across state lines from a woman who found a balloon released in celebration of one classroom having read more than 1,000 books.
    Second-grade teacher Wanda Wilson started the school year by challenging her 22 students to read a total of 1,000 books by the end of the school year.

    May 25, 2013 3 Photos

  • 5-25 PetsofWeek1.jpg Pets of the Week

    This week's cat is an 8-week-old female kitten.  This week's dog is 1-year-old Nicki, a spayed female who does not care for horses, according to her previous owner.

    May 25, 2013 2 Photos

  • Father/Daughter Dance is June 14 at RAAC

    Dads and daughters will take to the dance floor Friday, June 14, for the second annual Father/Daughter Dance to benefit the Hope’s Wings Domestic Violence Program.
    The ball will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Richmond Area Arts Center, 399 W. Water St.

    May 25, 2013

  • Three Richmond thefts reported Tuesday-Thursday

    Richmond police are investigating thefts reported from Tuesday through Thursday.
    An employee of Baptist Health, Eastern Bypass, reported Thursday that her vehicle had been broken into during the evening and a small shoulder purse was stolen. The purse contained several debit/credit cards, $70 in cash, and a Pantech slider cellular telephone. Estimated loss: $595.

    May 25, 2013

  • Paul plans re-election bid for U.S. Senate in 2016

     Republican Rand Paul will run for re-election to the U.S. Senate in 2016 regardless of any decision to launch a presidential bid. And he will campaign for his Kentucky colleague and Senate Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in 2014.

    May 25, 2013

  • 5-24 Model 2.JPG ‘Etta May’s On Her Way’ for Model Lab benefit

    Laughter will fill Eastern Kentucky University’s Keen Johnson Ballroom June 8 when southern comedienne Etta May comes to town for Model Laboratory School’s first annual fundraising event.
    Half of the ticket proceeds will be donated to help five Model programs: Scholarships, gifted programs, the arts, athletics and extended field trips or exchange programs, said school psychologist Ellen Rini.

    May 23, 2013 7 Photos

  • 5-24 Carla Rae Clontz.jpg Court hearing reveals errors in trafficking case’s investigative file

    A discrepancy in police records led to an unusual hearing in a drug trafficking case Thursday in Madison Circuit Court.
    The attorney for 49-year-old Carla Rae Clontz made a motion earlier this month for a bill of particulars hearing. Both the prosecution and defense attorneys had noticed problems with the file numbers in Clontz’ case, and there also were different reports of the number of pills sheriff’s deputies allege were found in her home.

    May 23, 2013 1 Photo

Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
AP Video
Raw: Trucker Bumps I-5 Bridge Before Collapse Raw: Texas Deputy Shot by Colo. Suspect Honored Major Detours Following Wash. Bridge Collapse American Held in Grisly Czech Murders Raw: Jersey Shore Reopens for Summer UK-bound Pakistan Plane Diverted, 2 Men Arrested Officials: Tsarnaev Friend Linked to Slaying Obama:Sexual Assault Threatens Trust in Military Bridge Collapse Survivor: 'Rough Day' Jersey Shore Open for Business Raw: Memorial Day Flags Placed at Arlington New Wheelchair Lift Promises More Access First Person: Mom Discusses Famous Tornado Photo Raw Video: Washington State Bridge Collapse Boy Scouts Approve Plan to Accept Gay Boys
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Poll

Will you or someone you know benefit from the state’s expansion of Medicaid under the federal Affordable Care Act commonly known as Obamacare.

Yes. Without it I and others who are unemployed or whose employer does not provide the benefit could not afford health insurance.
No. I have health insurance through my employer, a relative’s employer or a government program such as Medicare, the Veterans Administration or Medicaid.
No. I don’t want health insurance.
No. I don’t want health insurance, and the government should not require me to purchase it.
     View Results