FRANKFORT (Jan. 27, 2012) – This week the House Republican Floor Leader, Rep. Jeff Hoover, filed a lawsuit in Franklin Circuit Court regarding the district lines drawn for the 100 House districts by the House majority leadership.  The suit will also seek an injunction that seeks to stop the new redistricting plan and postpone the January 31st filing deadline to seek public office. ... Read more

FRANKFORT (Jan. 20, 2012) – Redistricting dominated much of our time for the second consecutive week.  On Thursday we took up House Bill 1, which deals with redistricting for the House, Senate, Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, and House Bill 2 which is focused solely on Congressional redistricting. ... Read more

FRANKFORT (Jan. 13, 2012) – This week, following the US Constitution, we redistricted our courts and also the House of Representatives. When the census figures came to Kentucky, it was determined that I represented 8,000 more people than was permitted. ... Read more

FRANKFORT (Jan. 6, 2012) – We gathered in Frankfort this past week for the beginning of the 60-day session of the General Assembly, and we have much work to do. The week started with the swearing in of our newest member, Rep. Regina Bunch of Williamsburg.  Rep. Bunch won a Special Election in December to serve out the term of her husband Dewayne Bunch, who was injured while breaking up a fight at the school where he works.  We continue to pray for Dewayne’s recovery, and also for Regina as she prepares for her first session. ... Read more

PADUCAH (Dec. 15, 2011) – Five Amish men convicted in bench trials Monday for failure to display a slow-moving vehicle emblem on their horse-drawn buggies say they have no intentions of paying their fines and court costs. Meanwhile, a legislative remedy to prevent future cases of the same type is possible. ... Rep. Ron Crimm, R-Louisville, has pre-filed BR 481 that addresses the topic. ... Read more

FRANKFORT (Oct. 31, 2011) – Rep. Ron Crimm, R-Dist. 33) announced today he has prefiled a bill for the 2012 session of the General Assembly that if passed would seek to overturn a 2005 law allowing legislators to combine their retirement plan with other state funded plans. ... Read more

FRANKFORT (Sept. 6, 2011) -- Ten years ago, as our country proved to no longer be invincible, Americans came together as one. Strangers became brothers and foes became friends. We all have our own, unique ways to mark the anniversary of September 11, but I feel sure that you will join many others in remembering the same images and sounds that shocked us on that day. ... Read more

FRANKFORT (June 29, 2011) -- Independence Day is a holiday that Americans celebrate as a birthday party for the country and there is a lot of symbolism connected with this holiday:  fireworks, The Declaration of Independence, the American flag, parades, outdoor barbecues...the list goes on and on.   But, after all the food is eaten, family members have left, and the marching band has passed, what is the meaning of this day? ... Read more

FRANKFORT (June 8, 2011) -- Summertime has become synonymous with pool parties, cookouts and vacations. In recent years, however, it has unfortunately also become the time when media outlets report of heartbreaking and preventable deaths that occur when children are left unattended in hot cars. ... Read more

FRANKFORT (May 20, 2011) -- Hearing a trumpet ring out the tune of Taps, Americans will pause in a moment of reverent silence, knowing that a hero has paid the ultimate price to ensure our protection and freedom. Yet, many of our citizens view Memorial Day as a long weekend devoted to shopping, family get-togethers, fireworks, trips to the beach, and the unofficial beginning of summer.  Just as the sound of Taps stirs our emotions, this day should be dedicated to remembering the countless men and women who came before us and valiantly laid their lives on the line for our nation. ... Read more

FRANKFORT (Mar. 28, 2011) -- As my colleagues and I began the second week of the 2011 Extraordinary Session, we were still uncertain whether we would be able to accomplish our foremost mission: addressing our $166 million Medicaid budget shortfall. With the House approving one version and the Senate approving a vastly different one, many remained unsure about the bill’s fate.  However, late Thursday night, the House chose to concur with the Senate’s changes in a move to save vital services. Read more

FRANKFORT (Mar. 18, 2011) -- Less than a week after the 2011 Regular Session concluded, my colleagues and I once again found ourselves at the State Capitol to address the inevitable—a compounded Medicaid budgetary shortfall. With the projected shortfall for the upcoming fiscal year at an estimated $166.6 million, the governor exercised his ability to call the legislature back to Frankfort for an extraordinary session. The authority to call and to set the agenda for an extraordinary session lies solely with the governor, and he placed only two topics on the session call. Read more

FRANKFORT (Mar. 9, 2011) -- I have been very fortunate over the past 15 years while serving in the Kentucky House of Representatives to have passed some very fine bills.  One, however, continues to elude me – the animal protection bill, known as HB 56 this session. Read more

FRANKFORT (Mar. 4, 2011) -- We are nearly at the end of the 2011 Legislative Session, but we still have work to do dealing with a projected shortfall in Kentucky’s Medicaid Budget. In the weeks leading up to the current session, the governor announced that our Commonwealth is facing a $166 million shortfall in our Medicaid budget in the current fiscal year, which ends on June 30. Read more

FRANKFORT (Feb. 25, 2011) -- The clock is winding down on the 2011 Session of the General Assembly.  While bills continue to be heard and passed by both the House and Senate, our agenda to bring trust back to state government has thus far fallen on deaf ears. Read more

FRANKFORT (Feb. 18, 2011) -- With only two weeks remaining before my colleagues and I break from session for the governor’s constitutionally allowed ten-day veto period, we quickly moved between attending meetings, hearing testimony, studying proposed legislation, and approving bills in the House. Read more