Governor Beshear just called legislators into a Special Session to come up with a budget  the General Assembly.  The Session will start on May 24th.

Given the starting points for the budget discussion, it's likely that the cuts will be deep and destructive.  In anticipation of likely cuts, colleges are calling for 6% tuition increases and the state's court system is cutting 113 jobs, as well as making cuts to the family court system. Meanwhile teachers are wondering how many after-school programs their students will lose and how many jobs will be cut for their school to operate, and community health centers wonder how they'll meet the rising needs.

Our legislators could choose to invest in Kentucky's people. 

We can accomplish great things through government.  We created public schools systems to provide opportunity, public health systems to keep ourselves well, and environmental and public safety systems to protect our air, water, and people.  For these to function—and to support our quality of life and our economy—these systems need adequate, stable investments of our public dollars.

That's not what we're getting in the anticipated budget, but it's what Kentuckians need, and what Kentuckians deserve.  Come say so!

Take Action!

Come rally at the Capitol in support of a better set of solutions on May 24. 

More information will be posted as we firm up more of the logistics.

When:  Monday, May 24 at 5pm

Where: Capitol grounds in Frankfort, location TBD

In the meantime…

Can you take three minutes to call the legislative message line?  Leave a message for your state representative and senator, along with Speaker Stumbo and Senate President Williams.  Tell them that Kentucky can't afford to go backwards.  Now is the time to pass a just budget and real revenue reforms.

The number to the Legislative Message Line is 1-800-372-7181, and it's open from 8am to 4:30pm, M-F. If those hours aren’t good for you, you can try your legislators at home.  Their home numbers are available through the LRC website.

Thanks, and we hope to see you on the 24th!