Unemployment Bill Likely to Head to Governor’s Desk
House Bill 4, the bill that would slash unemployment benefits Kentucky, passed the Senate yesterday and now heads back to the House before it would land on Gov. Andy Beshear’s desk.
The bill was presented to the Senate by Northern Kentucky Senator Wil Schroder (R-Wilder) and would see unemployment benefits move from 26 weeks to between 12 and 29 based on a claimant’s personal situation. The claimant would also have to seek job training, which could add to their benefit period.
“House Bill 4 significantly strengthens Kentucky’s work search standards, which will help guide unemployed workers to find reemployment more quickly by equipping them with appropriate standards and practices for finding a new job,” Schroder said.
Newport Democrat Rep. Rachel Roberts argued in February that the bill shouldn’t pass.
“Historically, women and minorities are paid less for the same job,” Roberts said. She then joined with Rep. John Blanton (R-Salyersville).
“I join the gentleman from Magoffin. In pleading with you, I implore you, do not pass this bad bill,” Roberts said.
Roberts, echoing words from former Representative Cluster Howard, who represented the 91st district, then said, “Mr. Speaker, this is a dumb bill.”
When introducing the bill, Co-Sponsor, Rep. Russell Webber (R-Shepherdsville) said it was a step in the right direction, while it will not solve all of the state’s unemployment problems.
“Right now, 47 percent of the working-age population in Kentucky is not working, so we have 53 percent of our working-age population that is actively working,” Russell said.
These statistics, which were put out by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, were criticized by the Kentucky Center for Economic policy.
“Anyone using the lower number is painting a grossly misleading picture of what is going on,” said Jason Bailey, the executive director of the KCEP. “Some corporate lobbyists have an agenda in mind: to promote massive cuts to unemployment insurance, food assistance, and other benefits that have been so vital to Kentuckians in this crisis. It is important we have a conversation based on facts and not intentionally skewed numbers.”
Fierce Debate over Omnibus Abortion Bill
The House floor debate over House Bill 3 was quite contentious, as was the Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection Committee, which heard emotional testimony from Kentucky resident Robin Kunkel.
“A delay in care due to things like legal restrictions, doctors who are afraid of being held liable, and providers and hospitals that can deny prenatal would have meant prolonging my mental and physical suffering, as well as a lower likelihood of getting pregnant again,” Kunkel said.
Supporters of the bill say it’s a sanctity of life bill.
“It’s not a ball of cells,” Wesley said. “It’s not a blob. It’s a life.”
House Bill 3, otherwise known as the “Humanity in HealthCare Act 2022,” will have five main elements:
- Updating current law on parental consent for minors.
- Dignified care for the remains of aborted fetuses.
- Reporting abortion statistics.
- No taxpayer funding of abortion in Kentucky.
- Using creating guidelines for using chemicals to abort the pregnancy.
Republican Supermajorities are Working on Getting Rid of the Income Tax
House Bill 8 received nearly four hours of debate on the House floor Friday morning before passing. The bill would slowly lower the income tax from five percent, with the first decrease coming on Jan. 1, 2023, when it would lower to four percent.
“Kentuckians, those here and those who will move here, recognize that what remains in your pocket at the end of a day’s work determines how you live. We have been very open about our goal to let people keep more of their hard-earned money rather than collecting it for the government to determine how to spend,” said House Appropriations and RevenueJason Committee Chair Jason Petrie (R-Elkton). “Population growth is a necessary component of long-term growth in Kentucky and is affected substantially by our tax structure. It is also critical that we get more individuals into the workforce. We cannot continue to build our economy when more than 40 percent of those who should be working are not. HB 8 incentivizes both by allowing more of the fruits of their labor to remain in their pockets.”
Northern Kentucky Representative Rachel Roberts (D-Newport) said that while the bill will lower the income tax, it will raise the sales tax on a lot of digital products.
“Among my grave concerns with what I’ve read so far is that this would add a six percent service tax to taxi and Uber fees,” said Rep. Rachel Roberts (D-Newport). “Taxis are a lifeline for the working poor, especially as we starve our public transportation systems and more and more people rely on these services to get to work or doctor’s appointments.”
On the House floor Friday, House Rep. Chris Fugate (R-Chavies) said that Democrats put the Eastern Kentucky coal industry out of business and that getting rid of the income tax it would put their money back into their pockets.
“The party that says that they’re for the people put us out of business,” Fugate said.
“I thought that Donald Trump and Mitch McConnel were bringing coal back,” said Rep. Mary Lou Marzian (D-Louisville).
