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Gov. Matt Bevin today cited the results of a study proving there has been dramatic growth in the number and reach of administrative regulations in Kentucky, many of which are unnecessary or outdated.
The Mercatus Center at George Mason University reports that the Kentucky regulatory code, published as the Kentucky Administrative Regulations Service (KARS) grew from a total of four books in 1975 to 14 books in 2015, an increase of 250 percent. In 2015, the regulatory code contained 6.6 million words and 129,575 restrictions.
“The most recent Mercatus Report shows that Kentucky continues to be one of the most highly regulated states in America,” said Gov. Bevin. “Many of these regulations are outdated, redundant or simply unnecessary. We are suffocating economic growth and production in the Commonwealth for no constructive reason. This report reaffirms why our Red Tape Reduction Initiative is so important. We encourage all Kentuckians to go to RedTapeReduction.com and tell us how we can simplify the process for doing business in Kentucky.”
According to the Mercatus study, the chemical manufacturing industry in Kentucky faces the most administrative restrictions, with nearly 4,200. Animal production and aquaculture is second, with more than 4,100; followed by ambulatory health care services, with 3,500; food manufacturing, with 3,250; and nursing and residential care facilities, with almost 2,400.
Gov. Bevin announced the Red Tape Reduction Initiative in July, with the goal of cutting through the red tape of excessive and complex regulatory burdens. By reducing the amount of bureaucracy affecting Kentucky businesses, the Commonwealth can lift unreasonable hardship off the shoulders of Kentucky’s business community.
Gov. Bevin first began the process by instructing cabinet secretaries to start a thorough review of all government regulations currently on the books, then extended the invitation to businesses and employees throughout the state. Since July, www.RedTapeReduction.com, the site where people are instructed to submit regulations, has received some 14,000 visits, and 500+ suggestions have been received and are being evaluated.
The report from Mercatus can be accessed at http://mercatus.org/publication/kentucky-regulation-2015.
For more information on the initiative or to submit a suggestion on a regulation that should be reviewed, please visit www.RedTapeReduction.com.
County Attorney’s annual list has netted $14.8 million in 10 previous years
Jefferson County Attorney Mike O’Connell today announced the eleventh publication of delinquent child support obligors is now printed in The Courier-Journal and the full list is available online.
The Child Support Division has collected $14.8 million, sent wage withholding orders to 11,029 employers and found 18,266 new addresses directly attributable to the lists printed each year since 2005.
“Children are our community’s most precious asset,” said O’Connell. “All of us in Jefferson County – parents, family members, employers and concerned citizens – can play a role in tracking down those who are not fulfilling their obligations to their kids.”
This year’s list of 4,034 names can be found online at www.louisvilleky.gov/countyattorney. Only 538 names appear in the printed insert, with this year’s focus on some of the county’s newest child support orders and those with recent court action.
“The nearly 200 employees in our child support division have a singular focus: connecting kids and families to the money that is rightfully theirs. Early intervention and proactive communication with parents owing support gives them a better understanding of their responsibilities and helps collect the financial support crucial to the futures of these children.”
Child support collection is one of the public’s most cost-effective programs. For every $1 spent, federal child support programs collect $5.25. In Kentucky that figure rises to $6.45 for every $1 spent.
Anyone with information that could help locate someone on the list should call 574-0821 or email jcaocs@ky.gov. Continue reading
Hazmat crews are on scene in the 600 block of Main St where a chemical leak is spilling ammonia.
A shelter-in-place has been ordered for the NuLu area within the borders of I-65 and Witherspoon, Clay, and Market Streets.
Louisville MetroSafe/EMA issued the following:
THERE HAS BEEN A RELEASE OF A HAZARDOUS MATERIAL AT 609 EAST MAIN STREET. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS ASKING THAT PERSONS EAST OF I 65 NORTH OF MAIN STREET AND EAST TO CLAY STREET TO SHELTER IN PLACE AT THIS TIME.
Since the current Governor of Indiana, Mike Pence, is running as Vice-President on the Republican ticket with Donald Trump, he is unable to run for re-election as Governor. A replacement candidate needed to be found.
22 members of the Indiana Republican State Committee held a meeting earlier this week to determine who would be the Republican candidate for Governor this year.The choice included big names, such as Lieutenant Governor Eric Holcomb, US Representative Susan Brooks, US Representative Todd Rokita and State Senator Jim Tomes.
The meeting lasted a few hours and the committee announced that Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb will be the candidate this election cycle. The announcement did not surprise many since Governor Pence endorsed Holcomb last week. Holcomb has not named a running mate for Lieutenant Governor yet, but he will be running against:
- John Gregg (Democrat) with Christina Hale
- Rex Bell (Libertarian) with Karl Tatgenhorst
- Adam Adkins (Write-in) – no running mate named at this time
- Christopher Stried (Write-in) – no running mate named at this time
Gregg also ran in 2012 against Pence. Pence narrowly won that election with 49.5% of the vote (Gregg had 46.6% and Libertarian candidate Rupert Boneham had 4%). Polls from earlier this year show that Pence and Gregg were nearly tied, but Pence did have a slightly lead in May. It is unclear how close Holcomb and Gregg are at this time.
Brooks and Rokita both had to remove their names from the ballots for the US House of Representatives, but both intend to seek re-election in their districts. Both are still eligible to be placed on the ballot in November.
The Bloomberg Kentuckiana index showed signs of area businesses recovering from the beating that they took following the stock market shakeup on news of Britain’s exit from the European Union – dubbed Brexit.
Stocks fell sharply across the board last Friday as investors heard news that leave votes had outnumbered remain votes, spurring uncertainty about currency valuations and changes to trade deals. Businesses tied to the Kentuckiana area did not escape the plunge.
The Bloomberg Kentuckiana Index is a price-weighted index that tracks companies either headquartered in Kentucky or Indiana, or having a large presence in the area. Each company has a minimum market capitalization of $15 million. The index was developed with a base value of 100 as of December 29, 1995. Index members include Kindred Healthcare, Humana, Churchill Downs, Lexmark, Ford, GE, Yum! Brands, Papa Johns, and Brown Foreman, among others.
The index closed at its recent peak of $451.51 last Thursday but then dove sharply when the markets opened on Friday with Brexit news. The dive continued on Monday as the index bottomed out at $425.34, which was still higher than lows seen as recently as February of this year.
Investors seemed to have settled down Tuesday and Wednesday as the index rebounded, lead higher by gains by Kindred, Cummins, Churchill Downs, CSX, and Ashland. Although BKYIN:IND is not back to pre-Brexit levels, two straight gains of positive movement are promising as the index climbs into the $430s.
For more information on the Bloomberg Kentuckiana Index, track it here.
After a group of 2000 teenagers fighting caused Mall St. Matthews to shut down and wait for police, owners of Mall St. Matthews and Oxmoor Center have announced temporary policy changes.
Beginning January 2, 2016, on Fridays and Saturdays after 4:00 P.M., anyone under the age of 17 must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 21. This new rule will include all common areas of the mall, fire exits, sidewalks, public transit boarding locations, loading zones, and the parking lot. This policy will not apply to the movie theater or to the individual stores. If a minor is in a store, shopping, after 4:00 P.M., they can remain in the store but will be required to leave once leaving the store. During these restricted hours, security officers will be at all the mall entrances and they will check the IDs of anyone appearing to be 17 or younger.
For adults accompanying minors, one adult may supervise up to four youths (defined as 10 -17 years old) as long as they remain with the teenagers at all times. Children under the age of 10 are included in this number.
The managers of the mall have stated that these measures are temporary, but have not indicated when they will be lifted.
As of now, 111 of 120 Kentucky counties will participate in the Republican Presidential Caucus. The Caucus will be held on March 5, 2016. The Caucus will take place before the state’s primary elections, which will allow Senator Rand Paul to run for President as well as re-election for this Senate seat.
The last time Kentucky held a caucus was in 1984 and for many voters, this will be a new way to vote. On election day, voters will arrive at a location (to be announced in January) within their county between the hours of 10:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. Voters will see a table for each candidate with information, maybe a representative, about the candidate. When a voter is ready to cast their secret ballot, they will move to a voting area that will resemble a traditional voting booth.
Only registered Republicans will be able to participate in the Caucus. However, if you are currently 17 years old, but you will be 18 by November 8, 2016, you are eligible to vote in the caucus as long as your are registered as Republican, by December 31, 2015. If you live in one of the 9 counties that will not be participating, you will still have the opportunity to vote. You will be assigned a location in a nearby county, or you may vote by absentee ballot. Starting January 7, 2016, voters will be able to apply for an absentee ballot. Instructions will be available on the website for the Republican Party of Kentucky. Applications must be received by February 19, 2016 and completed ballots must be received by March 4, 2016. If you request an absentee ballot, you will not be eligible to vote in person.
After the ballots are counted, the delegates of Kentucky will be allocated proportionally to each candidate that receives at least 5% of the total votes. Candidates have until January 7, 2016 to file the necessary paperwork to appear on the ballot. As of now, the following candidates have already filed:
- Jeb Bush
- Ben Carson
- Chris Christie
- Ted Cruz
- Carly Fiorina
- John Kasich
- Rand Paul
- Marco Rubio
- Donald Trump
