Greg Stumbo

Time Running Out for Kentucky General Assembly to Pass Priority Bills

Kenny Colston (KPR) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 11:24:48 +0000

As the 2013 legislative session winds down, the top priorities for each chamber are still stuck in the process and not yet law.

Legislative Leaders Say They Don't Favor Local Option Sales Tax

Kenny Colston (KPR) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 12:43:11 +0000

Kentucky's top two legislative leaders say the local option sales tax isn't likely to come up this year. The local option would allow cities and counties to put temporary sales tax increases to a public vote. It would typically be used to pay for infrastructure projects.

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer and Lexington Mayor Jim Gray are the major forces behind the option, and a bill amending the state Constitution to allow it has been filed in the Senate. But Senate President Robert Stivers says his chamber doesn't want to put more tax burdens on individuals.

Denton Files Two Bills To Place Affordable Care Act Decisions in Lawmakers' Hands

Kenny Colston (KPR) — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 12:12:36 +0000

State Sen. Julie Denton has filed two bills that would put control of implementation of the Affordable Care Act into lawmakers’ hands.

KY Lawmakers Wrestle with Redistricting

Whitney Jones and The Associated Press — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 15:05:30 +0000

Kentucky lawmakers are at odds on whether to postpone redistricting for a year to avoid gumming up an upcoming legislative session that's already chock-full of hefty issues. Incoming Republican Senate President Robert Stivers says there’s no rushed to redraw legislative boundaries because the next round of elections isn't until 2014. Democratic House Speaker Greg Stumbo wants the process over as quickly as possible after the session convenes Jan. 8.

Stumbo: Short Session Doesn't Allow for Many Drastic Actions

Kenny Colston (KPR) and Kenny Colston — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 15:00:00 +0000

As another legislative session looms, House Speaker Greg Stumbo says he doesn’t expect many recently-discussed reforms to become law. With pension and tax reforms on the table, and gambling and other perennial issues the topic of much conversation, lawmakers' plates will be full.

Kentucky Lawmakers Optimistic Gambling Bill Will Pass

Kenny Colston (KPR) — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 11:43:56 +0000

After years of defeat, Kentucky lawmakers believe an expanded gambling bill could become law next year. At the Kentucky Chamber’s annual policy day, House Speaker Greg Stumbo and new Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer discussed the prospects of such a bill in the upcoming session. Both leaders suggested the opposing chamber take up the bill first when they get to Frankfort next month.

Thayer was the sponsor of a Senate gambling bill in this year's session. The measure ultimately failed. But Thayer says the Senate can pass a new bill if the governor pushes hard enough.

Stumbo: Gambling Bill Doesn't Have to Start in the Senate

Angela Hatton and The Associated Press — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 21:34:33 +0000

Kentucky House Speaker Greg Stumbo is no longer demanding that any legislation calling for a constitutional amendment to legalize gambling start in the Senate. Stumbo told reporters Thursday, "that line in the sand doesn't have to be drawn any longer." Stumbo and Governor Steve Beshear are hopeful that the departure of Senate President David Williams will improve the chances of getting a bill passed.

Reforming Special Taxing Districts to be Kentucky House's No. 1 Priority

Kenny Colston (KPR) — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 18:05:04 +0000

The No. 1 priority for the Kentucky House in 2013 is set: Tackling recommendations from a recent report that found that special tax districts have big budgets and little oversight.

Who Runs Against McConnell in 2014? Not Judd or Grimes, Stumbo Says

Kenny Colston (KPR) — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 20:38:09 +0000

To date, the chatter over who'll challenge U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell in 2014 has centered around actress/activist Ashley Judd.

And, if not Judd, then Alison Lundergan Grimes, the Kentucky secretary of state.

A top Kentucky Democrat is saying that McConnell's Democratic challenger will be neither of the women.

Democrats and Republicans Sling Mud at Fancy Farm Picnic

Kenny Colston (KPR) — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 13:48:35 +0000

While not many Democrats showed up to speak at this year’s Fancy Farm picnic, one of the few who did unleashed a flurry of verbal assaults on the GOP.

House Speaker Greg Stumbo spoke on behalf of Governor Steve Beshear. In his remarks, Stumbo blamed U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell for many of the nation’s problems. And he aimed his other taunts at Republicans at every level, from the statehouse to the top of the ticket, criticizing Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's business and tax returns.