Abramson Doesn’t Expect Major Change in the Tax Code

The chair of Kentucky’'s tax commission says a sweeping overhaul of the state's tax code isn't in the works.

Lieutenant Governor Jerry Abramson says, in his heart, he wants to see a major change in the tax code.

“But at the same time my brain tells that generally in state government things move incrementally forward,” he says, adding that a grand reform bill isn't likely to pass the legislature.

And Abramson says throwing out and completely rewriting the state tax code, as state Senate President David Williams previously advocated for, is out of the question:

“"I don't think anyone ever thought there would be a complete rewrite of the tax code",” he says.

Abramson says the commission will mostly likely recommend minor tweaks to the code, in hopes they will pass. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle say Kentucky's tax code is outdated and not business-friendly. In response, Beshear formed the commission earlier this year. It has one more public meeting next week in Lexington before returning to Frankfort to hammer out recommendations to introduce in next year's legislative session