The 2015 Kentucky General Assembly session is off and running. As is tradition, the first day included a great deal of ceremony.
The Kentucky House and Senate traditionally open the session at high noon. The primary focus of this first week is to formalize leadership in both chambers. But, the first day also included a brass rendition of the national anthem, an acoustic version of My Old Kentucky Home, and a visit by the Supreme Court Chief Justice to both houses of the legislature.
The senate majority floor leader expressed optimism about the political atmosphere in Frankfort. Scott County Senator Damon Thayer believes members on both sides of the aisle can work together during the short session. "I think the tone is good right now," said Thayer. "There are deep philosophical differences in the majority party in the Senate, which is republican, and the majority party in the House, which is democrat." Thayer said both sides have proved they can put differences aside to work on big issues to help Kentuckians.
Veteran Louisville Senator Gerald Neal is the democratic caucus chair of the 38 member senate. Neal says democrats will have to work hard to push their issues to the forefront. "The democrats lost a couple of seats, so that takes away a lot of leverage when you start talking about give and take," said Neal. "I think our role is gonna be primarily to speak to issues and give voice to those issues that are important."
Neal cites restoration of voting rights to former felons and the elimination of capital punishment as two priority issues for his party. ?
