Tax Reform Talk

This from Ronnie Ellis in the Glasgow Daily Times:

...When lawmakers adjourned three weeks ago, there was talk of a June special session – either to look at House Speaker Greg Stumbo’s bill to allow electronic slot machines at horse tracks or to take a look at tax reform. Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, downplayed the likely need for a special session.

During the session, two lawmakers from opposite ends of the political spectrum offered bills to change the state’s tax code. Rep. Bill Farmer, R-Lexington, wants to eliminate individual and corporate income taxes and extend the sales tax to services. His legislation anticipates the actual sales tax rate might also be reduced.

Rep. Jim Wayne, D-Louisville, wants to extend the sales tax to some services used primarily by the affluent and to make income taxes more progressive, taxing upper income levels at higher rates while reducing taxes for the lower end of the income spectrum.

Both Beshear and Stumbo said at the close of the session they are willing to look at tax reform during the interim period before the legislature convenes in January, but some lawmakers have said it could be taken up during a special session.

“We have committed to looking at tax reform and various (other) options that are out there,” Stumbo said.

Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee Chairman Charlie Borders, R-Grayson, said this week that “everything would be on the table” as lawmakers deal with Kentucky’s seemingly chronic revenue shortfalls and a faltering economy.

Borders and House A&R Chairman Rick Rand, D-Bedford, have been talking of ways the state can respond to any additional shortfall, Stumbo said. The new Speaker said he’s advising House Democrats to prepare for the worst.

Bill to strengthen child sexual abuse law clears first hurdle

House panel approves measure to toughen child sexual abuse laws

FRANKFORT, Ky. --A measure that would hold teachers, priests and others in positions of authority more accountable for child sexual abuse has cleared its first legislative hurdle.

The House Judiciary Committee approved legislation on Wednesday, sending it to the full House for consideration.

Louisville Democratic state Rep. Jim Wayne said the measure is crucial if Kentucky children are to be protected from sexual abuse.

"This problem is of epidemic proportions in our society," Wayne said. "What we're trying to do is say, this is not just clergy; this is not just camp counselors; this is not just teachers. We're talking about relatives, we're talking about parents who abuse their children sexually, aunts, uncles, siblings."

People in positions of authority over children could be charged with first-degree sexual abuse, a felony, for having sexual contact of any nature with anyone under 18 years old.

Under current law in Kentucky, teachers break no criminal laws by having sex with students, as long as the students are at least 16 years old and willing participants. That would change under Wayne's proposal.

Among other provisions, the bill also would increase the statute of limitations to five years after an abuse victim's 18th birthday, and ups the penalty for not reporting abuse to authorities...

This from H-L.