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Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Clock ticking in Frankfort: House Democratic leaders say Kentuckians are ‘in the dark'
FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) — In a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, House Democratic Caucus leaders rebuked what they called 'an appalling lack of transparency' this legislative session. FOX 56's Bode Brooks reported that it's a crucial week for the state legislature. There are only days left for Kentucky lawmakers to work out their differences on pending legislation before a veto break. Read more of the latest news in politics 'We ask our chairman to really be judicious with what they do, but still, there's going to be some give and take, and there's going to be some things we don't understand the rationale for moving. So, a lot more discussions between us and them and then vice versa, they won't understand the rationale of why we would do something. So, the dialogue between the two chambers has increased, and the movement of the bills have increased,' Sen. President Robert Stivers told FOX 56 on Tuesday. Caucus Whip Lindsey Burke of Lexington provided a look at what this movement looks like. 'Yesterday we saw a 100-page bill with major income tax changes clear committee and the house before the public could even read it online,' she said. 'Last night, there were three rewritten education bills sent to committee members after 8 p.m.' As a result, 'our members barely know what's in these bills, and the public doesn't know at all,' as reportedly some have not been made available to the public. Teen accused of killing 16-year-old in Rambling Creek Drive shooting Cicadas return in 2025: Will Kentucky see them? Clock ticking in Frankfort: House Democratic leaders say Kentuckians are 'in the dark' Burke cited the following examples: House Bill 755 made it through committee and the House on Tuesday 'in a matter of hours' before it was uploaded online. Lawmakers were given 25 minutes to discuss Senate Bill 89; no questions were reportedly taken. House Health Services Committee 'rushed through another rewritten bill negatively affecting reproductive care.' 'Our caucus, staff, and the public need to know what's in these last-minute bills,' Rep. Burke said. 'Only about five percent of this year's expected laws had been sent to Gov. Beshear by Friday, when there were just six working days left this legislative session. That's not how government should work. Our caucus is fighting for greater transparency and for Kentuckians to have the information they need and the voice they deserve.' Rep. Al Gentry suggested that a former procedure, a three-day posting rule, be implemented. 'I think we need to seriously consider going back to that because it gives time for the people to see what is going to committee; give them time to come to committee if they would like to testify even or if they just would like to express their opinion,' Rep. Gentry said. Read more of the latest Kentucky news He affirmed that several Republican members have been open to amending their legislation when necessary, but 'when we rush processes and the public does not know what's coming, people that are getting harmed are not letting us know, and there's no way to fix a bill.' Burke attributed the time crunch to the amount of bills they're seeing this year, calling the quantity 'unprecedented.' Click here to watch the press conference. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Advocates push for improved family benefits as key bills stall
VICTORIA BUDIONO / VBUDIONO @ Advocates rallied Friday in support of improved benefits for Hawaii's keiki. 1 /2 VICTORIA BUDIONO / VBUDIONO @ Advocates rallied Friday in support of improved benefits for Hawaii's keiki. VICTORIA BUDIONO / VBUDIONO @ State Sens. Kurt Fevella (R, Ewa Beach-Ocean Pointe-Iroquois Point ), left, and Sharon Moriwaki (D, Waikiki-Ala Moana-Kakaako ) advocated Friday for bills that promote economic security and equity for children, affordable child care programs, preschool and other causes at the state Capitol rotunda. 2 /2 VICTORIA BUDIONO / VBUDIONO @ State Sens. Kurt Fevella (R, Ewa Beach-Ocean Pointe-Iroquois Point ), left, and Sharon Moriwaki (D, Waikiki-Ala Moana-Kakaako ) advocated Friday for bills that promote economic security and equity for children, affordable child care programs, preschool and other causes at the state Capitol rotunda. VICTORIA BUDIONO / VBUDIONO @ Advocates rallied Friday in support of improved benefits for Hawaii's keiki. VICTORIA BUDIONO / VBUDIONO @ State Sens. Kurt Fevella (R, Ewa Beach-Ocean Pointe-Iroquois Point ), left, and Sharon Moriwaki (D, Waikiki-Ala Moana-Kakaako ) advocated Friday for bills that promote economic security and equity for children, affordable child care programs, preschool and other causes at the state Capitol rotunda. Advocates are intensifying their efforts to push for improved family benefits for Hawaii's children as key bills addressing these issues remain stalled in the Legislature. The Paid Family &Medical Leave bills—House Bill 755, HB 695, Senate Bill 852 and SB 1054—seek to provide working families with paid time off to care for a new child, recover from illness or assist a loved one. While the nation remains the only developed country without a national paid family leave program, 13 states and the District of Columbia have implemented similar laws. Advocates, including the Hawaii Children's Action Network, are calling on the state to join them. HCAN is also advocating for an increase in the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit—HB 753. The cost of preschool in Hawaii averages over $13, 000 per year, and working families are in dire need of help with child care expenses, the organization said. In 2023, Hawaii lawmakers took an initial step to support families by quadrupling the maximum amount that taxpayers can claim for child and dependent care expenses. However, a cap on the percentage of care expenses that can be claimed with the CDCTC makes it nearly impossible for families to access these increased amounts. The bill proposes increasing the CDCTC percentage cap, allowing working families to receive more assistance for child care costs. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. Both HB 755 and HB 753 are stalled in the House Finance Committee, and related bills have not been heard after passing their first hearings. State Rep. Jeanne Kapela (D, Volcano-Hawaiian Ocean View ) told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that the ongoing federal instability has had a trickle-down effect on state legislation. She explained that the uncertainty in federal funding has made it difficult for the state to plan and allocate resources for essential programs. 'The problem is that when you look at what's happening at the federal level, there's a trickle down to our state, ' Kapela said. 'It's hard for the state to figure out what to do here, and what gaps are we going to need to fill ?' She added that the uncertainty surrounding funding has caused delays in passing important bills like paid family leave and tax credits. Kapela emphasized that while some bills have been stalled, there is still potential to make progress, particularly if there is a related legislative vehicle. 'We're still at a point where if there is a vehicle that's related to something, we could potentially do something, ' Kapela said. 'We're not at the end, but we really have to figure out how to save money on the state side so we can come back and fix the holes that we're going to ultimately have to fix.' She noted that the state might have a clearer financial outlook once Congress passes its budget bill in March. Nicole Woo, HCAN's director of research and economic policy, explained that nearly half of Hawaii's children live in households experiencing financial hardship. While almost 1 in 8 are in poverty, an additional 1 in 3 live in households that aren't officially poor, but still struggle to afford the basics. In testimony for HB 753, Aloha United Way argued that tax credit adjustments like those in the bill are effective tools to reduce poverty and stabilize families, especially during times of crisis or when care-giving requires a family member to leave paid employment. The organization highlighted that the proposed changes would provide much-needed financial relief for ALICE—asset-limited, income-constrained, employed—families, who are employed but earn too little to meet basic living costs. The 2024 State of ALICE in Hawaii report showed that 40 % of Hawaii's residents are considered ALICE, and 15 % of households are struggling with the financial costs of caregiving for someone other than a child. Woo also advocated for the passage of the Paid Family &Medical Leave program, arguing that paid leave benefits children by supporting their parents. She cited research through HCAN showing that states with paid family leave enjoy significant health, social and economic benefits, particularly for working women, who are healthier, more economically secure and more likely to remain in the workforce. The bill would provide up to 12 weeks of parental, care-giving, deployment or safe leave per year, along with up to 26 weeks of medical leave, in line with Hawaii's law on temporary disability insurance.
