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I learned at an early age that a critical key to success is open and effective communication. This knowledge continues to guide me daily, whether I'm writing a legal brief, serving on a community board or standing on the House Floor proposing legislation. And communicating with you about those issues important to you and your family - education, healthcare, environment, public safety - creates the foundation for my legislative agenda in Frankfort.
2007 Special Session Summary
Shortly upon the close of the 2006 Regular Session this spring, Governor called the General Assembly to Frankfort to pass a laundry list of items which were inappropriate for consideration in an extraordinary session. The House adjourned, insisting that the session be limited to truly urgent matters which could not wait until the regular session in January. Then the House led the way to an agreement with the Governor and Senate to focus the session on a single critical issue: energy independence. According to a recent poll commissioned by the Lane Report, most Kentuckians who expressed an opinion on the matter were pleased that the House adjourned the scattershot session so that the General Assembly could focus on the challenges of energy policy.
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2007 Legislative Session Summary
I believe that this was a successful session in which we passed major pieces of legislation, which I proudly co-sponsored, that will have a positive impact on Louisville and its residents.
One of those - House Bill 305 to raise the state minimum wage to $7.25 per hour - was a centerpiece of House Democrats' "Commitment to Kentucky Families" agenda. House Bill 305 will increase the state minimum wage took effect this summer, followed by a jump to $6.55 an hour in 2008. By 2009, minimum wage workers will make $7.25 -- 40 percent more than they are making now.
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I am very proud of the 2006 legislative session which produced a budget that will infuse millions of dollars into Kentucky communities over the next two years. Most state spending in any budget year goes toward education, but increases in education spending in the 2006-08 budget passed were the largest in more than 14 years.
Under House Bill 1, which I co-sponsored, teachers will receive a two-percent raise next school year and a $3,500 raise in 2008, as part of our legislative commitment to bring salaries up to the average of the seven surrounding states by 2010. Lawmakers also provided teachers with a cost of living increase by adding .8 percent in 2007 and .6 percent in 2008 to their statutory retirement allowance increase of 1.5 percent. An additional $20 million was budgeted to supplement state contributions to the teachers' retirement system. Classified school employees will receive a two percent raise in 2007 and a five percent raise (not to exceed $2,500) in 2008.
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