Posted by: KFTC Staff on September 3, 2020
The Kentucky Democracy Project is a new campaign to register, educate and mobilize Kentucky voters to participate in the 2020 election and beyond. As Kentuckians, we can work together to build a healthy democracy where everyone has a voice and a vote. Our focus is on communities often left out of the political decision-making process – lower income communities, people of color, and young people - particularly 170,000 Kentuckians with felonies in their past got back their right to vote. All Kentuckians should have a voice in elections and should be listened to by elected leaders.
The Kentucky Democracy Project’s work includes online trainings, phone banks to register or mobilize voters, leaving lit pieces on doors, COVID-19 safe voter registration tables and canvassing, and mailings. If you’d like to get involved or learn more, visit www.KentuckyDemocracy.org/volunteer We have two big trainings next week and lots of upcoming phone banks!
Posted by: KFTC Staff on August 24, 2020
KFTC and allies have been fighting for the Election Kentucky Deserves, making our case to the Governor, Secretary of State and State Board of Elections that Kentucky can choose to defend both our democracy and the health of all Kentuckians.
With a series of decisions over the last week, we’ve won much of that vision including universal access to voting by mail, weeks of in-person voting before election day including Saturdays, and drop boxes for ballots.
Here are some highlights about how this year’s election will work
Posted by: Andy McDonald, Director of Apogee – Climate & Energy Transitions on August 23, 2020
Kentucky Municipal Energy Agency (KYMEA) Weighing New Investments in Coal and Natural Gas Power as One Existing Coal Contract Sunsets in 2022
As the cost of building clean energy systems drops lower and lower, Kentucky’s electric utilities have the opportunity to meaningfully shift their energy mix away from fossil fuels and towards affordable, renewable energy–if only they would take it. This question is playing out right now at the Kentucky Municipal Energy Agency (KYMEA), a wholesale supplier that provides energy to several cities and towns across Kentucky.
The KYMEA is developing an Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) to determine how to meet its customer’s energy needs over the coming 10 – 20 years. In the process, it is considering whether to invest in new coal or natural gas power contracts to serve its municipal members. These potential investments would pose a significant financial risk to KYMEA’s member-communities, in addition to negative environmental and public health implications.
If you or someone you know live in a KYMEA member-community, your voice is needed to make sure KYMEA invests in a clean energy future, rather than risky fossil fuels.
Posted by: Lisa Abbott on August 18, 2020
Kentuckians are hurting from the triple whammy of long-term economic distress, the COVID-19 health crisis, and collapse of jobs and income due to the pandemic. According to a recent story in the Washington Post, 1/2 of all adults in Kentucky have lost some employment income since March, 1/4 of all Kentuckians say they do not get enough food to eat, and 1/3 of all Kentucky households struggle to pay the rent or mortgage.
Yet Sen. Mitch McConnell, arguably the most powerful member of Congress, seems to have turned his back on the people he represents, and millions of people in the United States.
Posted by: KFTC Staff on August 11, 2020
Note: The Election Kentucky Deserves was sent on August 12 as an open letter to Secretary of State Michael Adams, Governor Andy Beshear and all members of the State Board of Elections from 54 Kentucky organizations.
Most Kentuckians agree that our democracy works best when we all have a voice and a vote in the decisions impacting our lives.
In this year’s primary election, many Kentuckians could vote early or by mail for the very first time and overwhelmingly chose those options. We had record voter turnout and largely did it safely from our homes. It wasn’t perfect. But that’s something to celebrate in any election and especially in the middle of a pandemic.
Now the risk of COVID-19 is greater than ever. Kentucky has the opportunity to improve upon that election process and give Kentuckians the election we deserve – one that makes voting safe, convenient, secure and robust.
Posted by: KFTC Staff on August 10, 2020
NEXT EPISODE: Tuesday, July 17, 2021 – 1 p.m. ET. TOPIC: Participatory Budgeting.
Posted by: KFTC Staff on July 20, 2020
As KFTC quickly approaches our 40th anniversary next summer, there’s much to consider celebrating.
The organization – with origins in tax reform and a deep history and brand of Appalachian environmentalists – has grown to become the commonwealth’s premier group of grassroots social justice lobbyists and voting rights advocates. Across the country, KFTC is held in high esteem among our peers.
We certainly have grown quite a bit, to the degree that we need a temperature check and a recalibration.
On May 28, Executive Director Burt Lauderdale, Chairperson Cassia Herron and Organizational Development Consultant Pamela Chiang made a presentation to the Steering Committee laying out the case to orient and organize ourselves toward an Organizational Change Initiative (OCI). The Steering Committee approved the proposal.
Posted by: KFTC Staff on July 14, 2020
The Kentucky Voting Rights Coalition has just under 3 months to register some 170,000 people with felonies in their past who got their right to vote back through Beshear's executive action. We plan to do it through phone conversations, texting, door-to-door canvassing, mailers, PSAs, and more. But all that starts with training! Can you come out to learn more about how to help people navigate this process? If so, sign up below!
Posted by: Beth Emery on July 3, 2020
This piece is written by member Beth Emery of Scott County. She and other members of the community led a fight against the Central Kentucky Landfill after it was proven there was illegal dumping in the landfill by the company that owns the landfill. Members in the Rolling Bluegrass KFTC Chapter joined the work in raising awareness about this issue, promoting and attending fiscal court meetings, zoning board meetings and more. The chapter is thrilled to be able to share what residents have won in Scott County, and celebrate their victory with them.
Posted by: KFTC Staff on July 3, 2020
Kentucky will have a better chance at seeing its $400 million backlog of mine reclamation projects move forward thanks to legislation passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on July 1.
Both the RECLAIM Act and reauthorization of the Abandoned Mine Lands Program were included in the INVEST in America Act (a.k.a The Moving Forward Act), a broad bill addressing the country’s infrastructure needs.
"I am overjoyed that Congress is finally helping to clean up abandoned mines and polluted waterways," said Joanne Hill, a retired nurse originally from Harlan County now living in Pulaski County. "For too long, Kentuckians have been pleading for action with no response.”
