Governor announces "Blue Ribbon Commission" on tax reform

The Governor's office released the list of people who've been appointed to the Blue Ribbon Commission to study tax reform. We're still learning about a lot of these people, so we'll update when we know more, but want to congratulate allies Jason Bailey from the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy and Sheila Schuster from Advocacy Action Network for taking on this important work.

KFTC member Dana Beasley Brown applied for a seat on the commission on behalf of KFTC.  Members felt that it was important to apply because it's important to the work of the Blue Ribbon Commission, they felt, to have a person who is low-income, who has felt the impact of bad economic policies, seen the potential of good ones, and who has learned a wealth of skills to raise her voice to bring about a better Kentucky and a fairer tax structure. Dana would have been an asset to their work. Unfortunately, we did not get that seat.  But we're looking ahead to the ways that we *will* be able to impact the work of this commission.  It's supposed to hold town hall forums and take public comment, and members are looking forward to weighing in that way.

Here are the appointed members:

Commission Members
Jerry Abramson, Chairman
Roszalyn Akins, Lexington                                           
Pat Mulloy, Louisville
Jason Bailey, Berea                                                     
Dr. Sheila Schuster, Louisville
Jim Booth, Inez                                                            
Stu Silberman, Lexington
Junior Bridgeman, Louisville                                         
Dr. Lee Todd, Lexington
Rocky Comito, Shepherdsville                                     
Leslie Weigel, Bowling Green
Luther Deaton, Nicholasville                                        
John Williams, Paducah
Marion Forcht, Corbin                                                 
Joe Wright, Harned
Rick Jordan, Walton                                                    
Cathy Zion, Louisville

Six non-voting, ex officio members will represent the General Assembly:
House Majority:  Rep. Rick Rand, Rep. Jim Wayne
House Minority:  Rep. Bill Farmer
Senate Majority:  Sen. Bob Leeper, Sen. Paul Hornback
Senate Minority:  Sen. Gerald Neal

You can read more here, for now, and we'll keep an eye out for more information as it comes. In the meantime, feel free to share your hopes for the commission's work, and your best ideas for weighing in!