Kentucky deserves long-term revenue solutions

Monday, the legislature began a Special Session to address Kentucky's $166 million Medicaid shortfall. Gov. Beshear and House members want to borrow the money from next year’s budget, and to re-coup that next year by shifting to managed care. Senate Leadership wants to cut state government spending across the board, including education. A continued stalemate will mean 35% cuts in Medicaid payments to hospitals and physicians beginning April 1. None of these proposals supports a vision for a better Kentucky.

KFTC members believe there is a better and longer-term solution that needs to be on the table – revenue reform. Kentuckians shouldn't have to choose between education and community health, not when the alternative is a good solution. Elected leaders need to hear you say so.

We all want good jobs and a dynamic economy. We all want schools that help prepare our children to succeed, and we all want clean water, safe communities and access to health care. And we can get there by building responsible budgets and raising the revenue that we need to carry them out. But to move Kentucky forward, we have to fix our unbalanced tax structure.

KFTC supports the Kentucky Forward Revenue Plan, sponsored by Rep. Jim Wayne. The Kentucky Forward Revenue Plan would raise about $536 million a year – about four times the Medicaid shortfall – and would lower income taxes for about 80% of Kentuckians, bringing some much-needed balance to our state tax structure.

Take Action

Right now, our legislators have an opportunity to opt for real solutions over quick fixes. Will you take two minutes to make two calls urging them to do so?

1) Call our legislators!

Call the Legislative Message Line at 800-372-7181 and leave a message for the "House and Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committees and House and Senate Leadership."

MESSAGE: I want to live in a Kentucky where we don’t have to choose between health care and education. I urge you to put on the table some long-term revenue solutions. Kentucky is worth it!

The message line is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m.

2) Share your thoughts with Governor Beshear!

You can call his office at 502-564-2611 with the same message, or send him at email from his online contact page. Feel free to use the wording below to paste in the email:

MESSAGE: Kentucky is worth long-term solutions to our chronic budget shortfalls. I support the Kentucky Forward Revenue Plan sponsored by Rep. Wayne to raise about $536 million a year – about four times the Medicaid shortfall – and lower income taxes for about 80% of Kentuckians. I urge you to use this opportunity to offer leadership on moving Kentucky forward.

THANKS FOR TAKING ACTION!