Restoration Hearing in Louisville

I have a 25-year-old son who had lost his faith in this Democracy... and he grew up watching me not able to vote and he didn't think voting mattered.  But last year, he signed the card to register to vote.  There's hope in my family and in my community in Democracy and that makes a big difference."      - Tayna Fogle

    On Monday, the Interim Joint Committee on State Government Task Force on Elections met at the Louisville Urban League building to discuss Restoration of Voting Rights for Former Felons and the bill filed by Rep. Darryl Owens for the upcoming General Assembly.

    KFTC members including former felons and allies came to the meeting from across the state to testify and convey their support for the legislation. 

    Speakers included Ed Monahan, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Kentucky, Mitchell Ford, a former felon spokesperson from People Advocating Recovery, Tayna Fogle, a former felon spokesperson and KFTC leader, Jefferson County Commonwealth Attorney David Stengel, Teena Halbig, president League of Women Voters of Louisville, and Raul Cunningham of the NAACP.

"You're changing a lot of people's lives for the better if you pass this law"
                                                             - Mitchell Ford

    Legislators were very responsive to the testimony, voicing support and asking technical follow-up questions.  Senator Julian Carroll was especially vocal in his support, praising the former felons in the room for the steps forward taken in their recovery. 

    Reps. Owens, Mike Cherry, Mike Harmon, Melvin Hensley and Sen. Carroll were the only legislators to show up to their committee meeting, which lessened the impact of the powerful presentation.