Last week our democracy mourned the loss of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, a strong conservative jurist appointed by President Reagan. He was quick witted and loquacious and larger than life. Scalia was among the most persistent, unapologetic Justices committed to the letter of the law in the history of the High Court. He was deeply committed to the original meaning of the Constitution and he believed judges had the duty to give the original meaning to the Constitution and laws.
In Frankfort, last week consisted of long hours of challenging budget work for our caucus.
The two-year budget will be our blueprint for governing in tough financial times. Just like your family, we must live within our means, and doing so will require responsible spending. As any budget should, our plan will prioritize being good stewards of your tax dollars, while protecting the most vulnerable among us.
Last week the Senate passed Senate Bill 1, an overhaul of the current state education assessment standards.
The bill provides a framework to limit government interference in how students are taught and tested, while focusing on the four core areas of education: English, Math, Science, and Social Studies.
As a member of the House Education Committee, I am reviewing this legislation and pledge to work with the Senate to provide much-needed reforms to our public education system.
As lawmakers, we know it is always a part of our job to protect benefits for our brave active duty military and military veterans at every opportunity.
Last Tuesday, we voted 93-0 in favor of three pieces of legislation that would ensure our veterans and active duty military receive academic credit for military experience, help our veterans receive professional licenses based on their military training, and make it easier for our disabled veterans to open a business.
The academic credit would come from House Bill 127. While most Kentucky colleges and universities already provide academic credit for active duty soldiers and military veterans, HB 127 would require that a statewide policy be created and implemented to ensure that appropriate, uniform academic credit for military service and training be given to active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces, Reserves or National Guard, and veterans.
On a final note, I have filed House Bill 330.
HB 330 is another important tool in the tool box as we combat opioid addiction in the Commonwealth which often leads to heroin addiction. HB 330 assures that when a healthcare practitioner prescribes an opioid pain medication known as an abuse-deterrent opioid product (ADO), insurance companies must allow coverage. ADOs incorporate “tamper-deterrent properties” that reduce the misuse of an opioid by crushing, snorting, or injecting.
As always, I welcome your comments and concerns on any issues facing our Commonwealth during the 2016 Regular Session. I can be reached through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181, or you can contact me via email at addia.wuchner@lrc.ky.gov.
Addia Wuchner is a Kentucky state representative from District 66. She lives in Florence.