The state Senate has passed legislation intended to curb the flow of non-Medicaid, state-administered tax dollars to Planned Parenthood clinics in Kentucky.
Dubbed the “Defunding Planned Parenthood Legislation,” Senate Bill 7 passed by a 33-5 vote. The bill now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.
SB 7 would establish a three-tiered system for the state to fund family planning services, said bill sponsor Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville. The first funding priority would be public health departments. The second funding priority would be nonpublic clinics that provide comprehensive primary and preventive health services. The third funding priority – if any money remains – would be to Planned Parenthood.
“Due to existing federal law and prior federal court of appeals decisions, this bill does not impact Medicaid funds that flow to Planned Parenthood,” Wise said. “While that is regrettable … it is the current landscape within which we must work.”
Wise said that Planned Parenthood-affiliated facilities performed more than one-third of all abortions in the United States. “Until more significant changes can be made at the federal level, we must do what we can to keep public funds from groups like Planned Parenthood which callously profit from death.”
Sen. Reginald Thomas, D-Lexington, voted against SB 7.
“Planned Parenthood serves a profound public purpose in this country and in this state,” said Thomas, who has a Planned Parenthood clinic in his district. “First of all Planned Parenthood serves women who ordinarily wouldn’t be able to … obtain the family planning services that we value as a society.”
He said the clinic in his district served 1,350 people in 2014, adding that 60 percent of those women were below the 100 percent poverty level. He added that Planned Parenthood also provides cancer screening for women – a service badly needed in a state that routinely leads the nation in cancer rates.
Prior to the floor debate and subsequent vote on SB 7, the Senate went into recess so some senators could walk another abortion-related bill to the governor’s office for his signature.
It was the “informed consent” bill, also known as Senate Bill 4, which passed out of the Senate on Monday. SB 4 would require an in-person or real-time video conference between a woman seeking an abortion and a health care provider at least 24 hours before the procedure.
House committee approves expansion of local law enforcement
A bill that could expand the jurisdiction of local law enforcement and other local agencies throughout Kentucky has cleared a House committee.
Rep. Tom McKee, D-Cynthiana, the sponsor of House Bill 189, says his legislation would make it easier for sheriffs, police and other local agencies to enter into existing interlocal agreements, which are contracts that allow local governments to share services. Approval to join an existing agreement must now be sought by all affected local government parties and either the Attorney General or the Department for Local Government, a rule that supporters of HB 189 say is a burden on local agencies.
“The process is cumbersome, lengthy and expensive,” Georgetown City Attorney Andrew Hartley told the House Local Government Committee before it approved HB 189.
Hartley said the bill would allow local governments to bring new agencies into an existing agreement without the extra red tape—as long as the terms of the agreement are basically unchanged.
“This is not automatic and would only happen with the approval of all affected (local) legislative bodies,” but would not require state approval, Hartley said.
HB 189 is backed by dozens of local law enforcement agencies including 26 police and sheriff’s department throughout Central Kentucky that share jurisdiction through an existing interlocal agreement. The agreement has been in place for over a year but has not been able to be easily amended under existing law.
“We’re looking for a mechanism to allow (other law enforcement agencies) into that same system that seems to be working for us in Central Kentucky,” Georgetown Police Chief Michael Bosse told the committee before the vote.
HB 189 now goes to the full House for consideration.
Senate pedals closer to passing a bicycle safety law
A state Senate committee passed a bill Wednesday that its sponsors said will clarify how motorists interact with bicyclists in hopes of making the roads safer for everyone.
Senate Bill 80, as amended in the Senate Standing Committee on Transportation, relates to drivers passing bicycles on the roadway. One key provision of the bills requires motorists to stay three feet away from bicycles during passing.
Sen. Robin L. Webb, D-Grayson, a primary sponsor of SB 80, thanked Senate President Pro Tem David P. Givens, R-Greensburg, for his help in drafting the legislation.
“He certainly is the cyclist in our group,” Webb said of Givens. “I ride horses so I deferred to his expertise. He is not here today, but I do want to give him a shout-out. I appreciate him helping out on this.”
Webb said SB 80 is a clarification of what motorists should be doing now.
“Bicycles are a growing mode of transportation both in urban areas and rural areas,” she said. “The Department of Transportation is doing a good job with some governments about accommodating cyclists in a safe manner but yet we have had a few tragedies of late when it comes to cyclists and sharing the road.”
Sen. Brandon Smith, R-Hazard, said a trail brings a lot of bike tourism to his district.
“I know some people may think this is a Louisville/Lexington bill,” he said. “I can tell you that it is not true. There are a lot of rural places in the state that have a lot of bicycle traffic. Hopefully this will give these people a sense of security as they travel through our region.”
Webb said her home is between two Kentucky Trail Towns, Olive Hill and Morehead.
“Cyclists spend money,” Webb said. “We want to do everything we can to attract them and make them safe when they are in our communities.”
The Kentucky Trail Town Program is designed to help connect communities to trail systems and assist in developing sites as tourist destinations. The goal is to create an environment that is inviting to travelers, entrepreneurs and economic development.
“Motorized vehicles need to be mindful that this sector is growing, not only for convenience and recreation, but also sometimes out of necessity,” Webb said.
From LRC Public Information
These men need to wake up and smell the coffee. “Profit from death”. Nothing is further from the truth. Our legislators are pushing death by wanting to deny women health care.
Bring back the metal coat hanger!