Guest Editorials

Guest columnist - Nancy Gaston

Everyone knows that eating three to five servings of vegetables each day is necessary for good health. Howver, what if you’re like me and hate most of the vegetable kingdom? Would it be acceptable to count hash browns and French-fried potatoes as part of that daily vegetable requirement? On the other hand, is it necessary to adorn my cheese-crust-filled frozen pizza with thin slices of carrots and celery?

By Damon Thayer
Now that the 2011 General Assembly has adjourned, I wanted to review some of the legislation enacted this year.  As chairman of the Senate State and Local Government Committee, I made sure that we took action on key pieces of legislation that will impact the lives of many Kentuckians.

The taxpayer scored a legislative victory this week when the House passed the Senate’s Medicaid budget proposal during the current special session.
Throughout the course of the Medicaid debate, the Governor and the Secretary of Health and Family Services have both been adamant that they can come up with $139 million in efficiencies and managed care to fill the Medicaid budget shortfall over the upcoming fiscal year. In the Senate, we feel it is our responsibility to trust, but verify their assumptions.

Over the course of the last week, the Kentucky House of Representatives honored fallen military members and their families in a solemn, moving ceremony in the House chamber. This tradition began in 2004 and the service has become one of the most significant experiences of the session.