Moving the Goal Posts

Earlier today, Senate Education Committee Chair Max Wise (R, Campbellsville), along with the entire Senator Majority Leadership team, released an op-ed in response to the Governor’s unexpected and abrupt change of plans, creating confusion and frustration in homes and local school board rooms across the Commonwealth. I fully support my friend and colleague, Senator Wise, in this piece:

Commonwealth of Kentucky

Senate Majority Office

August 11, 2020

Reopening Kentucky Schools? Local Superintendents Should Decide

By Senators Wise, Stivers, Givens, Thayer, Adams, and Wilson

We, members of the Kentucky State Senate Majority, have heard a myriad of disappointment, anger, confusion, and frustration from our constituents regarding Governor Andy Beshear’s ‘recommendation’ that all schools open virtually in the fall of 2020. From parents of high school seniors to grandparents of kindergarten students, we are hearing from them all.

Citizens across the Commonwealth know how vital schools are to their communities, as they play an essential role in preparing their children for the future. Some weeks ago, after sending a letter to the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) encouraging some guidance to be provided to schools, Governor Beshear’s KDE finally took a position. If districts worked with local health departments, school administrators, teachers, and community leaders to develop well-designed plans that fit their local needs, KDE would review them and offer suggestions. The goal was to get children back into schools ready for in-person learning while permitting districts and families the flexibility if they choose to attend virtually.

Suddenly, yesterday, Governor Beshear unilaterally moved the goalposts. He moved from an initial recommendation to wait until the third week of August to resume in-person classes to now extending that date to the week before schools would be closed for fall break. One of the most frustrating scenarios is that over 100 local school districts were not given a chance to see if their in-person model may work. Surveys were taken, input was provided, and plans were developed only to see a ‘recommendation’ basically corner those superintendents into a box. Are they not to be trusted? Some districts had already announced their initial ‘virtual-only’ plans.

In contrast, many smaller or rural public school districts hoped to follow through on the overwhelming clamor from their teachers, parents, and students to offer a choice and support a reopening for in-person education during the 2020-21 school year. Locally, no voice has been louder than that of working-class parents. Much like when the pandemic began, these parents are being pushed into a financial crisis. Many of these parents have returned to work to now face the additional economic sacrifices and dilemmas of finding childcare, quitting a job, seeking family assistance, or requesting workforce accommodations to comply with this last-minute ‘recommendation.’

At this Monday press briefing, the question was posed to the Governor, “What is the impact of your recommendation on delaying the start of in-person classes until September 28th?” His response, “It is a recommendation. We are basing it on public health advice and the facts right now. If local school officials ignore us, the consequences are theirs.” From the start, the Governor has said, “We are in this together,” but suddenly, now “the consequences are theirs?” This statement and tone indicate blame, finger-pointing, and potential retribution for districts that don’t follow his ‘recommendation.’

“We fully support decisions made on the local level because they have the pulse and the ear of their communities’ safety and students’ best interest. The outcomes of those decisions will likely not be perfect, but we will stand beside those students, families, leaders, and teachers.”

— Senator Max Wise

Regarding public health advice, remember that the CDC director testified that keeping schools closed poses a more significant health threat to children than reopening. Suppose we fail to provide access to in-person learning. In that case, Kentucky’s school-aged children will receive limited or no access to nutrition, immunizations, mental health counseling, speech therapy, and other essential health-related services.

The Republicans of the Kentucky State Senate believe that we should indeed all be in this together. We echo the words of UK President Dr. Eli Capiluto, quoted on July 21, 2020 by the Lexington Herald-Leader. When questioned about the wisdom of his endorsement of students returning to campus coursework and activities, Dr. Capiluto responded, “As I heard someone recently say, we have two choices: we can go into lockdown, shutdown, or we can try to live in a COVID world. I think most of us realize we’ve got to live in a COVID world. So how do we make it as safe as possible for our student-athletes and for those who are dearest in our community — students, staff and faculty? That’s what we’re trying to do.”

In closing, we have full confidence in Kentucky’s education professionals. Their innovation, adaptability, professionalism, and commitment is unmatched. We support districts deciding on their own to start in-person, virtually, or through a hybrid methods. We cannot apply a one size fits all model for our school districts, as what is best for Jefferson County may not be the same for Adair County. We fully support decisions made on the local level because they have the pulse and the ear of their communities’ safety and students’ best interest. The outcomes of those decisions will likely not be perfect, but we will stand beside those students, families, leaders, and teachers.

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Note: Senator Max Wise represents the 16th District, which encompasses Adair, Clinton, Cumberland, McCreary, Russell, Taylor, and Wayne Counties. He is the chairman of the Senate Education Committee. Senate President Robert Stivers represents the 25th District, which encompasses Clay, Knox, Lee, Owsley, Whitley, Wolfe counties. Senator David Givens represents the 9th District, which encompasses Allen, Barren, Green, Metcalfe, Monroe and Simpson Counties. He serves as the Senate President Pro Tem. Senator Damon Thayer represents the 17th Senate District, which includes southern Kenton County as well as all of Grant and Scott Counties. He is the Senate Majority Floor Leader. Senator Julie Raque Adams represents the 36th State Senate District, which includes a portion of Jefferson County. She is the Senate Majority Caucus Chair. Senator Mike Wilson represents the 32nd District in Warren County. He serves as the Senate Majority Caucus Whip.

1 Year Budget is Passed

First, I hope this finds you and your family safe and healthy. We’re facing an unprecedented global health crisis, and our normal routines have been upended so dramatically. If you need help, please let me know. You can also reach out to the following local and state resources:

Pennyroyal Center RESPOND hotline (available 24/7/365): 877-473-7766

Kentucky’s COVID-19 Website and hotline: 800-722-5725, or general inquires can be emailed to KYcovid19@ky.gov

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

When in doubt, call your primary care provider.

Many of you have emailed, messaged or called regarding various items in the budget, and on Wednesday, April 1st, the legislature sent a truncated, one-year budget to the Governor for consideration. Regrettably, this budget is based on revenue projections that no one believes we’ll hit in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. All raises for various state employees that have been discussed have been put on hold. Much needed increases in spending on education and infrastructure are almost entirely delayed. However, we are putting an emphasis on public health, unemployment, and along with several other changes to help all Kentuckians navigate these difficult waters, in Senate Bill 150, Kentucky’s own COVID-19 relief bill that was passed unanimously on March 26th and was signed into law on March 30th. The Executive, Judicial and Legislative branch budgets were all passed to cover spending only for the first half of the biennium. The General Assembly will return for its next regular session in 2021 to prepare a revised budget for the second year of the biennium, ostensibly based on updated economic forecasts. I know we all hope to have COVID-19 well behind us by then.

While the General Assembly currently plans to return for a final day (or possibly two days) in mid-April to consider overriding any vetos and to make final passage of other bills, leadership in both chambers are monitoring the emergency daily. The Kentucky Constitution prohibits the legislature from conducting business in an even-numbered year beyond midnight on April 15th. If we don’t return by then the legislature is adjourned automatically by constitutional mandate.

Unfortunately, with the COVID-19 emergency the legislature has, rightly, decided to recess for as much time as possible to minimize potential exposure to staff and legislators. As a result, many bills that were headed toward more debate and possible passage have fallen to the wayside in the interest of the most important policy work, namely those bills related to budgets, pensions, and public health. I feel confident many of these bills will be filed and pursued again in 2021.

Below I’ve included links to key budget and revenue documents, including a summary of the “main” budget document (Executive branch) to show some of the highlights. If you have questions or if I can help don’t hesitate to reach out. You can email me here, or call my Frankfort office at 502-564-8100.

In the meantime, please remember to maintain physical distance in accordance with CDC recommendations and stay home as much as possible!

Policy Together

In 2013, I was invited to tour one of the elementary schools in my district by one of their teachers.  She had the assignment to reach out to her state legislators to get them involved.  Fast forward to 2016, and that teacher and I have become good friends that rely on one another when making decisions on public policy involving education and educators.

A few months ago I was invited once again by my friend, Mrs. Cassie Reding, to come visit some students and experience their classroom environment, and then to sit down for an interview about the impact of working together.  I was happy to participate, and (as always) thoroughly enjoyed my time in the classroom.  Kids were testing egg-drop contraptions, discovering and experimenting with oobleck, learning about light and heat energy using a radiometer, measuring and cutting wood to build a raised garden, and looking up local animal habitats.  I could stayed there all day!

During the interview, however, we were asked about the importance of building a relationship between educators and legislators, and importantly, spending time in each others' shoes.  Mrs. Reding and her husband Conrad (also a teacher) have been to the Capitol in Frankfort several times to discuss policies and to observe the process.  Its not nearly as fun as making oobleck, but the exchange of experience and perspective is what really matters.  This shared exchange – Policy Together – is what is so important.  Mrs. Reding and others have begun an initiative to foster these relationships across Kentucky, and I could't agree more with that goal.  I encourage every member of the legislature, and every teacher, to sign up.  Ignore party labels.  Ignore preconceived notions.  Just be willing to listen and learn from each other.

Are you a teacher interested in getting involved?

Gaming, indeed.

My position against gaming is well known, particularly in Frankfort.  Gaming lobbyists never waste time bringing it up to me.  Despite my personal, philosophical objection to the idea of gaming I'm still willing to have a learned discussion about it.  I'm open to hearing opposing view points.  My job as a legislator requires me to keep an open mind and weigh ideas.  If anyone who supports gaming ever came to me to talk about it I'd be happy to have that discussion, but unfortunately, so far, their arguments have failed even the slightest examination.  There are lots of questions gaming advocates haven't answered.  If they want it to pass, like advocates for any legislation, they must be prepared to answer the questions and own the results - good or bad.

A recent article in the New York Times discussed some of these questions in the context of a study done by a partnership of universities.  It's a short read that I highly recommend, regardless of your position.

The debate in Kentucky circles the often cited "let the people decide" sales pitch.  I posed to gaming supporters during the 2014 session the following hypothetical:  If we moved such a law forward, and put the gaming expansion matter on the ballot for voters to defeat or pass, would the gaming industry consent to spend just as much money advertising the woes of gaming as it does advertising it's merits?  Supporters conveniently fail to say out loud what everyone in state politics believes - the best ad campaign usually wins.  How many of you reading this believes the gaming industry would be outspent by those of us who oppose gaming?  Casinos made about $35 Billion in 2011. The Family Foundation and the Kentucky Baptist Convention don't exactly compete.

While I'm at it, here are a couple more questions that must be answered by the gaming industry:

1. What portion of your patrons are in the middle and lower income groups of the communities/regions where the casino exists?

2. What do you do to educate your patrons that you are taking steps to attract prolonged gaming? For example, do you inform them that slots are designed to entice more gaming (i.e., "near misses" and penny bets)?

3. What financial information about patrons do you collect?

4. How much do middle and low income gamblers lose as a percentage of their income?

5. What impact do casinos have on existing businesses in the areas where they operate?​

6. Excluding management, what are the mean and median incomes for your job positions?​

7. What losses in revenue do churches and non-profits experience when a casino enters a region?​

8. Similarly, do churches and non-profits experience an increase in service requests and outreach in regions where you operate?​

9. What amount, if any, do you set aside to provide for financial education programming and does that programming use a curriculum that cautions against gaming habits? How do you make your patrons aware of the education programming?​

 These are just a few to start with.  So far, I haven't had a conversation with a gaming supporter that didn't bring up a handful more that went unanswered.  I'm not holding my breath.