Why You Should Attend the Legislative Preview Breakfast

Why You Should Attend the Legislative Preview Breakfast

Every year the Jeffersontown Chamber hosts a Legislative Preview Breakfast. This year it will be on Wednesday, December 11, 2019 at the Jeffersonian Community Center, 10617 Taylorsville Road. The event starts at 7:30 am with breakfast. A panel discussion featuring several of Kentucky House and Senate members starts at 8:00 am. Both parties are represented and the leadership in each chamber is also well represented. Okay, that is great but why should you attend? Simple answer, input into the decisions they will make with which you will have to live.

The first input is in the form of the survey that members will soon receive from the Legislative Policy Committee of The Jeffersontown Chamber. For the second year, the results of the survey will be presented to the legislators at the breakfast. So, if you just cannot get there on December 11th, please answer the survey. It is a way to have input on many of issues that the legislators will be considering.

Second and of greater impact is the chance to have direct input one on one with an individual legislator. On numerous occasions I have heard Senators and Representatives both complain that when they have sponsored bills about which they expected people to have strong opinions, such as gambling or legalization of medical marijuana, no one contacted them either for or against the bill. Which leaves them with the impression that the people may not care about the issue. Also, lord knows they need ideas. This state is facing a massive pension shortfall and any ideas regarding revenue they need to hear and they need to be pushed to try some other than what they have always done. Wouldn’t it be nice for once if Kentucky would implement a new revenue source instead of watching our neighbor states suck Kentucky dollars across our borders? Or perhaps you are glad they have not taken action on certain revenue ideas, then let them know, in person.

 If you plan to come early is better than late. There is time for discussion as they arrive and during the breakfast. Do not plan to catch them after the event because they tend to either leave a little early or immediately after the event in order to get to Frankfort.

Thomas Jefferson is quoted as saying “We in America do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.” It may seem small but attending the Legislative Preview Breakfast is a chance to participate and make your voice heard in Kentucky.

Thanks,

 Jerry