From the KDP - Precinct Conventions On March 31st

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Category: News

Created on Friday, March 23 2012 21:33

Posted or Written by: C2

As the end of the month approaches, I hope you’re excited as I am about the 2012 reorganization process of the Kentucky Democratic Party. With just a little over a week to go until the Precinct Conventions, the first step in our reorganization, I wanted to share with you again a helpful guidebook that will show you the ways you can become involved with your local county party, the KDP State Central Executive Committee or our 2012 KDP State Convention.

Click Here to learn more

Please remember that your Precinct Convention is Saturday, March 31st at 10:00 AM local time at your local polling place. I hope that every Democrat across Kentucky interested in becoming a leader in the KDP or becoming more active in your local party will participate in their Precinct Convention.

As March 31st grows closer, the KDP is happy to help you with any concerns or questions you may have. Thank you in advance for taking part in this important process and for helping to build a strong Kentucky Democratic Party.

Sincerely,

Dan Logsdon,
Chairman, Kentucky Democratic Party

Phone deregulation bill dies in face of opposition

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Category: News

Created on Thursday, March 15 2012 21:35

Posted or Written by: C2

FRANKFORT, KY. — A bill that would fully deregulate the telephone industry in Kentucky died Thursday when it was sent back to committee after House and Senate members acknowledged that the two sides couldn’t agree on the plan this year.

“It won’t be revived this session,” said its sponsor, Sen. Paul Hornback, R-Shelbyville, after the Senate recommitted the bill to the Economic Development, Tourism & Labor Committee.

AT&T Kentucky President Mary Pat Regan acknowledged that the measure is dead and said the telecommunications giant would not try to revive the legislation this session.

“We have all agreed that we will take up the issue in the interim,” she said in a statement, while promising to push the bill in the future.

“We look forward to a meaningful discussion on updating Kentucky's laws in a way that will spur investment and create jobs, and there just isn't time left in this legislative session,” Regan said.

Under the bill, AT&T, Windstream and Cincinnati Bell would no longer have to provide basic landline services to all homes and businesses if a competitor were available to provide them. If there were no competitor, a company could provide cellphone service instead.

Opponents, including Tom FitzGerald, executive director of the Kentucky Resources Council, have argued that such a change would be a burden on the poor and the elderly who either can’t afford cell phones or are simply uncomfortable with them.

AT&T, which wrote the legislation, sank significant time and effort into passing the bill.

It hired 32 lobbyists amd spent $47,431 in January and February.

No one has hired more lobbyists this year, although some business organizations have spent significantly more on lobbying than AT&T.

The measure was poised for passage in the Senate on Wednesday when House Speaker Greg Stumbo expressed concern about it during an impromptu interview.

Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, said Thursday that he has concerns about the quality of cell phone service in rural parts of the states,, especially in his home county of Floyd, which is in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky.

Read More at: Courier-Journal.com