|
Hello John ,
Time to vote! This week - November 2nd,3rd,& 4th 8AM-6PM you can vote early, on paper, with ID, at several locations near our area including:
The Jeffersonian
10617 Taylorsville Rd. 40299
Triple Crown Pavilion
1780 Plantside Dr. 40299
On Tues, Nov 7 (election day) you can vote at your usual neighborhood polls. See the County Clerk website for details.
(who to vote for? my personal recommendations are in the last section)
We have strengthened the KY election laws to ensure your paper ballot stays securely locked in a box until 6PM on election night, even if you vote early. I have personally put a massive amount of effort into plugging any weak spots in our KY election laws since 2020, read a summary here.
I recommend you vote on the early days Thurs, Fri, or Sat to beat the rush, because Tuesday election day you could be sick, have a flat tire or some other emergency, and miss voting. Your early vote is secure.
************
We are still working on details of the Safer Kentucky Act, designed to reduce crime and improve public safety statewide, but especially Louisville. The full text of the bill will be ready by mid December, but you can read the detailed press release here. Between now and then, the team and I will be meeting with the Mayor, Metro Council members for our area, police, prosecutors, and other groups to make sure we have the right bill language to be effective.
| |
District 36 Road & Traffic Plans | |
I-64/I-265 interchange improvements: KYTC is reconstructing the supper busy I-64/I-265 interchange to improve safety and ease the flow of traffic through the interchange. The project includes areas on I-64 from Blankenbaker Parkway to English Station Road, and on I-265 from Pope Lick Road to the U.S. 60 interchange.
Construction is in the intense phase now, and should be completed by summer of 2024. Watch a short video of how traffic will flow in the future vs the current mess!
Major projects are underway at KY155, I265 and I64, and Old Henry road, with detours often.
Sign up here for email ROAD CONSTRUCTION & DETOUR UPDATES
It is Pothole Season! Help Louisville Metro find them all by reporting online!
| |
|
We will update The State Road Plan in 2024 - it is a complicated and competitive process, as there are 99 other Legislators like me who are seeking the limited project funds for the next 2 years. Click here for an explanation of the process.
Bottom Line: I will be making sure that District 36 competes effectively for scarce road funds in the Budget Planning process over the next few months, and there may be a time that I need to call for some "helpful pressure" from community groups to make sure the rest of KY understands our needs. Stay tuned. Community involvement is important. I welcome any feedback or information you have on road needs.
| |
|
US Constitution, Section 9:
"No money shall be drawn from the treasury but on consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular statement and account of all the receipts and expenditures of all public money shall be published from time to time."
Section 7: "All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives"
This section of the Constitution has been routinely ignored. The current process of using "continuing resolutions" and "debt ceiling increases" is just repeatedly delaying the Constitutionally required process of the House (with a Speaker) of passing 12 Appropriation bills to fund the government, which should all be debated and voted on. Continuing resolutions just expand government spending without negotiation.
| |
Section 47 of The KY Constitution of 1891 agrees: "Bills to raise revenue must originate in the House of Representatives". This is a primary reason that Constitution requires that House members must face election every 2 years (vs 4 or 6), because the voice of the people must be heard quickly and loudly by those who would raise taxes or spend tax money foolishly! If your taxes go up - you know exactly who to blame and hold accountable! (spoiler alert: I hate tax increases) | |
Legislative Update - State Government Committee Bills Passed 2023 | |
|
I joined other legislators in voting for these bills that are now law:
Addressing workforce shortage issues and making the state more competitive, Rep. Jonathan Dixon – HB 188 expands the opportunity for eligible construction managers at-risk and construction manager-general contractors to bid and self-perform public contracts.
Ensuring accountability in government contracts, Rep. Mark Hart – HB 329 clarifies that recommendations of the Government Contract Review Committee are non-binding and delegates to the Treasurer the authority to act as final arbiter to determine if a contract the committee finds inappropriate should remain effective, be canceled, or revised. This measure does not apply to emergency contracts or contracts made necessary by the exercise of powers granted the governor under the state constitution. Vetoed and Overridden
Kentucky State Police body camera program, Rep. David Hale - HB 401 creates a position within the Kentucky State Police to oversee the implementation and use of body cameras.
Addressing workforce shortages for state and local government employees, Rep. Walker Thomas – HB 506 reduces the minimum time before a retiree may return to work and continue to receive their retirement from three months to one month.
Ensuring security of state network technology systems/banning TikTok, Sen. Robby Mills – SB 20 prohibits the use or download of TikTok on any state government network or device.
We are in the "Interim Joint Committee" part of the year, where I am meeting regularly in Frankfort with House and Senate committees to discuss 2024 proposed bills in detail, and hear testimony from interested parties. I am also attending national legislative conferences to learn from other states how they are addressing issues in technology, elections, crime, education etc.
My 4 Committee assignments are:
- Elections & Constitutional Amendments
- State Government
- Transportation
- Information Technology Oversight Board (newly formed)
Watch live internet video of the session and committees on this KET link.
I welcome your input and perspective on legislative issues (online form here).
My office number is 351D in the Capitol Annex.
Office phone is 502-564-8100.
State email is [email protected]
I will do my best to answer your questions and consider your input on District 36 issues if you would like to contact me.
| |
Let's protect faith, family, and freedom in KY - Liberty is a team sport! | |
Political Happenings in Dist 36 | |
|
VOTING starts for everyone November 2,3,4 & 7 (election day) - see the County Clerk website for details. There will be voting centers open Thu, Fri and Sat before the election, and your neighborhood poll on Election Day.
Who to vote for? Here are my picks, and their positive qualities:
Governor - Daniel Cameron (R) I have known him for 4 years, successfully worked with him in his official Attorney General capacity, and have gotten to know his beautiful family. Great guy, solid values, politically conservative, and he will work very well with the Legislature. This race will get top national attention in November.
Attorney General: Russell Coleman (R) believes in enforcing the law. I have worked with him for a year on legislative matters and recently our crime bill, the Safer Kentucky Act. He is the partner we need in the AG office to fight crime.
Secretary of State: Incumbent Michael Adams (R) has worked with me for the last 4 years on improving election laws in KY, including the voter roll cleanup bill and post-election audit bill I hope to pass in 2024. We don't agree 100% on policy, but have a very solid and honest working relationship that has yielded good results in the Legislature.
Secretary of Agriculture: Jonathan Shell (R) I have known and worked with for 8 years, and he is a very energetic and capable advocate for KY agriculture, with solid conservative values, a great fit for this job.
State Treasurer: Lexington prosecutor Mark Metcalf (R) I only met this year, but I interviewed him at length about his experience and values, and I think he is a solid conservative who will execute the Treasurer job with integrity.
State Auditor: Current Treasurer Allison Ball (R) I have known and worked with for 8 years in her current role as Treasurer. She is smart, principled, conservative. and VERY energetic. I think she could take the role of Auditor to the next level of accountability, which is badly needed in government. No department in government should ever be allowed to say "just trust me" - they need to prove via audit that they are executing their duties faithfully.
Judge, Family Court - Special Election: lawyer Claudette Patton is somebody I have known for 35 years from volunteer roles in church and non-profit ministries, and also in several legal matters. She is a smart lawyer, and would be an honest judge who upholds the law. Judge races are non-partisan, but in my opinion she is the most conservative of the group running for this open seat. (she can't say that, but I can!)
| |
|
School Group Touring the Capitol? See my intro video here.
Archived Recent Newsletters:
Oct 2023 - Crime bill, Billtown Road project, VMAP Committee bills passed
Sept 2023 - privacy bill, I64 interchange, Family & Children legislation passed
August 2023 - Road budget process, interim committees, Licensing and Admin Regulation bills
July 2023 - Energy & Environment bills, I64/Gene Snyder project, November election lineup
June 2023 - Primary election, crime legislation update, Billtown Road project
May 2023 - 2023 Education bills, Taylorsville road project, 2024 priorities
April 2023 - 2023 Session recap, 2050 road plan
March 2023 - legislative session, N English Station road project, Taiwan ambassador
February 2023 - Part 2 of Session, Eastwood cutoff project, election law
January 2023 - How to track the Session and bills, new legislation, Eastwood Cutoff project
December 2022 - Election recap, legislative preview, how a bill becomes law
November 2022 - KY highway Plan, election preview
October 2022 - I64 Interchange, Judicial races
September '22 – Eastwood Cutoff project, Constitutional Privacy protection
August '22 – KY 155 / Pope Lick project, Limitations on Government Power
July '22 – First newsletter – our God-given Rights
| |
Thanks for reading and being involved!
John Hodgson
State Representative District 36
| | |
|
Address: PO Box 74
Fisherville, KY 40023
Phone: (502) 276-5213
| | | | |
