Mike’s Key Positions
Education
In order for Kentucky to succeed in the educational realm, we must think of the educational process as a three-legged stool in which all three legs—public, private, and home schools—are strengthened and protected.
It is important to make sure public school teachers have good salaries and good benefits in order to attract the best and brightest. We must strive to leave less money with Frankfort bureaucrats, making it available to local school districts instead.
Statistics indicate that when parents have choices, educational success increases in all three areas. It is important that private and home schooling opportunities are available and protected. Parents are more satisfied with their children’s education, even when they choose a public school. Regardless of their economic status, it’s important for all parents to have the opportunity to choose from these three options.
Health Care
Kentucky has faced the health care challenge for several years. Of the approximately 4 million citizens of the Commonwealth, around 700,000 are on Medicaid, and about 500,000 have no insurance at all. While we have improved this situation, there is more to be done. There is no “silver bullet” solution.
a) Tort Reform — While it is not the only driver in increased health care cost, the threat of law suits without limits add significant cost and is a disincentive for doctors to locate in Kentucky. This is an area we can control if we can get 60% of the House and 60% of the Senate to take action. Tort reform has been portrayed as a threat to the right of people to sue, but that could not be further from the truth. Instead, it would merely allow the General Assembly to address the situation, which we are currently prohibited from doing.
b) Inter-State Compacts — Kentucky has entered into compacts with other states to allow insurance companies to offer uniform life insurance products to citizens of all the member states. We must work to do the same with health insurance, as uniform products spread the risk among a greater population and offer cafeteria-type options, providing a choice in the level of coverage—a Kia plan or a Cadillac plan. This approach can save money overall and offer affordable basic coverage to those who now have no coverage at all.
c) Multi-State Compact — If we are not successful in obtaining a multi-state compact, we should petition the Federal Government to allow Federally chartered insurance plans that could be sold in any state. I would compare it to the difference between a Federally chartered bank and a State chartered bank.
Innocent Unborn
Those who know me are aware that this issue is a hot button for me. I have always been pro-life, but I can tell you, after holding my daughter in my hands for the first time when she was born 14 years ago, I can’t imagine myself being any other way.
It is unfortunate that some stood in the way of requiring informed consent to be offered face-to-face by a doctor within 24 hrs before the procedure. To get around existing laws, some abortionists currently have a recorded phone message for those seeking an abortion. Now imagine if you were having gall bladder surgery or bone surgery or any other surgery, and instead of meeting with your doctor, you just listened to a recorded message. This may seem odd, but this is how an abortionist provides consultation.
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Mike is . . .
Endorsed by the Kentucky Right to Life PAC
Endorsed by the National Rifle Association
Endorsed by the Kentucky Chamber PAC
Read letters that refer to Mike’s effort—
“We are grateful for the work you do
on behalf of Kentucky’s farmers.
We also believe that others in your district
should know of your hard work….”
Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation
read more
“Thank you for your work during the
2008 Regular Legislative Session….We are
fortunate to have such an energetic,
far-sighted public servant as you serving
in our state legislature.”
Kentucky Retired Teachers Association
read more
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