A New Year, A New Day
2004 brings a sense of optimism to Kentucky

Hello 2004. It is not only a new year, but truly a new day in the Commonwealth. 2003 rang out with the December 9th inauguration of the first Republican governor to be sworn in since 1967. The new governor, elected overwhelmingly, won all congressional districts but one. He now works with a Republican state Senate and a Democratic House of Representatives, another departure from the past. For more than three decades, Democrats controlled the governor’s office as well as the state Senate and House of Representatives.

Kentuckians said goodbye to the old year and its state government scandals that included a governor’s tawdry affair, accusations of government favors to the “chosen few,” pornography viewing at the Transportation Cabinet, gubernatorial pardons to his indicted staff and news accounts of waste, fraud and abuse.

Kentuckians have every reason to be optimistic about positive change in state government and a brighter future for its citizens. Governor Ernie Fletcher demonstrated his willingness and ability to work across party lines during his tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives.

A mere five years ago, Kentucky was awash in surplus funds, but state government found ways to spend or obligate every last dollar and more. From 1990-2001, Kentucky ranked sixth highest among all states in growth of per capita state general fund spending. Runaway state spending essentially doubled, greatly outstripping growth in personal and corporate incomes. That, and a recessionary economy, is why Kentucky is experiencing its current financial distress.

With careful and determined leadership, there is no reason why Kentucky’s economy will not fall in line with the nation’s current robust economic growth. For the third quarter of 2003, U.S. worker productivity grew at a blistering 9.4 percent - a 20-year high. In November, manufacturing expanded for the fifth straight month. October’s construction spending was the best month ever recorded. Car and truck sales surged in November. Analysts were particularly encouraged by increased manufacturing jobs and expect this final economic indicator to continue strengthening the nation’s economy. This is exactly what the federal tax cuts were supposed to do.

A key to the governor’s success in pursuing a prosperous Kentucky will be to rely on a qualified team to help run state government. It is apparent he is bringing people to Frankfort who have “come to give and not to get.” True change for Kentucky requires appointing private-sector citizens who are not more of the same political hangers-on who have populated the Capitol for so many years.

Another vital key will be in making only affordable commitments and achieving them. Kentuckians have elected a conservative governor and should not be surprised at his conservative agenda. If Governor Fletcher can sell Kentucky to those entities that create jobs, Kentucky can become a prosperous state and a choice state in which to do business and raise families.

Other than serious budgetary problems inherited from the preceding administration, another issue important to every citizen is the growing shortage of doctors. Between August and November 2003, 800 Kentucky physicians have either retired or left the state. A major reason is the excessively high cost of malpractice insurance in Kentucky. To deal with the negative economic effects of rampant litigation and declining numbers of doctors, Texas lawmakers capped arbitrary non-economic damages and amended its constitution to give legislators authority to limit damages in all civil cases.

Governor Fletcher’s reputation for moral decency and old-fashioned hard work throughout his life can inspire Kentuckians who are weary of scandal and profligate government spending. His life experiences have prepared him to be a strong leader, but he will need the good wishes and support of all Kentuckians. He has been an engineer, a fighter pilot, a doctor and a congressman. Now he faces the biggest challenge of his life: taking the helm of a troubled state government. Our New Year’s resolutions should include a firm resolve to give moral support to the governor, his administration and the legislature.

Pat Freibert is a former Kentucky state representative from Lexington
editorial@lanereport.com

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