‘You’re an embarrassment.’ KY lawmakers resort to taunts over failed local tax bill.
A constitutional amendment that would allow voters to decide if local governments should have more taxing options failed in the Republican-led House Friday after several Democrats who co-sponsored the legislation declined to cast a vote.
Democrats said they were protesting their poor treatment by Republican leaders, prompting some GOP lawmakers to call the Democratic minority “weak” and an “embarrassment.”
House Bill 475, a constitutional amendment that would give the General Assembly authority to allow new types of local taxes, received 49 yes votes — 11 votes shy of the 60 needed to pass a constitutional amendment.
Legislative leaders rarely bring a bill to the House floor for a vote without knowing it has enough support to pass.
Rep. Michael Meredith, R-Oakland, the sponsor of HB 475, said more than a dozen Democratic co-sponsors of the bill — which originally had more than 50 co-sponsors — opted not to vote, sinking the bill. According to the final tally, 16 co-sponsors did not vote on the bill.
Minority Floor Leader Joni Jenkins, who was one of the 16 co-sponsors, said Democrats have been told repeatedly by the Republican majority in the House that their vote doesn’t count.
“We do count,” said Jenkins, D-Shively. Every person in the 100-member body of the House counts, she said.
That prompted outrage from some.
“You have given your word and you have not honored it,” said Rep. Randy Bridges, R-Paducah. “You have made a point ... you’re weak. You’re an embarrassment.”
House Speaker David Osborne, R-Prospect, said Democrats chose to play politics instead of doing their job.
“You care more about making points than making policy,” Osborne said.
Rep. Angie Hatton, D-Whitesburg, said many in the Democratic caucus had reservations about the bill. Moreover, Democratic leaders told Meredith and others in Republican leadership that they would not vote in favor of the amendment and should not call a vote on the bill Friday.
Hatton said Democrats have pushed to get certain bills passed, but those pleas have been ignored by the Republican majority.
“We don’t pout. We don’t call you weak,” Hatton fired back.
Rep. Derrick Graham, D-Frankfort, who has served in the House for 18 years, cautioned the House that no bill will be passed if the 100-member body resorts to name-calling.
“We can not find resolution by calling peoples names and calling people out,” Graham said.
A revival of the constitutional amendment — backed by the Kentucky League of Cities, the Kentucky Association of Counties and Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton — is still possible.
The bill can be brought back to the floor for another vote at a later date, Osborne said after Friday’s failed vote.
The Kentucky Constitution limits the types of taxes local governments can levy. The amendment would give the General Assembly authority to allow other types of taxes. If passed by the House and Senate, the amendment would be placed on the ballot in November for a vote.
Cities and counties have pushed for more taxing options in recent years. Local governments are heavily reliant on payroll taxes and property taxes. Those types of taxes are outdated and are not keeping pace with expenses, local leaders argue. By allowing different types of taxes, cities and counties could reduce other taxes, some argued Friday.
The Kentucky Retail Federation has opposed the constitutional amendment, saying it could lead to additional sales taxes.
“City and county governments already tax Kentuckians where they live and work,” said Steve McClain, director of communications and public affairs for the Kentucky Retail Federation. “Now they want to tax them where they eat, shop and play. “
This story was originally published March 6, 2020 at 4:08 PM.
