We agree to disagree. Talking abortion, housing, education with Republican Sen. Bledsoe. | Opinion
Leading up to November’s election, I published a column about Amendment 2 that was a back-and-forth conversation with a supporter of the measure. Although Shaun Denney, a Lexington father, and I disagreed about the issue, we had a respectful, civil and informational dialogue about it.
It got a lot of positive response from readers, so we decided to try again.
State Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe, R-Lexington, and I don’t agree on many issues. But I’ve known her a long time as a Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council member and greatly respect the serious work, research and thoughtfulness she constantly displays as an elected official.
Now that she’s a part of the GOP supermajority in the Kentucky Senate, I thought it would be a good time to pick her brain about the upcoming session. Here’s our conversation, lightly edited for space.
Linda Blackford: As we get closer to the start of the next legislative session, what do you think we can expect to see? As you know, I was disappointed to hear that further attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) were high on the priority list when I think there are so many more important issues for Kentuckians. What do you think about that?
Amanda Mays Bledsoe: You are right that there are a lot of important issues facing Kentuckians, particularly the cost of inflation and housing affordability. The No. 1 priority for the majority caucus in both chambers will be to lower the income tax to 3.5%. This year clearly showed the price of groceries and the purchasing power of the dollar were the driving factors in the election. I expect artificial intelligence, education and healthcare policy will also be top issues. At the same time, the 2024 election shows that voters feel that some of the diversity, equity and inclusion efforts have gone too far in dividing us more than unifying us.
LB: I’d like to zero in on two things you mentioned in particular, housing and education. What are the best ways in your opinion for the General Assembly to address the housing shortage? A couple of House members have shown interest in zoning issues, which are certainly part of the equation. But are there more direct ways for the GA to get involved?
And what education issues do you think will get traction? In my opinion, the overwhelming defeat of Amendment 2 showed that people want to support their public schools, and actually want more investment in them. I think you’re a school choice supporter? What are your thoughts overall on this?
AMB: We often talk about affordable housing, but the issue today is truly housing affordability. The spectrum of housing options for the single professional, the growing family and the senior adult is limited. There is plenty of demand, it’s the supply that is hurting. It will take a multifaceted approach to make a noticeable difference. A few options include a statewide banking loan fund for affordable housing projects, multi-family and single-family low income housing tax credit programs, expanding housing types, or an infrastructure loan fund. We also have to make sure that our local regulatory frameworks aren’t overly burdensome, increasing the cost and availability of housing. Planning is key, but the NIMBY issue is not limited to urban areas.
I completely agree that people support their public schools throughout the state and want to see them succeed as do the members of the General Assembly. I was proud to support the significant increases in the budget for K-12 as well as post-secondary. I did support giving Kentuckians the ability to vote on the issue of school choice. A lot of families are choosing to educate their students in a non-traditional way, and I agreed that voters deserved the opportunity to weigh in. School choice and supporting public schools are not diametrically opposed — both are pro-student. At the end of the day, we want every student to be successful, contributing members of our commonwealth. But we have to do more than just increase funding. We’ve seen record increases in public school funding, which I support, but that doesn’t automatically translate to outcomes. We need to study the role of technology in our schools and consider if other state’s examples of banning phones have improved student outcomes. We need to look at making sure schools are accountable for the funding they receive.
LB: I want to push back a little on the funding piece. While the GA has increased school funding, and importantly, shored up the pension system, school funding is still trailing from where it should be, which has caused historic inequities between districts based on property tax to reemerge. There’s a lot of worry that this will be exacerbated by the further reduction in income tax. Why should we not worry about this?
AMB: No question there has been a quick and steep rise in property taxes over the last few years, which significantly benefits urban centers who have seen a more significant increase in property values. This is something we will need to address. The proposed 2025 income tax is an easy target, but there is bipartisan agreement that it is in the interest of the commonwealth to continue these cuts. I always look at the budget in terms of buckets and priorities. Funding our schools is and will continue to be a priority, no matter the size of the bucket. I believe educating the future of Kentucky is the most important investment we can make. I do think you bring up a good point, which is that the long-term funding mechanism for education should be examined. It’s been over 30 years since the General Assembly tried to equalize per student funding and increase school performance. I think we can agree that the goal may be the same, but it’s getting challenging to meet. I would also point out that our current commitments are exceeding inflation when you look at both our SEEK commitment and the additional fringe benefits we pay directly to the entities covering health and pension benefits. These are benefits every business has to consider when they budget their operational expenses and should be included in our budget discussions.
I also want to push back just a little on funding. It’s too easy for conversations around public education to shift to funding conversations — more or less dollars. Yes, funding matters. However, at the end of the day we have to be sure we are seeing student success. Can they read? Are they comprehending what they read? Can they write? Do they know math facts? Are we identifying struggling students before they fall through the gaps? We have to be sure that any funding we give is tied to these outcomes for students.
LB: Well, the history of education in Kentucky since 1990 is one long discussion about this kind of accountability: No one in the General Assembly has ever been able to agree on what it should look like. In addition, I’d argue that schools are being blamed for every societal ill we face, namely poverty, without the tools to fix them. But that is a much longer conversation.
So, let me move on to this: While Trump’s election may solidify feelings in the legislature that Kentucky does not need any exceptions to its abortion laws, I think the 2022 failure of Amendment 2, and reporting from local outlets and ProPublica about these laws hurting women who need miscarriage and other types of care, show the need for additional language. How do you feel and is there any impetus to add exceptions for rape and incest and more clear definitions for doctors in helping women whose pregnancies or failed pregnancies put their lives in danger?
AMB: Yes, we have seen significant changes in the abortion landscape over the last two years. And just to be honest with you — a conversation in our caucus would not be productive at this time until a pending class-action lawsuit in Louisville is resolved. It’s a moral issue for our members because we are talking about a baby at its most vulnerable stage. One in five women endure a miscarriage. I am one of the women who has witnessed both the happiness of childbirth and the loss of miscarriage, so I know the joy and the pain. And I know the importance of receiving medical attention when you need it. I am committed to the ongoing conversation so that no woman who ends up in a situation like mine a few years ago doesn’t get the care she needs.
While I know you and I won’t agree on the issue of abortion, I think we can both agree it is a deeply held personal conviction. I hope we can all find a way to take on a more respectful and understanding approach to this issue.
