Opinion

Even before the House of Representatives passed its $17.5 billion budget proposal, the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee had our first meeting to discuss some of the tax measures that affect business. I am very concerned that these measures will hinder job creation. In the committee, I heard testimony from 10 business representatives who discussed how taxing businesses, including farms, which are already struggling would have a negative impact on employment.

Wednesday of last week, the Marion County High School girls' basketball team made its first appearance in the Sweet 16 since 1995.

Let that sink in for a moment.

This year's Lady Knights did something that has only been done a handful of times in the history of MCHS.

They won regional and district championships, and they finished the season 33-2, an outstanding mark, by any standard.

With less than 21 legislative days of the 2010 General Assembly Session remaining, the Senate continues to address a wide variety of issues as we await the House of Representatives to wrap up work on their budget proposal.

This week, the Senate passed legislation that will strengthen government ethics, help the Department of Education better classify school buildings, and protect our children from a new hallucinogenic drug.

The State Senate dealt with a wide-ranging legislation this week addressing issues such as teaching the Bible in schools, cutting red-tape for businesses, reducing jail costs for counties, and helping severely emotionally-challenged children.

The United States' legal system is based, in part, on the Judeo-Christian tradition. The Bible is a rich source of history, sociology, and literature. Senate Bill 142 requires the Department of Education to formulate guidelines for public schools to teach the Bible as an elective social studies course.

The window in the front hallway of Lebanon Middle School is covered with paper chains. Each chain contains a sentiment, a prayer or a wish for the well-being for the Haitian people.

In light of the massive earthquake that hit Haiti in January, the LMS STLP and BETA clubs proposed selling the paper chains for a quarter each, according to Bethany Purdom, a student at LMS. Every quarter raised went toward the purchase of healthy mixes of rice and vegetables that could provide six meals per bag.

Eight seconds.

In the bull riding arena, that brief amount of time is considered the most dangerous in sports.

But, in the basketball arena, it carries with it different meaning for me. It's the amount of time this self-professed benchwarmer played at the Sweet Sixteen in 1995 when the Lady Knights lost in the quarterfinals to Pulaski County.

Since 1926, February has been deemed Black History Month. In this month, the world celebrates the lives, inventions, and accomplishments of black people. If I may be honest, it is a shame that it took the world so long to realize that people of color had brains and talent that exceeded dancing, singing and dunking a basketball.

Whether its officials meant for it to become this way or not, topix.com has become the source of countless complaints from people all over the country, including here in Marion County.

From time to time, someone will call our office either demanding that we remove something from the discussion board or trying to find out how to do so.

The Senate pushed for government transparency, expanded voter participation, and the protection of private property. I attended the Rally for Life at the Capitol on Wednesday where I spoke to 200 people gathered there to celebrate the sanctity of life. I also spoke at the United 874K Coalition rally which promoted services for the disabled. One of my personal highlights during every session is the Right to Life Rally. Ever since I came to Frankfort as a state representative and now as a senator, I have supported pro-life legislation.