Last night, I spent an hour going through the Kentucky 2014 pre-filed bills. There is a list at the bottom of this post with bill numbers, topics and how to find the bill on the LRC website.
I didn’t read them all, of course. Just the ones that looked interesting to me.
After last night’s quick ramble through those puppies, I can say with 100% certainty that there is no part of your life so inconsequential that the Kentucky General Assembly doesn’t feel obligated to control.
Things like:
HB 39 (BR 230) AN ACT relating to cable television.
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 65 to require that any contract between a local government and a cable television service provider include a provision requiring the cable provider to offer access to channels individually.
Why is this appropriate in any way? Does government intervention in a market help us?
HB 38 (BR 155) AN ACT relating to electrical inspections.
Create new sections of KRS Chapter 227A to specify contents of an electrical permit and stipulate that applying for a permit implies consent to an electrical inspection; require the Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction to appoint and assign electrical inspectors to each county; permit the department to allow local governments to administer inspection program; require certain work conducted by an electrical utility on customer’s property to be performed by an electrician or master electrician; read more…
This bill creates a huge new bureaucracy that will require an electrical permit for any work, said permit to stipulate that applying for a permit allows inspections at will and to fine you if you don’t comply. Homeowners are exempt in their own homes… so far.
Is this the proper role of government? Can you hire your friend? Can your friend help? Why is the state involved in this?
Of course, the state will say it’s for our safety — that’s how it justifies everything it does. But is that true? Can the state keep us safe?
HB 52 (BR 243) AN ACT relating to nuclear power.
Amend KRS 278.600 to define “storage” and require that nuclear power facilities have a plan for the storage of nuclear waste rather than a means for permanent disposal; amend KRS 278.610 to delete the requirement that the Public Service Commission certify the facility as having a means for disposal of high-level nuclear waste; change all references to the disposal of nuclear waste to the storage of nuclear waste; prohibit construction of low-level waste disposal sites in the Commonwealth, except as provided in KRS 211.852; require the Public Service Commission to determine whether the construction or operation of a nuclear power facility, including one constructed by entities regulated under KRS Chapter 96, would create low-level nuclear waste or mixed wastes that would be required to be disposed of in low-level waste disposal sites in the Commonwealth; repeal KRS 278.605.
Talk about short-term thinking. Who benefits when we eliminate nuclear waste “disposal” requirements and simply require “storage”?
HB 57 (BR 323) AN ACT relating to the board of barbering.
Amend KRS 317.470 to require an applicant for administrator of the Kentucky Board of Barbering be a licensed barber after the effective date of this act.
IMO, this law is not worth the time to fight. It’s a stupid expansion of an already unconstitutional usurpation by government.
There are two purposes for licensing: #1 to limit competition — those already in a profession love licensing laws and always vote to make them stricter, i.e. more limiting.
And #2 revenue generation. Licensing is a tax. A tax that destroys jobs by successfully limiting competition.
The constitutional approach is to repeal all licensing laws. Let professions license themselves and let the free market decide. When a barber hurts someone (cuts off an ear, leaves a bald spot?), that barber is soon out of business, with or without licensing.
Take Back Kentucky from Special Interests
There is a group of activists reading the bills and compiling notes. If you’d like to participate, choose a bill from this list, read and analyze it, then send us your comments. Or make your comments in the comments area below. Thank you!
