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THE
PROPOSED STATE BUDGET FOR KENTUCKY CUTS
$1.7
MILLION FROM THE KY BOARD OF NURSING
As you might have heard, the state of Kentucky is facing a
serious budget crisis.
Governor Beshear proposed a budget that included
serious cuts for a long list of agencies and services in
order to balance the budget.
Recently, the Kentucky House of Representatives
passed the budget and it is now in the hands of the
Kentucky Senate.
While many agencies face cuts, the KY Board of
Nursing (KBN) faces the largest cuts by far.
KBN’s budget is in line for an incredible $1.7
million cut. This
proposed reduction will result in severe compromise of
services, programs and scholarship from the KBN, as well
as in increase in nursing licensure renewal for all
nursing professionals.
At a time when Kentucky faces a serious and growing
nursing shortage and Kentucky’s nursing professionals
face increasing workplace stress and pressure, it is
unacceptable that nurses must now be saddled with what
amounts to a professional tax in order to maintain their
licensure.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE VOICE OF NURSES BE
HEARD IN ORDER TO STOP THE STATE FROM SAVING MONEY ON THE
BACKS OF ITS NURSES. IT
IS NOT ENOUGH FOR ASSOCIATION LEADERSHIP TO GET INVOLVED
– WE MUST HAVE THE HELP OF ALL NURSING PROFESSIONALS
ACROSS THE STATE.
WHAT
YOU CAN DO TO HELP... |
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Please call
or fax NOW:
- Your
own Senator
- Senate
Leadership
- Members
of the Senate Appropriations & Revenue Committee
CALL
MESSAGE: The
House budget will take over $2 Million from the KY Board
of Nursing. Please do not let this happen. Do
not double-tax me and other nurses!
WRITTEN
(FAX OR EMAIL) MESSAGE:
As you know, there is a severe nursing shortage. The
House budget will take over $2 Million from the KY Board
of Nursing over the next 2 years and put it in the
state General Fund. These are funds paid by nurses
like myself for our licenses and are used to operate the
Board of Nursing and provide nursing scholarships.
Please, do not place further burdens on my profession by
taking this disproportionate amount of funds from the
Board of Nursing. Nurses are always willing to go
above and beyond, but don't break our backs and bankrupt
our Board with this heavy burden. Please do not
double-tax nurses!
To
call any Senator in Frankfort to speak with her/him
directly: 502-564-8100
Message
line: 1-800-372-7181
Start your message by saying: “I want to leave a
message for Senator ________ (your Senator), for
Senate Leadership and for the entire Senate A & R
Committee.”
All
Senators can be reached by fax: 502-564-6543.
If
you don't know who your Senator is, call 1-888-VOTE SMART
(1-888-868-3762) or log on to www.vote-smart.org
and enter your home zip code (5 digits followed by -0000)
in upper left-hand corner. Once your information
page appears, scroll down under “Current Officials” to
“State Legislative” to find your Senator. Click
on his/her name and contact information including email
will appear.
If
you know who your Senator is and want information such as
home address, email, etc., go to www.lrc.ky.gov
and click on "Who's my Legislator".
IT
IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU CALL NOW!
The
Senate will be considering the budget this week (March 17
– 21). PASS THIS MESSAGE ON TO OTHER NURSES,
FAMILY, FRIENDS, ETC. AND ASK THEM TO ALSO CALL!
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Framework
for Supporting or Opposing Legislation |
| CATAGORY |
CRITERIA |
ACTIONS |
| 1. Intense
Support |
The
legislation meets KNA's current legislative priorities. |
Develop
lobbying strategy. Activate nurses through Alerts, call tree and
KCSNO. Actively Lobby legislators for support. |
| 2. Active
Support |
Legislation
important but not a KNA top priority; or topic a priority but method
of achieving the goal is not optimal |
Memorandum of
support. Inform members via KY. Nurse, Alerts, Legislative Day,
KCSNO, etc. |
| 3. Support |
Content
relevant to KNA legislative program, but not a current priority. |
Memorandum of
support. Respond to questions from members and others. |
| 4. Support
with Reservations |
Topic a KNA
priority, but proposal has serious flaws, which KNA cannot support
due to content, competing constituency or conflicts with other
proposed legislation. |
Letter or
qualified memorandum of support that endorses intention but notes
areas we do not support and recommends changes.
Respond to questions from members and others. May (rarely) involve
active lobbying. |
| 5. Monitor |
Content of
interest to RN's, but not a current priority. |
Track
legislation, but not a current priority.
Respond to questions.
May include informing members, facilitating further discussions or,
if bill becomes law a targeted mailing may be necessary. |
6. Study
Bills temporarily as signed
to this category while for amending bill. they are under review. |
Content
relevant to nursing, but review incomplete.
|
Obtain added
information.
Analyze bill.
Evaluate need and potential for amending bill. |
| 7. Oppose |
Content
inconsistent with KNA
position, but legislation not serious threat to nursing practice or
consumer access to care. |
Memorandum of
opposition. Respond to questions from members and others. |
| 8.
Intensely Oppose |
Legislation
poses a serious threat to KNA goals. |
Memorandum of
opposition.
Develop strategy to defeat or amend Bill. Activate KNA members &
call tree. Actively lobby against. |
