Administration's Accomplishments are Numerous in First 100 Days

Frankfort, KY: In his first 100 days in office, Governor Ernie Fletcher's administration has achieved many of its stated objectives and continues to advance the Governor's plan to provide greater opportunity's for every Kentuckian. Among Governor Fletcher's numerous accomplishments have been to solve the current fiscal year's deficit, present a balanced budget for the state over the next two years and propose a progressive tax modernization plan that will grow jobs in Kentucky without raising taxes. In addition, Governor Fletcher has fulfilled a campaign pledge to end waste and abuse by auditing the former Kentucky Racing Commission and by requesting each Cabinet to identify areas where efficiencies may be realized.

"I am proud of the accomplishments of this administration's first 100 days, but this is only a start,” stated Governor Ernie Fletcher. "My administration will continue to provide the leadership that will put an end to the wasteful abuse of Kentucky's tax dollars and will continue to promote economic development and job growth so as to provide greater opportunity for the great people of this state.”

Among Governor Fletcher's Accomplishments are:

1. Governor Fletcher solved the current deficit in this fiscal year less than a month after being sworn into office. He later went on to present a tight, balanced budget for the next biennium which provides for raises in teacher salaries and funding for important economic development and education projects.
2. Governor Fletcher provided the leadership to present a bipartisan, bicameral plan to modernize the state's antiquated tax code.
3. The Governor reorganized and streamlined state government by condensing cabinets from 14 to 8, thus saving nearly $500,000. At the same time, the Governor assembled the most highly qualified group of cabinet leaders in Kentucky's history.
4. The Governor disassembled the Kentucky Racing Commission and created the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority. He not only gave the new authority a new name, but also a new mission to promote the horse racing industry and ordered an audit of certain personnel, procurement and payment practices of the former Commission.
5. Governor Fletcher signed, as his first piece of legislation, an important fetal homicide bill.
6. The Governor rolled back the unnecessary, burdensome Medicaid requirements that had kicked people out of nursing homes, thereby changing the number of categories a potential nursing home patient must meet from three requirements to two. The Governor also unveiled a plan to modernize Medicaid which will focus on improvements in care, benefit management and technology.
7. Completed Brownfield regulations which establish standards that will allow cities, counties and private businesses to redevelop old, contaminated industrial sites into productive areas. 
8. Directed $110,000 in leftover transition funds to be directed to Medicaid (request would mean almost $300,000 in Federal Matching Funds for Medicaid) 
9. Directed each Cabinet Secretary to investigate and reduce the use of procurement cards within their agencies.
10. Fulfilled campaign pledge by recommending $14.2 million be spent on "Read to Achieve.”
11. Appointed Tierra Kavanaugh Turner as Director of Governor's Office for Minority Empowerment.
12. Established the Governor's Office of Efficiency, which is identifying and cleaning out waste, fraud, inefficiency and abuse.
13. Produced greater efficiencies by transferring the responsibilities of the Kentucky Appalachian Commission to the Department for Local Government. This was done because of a great deal of duplication between the duties of the commission and those performed by the DLG.
14. The Governor signed important fetal homicide legislation.
15. Created a task force to address blackwater spills in the Commonwealth. The task force is made up of leaders of environmental and coal organizations in Kentucky.
16. Added nearly 3,000 new jobs; including 1,100 at Magna in Bowling Green and 1,600 at Citicorp in Louisville.
17.  Initiated the Statewide Drug Control Policy Summit, a group which is currently conducting 16 public forums during a 20-week assessment to get public input about drug issues from citizens across Kentucky.
     

"It is my vision to ensure that every Kentuckian has the opportunity to live a life of promise and prosperity. That is why this administration will remain committed to delivering a more efficient and effective state government that will continue a positive change in the culture of state government and will enable us to provide more value to the taxpayer and greater opportunity for every Kentuckian.”

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