For Immediate
Release
April 14, 2000
Contact: Rusty
Cheuvront or Mark Pfeiffer (502) 564-2611
Patton
Plan to Move Kentucky Forward a Resounding Success in 2000 Session
Frankfort, Ky. –
“Our ambitious agenda to move Kentucky forward in the 21st century is in
tact and on schedule,” Governor Patton said as the 2000 session of the General
Assembly came to a close. “I’ve
said it before and I’ll say it again, our top priority is education, education,
education and education and this legislative session education and the children of
Kentucky were the big winners!”
From his KIDS NOW early childhood development
initiative to full funding of postsecondary education and an increase in dollars for
secondary and elementary education, the governor has met his goal of sustaining the
momentum toward educational excellence in Kentucky.
“Additionally, we were able to persuade the
Senate to restore the cuts they made in the community development projects,” Patton
said. “From the Home of the Innocents in
Louisville and water and sewer improvements in Eastern Kentucky to Rupp Arena in Lexington
and dozens of community improvement projects in the western part of the state, this budget
and our winning legislative agenda will mean progress as we continue to build safer,
healthier, and growing families and communities in the Commonwealth.”
Here are the main elements of the
Patton Plan that were winners in the 2000 session of the General Assembly:
Education Wins:
· KIDS NOW Early Childhood Development
· Elementary and Secondary Education Funding
· Postsecondary Education Funding
· Adult Education and Literacy
· Teacher Quality Programs
· Area Technology Center Support
Healthy Kentucky Families Win:
· Mental Health and Mental Retardation Funding
· Smoking Prevention and Substance Abuse Programs
· Kentucky Access Health Insurance Initiative
· Local Health Department Funding
· Breast Cancer Screening
· Lung Cancer research at UL and UK
Safe Communities Win:
· More state police
· Tougher Drunk Driving Law
· Increased Funding for Prisons and Juvenile Detention Programs
· Enhanced Penalties for Sexual Assault Crimes
· Increased Funding for Rape crisis Centers
· Child Advocacy Centers
· More Help for Crime Victims
Kentucky Economy Wins:
· Knowledge-Based Economy Program
· Water Resources Development
· Economic Opportunity Zones
· Coal Industry Incentives
· Farm Economy Initiative
Governor Patton said, “There is still more to do and some issues left to be resolved but I have three and half years to go as governor and I’ll use all of that time to address them as we continue to move Kentucky forward into the 21sr century.”