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The first of our summer interns have arrived in our DC office and they are working hard to help serve the constituents of Kentucky’s Fourth District. Our interns include (L to R): West Point Cadet Justin Bramlage (Campbellsburg), Meghan Thompson (Dry Ridge), Katy Grober (Edgewood), and Ryan Burke (Cincinnati).
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Weekly Column: House Democrats Pass the Largest Tax Increase in History to Fund the Largest Federal Budget Ever
As Americans struggle to cope with the searing pain at the gas pump and increasing costs of living, Democrats in Washington have done no favors for any of us by passing a budget blueprint that calls for the largest tax increase in our nation's history. The $683 billion tax increase will affect just about every worker, parent, married couple and small business entrepreneur in Kentucky. The Democrats' fiscally irresponsible budget will result in families across the Commonwealth facing an average tax increase of $2,500.
The Democrats' whopping $3 trillion budget will increase taxes for seniors, working Americans and small businesses. In addition, it will cut the child tax credit in half and reinstate the marriage penalty, which forces some married couples to pay more taxes than they would if they were single. Even the outdated and unconstitutional death tax will be restored under the Democrats' new budget.
The average working family of four that earns $50,000 annually will see a 191% increase in their tax bill. According to the budget passed by the Democratic Majority, a single parent with two children who makes $30,000 a year will be slapped with an average of $1,600 in new taxes. Even the elderly will face an enormous tax hike of $2,181 on average.
The Democrats' giant tax increase will siphon off a significant chunk of Americans' hard-earned money to finance a massive spending plan that increases wasteful Washington spending by billions of dollars. This year, as a result of Democratic refusals to use our own energy resources, the average family with two cars will spend an additional $2,500 on gasoline. Now the Democratic Majority in Congress wants the same Kentucky family to give the federal government $2,500 more in taxes. This represents misguided priorities for the nation that Kentuckians cannot afford.
This budget will cause more pain for families with tight budgets, force small businesses to cut employees and slow economic growth throughout the nation. Democratic Representative Bill Foster [IL-14] defended his vote against his own party's budget by saying, "I can't support a budget, from either party, that raises taxes on the middle class. This bill hurts families…by eliminating the 10-percent bracket for lower-income taxpayers, reinstating the marriage penalty and increasing taxes on small businesses and investments."
The budget is much more than a list of numbers on a page - it is a reflection of our ability as elected representatives to come together and make the same tough decisions that families must make every month. One of Congress' most important tasks is to be responsible stewards of the taxpayers' money. The Democratic Majority is failing at this task.
The federal government's problem is not that it taxes too little, but rather that it spends too much. I am committed to fixing this broken status quo and bringing more fiscal responsibility to Washington, D.C. I will continue fighting to get our economy back on track and opposing unnecessary tax increases on middle-class families and small businesses.
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D.C. and District Talk
Summer interns arrive
 A new group of interns have joined our team for the summer. During their time with us, they will learn a lot about government and help to serve Fourth District constituents. I'll be sharing a few of their bios in the e-newsletter each week to let you know a little bit about them.
- Elizabeth Fricke is interning in our Ft. Mitchell district office. She is a junior at Thomas More College, majoring in Political Science with minors in History and English. Elizabeth is also the Vice President and co-founder of Thomas More's Political Science Club. She graduated from Holy Cross High School in 2006. Elizabeth's favorite pastime is traveling and she recently visited England and Ireland.
- Katy Grober is interning in our Washington, D.C. office. Katy is a 2005 graduate of Scott High School and will be a senior at George Washington University in the fall, where she is an undergraduate peer advisor and a math tutor in the D.C. public school system. She is majoring in political science, with plans to attend law school after she completes her undergraduate degree. Katy previously interned in our Washington, D.C. office in the fall of 2006.
- Cathryn Lacy is interning in our Ft. Mitchell office. Cathryn will begin her freshman year of college this fall at the University of South Florida and plans to earn a B.F.A. in dance performance. Cathryn was home schooled and graduated from high school in 2007. She spent the last year traveling, performing, visiting colleges and volunteering at Lakeside Presbyterian Church.
- Meghan Thompson is a 2005 graduate of Grant County High School and is interning in our Washington, D.C., office this summer. Meghan will be a senior at Centre College this fall and is pursuing a double major in government and religion. She is a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, Phi Sigma Alpha Government Honor Society, Centre College Cheerleading and the law society. Meghan plans to travel abroad for a year and then attend law school. She previously interned for Senator Jim Bunning in Washington, D.C., and in my district office in Williamstown.
In the coming weeks, we will continue to spotlight other interns who are dedicating a portion of their summer to serving the Fourth District. If you or someone you know is interested in interning in the Washington, D.C. office, please call (202) 225-3465, or call (859) 426-0080 for internships in any of the district offices. Ask for the Internship Coordinator when you call.
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VA headstone eligibility changes
Veterans' eligibility for a government headstone or marker provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has been expanded by the Dr. James Allen Veteran Vision Equity Act, signed into law by President Bush on December 26, 2007. It allows the VA to furnish a headstone or marker for the graves of eligible veterans who died on or after November 1, 1990, regardless of whether the grave is already marked with a privately purchased headstone or marker. Under previous law, when the grave was already marked, only veterans who died on or after September 11, 2001, were eligible. The new law gives the VA authority to provide a medallion or other device determined by the Secretary to signify the deceased's status as a veteran for those in privately marked graves who died on or after November 1, 1990.
Eligible veterans are entitled to either a government-furnished headstone or marker or the new device, but not both. There is no change in eligibility for veterans in unmarked graves: regardless of the date of death, VA will furnish, at no charge to the applicant, a government headstone or marker for the unmarked grave of any eligible veteran in any cemetery around the world. More information is available here.
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Constituent Corner
Cyberbullying
The internet has greatly expanded access to information and networks over the past decade and a half through e-commerce, email, near-instantaneous news coverage and the ability to quickly research any given topic. However, the openness of this medium also exposes new vulnerabilities that could potentially cause harm.
Cyberbullying, the practice of using technology to harass, humiliate or threaten an individual, has become increasingly common in recent years. Some examples of cyberbullying include:
- "Warning Wars" occur when a cyberbully sends a provocative online Instant Message to your child in order to generate a rude or hateful response. The bully then uses your child's response as evidence to the Internet Service Provider (ISP) that your child has violated the Terms of Service. The ISP can then terminate your child's account.
- Cyberbullies gain access to your child's email, Facebook or MySpace account and then send inappropriate messages to everyone on their buddy list or in their email address book. This type of bullying can result in the victim's punishment by parents or schools, as well as damaged relationships with friends.
- Cyberbullies will sometimes post detailed and private information about their victims in chat rooms.
Although these examples illustrate some of the most severe forms of cyberbullying, there are a variety of less damaging practices. One study shows that eighteen percent of students in grades six through eight acknowledged they had been a victim of cyberbullying at least once in the last couple of months. Sixty-two percent of students who are frequent victims of these practices claimed they had been bullied by another student. Harmless teasing among friends can often escalate into mean or threatening messages that your child can receive whenever they have access to their phone or computer.
There are several simple steps you can take to protect your children from cyberbullying. Most importantly, you should talk to your children about these dangers and encourage them to report such behavior. Also, explain that their participation in any cyberbullying activities will result in an appropriate punishment. You can also use Instant Messaging privacy options to restrict all incoming messages to pre-approved friends. Finally, there are numerous parental control filtering programs that can block unwanted communications or probes and record all traffic from your children's computer. Be advised that these measures will not provide complete protection from cyberbullying, and you should contact the police if anyone physically threatens your children or posts details about their contact information.
As a father, I know this can be a scary topic, but being aware of cyberbullying is an important part of being a parent in this technological age. I encourage you to talk to your kids about it and how they can deal with cyberbullying if it happens. For a more detailed parental guide to cyberbullying, please visit Stop Cyberbullying at http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/parents/guide.html. The Health Services and Resources Administration also provides a primer for parents at its Stop Bullying Now! webpage: http://www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/adult/indexAdult.asp?Area=cyberbullying.
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Hit the road to enjoy Kentucky's many regional summer theaters
 From Prestonsburg to Bardstown to Gilbertsville, Kentucky is home to an exciting variety of summer theaters. A few have been producing shows for more than a half-century and have achieved renown throughout the Commonwealth and beyond. Several newer additions to the Kentucky Summer Theater Trail are attracting attention and theater-lovers by presenting unique stages, settings and productions throughout the Commonwealth.
From mid-June through August, these purveyors of dramatic entertainment provide a bit of Broadway in your backyard. Depending on your theatrical taste, you can take in a comedy, musical or drama. Theaters near or far can enliven a summer evening and provide memories for years to come. Among the venues are Jenny Wiley Theatre in Prestonsburg, Kincaid Regional Theatre in Falmouth, Louisville's Broadway at Iroquois, Pioneer Playhouse in Danville, Stephen Foster Productions in Bardstown, Kentucky Repertory Theatre in Horse Cave, Pine Knob Theatre in Caneyville and Twilight Cabaret Theatre Productions in Gilbertsville.
Stephen Foster Productions, Bardstown
Kentucky's official outdoor musical turns fifty years old this summer. "Stephen Foster: The Musical" recounts the story of the composer from Pittsburgh who, while visiting relatives in Bardstown, gave the Commonwealth its own anthem ("My Old Kentucky Home") and penned one of the nation's first pop tunes ("Oh! Susanna"). Performers in 1850s vintage costumes serenade the audience with many other Foster favorites like "Camptown Races" and "Beautiful Dreamer." A cast reunion is planned for June 21st and other anniversary events are on tap, including parades and a city-wide costume show. For more information, please call (800) 626-1563 or visit www.stephenfoster.com.
Pioneer Playhouse, Danville
Celebrating its 59th season in 2008, Pioneer Playhouse will feature a summer schedule highlighted by an original murder mystery written by a Kentucky author, inspired by Kentucky history and honored as the Best Play at the first International Mystery Festival in Owensboro last summer. "Death by Darkness" spins a web of fictional mystery around an actual occurrence: Charles Dickens visited Mammoth Cave in 1842, but never told anyone about this experience. Other productions scheduled this summer include "Leading Ladies" and "Mornings at Seven." For more information, please call (859) 236-2747 or visit www.pioneerplayhouse.com.
Jenny Wiley Theatre, Prestonsburg
On tap this summer at the amphitheater at Jenny Wiley State Resort Park are productions of perennial favorites "The Wizard of Oz" and "A Chorus Line." Also to be presented are "Little Red - Life in the Hood," and "Honky Tonk Angels." For more information on Kentucky's only professional repertory theater east of I-75, please call (877) 225-5598 or visit www.jwtheatre.com.
Broadway at Iroquois, Louisville
Marking its 70th season, the recently renovated Iroquois Amphitheatre in South Louisville's Iroquois Park will host "Cats," "The Wiz," "Mame" and, making its regional premiere, "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory." The amphitheatre now seats 2,400 with half the seats covered by a cantilevered roof. For more information, please call (502) 589-4060 or visit www.musictheatrelouisville.com.
Kentucky Repertory Theatre, Horse Cave
The Kentucky Repertory Theatre at Horse Cave is celebrating the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial, the 200th anniversary of the 16th president's birth in Kentucky in 1809, with two productions: "Abraham Lincoln" and "One Man's Lincoln." Also on the playbill are two stage classics, "Private Lives" and "To Kill a Mockingbird." For more information, please call (270) 786-2177 or visit www.kentuckyrep.org.
Kincaid Regional Theatre Company, Falmouth
For summer 2008, two popular musicals are slated at Kincaid Regional Theatre: "Big River," a retelling of Mark Twain's novel "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," and "Pump Boys and Dinettes," a down-home comedy that features plenty of country music numbers. For more information, please call (800) 647-7469 or visit www.krtshows.com.
Pine Knob Theatre, Caneyville
Now in its 22nd season, Pine Knob Theatre in Caneyville has carved out a niche for itself by producing local original plays set in Caneyville that deal with regional themes. On the program this summer are audience favorites "Down in Hoodoo Holler" and "Dock Brown: Legend of an Outlaw." New this season is an afternoon of performances of three productions for one admission price ("At the Hop," "Lucy and Ruth's Diner" and "Daddy Took the T-bird Away"). For more information, please call (270) 879-8190 or visit www.pineknob.com.
Twilight Cabaret Theatre Productions, Gilbertsville
With performances held at the Ken-Bar Lodge near the northern entrance to the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, Twilight Cabaret Productions this summer spotlights "The Costume Ball," a three character play about mistaken identity that is making its Kentucky premiere. For more information, please call (270) 436-2399 or visit www.twilightcabaretproductions.org.
From real life Kentucky legends captured in story and song to Broadway hits beneath a blanket of stars, Kentucky's outdoor theaters invite you to enjoy one of their many exciting offerings.
KSNPC to host unique geo-scavenger hunt as part of Great Outdoors Month
Byron W. Brooks, an environmental technologist with the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission, will be your guide for a geo-scavenger hunt at Quiet Trails State Nature Preserve (SNP) near Sunrise in Harrison County. This unique event will take place on Saturday, June 21st at 10:00 a.m.
Come explore one of the Commonwealth's most picturesque places using your GPS. Clues must be solved to derive the coordinates for points of interest along the trail at the preserve. Quiet Trails SNP offers visitors a moderate hike to the Licking River. Participants should bring their own GPS, plenty of drinking water, lunch or snacks, and wear sturdy footwear. This event will be limited to ten people to ensure a good experience for all.
Registration is required. Please contact the Commission Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at (502) 573-2886 to register. There is no cost associated with this event.
Coordinates for the Quiet Trails SNP parking area: N 38.557087°, W -084.227263°
Driving directions: From Cynthiana, take U.S. 27 north approximately ten miles. Turn right onto KY 1284, which leads into Sunrise. Continue on Pugh's Ferry Road after crossing the four-way intersection. The preserve is located on the right, 1.8 miles from the intersection.
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Constituent Hours
Every month, members of my staff are available throughout the Fourth Congressional District to assist local residents with problems related to the federal government.
Please click here to see the current list of scheduled times and locations in your area. Appointments are not necessary. As always, constituents are welcome to contact our offices in Washington, D.C., Ashland, La Grange, Ft. Mitchell, Maysville and Williamstown at any time with questions or concerns.
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Legislative News
Legislative Week in Review
The House of Representatives was in session from Monday through Thursday this week. The following bills passed the House:
- H.R. 5749, Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act
- H.R. 1553, Conquer Childhood Cancer Act
- S. 2516, Kendell Frederick Citizenship Assistance Act
- H.Res. 1251, A resolution regarding the passing of Bo Diddley
- H.Res. 1225, Expressing support for designation of June 2008 as "National Safety Month"
- H.R. 5524, Reconnecting Homeless Youth Act
- H.R. 4926, Josh Miller HEARTS Act
- H.Res. 1243, Recognizing the immeasurable contributions of fathers in the healthy development of children, supporting responsible fatherhood, and encouraging greater involvement of fathers in the lives of their children, especially on Father's Day
- H.Res. 127, Recognizing
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