Republicans and Democrats in Kentucky appear to agree that the state needs to overhaul its tax system but getting the job done will be complex and difficult. Senators and state representatives from both parties discussed the issue this week on KET’s Kentucky Tonight.
Republican Jeff Hoover is minority leader in the Kentucky House. He says he’s no stranger to tax reform efforts…
"In 2005, when Governor Fletcher attempted to do some tax reform...I was the primary sponsor of that legislation in the house that ultimately was signed by him into law. We do need to do tax reform." - Republican Jeff Hoover
Hoover says Governor Beshear needs to take the lead on the issue. He claims the Democrat has been virtually silent since his Tax Reform Commission made its recommendations to lawmakers last December.
State Senator Gerald Neal was a member of the Governor’s Blue Ribbon panel. The Louisville Democrat insists Beshear has shown leadership on tax reform but there’s a long way to go…
"When you make changes in the way you tax our fiscal policy you are affecting somebody. Someone feels like they're having something taken away from them, or receiving some burden, or someone else feels a benefit. When you start thinking like that, it's difficult to make change in this situation because then it lines up politically and ideologically and you can't move anywhere." - Senator Gerald Neal
Neal also appeared on KET’s Kentucky Tonight.