FRANKFORT — The first day of the 2001 General Assembly session was historic not for what was accomplished, but just for being held at all.

        Kentucky's 100 House members and 38 senators conducted little official business as they settled in for the first annual session in state history.

        But Northern Kentucky lawmakers remained strongly positioned in assembly leadership, and are prepared to present legislation on topics ranging from credit card payment of nonviolent criminal fines to the proper way to deal with brownfields.

Newly elected members of the state Senate are sworn in Tuesday (from left): David Karem, D-Louisville; Vernie McGaha, R-Russell Springs; and Lindy Casebier, R-Louisville. (Associated Press photo) | ZOOM |

        On Tuesday the only major development was the election of House and Senate Republican and Democratic leadership. There were no major changes. House Speaker Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green, and Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, were both returned to office.
       

N.Ky. leaders re-elected
        Also winning re-election without opposition were both of Northern Kentucky's members of leadership: House Majority Caucus Chairman Jim Callahan, D-Wilder; and Senate President Pro Tem Dick Roeding, R-Lakeside Park.

        “My goal is to streamline government so that our citi zens can take advantage of our economic growth,” said Mr. Roeding, who plans to introduce a bill that would cut down on the number of administrative regulations handed down by state agencies.

        Other than electing leaders, members mainly greeted one another, attended some opening-day receptions and ceremonies and prepared for work to be done later this week and on into the winter.

        “It's good to be back,” said Rep. Royce Adams, D-Dry Ridge, after the House wrapped up a session that started at noon and was over just 39 minutes later.

        “There's a lot to be done. We'll get some things accomplished this week, but the real work will start in February,” he said.

        While bills are being filed, none will be voted on until lawmakers return to Frankfort early next month.
       

Patton address

        Highlights for the remainder of this week include Gov. Paul Patton's address to a joint session of the House and Senate, which is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. tonight. He is expected to discuss his legislative agenda.

        Also, committee chairmanships and assignments will be handed out by House and Senate leaders. Those appointments are expected to be completed and announced by Friday, Mr. Richards said.

        Lawmakers are working behind the scenes to nab some of the more important and influential committee assignments. For in stance, Mr. Adams is hoping to be named chairman of the budget subcommittee on transportation, a slot formerly held by the late Rep. Pete Worthington, D-Washington.

        Mr. Worthington, who was remembered by House members Tuesday, died in car crash last year.

        Mr. Adams, however, is finding competition from Rep. Rocky Adkins, D-Sandy Hook, an eastern Kentucky lawmaker close to House Floor Leader Greg Stumbo, who is often called the most powerful member of the House.

        “It won't be easy, but I would like to see it happen, sure,” Mr. Adams said Tuesday. “I've got about 20 judge-executives pulling for me, and it would be good for Northern Kentucky because I would have a hand in where we spend money for roads.”
       

Bills with local roots

        The bills that have been filed and will be considered when lawmakers return in February include:

        • A bill filed by Mr. Roeding that would prorate the tax payments due on car sold by a Kentucky resident. Under existing law, if resident owns a car on Jan. 1 and sells it Jan. 2 he must pay the taxes on that car for the entire year. Mr. Roeding said his bill would prorate the payment to the month the car is sold.

        “So if you sold a car in June, you'd only be responsible for the taxes for the six months you owned the car,” he said. “The buyer would be responsible for the remainder of the year.”

        Mr. Roeding also has a bill that would allow people arrested on nonviolent crimes to pay their fine on a credit card.

        “That way you won't have people arrested for speeding tickets or something like that staying in jail if they don't have any cash but they do have a credit card,” he said. “That will help with jail overcrowding. It's something the jailers have asked me to do.”

        • Sen. Jack Westwood, R-Erlanger, will introduce a bill that would repeal the large legislative pension bill that passed in the final days of the 2000 session. Under that bill, which several lawmakers said was difficult to understand and poorly worded, some pensions doubled.

        Mr. Westwood's bill would re duce those pension increases to an annual cost-of-living raise.

        • Other items lawmakers are expected to address are changes to workers compensation laws, a reduction in the state's tax on automobiles and legislation on brownfields that the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce has been pushing.

        The brownfield bill would enable the state to clear and clean abandoned industrial sites and make sure they are environmentally secure for development.

        Steve Stevens, head lobbyist for The Northern Kentucky Chamber, said Newport city officials are trying to get a federal grant to clean a brownfield on the city's west side.

        Lawmakers are scheduled to meet through the week. They'll return Feb. 6 and work until late March. They will then meet again next January.

        Until this year, Kentucky lawmakers met every other year. But voters approved a constitutional amendment in November that allows for annual legislative sessions.

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