Tax change possible during special session

        FRANKFORT — Gov. Paul Patton said he will include the opportunity to make tax changes part of the agenda for a special legislative session to work out a budget.

        The session will start at noon Monday, prompted by the General Assembly's failure to come up with a spending plan for the state during the 60 days of its regular session that ended earlier this week.

        “It would include the ability to close loopholes if the legislature would decide to do that,” Mr. Patton said Wednesday.

        Rep. Harry Moberly, D-Richmond, chairman of the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee, said this week the disagreements that held up a budget would make it much more difficult to make any changes in the tax laws during a special session.

        Mr. Moberly proposed legislation during the regular session to make modest tax changes in such technical areas as eliminating the deduction for income taxes paid by companies to foreign governments and placing a cap on the reimbursement companies receive for collecting sales taxes.

        But even Mr. Patton seemed undecided about tinkering with the tax code during a special session.

        “Exactly whether or not we will be supportive of any such measure is yet to be decided,” Mr. Patton said.

        Kentucky's Constitution gives the governor sole power to call a special session and determine its agenda. Legislators can adjourn at any time, however.

        The official call issued Wednesday sets the agenda for “enactment of a biennial budget relating to appropriations and revenue measures as deemed necessary.”
       

Governor lists gifts he received

        FRANKFORT — Gov. Paul Patton and his wife listed more than 100 gifts from non-family members on his 2001 financial disclosure form filed with the Executive Branch Ethics Commission.

        Nearly half of the Pattons' gifts were received in December. The Pattons received country hams from Rep. Jim Bruce and Sen. Joey Pendleton. Rep. Barbara Colter gave Mr. Patton a Save the Children tie.

        The Pattons received a set of books about the past 50 years of U.S.-Japan relations from Yoshio Okawara, president of the Institute for International Policy Studies. They also got more than a dozen gifts during their visit to Japan last May.

        Kentucky's elected officials must file the gift list on an annual financial-disclosure form.

        In his form, Lt. Gov. Steve Henry listed a $220 rocking horse autographed by Mr. Patton and first lady Judi Patton. The rocking horse was given last year to Harper Henry, daughter of the lieutenant governor and his wife, former Miss America Heather French Henry.

        Mr. Henry also listed baby luggage, an antique fire hydrant from the Rowan County Fire Department and a University of Kentucky sports jacket worth $325. Fruit and food baskets were also listed, including a basket from Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer and his wife, Linda, a novelist and Kentucky native. The couple also gave a basket to Mr. Patton. Another basket to the Henrys came from California-syndicated radio personality Rick Dees.
       

Nature preserve to be created

        CLINTON — A 216-acre tract featuring a variety of wildlife and rare plants will be converted into a nature preserve.

        The State Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission bought the property from a family to create Three Ponds State Nature Preserve in Hickman County. Plans are to eventually open the preserve to the public.

        The preserve is next to the Mississippi River. The property consists of bluff, bottomland hardwood forest and coastal plain slough on the floodplain.

        Three Ponds is the 41st preserve created by the commission and the second in the county. The other is the Obion Creek State Natural Area.

        Nature preserves now cover 17,284 acres in 30 counties, a commission spokesman said.
       

Mom's abuse charge dismissed by judge

        MONTICELLO, Ky. — A Wayne County judge dismissed the case against a mother accused of abusing her unborn son by injecting the painkiller OxyContin during her pregnancy.

        Misti Harris, 26, was indicted Feb. 19 on a felony charge of criminal abuse six days after she gave birth to a boy who showed symptoms of drug withdrawal.

        At a pretrial conference Tuesday, Wayne Circuit Judge Robert Wilson cited a 1993 Kentucky Supreme Court decision that found that prenatal injury from a pregnant woman's self-abuse was not within the scope of criminal abuse.

        Judge Wilson admitted the indictment charged an offense that “should be subject to prosecution in the Commonwealth,” but said he was bound by the earlier Supreme Court decision.

        Authorities learned of the birth and Ms. Harris' drug abuse in a report from social workers, who were called in by doctors. The report said the baby showed signs of drug withdrawal, and social workers took emergency custody of the infant, said Commonwealth's Attorney Larry Rogers.

        Ms. Harris is a felon who pleaded guilty to possession of forged checks last October and was on probation, Mr. Rogers said.

        Mr. Rogers said he will appeal Judge Wilson's decision.

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