BlueGrassRoots

Guests: Why University Ministry is Important

Some thoughts in a recent keynote given by Rev. Nathan Wilson:

Thank you for inviting me to join this dialogue about cutting edge issues for religious leaders. 

First, a brief housekeeping matter.  To have honest interfaith dialogue, each participant needs to identify the faith or ideological perspective from which he or she speaks.  I speak as a Christian, ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), theologically ecumenical, evangelical and progressive, engaged in interfaith dialogue and practice, in love with learning, and committed in action to issues of peace, justice and equality.  My hope and prayer is that the words I say will resonate even with those who do not share my language and loyalties.

  As some of you know, I frequently talk about three characteristics that communities of faith should embody: true community, deep spirituality and a passion for justice.  Now I know that this dialogue is about university ministry, but these three characteristics have become my mantra, and, more importantly, they add to this conversation – so allow me to briefly recap them.

Communities of faith must be about forming and exhibiting true community; that is, we must be about providing opportunities to discuss, deliberate and debate, to explore, engage and empower, to hope, heal and even ask for help – and these opportunities must be in safe spaces where participants are both candid and considerate.

Guest Blog: Jonathan Miller

Last night, the state Senate passed a budget bill that raids Kentucky's Affordable Prepaid Tuition (KAPT) Fund to the tune of $13.7 million, while spending $15 million for a new basketball gym that neither the House nor Governor Fletcher had requested and that University of Kentucky officials say is not a priority.

The KAPT fund includes the hard-earned personal savings of nearly 9000 Kentucky families who have invested their own personal money to save for their kids' and grandkids' education.  The Senate budget bill would also shut down KAPT to any new enrollment. KAPT makes it easier for families to afford a college education for their kids by guaranteeing tomorrow's education at lower prices today.

A January study from an independent actuarial firm declared that the KAPT fund is financially stable in the short and long term and has an actuarial surplus of more than $2 million. This morning, the Office of the Attorney General issued a letter with the opinion that the General Assembly cannot raid a fund like KAPT -- such an action would be unconstitutional. 

However, even though a court would likely strike down this provision, we hope that the House-Senate budget conference committee will delete it before the budget receives final approval from the legislature.

I love Kentucky basketball, but raiding a fund that holds the personal college savings of thousands of Kentucky families is inexcusable, unconstitutional and immoral.  With the prepaid tuition program financially healthy, due to the excellent management of the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority, it would also be unwise and unjust to deny this opportunity to affordable higher education to thousands of new families.

The House-Senate budget conference committee will begin its final deliberations TONIGHT.

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR AND YOUR LOCAL MEDIA TODAY. 

Tell them that we want the budget bill conferees to support the House budget -- which received unanimous, bipartisan support -- and which protects the KAPT program.  Tell them to reject the Senate's illegal raid on college savings accounts.

Here is what you can do:
1.  Call your legislator toll-free at (800) 372-7181.
2.  Email your legislator at FIRST NAME.LAST NAME@lrc.ky.gov -->(Example: David.Williams@lrc.ky.gov)
3.  Call your local radio station talk shows and write letters to the editor of your local paper. Your actions TODAY could help us save a valuable program -- a model for state government which provides educational opportunity for Kentucky families without costing taxpayers a dime.

Thanks for your help!

Jonathan Miller
State Treasurer

Guest Blog: Lead, Or Get Out of the Way!

Here's some thoughts from Kim Geveden for your Sunday morning perusal.

If you or someone you know has something to say, email us: bluegrassroots (at) hotmail (dot) com.  Subject line: Guest Blog?  You have to put a question mark because we reserve the right to refuse  submissions that a) we don't agree with or b) are poorly written.

Mr. Kim Geveden:

Republican Senate President David Williams has ruled with an iron fist in the State Senate for nearly five years – debate has been stifled and substantive budget amendments sponsored by Democrats have been banned.  A Republican now occupies the Governor’s mansion and our Democrat Party’s majority in the House is at its lowest level since 1968. 

The time has come for the leaders of our Democratic Party to lead with positive ideas, bold vision and meaningful proposals if we have any hope of moving Kentucky forward. Though it will take a unity of purpose by all Democrats, the primary responsibility for leading our Party and articulating the Democratic message during the 2005 General Session will fall most heavily on House Speaker Jody Richards. 

In 2002, Democrats blundered badly and allowed Senate Republicans to make campaign finance the defining issue of the 2002 General Election.  In 2004, Democrats demonstrated their political ineptness once again, allowing Republicans to make same sex marriage the defining issue.  There is no room for such leadership failures in 2005. 

Recently, some House Democrats formed a “conservative caucus” within the larger Democratic caucus, arguing that a more conservative tilt to the right was needed for Democrats to regain their political footing and start winning elections once again. 

To think that Democrats can win by mimicking Republicans is foolishness.  The majority of Democrats in the legislature are already “conservative” – pro-life, pro-gun and pro-marriage.  Between 1992 and 2000 when Democrats were a majority in both chambers of the legislature, we cut hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes and passed a responsible budget in every session. 

For anyone to suggest that Kentucky Democrats, collectively, are liberal is nonsense.  The assertion ignores history. It flaunts fact.  But the fact that many voters believe it demonstrates the complete failure in our Party’s leadership to develop and articulate a persuasive message. 

The most compelling question in any campaign is not which candidate is the most conservative?  Rather the question is which candidate most closely reflects the majority of voters’ values and priorities?  Our Party’s problems have nothing to do with being conservative enough and everything to do with our inability to define for voters who we are and what we stand for in a coherent, consistent and meaningful way – a message that reflects our values and resonates with voters.

The question is not can Democrats win?  The pressing question – and the one that is ultimately most important at this crucial moment in our state’s history and in our Party’s future -- is can Democrats lead?

With the 2005 General Session beginning, Democrats have a golden opportunity to seize the initiative, define our priorities and demonstrate our values.  Governor Fletcher and Senate President David Williams concede their Republican tax plan gives every Kentucky corporation a 27.3% income tax cut next year while only giving working families/individuals earning over $12,000 a 3.4% tax cut – a corporate income tax cut EIGHT times greater than it gives working families/individuals next year.  Once the Republican plan is fully phased in corporations will receive a permanent income tax cut THREE times greater than working families receive. Simply put, the Fletcher/Williams Tax Plan values corporations more than it values working families. 

Last month, Senate President David Williams arrogantly decreed that if Senate Republicans say “23 is 30” then so it shall be.  Based on his tax proposal, it appears that Governor Fletcher has graduated from The David Williams’ School of Fuzzy Math.    

The mathematical truth is that the meager income tax cut proposed by Republicans for working families/individuals making between $12,000 – $50,000 will be partially if not completely offset by other tax increases. Despite Governor Fletcher and Senate President David Williams’ claim that their Republican tax plan is “revenue neutral” – it raises more than a hundred million dollars in new revenue by taxing individuals disproportionately.

Speaker Richards and Democratic leaders must seize the opportunity that now lies before them and define the Fletcher/Williams tax plan for what it is – a tax increase that values corporations over working families – and equally important, offer Kentucky’s citizens a compelling alternative. 

In stark contrast to the Republican tax plan, a compelling Democratic alternative might consist of three simple elements easily understood by every Kentuckian:

• Makes the tax code more fair for working families & small businesses
• Meets Kentucky’s commitment to education and other essential services
• Preserves the fiscal integrity of our Commonwealth

The time is now for Speaker Richards and those Democrats entrusted with leadership positions to lead . . . or get out of the way.

Kim Geveden is a Democratic strategist and communications consultant who most recently managed Daniel Mongiardo’s 2004 U.S. Senate Campaign.