Home » Proposals to increase infrastructure investment discussed on KET Kentucky Tonight

Proposals to increase infrastructure investment discussed on KET Kentucky Tonight

LEXINGTON, Ky. — With recent comments from Gov. Matt Bevin calling on the legislature to pass a “bold” infrastructure investment plan in the 2020 General Assembly, KET Kentucky Tonight host Renee Shaw and guests Monday night discussed all modes of infrastructure, highlighting primarily the gas tax.

Monday’s segment included a panel of Ashli Watts, senior vice president of public affairs for the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce; J.D. Chaney, deputy executive director of the Kentucky League of Cities; Leslie Combs, executive director of Kentuckians for Better Transportation and Andrew McNeill, state director of Americans for Prosperity.

The panelists discussed legislation introduced the last two years which would have increased the gas tax, something all surrounding states except for Missouri have done in the past few years, as noted by Watts.

Watts stated that the business community overwhelmingly supports increasing investment in infrastructure as it is the top factor in economic development decisions and business leaders know that good infrastructure leads to jobs.

Watts also discussed the broad coalition of support for the issue, including the Kentucky League of Cities, Kentucky Association of Counties, Kentucky School Board Association, Kentucky Farm Bureau and others.

McNeill, with Americans for Prosperity, who have opposed the legislation the last two years, called for reform in the process, looking at gas tax expenditures and loopholes.

Chaney discussed the key to the problem is updating the funding formula which provides revenue for municipal road improvements and maintenance, a top legislative priority for local governments.

The panelists also discussed the water infrastructure and the need for investment to ensure Kentuckians have safe drinking water, as has been highlighted with the water crisis in Martin County.

Watch the full Kentucky Tonight episode on the KET website here.