As public retirement and health care costs escalate, they drain tax dollars away from vital programs as education, and their continued increases puts essential services at both the state and local level at risk. Between 1996 and 2008, health insurance and retirement took 50 percent of all the new money appropriated for education. The Chamber strongly encourages the General Assembly and the Executive branch to work together to develop a meaningful solution to the high cost of public employee benefits that fulfills our commitment to public employees, while addressing the financial sustainability of these plans. Meaningful reform must take into consideration strategies that private employers have addressed, including cost saving changes to eligibility requirements, pension benefits, health care benefits and compensation levels.

Czars of Zandale
    Oct 5, 2009 – Lexington Herald-Leader
A deal couldn't be reached, though, and the Dutilles instead looked at Plato's Closet. By August 2000, the store was open in front of Kmart on Nicholasville Road. Flaws like missing buttons or worn-out zippers were being overlooked, Paul Dutille said. So the engineer wrote a manual. Clothes Mentor is opening up in their former space just a couple of storefronts down. Like their other two stores, Clothes Mentor is a franchise.

The Lexington Herald-Leader, Ky., Tom Eblen column: Tom Eblen
    Oct 5, 2009 – Lexington Herald-Leader
Michael Karpf, the University of Kentucky's executive vice president for health affairs; Dr. Schrader said the only way to guarantee that everyone can get access to insurance is to require everyone to have it. Health care companies and insurers must give up some profits. Karpf noted that the health care economy now is based on fee-for-service, rather than prudent management.

RONNIE ELLIS: At least Kentucky isn't South Carolina
    Sep 11, 2009 – The News And Tribune
Joe Wilson yelled “You lie” at President Barack Obama during the president’s speech on health care reform before a joint session of Congress. John C. Calhoun set the stage for the Civil War, fomenting an early constitutional crisis even while serving as Andrew Jackson’s vice president. He would make even dismayed Kentuckians proud.RONNIE ELLIS writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort.

Medical pros say defensive practices drive costs
    Aug 20, 2009 – The Hays Daily News
Referencing language in the federal America's Affordable Health Care Choices Act of 2009 that, among other adjustments, would raise Medicaid eligibility to those at 133 percent of the national poverty level.