House Minority Leader Steps Up For Better Schools

House Minority Leader, Jeff Hoover R-Jamestown, a legislator respected on both sides of the aisle in Frankfort, stepped up the discussion today on how best to ensure Kentucky's students are going to school in first-class facilities.

Representative Hoover filed HFA 3 to HB 2 (the slots bill) which would exempt public education construction projects from the prevailing wage. The Kentucky House of Representatives is contemplating dedicating $120 million over the next twenty years to finance bonds toward school facility construction. This funding would prioritize the replacement of Category 4 & 5 schools - those schools that the Kentucky Department of Education labels as "deteriorated."

Exempting these projects from the prevailing wage requirement would ensure that these funds will bring the best bang for the buck on these investments. The Legislative Research Commission has reported that the prevailing wage artificially inflates wages on public projects by more than 20%. That means 20 cents of every wage dollar is being misallocated toward inflated wages -as opposed to going toward an investment in larger schools, enhanced technology, more energy efficient facilities and, quite simply, a better environment for Kentucky’s children to learn in.

The Coalition remains encouraged that this debate has been joined. We hope that there is a full discussion of the issue on the House floor this morning as they consider the slots legislation. We believe that a bi-partisan consensus can be formed around ensuring that Kentucky's children have the best possible learning environment we can provide in the coming years.