Over sixty leaders from Central Kentucky's business community, non-profit sector, post-secondary institutions, and local elected officials recently returned from the Bluegrass Region's seventh annual Washington, D.C. Fly-In presented by Columbia Gas of Kentucky that took place July 21-22.
The annual Fly-In presented an opportunity for the leaders in Central Kentucky to lobby Kentucky's federal Congressional delegation on a number of regional priorities that included funding requests for the I-75 Connector, Bluegrass Station, Bluegrass Army Depot, the Ohio River Bridges Project, Eastern Kentucky University's Center for Renewable and Alternative Fuel Technologies, University of Kentucky, Midway College, Kentucky Community and Technical College System, the Kentucky Blood Center, as well as water and infrastructure projects for the region. Participants also communicated the need for Congress to create a sensible national energy strategy that avoids punitive regulations and protects Kentucky's economy.
The aforementioned regional priorities were presented to Kentucky's Congressional delegation prior to the region's annual Fly-In, which afforded participants the chance to have back-and-forth discussions with Kentucky's federal elected officials during each session. Fly-In attendees heard from several members of Kentucky's congressional delegation, including comments from Congressman Geoff Davis, Congressman Hal Rogers, Congressman John Yarmuth, Congressman Ben Chandler and Senator Mitch McConnell.
Kentucky's Congressional delegation informed the attendees from Central Kentucky about the partisan mood in Washington, D.C. prior to the mid-term elections. All of their comments seemed to echo the sentiment that Congress is unlikely to authorize a federal budget by the end of this year. Rather, Kentucky's Congressional delegation indicated that any significant legislation is unlikely to move until after the results of the mid-term elections are known. Several members of Kentucky's federal delegation discussed the state of the nation's economy, federal spending, the need to control the federal deficit, health care reform and its impact on small business, as well as the negative affects of financial regulation reform on community banks and small businesses.
The Fly-In agenda also included a session with policy experts from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. These experts provided attendees the latest information on Capitol Hill regarding energy legislation, labor policy, the status of the economy and the consequences of federal health care reform for the business community. Hunter Bates, a federal lobbyist with the Washington, D.C. based C2 Group and a native Kentuckian, also provided the Bluegrass Region with an informative and insightful 2010 mid-term election outlook.
Fly-In participants also had a question-and-answer session with the chiefs of staff of several members of Kentucky's federal delegation. Often considered one of the true highlights of the trip, this panel offered attendees the opportunity to hear about the daily inner-workings of Washington, D.C., as well as provided insight into the mindset of the current Congress. The Bluegrass Region was commended by the chiefs of staff panel for coming together as a region, and using one voice to advocate for a set of regional priorities that will move Central Kentucky forward.
The Bluegrass Region remains steadfastly committed to its regional priorities. Central Kentucky's leaders will continue to advocate on behalf of these projects throughout the coming year as members of Congress establish their priorities for the Fiscal Year 2012 federal budget. The hard work and diligence of Central Kentucky's leaders will continue to direct our efforts in Washington, D.C., as well as our efforts to expand the Bluegrass Region's potential for economic growth. Through the spirit of cooperation and our continued advocacy efforts, the leaders of Central Kentucky's private and public sector will continue to advance our region and our Commonwealth.
To view the Bluegrass Region’s 2010 DC Fly-In priorities, CLICK HERE.
PRESENTED BY:
Columbia Gas of Kentucky
Gold Sponsor:
Kentucky Utilities Co. - An E.ON Company
Florence & Hutcheson
Bronze Sponsors:
Baker Iron & Metal
Blue Grass Airport
OWL, Inc./Opportunity for Work & Learning
Preston-Osborne
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc.
KENTUCKIANS IN WASHINGTON SUMMER RECEPTION
Co-hosted by Commerce Lexington Inc. and the Kentucky Society of Washington
Presented By:
Kentucky Community & Technical College System
Gold Sponsor:
Eastern Kentucky University