David Williams Discusses Ideas for Tax and Education Reform in Speech to Louisville Business Leaders

Press Release

Senate President David Williams discussed his legislative plans to reform Kentucky's tax code and education system in front of more than 100 business leaders at a Greater Louisville Inc. Capitol Connection luncheon today.

"We cannot become an opportunity society until we reform our tax code," Williams said. "People in Frankfort who use the excuse of a "short session' to put this off are only doing so because they lack the political will to solve this complex and difficult problem."

Williams has offered a plan that would create a panel of taxation and economic experts to write an entirely new tax code with one goal -- creating jobs.

"I want Kentucky to be the best place in the United States to create and retain a job. We have to get our per capita income up. If social programs could change lives we'd live in Utopia. But they can't. The way to change someone's life is to get them a good job. And then you change their life and their children's lives," Williams said, adding that on this issue he is "lighting one candle instead of cursing the darkness" like everyone else in Frankfort.

Williams also ticked off several education reforms he's proposing, including:

· Providing incentive pay to teachers who help students engage in advanced placement courses.
· Allowing students in Jefferson County to attend neighborhood schools.
· Creating voluntary charter schools as an additional tool for parents and communities to provide opportunities for their children.

On the topic of neighborhood schools, Williams said: "We cannot allow the test scores that are happening to continue in Louisville," and touted his neighborhood schools bill as a way to stop spending so much money on transportation and instead spend it in the classroom. Williams assailed the Jefferson County Teachers' Association and criticized the union's "control" over the local school board.

"This union has too much control of education and it is hurting Louisville's children," Williams said. Williams said that 40% of the worst schools in the state are in Jefferson County and that it's irresponsible to put off key reforms because of opposition from the teachers' union. Williams said that those who oppose his bill on the grounds of "local control" are missing the greater issue of "parental control."

"I am worried about that mom who gets up every day that wants something positive to happen to her child. And that mom wakes up knowing she has to send her child to a failed school. And that is simply unacceptable," Williams said. He added that his bill does not take away control of student assignments from the school board but that it does give parents the right to put their child in the school closest to their home. "We need to get kids off the bus and into the classroom," Williams said.

Regarding some pro-business ideas he has, Williams said we must change the culture of state government so that people who work there have a "servant's heart" when it comes to attracting new businesses. Williams has advocated moving away from a bureaucracy that plays "gotcha" with small business owners and towards a smaller, leaner government that is there to help more than it hurts. He also talked about the Senate Republican "Business OneStop" plan that would streamline the process of doing the government paperwork required to operate in Kentucky.

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