Kimberly Greenwell(D), Candidate for KY State Rep, Proclaims that Republican Rival State Rep Ron Crimm Votes to Close Down State Govt

 

NEWS RELEASE

 

For Immediate Release      Contact: Kimberly Greenwell
April 16, 2010           502-386-7038

Crimm’s vote could close state universities, lay off workers, stop road construction

Frankfort – In a final effort to reach an agreement on the state budget, the Kentucky House of Representatives passed a measure that would keep government from effectively shutting down.  State Rep. Ron Crimm (R – Louisville) voted against Senate Bill 94, which would allow the government to operate until April, 2011.

On Tax Day, Crimm’s vote will force the Governor to call the legislature into special session to enact a budget.  The cost of the session is $64,000 per day of taxpayer money.

 According to a court ruling in 2005, Governor Steve Beshear has the authority to spend only on certain constitutionally-required programs.  These include primary and secondary education, state prisons and Medicaid.  State parks will close.  Road construction will cease.  State workers who do not to work in these specific areas will be laid off without pay.  State universities will have to either close, or raise tuition costs to remain open.

 Both University of Louisville and Jefferson Community College would have to raise tuition for students, or lay off thousands of employees when state government shuts down July 1, 2010.  Additionally, Crimm’s vote will close E.P. “Tom” Sawyer state park.

 “I am ashamed that our state has come to a point where legislators like Ron Crimm put more people out of work, tax working families with tuition increases, and let Kentucky languish merely to appease a vocal, active, hyper-partisan minority,” said Kimberly Greenwell, who is running against Crimm for the 33^rd House District seat.

Earlier in the legislative session, Crimm voted against the original version of the budget (HB 290), which included the Kentucky Jobs for Kentucky Families program that would have created 25,000 new jobs.  Kentucky is currently facing over 10 percent unemployment and has lost over 100,000 jobs since 2008.

“Ron Crimm has proven he cares little about the working families of Kentucky,” Greenwell added.  “Every House member was offered the choice of helping Kentuckians or doing nothing – and Ron Crimm chose to do nothing.”

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