The City of Hopkinsville hosted a Legislative Town Hall event Friday morning, where local state legislators fielded questions and gave updates on what’s been happening in the interim for the Kentucky General Assembly.
State Senator Whitney Westerfield and Representatives Myron Dossett, Walker Thomas and Jason Petrie all took part in the town hall, and there were many topics discussed, from housing in the state, economic growth, battling drugs in communities, tax revenues and more.
Representative Dossett says he’s focused on getting KY 115 in Pembroke widened, especially as new industries move into the area, to make that road safer for everyone who travels on it.
Senator Westerfield says he’s in favor of local government being responsible for their own taxing options, so that way it fits each county’s needs, as cities in Kentucky cannot do that at the moment.
Representative Thomas says the workforce participation rates in Kentucky remain low, and they’re working to figure out ways to help people get off government benefits and back into the workforce.
On the topic on the war against drugs, particularly fentanyl, Representative Petrie says the legislature can only do so much, as any laws or assistance programs are reactive in nature. He says there’s never going to be a law that solves the crisis of addiction—that’s going to take real human connect between those battling addiction and those who care about them.
Each of the legislators serves on committees, from the Appropriations and Revenue Committee, to Judicial Reform, to Agriculture and Transportation, and say they’ve been busy with meetings and hearings as they gear up for a budget session in 2024.