Richards juggling campaign, House work

By KRISTIN TAYLOR
Staff Writer

Murray Ledger and Times

House Speaker Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green, chats with MSU President Dr. Randy Dunn and state Sen. Ken Winters, R-Murray, on Wednesday afternoon in front of the science complex on campus. Richards is one of seven Democrats running for governor, but his campaign visit Wednesday was mixed with legislative talk about some proposed bills that may be addressed in the final two days of the session later this month.

Jody Richards is campaigning full time these days. But he’s quick to
talk about the legislative session that has just two days left later
this month.

The session is familiar territory. Having represented the Bowling Green
area since 1976, Richards has been House speaker since 1995. Now he’s
hoping to become the Democratic nominee for governor and ultimately
move into the governor’s mansion following November’s election.
First up, though, is the crowed primary in May. Running with former
Secretary of State John Y. Brown III as the lieutenant governor
candidate, Richards is one of seven Democrats vying for the nomination
to face one of three Republican hopefuls.

Richards, 69, campaigned Wednesday in Murray, making stops at the
Calloway County Courthouse, Murray-Calloway County Hospital and Murray
State University. He was in Benton earlier in the week and planned to
visit five eastern Kentucky counties later in the week.

While in Murray, Richards received a public endorsement from Calloway
County Judge-Executive Larry Elkins. Elkins described Richards as being
a positive, even-handed leader who is respected on both sides of the
aisle in Frankfort.
“When elected, he’ll return honesty and integrity to the governor’s
office,” Elkins said Wednesday afternoon.

Last year, Richards was among the legislators who helped MSU receive
funding for the science complex and general university operations after
the governor’s initial proposal didn’t include those allocations.

“He’s a western Kentuckian who recognizes the challenges of being five
hours from Frankfort,” Elkins said.

Still on Richards’ mind, though, is the legislative session that
adjourned Monday with little progress. Legislators return for two days
later this month.

Are politics to blame for the lack of bills that made it through both
chambers? What about all those gubernatorial candidates?

“I think some people thought it might have a negative impact,” Richards
said, “but it didn’t.”

Rather, Richards mentions the 1,900 bills filed in what’s known as the
short session. Kentucky’s General Assembly meets annually, with
odd-numbered years having 30-day sessions and the ones in even-numbers
years being twice that.

“So many bills were introduced,” Richards said. “That sort of threw us
for a loop.”

While standing outside the in-progress science complex on MSU’s campus,
Richard chatted with university President Dr. Randy Dunn, state Sen.
Ken Winters, R-Murray, and Bob Jackson, former First District senator
who is currently the university’s associate vice president for
development and governmental relations.

The meeting place was significant. Among the proposals sitting on the
legislators’ table is a wording change related to the $15 million
allocation Murray State received last year for the physics portion of
the building. Without the change, MSU must use that allocation for that
phase of the three-part science complex and not the earlier chemistry
phase, which is over the original budget.

So far, the state has allocated $43 million for the three-part science
complex, but MSU officials say another $15 is needed to finish the
project.

“I certainly hope we can do that,” Richards said while sitting inside
the biology building, which is being used for some classes but isn’t
completed on the second floor.

The language Dunn and other MSU supporters have lobbied for is included
in the House bill that would restore funding to several capital
projects that Gov. Ernie Fletcher vetoed from the budget last year.
“If there is an agreement on construction, I believe this will be part
of it,” Richards said about the science complex wording. “Any delay in
construction just means more money.”

Turning his attention to campaigning, Richards said even when
legislators were in session, people would come visit his Frankfort
office and express their support and ideas.

The hot topic continues to be education, but that doesn’t surprise
Richards, who is quick to point out that 60 percent of the state’s
budget is dedicated to education. Not far behind is economic
development.

Richards’ other platform includes positioning Kentucky to help the
United States become more energy independent by using its home-grown
corn, beans and coal for alternative fuels. He said that initiative
could start with state vehicles and school buses.