Chattering Monkey Time in Frankfort

The General Assembly gathered in Frankfort today to begin their bi-annual "regular" session (meaning, I guess, that the session held in odd-numbered years is constipated - or more so.)

Much as we all try to pretend otherwise, this is actually extremely important to your personal life. As Molly Ivins pointed out every four years, the laws your state legislature passes are way more important than the presidential race.

Want to make sure the workers at your local day-care have to pass a criminal background check? That the kitchen of your favorite restaurant is regularly inspected for cockroaches? That the dental hygienist poking at your gums with a lethally sharp object has a license?

It's your state legislator - not the president - who makes those decisions. She is making them right now, and will make hundreds of them before the General Assembly adjourns in May.

Hundreds of decisions that will affect you every day: the fine for illegally parking in that handicapped spot, whether your day at the races will be enhanced - or ruined - by slot machines, whether you have to get a special photo ID in order to vote.

So here, direct from the General Assembly itself, is a list of phone numbers and web sites to find out what's going on in Frankfort during the session, keep track of bills and harangue your local representative and senator.

- The Legislative Message Line at 1-800-372-7181 is available for constituents to offer their opinions to state lawmakers. A Spanish-language line is available at 1-866-840-6574. The legislature also operates a TTY Message Line for citizens with hearing or speech impairments at 1-800-896-0305.

- Residents can also get information about the legislature's activities by calling the Calendar Line, updated each evening, at 1-800-633-9650. The recording announces the upcoming day's scheduled committee hearings and floor meeting times.

- The status of each bill filed in the House or Senate is also available at 1-866-840-2835.

- A wealth of information is also available to constituents through the General Assembly's website. Among the services available are the meetings calendar, help on discovering who represents each area of Kentucky in Frankfort, pending legislation, current laws, and a guide to how the legislature operates.

- The LRC Public Information Office e-mails regular legislative updates to subscribers of its eNews service. Anyone can subscribe by visiting the website. In addition, the Public Information Office maintains a Web log of legislative news, "Capitol Notes," detailing legislative action.

- Kentucky Education Television records all meetings of the full House and Senate as well as many committee meetings. House and Senate chamber proceedings and some committee meetings can be viewed on a live stream available at KET's website.

Cross-posted at BlueGrassRoots.