Kentucky State Senate

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Kentucky State Senate


General Information
Type:   Upper house
Term limits:   None
2011 session start:   January 4, 2011
Website:   Official Senate Page
Leadership
Senate President:   David Williams, (R)
Majority Leader:   Robert Stivers, (R)
Minority leader:   R.J. Palmer, (D)
Structure
Members:  38
   Democratic Party (15)
Republican Party (22)
Independent (1)
Length of term:   4 years
Authority:   Legislative, Sec 29, Kentucky Constitution
Salary:   $186.73/day + per diem
Elections
Last Election:  November 2, 2010 (19 seats)
Next election:  November 6, 2012 (19 seats)
Redistricting:  Kentucky Legislature has control
Meeting place:

Contents

The Kentucky State Senate is the upper house of the Kentucky State Legislature. 38 members serve in the senate for four-year terms with no term limits. Each member represents an average of 114,194 residents, as of the 2010 Census.[1] After the 2000 Census, each member represented 106,362 residents.[2]

Sessions

Section 36 of The Legislative Department of the Kentucky Constitution establishes when the Kentucky General Assembly, which the Senate is a part of, is required to meet. Regular Sessions convene on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January. Sessions in odd numbered years can last no more than 30 legislative days and must be concluded by March 30. Sessions in even numbered years can last no more than 60 legislative days and must be concluded by April 15. The governor may call additional special sessions.[3]

Bills may be filed at anytime the House and Senate Senate Clerks' offices are open. [4]

2011

See also: Dates of 2011 state legislative sessions

In 2011, the Senate was in session from January 4 through March 9, and reconvened for a special session on March 14. The session was called to an early end by Senate President David Williams on March 9, 12 days sooner than the originally scheduled end date of March 22. [5] On March 9, Governor Steve Beshear called to re-convene on March 14 for a special legislative session, focused on balancing the state's Medicaid budget. [6] The House adjourned the special session on March 25, however, the Senate is set to return on April 6. [7]

2010

See also: Dates of 2010 state legislative sessions

In 2010, the Senate was in session from January 5th to April 15th. [8]

Elections

2012

See also: Kentucky State Senate elections, 2012

Elections for the office of Kentucky State Senate will be held in Kentucky on November 6, 2012. A total of 19 seats will be up for election. The signature filing deadline is January 31, 2012 and the primary date is May 22, 2012.

2010

See also: Kentucky State Senate elections, 2010

Elections for the office of Kentucky State Senate were held in Kentucky on November 2, 2010. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was January 26, 2010 and the primary election day was on May 18, 2010.

There are 38 seats in the Kentucky State Senate and 19 of them are up for re-election on November 2.

In 2010, candidates running for state senate raised a total of $5,379,997 in campaign contributions. The top 10 donors were: [9]

Donor Amount
Kentucky Republican Party $416,959
Smith, Rex $371,350
Kentucky Democratic Party $217,250
Kentucky Senate Republican Caucus Campaign Cmte $175,310
Harris, Ernie $107,518
Rhoads, Jerry P $93,000
Kentucky Senate Democratic Caucus Campaign Cmte $63,000
Kentucky Senate Democratic Caucus $48,400
Spainhour, John E $37,060
Parrett, Dennis L $30,000

Qualifications

To be eligible to serve in the Kentucky State Senate, a candidate must be:[10]

  • At least 30 years of age at the time of the election
  • A citizen of Kentucky
  • Resided in the state 6 years preceding the election
  • Resided in the district for the last year

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures
How Vacancies are filled in State Legislatures
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If there is a vacancy in the Senate, a special election must be held to fill the vacant seat. The Governor must call for an election if the General Assembly is not in session. The Senate President must call for an election if lawmakers are in session[11]. All nominating deadlines for special elections are 28 days before the election[12].

Senators

Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries

As of 2011, members of the Kentucky legislature are paid $188.22/day. Additionally, legislators receive $135.30/day per diem tied to 110% of the federal rate.[13]

The $188.22/day that Kentucky legislators are paid as of 2011 is an increase over the $180.54 they were paid during legislative sessions in 2007. Per diem has increased from $108.90/day in 2007 to $135.30/day in 2011.[14]

Partisan composition

See also: Partisan composition of state senates
Party As of September 2011
     Democratic Party 15
     Republican Party 22
     Independent 1
Total 38


Leadership

The President and President Pro Tempore are elected by the full Senate. The majority and minority parties select a floor leader, whip, and caucus leader.[15]

Current leadership

Office Representative Party
President of the Senate David Williams Republican
President Pro Tempore Katie Stine Republican
State Senate Majority Leader Robert Stivers Republican
State Senate Majority Caucus Leader Dan Seum Republican
State Senate Majority Whip Carroll Gibson Republican
State Senate Minority Leader R.J. Palmer Democrat
State Senate Minority Caucus Leader Johnny Ray Turner Democrat
State Senate Minority Whip Jerry Rhoads Democrat

2010 Leadership

Office Representative Party
President of the Senate David Williams Republican
President Pro Tempore Katie Stine Republican
State Senate Majority Leader Robert Stivers Republican
State Senate Majority Caucus Leader Dan Seum Republican
State Senate Majority Whip Carroll Gibson Republican
State Senate Minority Leader Ed Worley Democrat
State Senate Minority Caucus Leader Johnny Ray Turner Democrat
State Senate Minority Whip Jerry Rhoads Democrat

When sworn in

See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

Kentucky legislators assume office the first day of January after their election.

List of current members

District Representative Party Residence
1 Ken Winters Republican Murray
2 Bob Leeper Non-partisan Paducah
3 Joey Pendleton Democrat Hopkinsville
4 Dorsey Ridley Democrat Henderson
5 Carroll Gibson Republican Leitchfield
6 Jerry Rhoads Democrat Frankfort
7 Julian Carroll Democrat Frankfort
8 Joe Bowen Republican Owensboro
9 David Givens Republican Greensburg
10 Dennis Parrett Democrat Radcliff
11 John Schickel Republican Union
12 Alice Kerr Republican Lexington
13 Kathy Stein Democrat Lexington
14 Jimmy Higdon Republican Lebanon
15 Vernie McGaha Republican Russell Springs
16 David Williams Republican Burkesville
17 Damon Thayer Republican Russell
18 Robin Webb Democrat Russell
19 Tim Shaughnessy Democrat Louisville
20 Paul Hornback Republican Russell
21 Tom Jensen Republican Shelbyville
22 Tom Buford Republican Nicholasville
23 Jack Westwood Republican Crescent Springs
24 Katie Stine Republican Fort Thomas
25 Robert Stivers Republican Manchester
26 Ernie Harris Republican Crestwood
27 Walter Blevins Democrat West Liberty
28 R.J. Palmer Democrat Winchester
29 Johnny Ray Turner Democrat Drift
30 Brandon Smith Republican Wichita
31 Ray Jones Democrat Sedgwick
32 Mike Wilson Republican
33 Gerald Neal Democrat Louisville
34 Jared Carpenter Republican Richmond
35 Denise Angel Democrat Louisville
36 Julie Denton Republican Louisville
37 Perry Clark Democrat Louisville
38 Dan Seum Republican Louisville

2009-2010 members

District Representative Party Residence
1 Ken Winters Republican Murray
2 Bob Leeper Non-partisan Paducah
3 Joey Pendleton Democrat Hopkinsville
4 Dorsey Ridley Democrat Henderson
5 Carroll Gibson Republican Leitchfield
6 Jerry Rhoads Democrat Frankfort
7 Julian Carroll Democrat Frankfort
8 David Boswell Democrat Owensboro
9 David Givens Republican Greensburg
10 Elizabeth Tori Republican Radcliff
11 John Schickel Republican Union
12 Alice Kerr Republican Lexington
13 Kathy Stein Democrat Lexington
14 Jimmy Higdon Republican Lebanon
15 Vernie McGaha Republican Russell Springs
16 David Williams Republican Burkesville
17 Damon Thayer Republican Russell
18 Robin Webb Democrat Russell
19 Tim Shaughnessy Democrat Louisville
20 Gary Tapp Republican Russell
21 Tom Jensen Republican Shelbyville
22 Tom Buford Republican Nicholasville
23 Jack Westwood Republican Crescent Springs
24 Katie Stine Republican Fort Thomas
25 Robert Stivers Republican Manchester
26 Ernie Harris Republican Crestwood
27 Walter Blevins Democrat West Liberty
28 R.J. Palmer Democrat Winchester
29 Johnny Ray Turner Democrat Drift
30 Brandon Smith Republican Wichita
31 Ray Jones Democrat Sedgwick
32 Mike Reynolds Democrat
33 Gerald Neal Democrat Louisville
34 Ed Worley Democrat Richmond
35 Denise Angel Democrat Louisville
36 Julie Denton Republican Louisville
37 Perry Clark Democrat Louisville
38 Dan Seum Republican Louisville

Senate Committees

The Kentucky Senate has 15 committees:

External links

References

  1. ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
  2. ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
  3. ↑ The Legislative Department, Kentucky Constitution, Section 36 and Kentucky legislature home page
  4. ↑ Senate Rule 51 and House Rule 51
  5. ↑ WHAS11.com, Legislative session set to end on Wednesday, 8 March 2011
  6. ↑ Courier-journal.com, Senate President David Williams says Governor Steve Beshear called senators 'fat guys', 10 March 2011
  7. ↑ "WHAS.com, House lawmakers end special legislative session, 24 March 2011
  8. ↑ 2010 session dates for Kentucky legislature
  9. ↑ Follow the Money: "Kentucky Senate 2010 Campaign Contributions"
  10. ↑ Candidate Qualification Information
  11. ↑ Kentucky Legislative Research Commission "Kentucky Election Code"(Referenced Statute 118.730)
  12. ↑ Kentucky Legislative Research Commission "Kentucky Election Code"(Referenced Statute 118.730)
  13. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2011 Legislator Compensation Data"
  14. ↑ Empire Center, "Legislative Salaries Per State as of 2007"
  15. ↑ 2010 Kentucky State Senate Leadership
v • d • e
Republican majority Current members of the Kentucky State Senate
Senate President: David Williams • Senate Majority Leader: seat open (R) • Senate Minority Leader: Ed Worley (D)
Democratic (15) • Republican (22) • Independent (1) • Kentucky State Senate • Kentucky House of Representatives
v • d • e
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