Senate President Robert Stivers, Majority Caucus Leader Dan Seum, Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, President Pro Tem David P. Givens, and Majority Whip Jimmy Higdon, along with Senator Danny Carroll, met at the Luther F. Carson Center to answer questions in preparation for the upcoming 2017 session.
Job creation was the prime focus of discussion. Stivers said, "What we want to do is create an environment and atmosphere that has jobs, at the end of our mission." Stivers went on to say that Kentucky and Paducah have a great agricultural base with the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. He and the other leaders want to expand on that agricultural atmosphere to create manufacturing jobs, and any other jobs that can be created.
When asked about the plan of motion, Stivers said it depends on all the senators working together.
Senator Danny Carroll said, "It's for us to be prepared. I know there are efforts at Murray State [and] WKCTC to make sure we have the proper training for our workforce." Carroll said that with the growing technology field that is where the efforts need to be made. All the senators agreed that our colleges and universities are graduating "just enough" students in the technology field and the medical field.
Stivers said he would like to see more money put into the technology and medical fields in Kenucky's colleges and universities, because the programs just aren't growing.
The new legislative session will begin January 3.
