LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: January 22, 2007

by State Representative Addia Wuchner

Duty, Character and Integrity Remembered

Greetings!  We are on a short break in the 2007 Legislative Session and will convene again on Tuesday. February 6 .  Since this is a short session, we will have twenty-six legislative days to take up the people's business.  My first draft of this week's "Legislative Update" grew too wordy to print so I have broken it into two parts.  I hope to submit Part II on the revenue surplus and '07 Session  legislative issues for next week's Community Press.

I would like to dedicate this week's column to two of   Kentucky 's finest statesmen who retired officially on December 31, 2006 with little public fanfare.  While their distinguished years of service were recognized by many organizations and personal well-wishers, I would like to offer my personal thoughts and sincere gratitude for their dedication and service over the years.  During my freshman legislative term, I learned so much from both of these individuals.  From the moment I first committed to run for office, they not only extended their political endorsements but also shared their wisdom and experience with me on a daily basis. The legislative process, working in such a unique environment as the Kentucky General Assembly, institutional memory, and voting history of other members are not lessons found in books on becoming an effective legislator.  They are acquired over time, listening and watching not only the process, but also by gleaning from those who lead by their example of duty, character and integrity.  I offer one of my favorite quotes on character by another gentleman I greatly admired, President Ronald Reagan.  I believe the following describes the character, life, and legislative careers of both the Gentleman from Boone 60, Representative Paul Marcotte, and the Gentleman from Campbell 69, Representative Jon David Reinhardt.

"The character that takes command in moments of crucial choices has already been determined by a thousand other choices made earlier in seemingly unimportant moments.  It has been determined by all the 'little' choices of years past - by all those times when the voice of conscience was at war with the voice of temptation, whispering the lie that 'it really doesn't matter.' It has been determined by all of the day-to-day decisions made when life seemed easy and crises seemed far away-the decisions that, piece by piece, bit by bit, developed habits of discipline or of laziness; habits of self-sacrifice or self-indulgence; habits of duty and honor and integrity-or dishonor and shame."     - Ronald Reagan (1993)

Paul and Jon David, thank you for your friendship, your legislative wisdom, and your committed service to the citizens of our Northern Kentucky communities and our Commonwealth.  Our gratitude also extends to Kitty Marcotte and Boots Reinhardt and the Marcotte and Reinhardt families for the years of untold sacrifices.

In closing, as always, thank you for the  privilege of representing you in Frankfort .  Never hesitate to contact me if I can provide additional information on legislative issues or to share your thoughts regarding a state government matter.  I can be reached my home office, 859-525-6698, through the toll-free message line 800-372-7181, or via e-mail addia.wuchner@lrc.ky.gov.