‘They’re the grinch’: Kentucky Together discusses government rainy day fund

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) — Citizens gathered at the Capitol Annex today to talk about the what they are calling an excessive amount of money in Kentucky’s rainy day fund.

The budget proposal is a big topic of discussion for the first legislative session of the year.

Multiple people took the stand at Kentucky Together’s press conference prior to the legislative session calling for legislators to use the rainy day fund for affordable housing, education, healthcare and more.

“In this legislative session, the general assembly will create it’s most important piece of policy for the next two years: the state budget. The budget is a moral document, and the strongest tool we have together to build an economy where everyone has a chance to thrive,” Natalie Cunningham said.

Natalie Cunningham with Kentucky Economic Policy says this rainy day fund is a lot larger than it needs to be, and we can use the money in the fund to improve the lives of Kentuckians.

Wesley Bryant, an Eastern Kentucky flood survivor says he has PTSD, but not from the flood.

“I have PTSD, and it’s not from the flooded waters I saw, it’s not from the lifeless bodies we saw floating down the creek,” he says. “I don’t stay awake at night because of the flood, I shake 24/7 now waiting to be denied again, the trials and tribulations of paperwork, I mean it’s something new everyday.”

Andrea Zang then took the stand to call for legislation to utilize the rainy day budget for affordable housing.

“As a tenant, I’m calling on the Kentucky General Assembly to move hundreds of millions into affordable housing, by pulling money into both the affordable housing trust fund and the rural housing trust fund, which is set aside for Western and Eastern Kentucky counties impacted by floods and tornadoes,” she said. “I also ask our lawmakers to permanently boost the affordable housing trust fund by increasing the funding mechanism that brings money into the fund.”

Lastly, Lexington council member Tayna Fogle shared her opinion on the Kentucky Legislation.

“We’re standing up here in solidarity, I hope your heart melts. I hope it’s like the grinch. That’s what our legislatures are, they’re the grinch. They didn’t just steal Christmas, they’re stealing peoples lives and livelihood. I’m not afraid of no ghost so I’ll say what I want to say. I’m ashamed of the Kentucky legislation,” Fogle said.