June 22, 2009

URGENT ACTION REQUESTED TO SUPPORT KENTUCKY QUARTER HORSE INDUSTRY

First, we want to thank the Kentucky Quarter Horse industry supporters for the calls and emails last week as the gaming bill works its way through the Kentucky legislature. It was instrumental in getting the bill out of the House in a close vote of 52-45.

Now we must turn our focus on the Senate and specifically on the Appropriations and Revenue Committee. Below is a list of the members of the Appropriations and Revenue Committee. Our message to each of them is simple, " Please vote in favor of allowing House Bill 2 to have a fair hearing and an up or down vote by the full Senate". That is what Senate President Williams promised and we expect he will keep his promise. We anticipate that the bill will be heard in committee on Monday so we need to make sure we have done our work this weekend.

Here are the members we need to encourage to vote the bill out of committee. We need to target with phone calls and emails:

Senator Ernie Harris R-26, Carroll, Henry, Jefferson, Oldham, Trimble
Senator Dan Kelly R-14, Marion, Mercer, Nelson, Taylor, Washington
Senator Brandon Smith R-30, Bell, Harlan, Leslie, Perry
Senator Robert Stivers R-25, Clay Knox, Lee, Magoffin, Morgan, Owsley, Wolfe
Senator Elizabeth Tori R-10, Hardin, Jefferson
Senator Bob Leeper I-2, Ballard, Marshall, McCracken
Senator Alice Forgy Kerr R-12, Fayette

We also need to contact the following to make sure they still support the bill:

Senator David Boswell D-8, Daviess, McLean
Senator Tom Buford R-22, Boyle, Fayette, Garrard, Jessamine
Senator Denise Harper Angel D-35, Jefferson
Senator Joey Pendleton D-3, Christian, Logan, Todd
Senator Tim Shaughnessy D-19, Jefferson

The following are people we do not believe will vote to get the bill out of committee. If anyone of our members know them personally, we need to have them ask them to vote it out of committee so the full Senate can vote on it. They are:

Senator Charlie Borders R-18, Bracken, Carter, Greenup, Lewis, Mason, Robertson
Senator Vernie McGaha R-15, Adair, Casey, Pulaski, Russell
Senator Gary Tapp R-20, Bullitt, Shelby, Spencer

Below is a draft phone message. PLEASE CALL TOLL FREE (800) 372-7181 AND LEAVE THIS MESSAGE:

Hello, my name is ________________ and I am a Quarter Horse (Owner, Breeder, Veterinarian, etc…). I am calling to ask that you vote House Bill 2 out of committee so that it may receive a full debate and vote on the floor of the Senate. This bill would provide much needed relief from sales tax on horse related items like hay and feed, in addition to providing funding for the Quarter Horse Breeders Incentive Fund. House Bill 2 isn't just about horses, it is about eliminating the state income tax on Kentucky's active duty military and providing tax relief to all Kentuckians by providing a tax credit on half the property tax paid on motor vehicles. Please help the horse industry and the people of Kentucky by giving House Bill 2 the opportunity to be voted on by the full Senate.

OR YOU CAN GO TO THE LINK BELOW AND SEND YOUR MESSAGE ELECTRONICALLY TO:

http://www.lrc.ky.gov/whoswho/email.htm

Please note that we are asking people to join us at 3:30 pm at the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort to show our support for HB 2.

Thank you!

The Kentucky Quarter Horse Association

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June 15, 2009

THE TIME IS NOW AND YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Over the past five years, the Kentucky Quarter Horse industry has worked hard with other horse interests to reach this historic stage. Governor Steve Beshear has called for a Special two-week Session of the Kentucky Legislature starting June 15th with a stated mission being passage of the most important and far-reaching bill ever written for the horse industry. This bill will completely eliminate sales tax on horse feed and equipment, and will allow racetracks only to have video lottery terminals. The revenue distribution from the VLTs includes funds for Quarter Horse racing purses and for Quarter Horse breeder incentive awards, trails, and other related activities.

LEGISLATIVE SPECIAL SESSION STARTS MONDAY, JUNE 15th!

Don't forget to call and email your legislators. They need to hear from supporters of the horse industry and video lottery terminals at the tracks. If you have called or emailed in the past, do it again! Don't know who your legislators are? Visit: FRANKFORT, KY RALLY WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17th, 10:00am Come show support for Kentucky's Horse Industry. KEEP will be holding a Rally in Frankfort on Wednesday, June 17th at 10:00am in the Capitol Rotunda. Please bring everyone you know and let us be a STRONG UNITED presence for Kentucky's Horse Industry!

APPROACHING 5,000 SIGNATURES ONLINE

If you have already signed the petition, encourage your friends, family, or co-workers to visit:

http://gopetition.com/online/27890.html

Pass it along, help us get to our goal of 5,000 before the session starts! If you are willing to circulate a "hard copy", email SupportKYHorses@gmail.comfor copies. Thank you for your support!

KyQHA