Re: Email from KY Representative Jim DeCesare from Rockfield,

Of the sixty-something personal emails I sent individually to all of our Senators and Representatives in the state of KY(who's contact information is directly listed on the state site) regarding my query to slated budget cuts to education, I received one response. Jim DeCesare from Rockfield answered my request by email and would like to express himself on this issue with either a visit in Frankfort or a phone call(probably the latter). Rockfield riding one of the more rural areas of the state suggests that in his area the cuts are likely to be more staggering than around the Fayette, Louisville, and Newport areas (what's been impressed upon me by several faculty as being "the triangle" of power in KY). I hope for optimistic responses from Representative DeCesare, and that my questions will answered directly instead of being dodged with facts irrelevant to what I am asking. I have prepared a short set of direct questions that Mr. DeCesare should be able to answer without much hesitation unless things aren't on the up and up. Those questions are -

1. How can I find out what the absolute total budget was for the last fiscal year (including everything the state received and distributed from all sources inside and outside the state)?

2. What is your particular stance on the cuts? (Do you favor or oppose the cuts and why?)

3. How does the state consider it reasonable that education should foot 5% of the budget shortfall when it doesn't receive 5% of the budget?

4. What projects or subsidies aren't receiving cuts in the next fiscal year's budget and why not?

5. What are the ways in which it is possible to force revision of the cuts?

I don't recognize any of these questions as being too involved for a direct answer. Hopefully, I will be able to speak with Representative DeCesare promptly and have very positive and enlightening answers in addition to more information. I'll post the results of the interview in the Budget Questions section.