OP-ED: THE BLUEGRASS BLUEPRINT FOR GROWTH
By: Senator Max Wise
Kentucky has experienced remarkable economic momentum in business investment since Republicans gained majority control of both legislative chambers in 2016. This historic shift enabled transformative policies, making our commonwealth more competitive, business-friendly, and attractive to residents and investors. These successes result from years of intentional conservative policymaking by the Republican supermajority. Collectively, they reflect the Bluegrass’ blueprint for success. My colleagues recently entrusted me with serving as the new Senate Majority Floor Leader, a role I’m honored to take on. This position is pivotal in guiding Kentucky into the future with sound policy, wise use of taxpayer funds, and discipline.
As Senate Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor (EDTL) Committee chair and former Education Committee chair, I’ve seen the legislature’s work have a favorable impact.
We’ve experienced record-setting investment, including $9.2 billion in corporate projects in 2017, $5.3B in 2018, and a cumulative $20 billion under the Bevin administration. These initiatives created nearly 54,000 jobs, resulting in four consecutive years of export boom.
Tourism serves as a bridge and gateway to the Bluegrass for those visiting and considering putting down new roots. This industry has thrived in part because of legislative support. This includes $75 million to revitalize the state's $8.9B tourism industry, which was heavily impacted by restrictive executive branch mandates during COVID-19. This 2022 allocation, championed by outgoing floor leader Damon Thayer, was excluded from Governor Andy Beshear’s budget. Additionally, since 2018, $359.6M has been committed to upgrading state parks and attracting visitors and prospective residents. Louisville, our largest urban area, benefited from over $400M to enhance the fair and expo center, drawing global events and visitors. Sens. Phillip Wheeler, our late friend Johnnie Turner, and the EKY legislative delegation have embraced the region’s natural beauty and adventure opportunities, with $4M since 2021 in tourism grant money targeted to ATV trail development and $400,000 in the 2022-2024 budget for motor sport-focused tourism.
Republican leadership has driven expansion in industries like manufacturing, employing over 250,000 Kentuckians. We lead the nation in vehicle production per capita and excel in logistics, benefiting from low utility costs and a central location. To address the state’s 133,000 job openings, lawmakers allocated $250,000 to the Kentucky Talent Attraction Initiative. Advancement-focused contributions include $350M in forgivable loans and $300M for mega-development and infrastructure projects.
Despite setbacks from COVID-19 and heavy-handed executive branch mandates, our economic progress has remained steady. The Republican supermajority’s pro-business policies, including right-to-work and fiscal discipline, have been revolutionary. We now have a more solvent pension system, a replenished rainy day fund, a competitive tax code, and significant outside business capital, earning Kentucky national recognition and credit rating upgrades.
Key fiscal reforms include lowering the income tax from 6 percent to 4 percent, further dropping to 3.5 percent in January, and record funding for education, infrastructure, and public safety. Schools now receive funding far exceeding inflation, especially considering contributions to our teacher’s pension system. Conservative fiscal policies have allowed us to navigate economic uncertainty and federal mismanagement under the Biden-Harris administration. The anticipated Trump administration offers hope for federal policies aligned with Kentucky’s successful blueprint.
Early in the Republican supermajority’s tenure, Kentucky benefited from a pro-business governor and a fully unified state government. The same was true with the federal executive branch between 2016 and 2020. This aligned partnership reversed decades of failed tax-and-spend policies that depleted the rainy day fund and left the nation with the worst-funded pension system.
The governor has indicated a preference for failed liberal policies mirroring those previously hindering Kentucky's potential. His recent op-ed in the New York Times omits his consistent opposition to the policies fueling Kentucky’s recovery after decades of Democratic mismanagement. To echo Scott Jennings, if Beshear were an animal, he’d be a lame duck-billed platitude.
Kentucky’s proliferation reflects GOP leadership, fiscal responsibility, Kentuckian’s work ethic, and natural blessings. Our renewal proves what’s possible when leaders prioritize proven policies. As the Senate Majority Caucus embarks on its next chapter, we remain committed to this successful Bluegrass blueprint, encouraging other states and nations to follow Kentucky’s example. With the second Trump administration on the horizon, there is much to look forward to.
Senator Max Wise was recently elected as the KY State Senate Majority Floor Leader. He teaches graduate-level courses in terrorism studies, intelligence, and intelligence analysis at the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce at the University of Kentucky.
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