Kentucky voters rally for government change in Capitol Rotunda

FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) — “No laws about us without us” was the message that was sent on Friday afternoon from the League of Women Voters of Kentucky’s Democracy Principle Rally.

“The democracy principle is that we, the people, have a right to participate in decisions that affect us,” said Dr. Jennifer Jackson, president of the League of Women Voters of Kentucky, addressing the crowd.

Passionate would be one word to describe the voices ringing out in the Capitol Rotunda on the final day of the legislative session.

“We were paying attention! And we have come today to seek justice,” said Reverend James Todd Smith, chair of the Justice & Advocacy Commission of the Kentucky Council of Churches.

Those at the rally were seeking justice for the issues that mean the most to them.

“Federal government, federal parks, social security, Medicaid for people in Kentucky who need Medicaid… I mean, it’s just everything. Everything,” said rallygoer Roberta Wolgast.

Fellow rallygoer Jamie Miller added, “Healthcare, education, Medicare, and social security—which is not an entitlement; we worked our entire life for it, we were not given anything.”

Among the issues, one of the biggest was fast-tracking bills.

The rally highlighted six that leaders said are some of the worst examples of legislation that received short shrift in debate and public input.

Becky Jones, Vice President of the League of Women Voters of Kentucky, said, “We’re not pointing this out because we didn’t get our way. We’re pointing this out because the public didn’t get its say.”

Rev. James Todd Smith added in his address to the crowd, “I dare say that they [legislators] knew that their actions were an abuse of the legislative process. Because no one who believes their actions to be just or righteous does them under the cover of darkness.”

Even though the general assembly has the votes to override his objections, some people at the rally said that as the session wraps up, they’re looking forward to seeing the governor veto a lot of legislation.

They said what lies ahead for them is a year of working toward the change they want to see. This rally was just one step in that journey.