I remain entirely committed to making sure your voice is heard & represented in Frankfort. Plus, any good Kentuckian is a friend of mine.
Please don't hesitate to reach me personally at Andrew.Monarch@ShelbyKYDems.com.
Coming from a family with over 200 years of Kentucky Heritage, this state is far more than my home. It's who I am and integrity isn't for sale.
That means we DO NOT accept support from Any Corporate Affiliated PAC
EDUCATION
Kentucky ranks 48th in teacher compensation and we wonder why there's a teacher shortage. I'll fight for a guaranteed state-funded raise to lift our starting teacher pay out of the bottom tier nationally and stop losing educators to neighboring states. I'll push for a modern curriculum and programs that are adapted to the AI era, full state funding for school transportation that compensates for inflation, and strict oversight on the new federal scholarship tax credit. I'll fight to remove the 1st amendment infringements KY HB 4 has put on our universities and protect the programs giving our children that need extra help to succeed a fair shot at building a future.
DATA CENTERS & AI
I asked Shelbyville to pause new data centers until we have rules in place, and I'll bring that fight right into Frankfort. Any data center built should require at least three public hearings (with proper public notice) and local approval, be free of NDAs between government officials and companies and they should pay for their own power and grid costs with an independent & sustainable energy source. I'll fight to remove the tax giveaways, implement requirements for Kentucky based businesses to be used for construction and place restrictions on water usage while exploring the exclusive use of closed loop cooling systems. I'll advocate for bond postings as a requirement so taxpayers aren't stuck with the cleanup when the technology evolves or Data centers shut down.
I'll push to make sure AI doesn't impact how people get elected and advocate for keeping AI completely out of our election systems and voter rolls. I'll push for small business tax incentives for increasing online security, investments in our statewide cybersecurity infrastructure and push for education, training programs, and universal worker protections.
HOUSING & AFFORDABILITY
Kentucky is short on homes, and prices locally have gone up over 43% in just 5 years. I'll fight for a major, dependable investment in the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, resources for local governments to reevaluate comprehensive planning and push for investment in the roads, water, sewer lines and emergency services that new neighborhoods need.
I support making large investors wait before they can bid on homes by building on new federal provisions that will give families the first chance to buy. I'll also protect renters by advocating for a centralized complaint structure that allows local enforcements, consequences for landlords that don't follow through and restrictions on softwares like RealPage that use private data from competing landlords to drive up prices.
I'll support restoration to a fairer, graduated tax structure instead of a flat rate cut that disproportionately benefits the ultra wealthy and would like to explore a refundable state Earned Income Tax Credit that puts money back into working families pockets. Alongside weatherization programs that permanently lower utility bills and rolling back regulations that prevent our farmers from providing affordable local food supply, there's a lot we're leaving on the table to help the cost of everyday life.
HEALTHCARE
We don't have anything if we don't have our health, and right now Kentucky leads the nation in cancer incidence. Yet we pass laws giving pesticide manufacturers a legal shield against cancer related lawsuits. I'll fight to repeal SB 199 and to give patients the ability to let the courts decide who's responsible. Fundamentally, I believe no one should be forced to choose between bankruptcy and medical treatment - which is why I'm ready to defend Medicaid against further cuts from Washington, fight to restore coverage for those Kentuckians who've lost it, and push for modern infrastructure that makes transparency part of the process. And since no one deserves to lose coverage over paperwork headaches - I'll advocate for the state to verify enrollment eligibility automatically and repeal any administrative burdens that go beyond federal requirements. We can crack down on improper claim denials and get Kentucky out of the bottom tiers nationally when it comes to well-being and Healthcare debt.
PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT
I'll fight to restore what Kentucky lost with SB 89 and push for investment in replacing lead pipes and aging water lines, along with testing for "forever chemicals" (PFAS) in our drinking water. I'll protect our land and communities by advocating for strengthened flood resilience, holding data centers and heavy industry to strict limits on water use, and growing good-paying clean energy jobs so the coal communities that powered this country aren't left behind.
I'm prepared to work closely with other legislators in exploring how utility lines, like Boardwalks borealis project, can better utilize Federal programs like the AGCC in using existing railroad easements for utility lines instead of threatening eminent domain on our local farmers and choosing to risk construction in karst terrain.
AGRICULTURE & JOB CREATION
We need to focus less on attracting established businesses and more on building them from scratch. Kentucky is primed to lead industries that create good paying careers in industries that don't need AI to be successful. With rising fuel costs and a diminishing oil supply there's a growing demand for biofuel processing in aviation and Kentucky Soybean & Corn growers could play a key role. HB 869 was an OK start, but as someone who works in Aviation, I know what the industry really needs is processing and qualified labor. Raw material alone can't support the engineers we need for engine overhauls. With investments in STEM programs, and targeted university development programs, we have a window to be the central hub in a completely new supply chain.
Additionally, Twenty-five years ago, the Kentucky Innovation Act helped homegrown companies turn university research and development into Kentucky businesses. Since then, surrounding states have made themselves more attractive by out investing us 2:1 in student created startup grants. I'll fight to reignite our statewide grant program and with the University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville and Northern Kentucky's growing life sciences hub I'll work to make us a national leader in medical research. Especially when it comes to the cancers that hit Kentucky families harder than anywhere else in the country.
CLEAN & ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT
I'll fight to make sure special interests can't buy influence in Frankfort. That means real-time disclosure of lobbying, a searchable public database of who is paying for political ads, and full disclosure from any company seeking tax breaks or other state resources along with ROI evaluations. I'll fight to overhaul our entire approach to transparency and undo the legislation that allows Government operate behind closed doors. I'll push to eliminate NDAs between government officials and private companies, remove the limitations we have on open records and restore our open records laws, close the personal-device loopholes, and put public notices back where people will actually see them and access them with ease. It shouldn't take an expert to follow the money, track government decisions or have a say in how our community grows.