The Commonwealth of Kentucky faces huge pension debts, revenue shortfalls and yet more cuts to critical social services. But rather than attending to those crises, the legislature’s Senate Committee on State and Local Government is wasting precious time, diddling with unfounded, paranoid fears over the United Nations.
Tomorrow, it will hear Senate Bill 80, which says, in part, “… no state agency or political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Kentucky shall adopt or implement the creed, doctrine, principles, or any tenet of the United Nations Agenda 21.”
Memo to Frankfort: Agenda 21 is non-binding; the United Nations has no power to enforce it.
Were this paranoid, irrational law to pass, it would have the following theoretical results:
- The Louisville Water Co. couldn’t extend water lines to residents currently drinking contaminated well water.
- The Air Pollution Control District couldn’t monitor industrial and power-plant emissions into everyone’s atmosphere
- Health departments couldn’t offer immunizations against communicable diseases
- The KY Transportation Cabinet couldn’t take steps to reduce highway congestion.
- Schools couldn’t invest in more efficient lighting, heating and cooling equipment, to save money for books and teachers.
In short, it would require multiple public-sector entities to stop doing their important jobs in support of protecting public health — until a court issued an injunction.
The Louisville Climate Action Network urges readers to call 800-372-7181 before 11PM this evening or tomorrow morning, and leave a message urging members of the senate’s State & Local Government Committee to vote “no” against Senate Bill 80 and move onto more pressing matters.
