Opinion

The National Football League began play this week and all eyes were on the flag. Not the  yellow ones that signal a penalty has been committed, but the U.S. flag that all eyes are on during the singing of the National Anthem before each game.

That pre-game moment that has been a tradition at sporting events since WWII, has been the focus of controversy the past two seasons because a few players have chosen that moment to express political viewpoints.

Monday marked the 16th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on 9-11 that took over 3,000 American lives, ushered us into a war that has no foreseeable end, and changed life as we know it in so many ways.

It feels awkward to call it an anniversary. It’s more of a moment etched in time that we wish had never happened, but one we dare never to forget. But yet each passing year takes us a year further away from the horrors of that Tuesday morning.

With the news about the Commonwealth’s pension systems this week, I’m reminded of the old adage that a lie makes 50 tweets at the departure gate before the truth has a chance to turn off Airplane mode. Put simply, there’s a lot of fear and trepidation about the state’s various pension systems, and understandably so—these pensions in many cases represent the livelihood of individuals and their families. However, there are also a lot of misrepresentations so hopefully this letter will help assuage some of the fears by providing some essential facts.

Cody Milburn wasn’t looking for fame or pats on the back when he initiated a drive to collect water, food, and other items to help the people of southeast Texas recover from historic flooding in the wake of Hurricane Harvey last week.

His intentions weren’t self-serving, but were about serving those in need.

But perhaps they will also serve as reminders that when tragedy strikes, our best possible response should be empathy, compassion and yes - action.

Speaking with a group in Louisville, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin discussed the single most important action we can take to put our economy back on the right track: comprehensive tax reform.  I welcomed Secretary Mnuchin to our state to hear the questions and concerns that Kentuckians have about the process and to talk about what we can do to help middle class families get ahead.

Summer is winding down and kids are heading back to school, but the members of the Kentucky General Assembly are still working on your behalf in Frankfort attending Interim Joint Committees. These committees bring together members of the Kentucky House and Senate to collaborate on policy ideas and discuss bills for future sessions. The Interim is also a time for us, the members of the General Assembly, to hear from different offices and branches of government to keep them accountable to you, the taxpayer.

America looked up on Monday. Wearing silly glasses and sporting goofy grins, Americans stepped outside from coast to coast and glanced heavenward to catch a glimpse of a celestial marvel.

After several days, weeks and even months of looking sideways at each other because of political divisions, Americans stopped the bickering for at least a couple of hours, and then looked in the same direction.

The Battle of Charlottesville is over, with one person dead and a nation embarrassed.

Yes, it was a battle, carried out by two hateful sides who came armed with sticks, bottles, rocks and wearing uniforms that included helmets and shields. Neither side was intending to engage in any civil debate. This was designed to be a battle and that only one person was killed is evidence that the cowards on both sides apparently like to dress up like soldiers, but have the actual warrior skills of toddlers - slapping, stomping and then quickly retreating.

If you have not yet seen Dinesh D’Souza’s new book  “The Big Lie” - it addresses exactly what is happening with this weekend’s terroristic action and the media’s reaction.  I wish he had done the movie version first. This country needs it now.