Legislative update: Shop small, shop local when buying gifts this season

By JIMMY HIGDON
14th District State Senator

SEN. JIMMY HIGDON

As a former grocery store owner and as a legislator, I have always advocated for buying locally and supporting our home-grown and small businesses. This year, there have been initiatives encouraging people to patronize local businesses. They even gave it a hash tag for social media sites with #shopsmall.

Saturday, November 29th was the fifth annual Small Business Saturday, and according to Forbes Magazine, small businesses enjoyed a 14% boost on that day from a year ago. I think this is great news for our local retailers who bring expertise and dedication to offering quality products and services.

Our region is especially fortunate with the wide variety of unique and interesting goods perfect for gift giving occasions as well as the services and products available for holiday entertaining. One of the state agencies that lead in marketing Kentucky products is the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. It continues to grow its branding and now features Kentucky Proud produce and goods in retail stores across the state. Investing in local business and producers supports those businesses directly, creates jobs and opportunities, and has a ripple effect since many of these businesses purchase goods and services from the region as well, allowing the investment to circulate through the local economy.

In other recent news, I want to tell about a new opportunity that I’ve taken in the Majority Caucus of the Senate. A few weeks ago, I ran for, and won, the position of Majority Whip in our caucus. This is a position in the leadership of the Senate and will provide me with more responsibility and input as we enter into the 2014 General Assembly. I am honored to be chosen by my fellow senators for this position.

The other leadership positions are as follows: Senator Robert Stivers is the nominee for Senate President, Senator Damon Thayer is the Majority Floor Leader, Senator David Givens is the nominee for Senate President Pro Tem and Senator Dan Seum will continue as Caucus Chairman.

Shortly after Christmas I will publish a survey through the local media. These surveys are crucial to me, as I prepare for the 2015 General Assembly and gather your views and perspectives on the issues in front of us in the legislature, so I thank you in advance for sending them to me. The 2015 General Assembly will begin on January 6, 2015, for a 30-day legislative session.

I am always interested in your comments or questions. Please feel free to contact me by calling and leaving a message at the toll-free message line for legislators, 1-800-372-7181. Also, you are welcome to call me at my home, 270-692-6945. My e-mail address is jimmy.higdon@lrc.ky.gov.

Senator Jimmy Higdon (R-Lebanon) represents the 14th District including Casey, Marion, Nelson and Spencer counties, as well as part of Jefferson County. He is the chairman of both the Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection Committee, and the Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation. He is the vice chair of the Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations Committee and the Transportation Committee, as well as a member of the 2012 SS HB 1 Implementation and Oversight Committee; the Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government, Finance, and Public Protection; the Economic Development, Tourism and Labor Committee; the Education Committee; the Health and Welfare Committee; the Program Review and Investigations Committee; and the Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight Committee.

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