Helen Bukulmez (D)
Taxes
Existing tax exemptions are critical to maintaining Kentucky as the place to do business for the horse industry and growing the nearly 80,000 jobs supported by our industry. These exemptions include sales tax on veterinary and pharmaceutical services for equines, the sale of horses to out-of-state buyers and equine boarding services.
Will you continue supporting tax exemptions like these that are proven to have a positive impact on the state?
YES
Due to a decision made by the legislature several decades ago, there is currently a confusing and burdensome division in sales tax policy on livestock feed and supplies depending on whether a farmer is purchasing for their equines or for other types of livestock. For equines, sales tax is required. For other livestock, the purchase is exempt from sales tax. KEEP has long called for tax parity for equines, which would be especially beneficial to smaller businesses. In 2017, the Kentucky legislature formally broadened the definition of livestock to include equines.
Would you support tax parity and extend the sales tax exemption on feed and supplies to all livestock, including equines?
I WILL ONLY SUPPORT A TAX POLICY THAT IS FAIR and BALANCED. I WILL OPPOSE TAXES THAT PLACE THE BURDEN ON THOSE WHO ARE LEAST EQUIPPED TO CARRY IT. OUR FARMERS, SMALL BUSINESSES AND WORKING FAMILIES NEED HELP. THEY ARE CRYING FOR HELP. I WILL FIGHT FOR THEM.
Sports Wagering and Expanded Gaming
Sports wagering is now legal in 21 states, including in 5 states that border Kentucky. It is expected that 9 more states will allow sports betting in 2021 and 2022. KEEP believes that legal sports wagering in Kentucky could have a positive impact on our horse industry, especially with how the legislation was previously drafted in Kentucky to include the industry. Gaming issues like sports wagering may come before the legislature.
Would you be supportive of legalized sports betting that would provide economic investment and jobs in your district?
I WILL CONSIDER AND SUPPORT SUCH BUSINESSES AND ENSURE THAT THEY ARE BOTH PROFITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE WHILE ALSO BALANCING THE INTERESTS OF OUR BUSINESSES WITH THE NEEDS OF OUR RURAL DISTRICTS.
Expanded gaming has been a debated issue for the last decade in Kentucky. It has bipartisan supporters in the legislature and was an issue in the most recent Democratic gubernatorial primary race. Observing how expanded gaming has cannibalized horse industries in other states, KEEP is opposed to expanded casino gaming in order to protect the more than $3 billion economic impact the industry has on Kentucky. In addition to negatively impacting the attendance and wagering at racetracks, expanded gaming would provide direct competition to historical horse racing, which has put Kentucky’s horse industry in an excellent position to continue leading the country in nearly every metric and to expand its economic impact on the state.
Do you support legalizing expanded casino gaming in Kentucky? If so, how do you square that with the inevitable negative effects on our state’s signature industry?
ON ITS FACE, I AM INCLINED TO BE OPPOSED TO EXPANDED CASINO GAMING SO AS TO PROTECT OUR HORSE RACING INDUSTRIES. I WILL PUT THE INTERESTS OF OUR HORSE INDUSTRY AHEAD WHILE CONSIDERING OTHER REVENUE OPTIONS. HOWEVER, I’D LIKE TO SEE A DETAILED PLAN BEFORE I COMMENT DECISIVELY. WE CANNOT MAKE SUCH DECISIONS AS A GENERAL PRINCIPLE AND MUST ALWAYS PUT THE INTERESTS OF THE 22ND DISTRICT AS A WHOLE BEFORE EVERYTHING ELSE.
Land Use
In a recent legislative session, legislation was proposed that would allow the state to supersede local governments’ land use ordinances. KEEP believes that land use and its economic impact is not a one-size-fits-all issue and local governments should maintain their ability to make land use policy. In counties like Fayette and Woodford, horse farm land is the lifeblood of the economy. Without local consideration and protections, that economy could evaporate overnight.
What is your position on local land use decision-making, particularly as it applies to the horse industry?
Job Training and Workforce Development
Over the past three years, KEEP has worked in partnership with the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Foundation to create a Talent Pipeline Initiative focused on how to fill the needs of the horse industry’s demand for labor and how to bring more Kentuckians into the industry.
As Frankfort considers the importance of job training and workforce development programs, will you commit to including the horse industry in those conversations?
ABSOLUTELY. I WILL ALSO HARD WORK TO FUND AND BRING IN MORE TRADE PROGRAMS AND TECHNICAL SCHOOLS TO CREATE BETTER-TRAINED WORKFORCE WHILE ALSO WORKING HARD TO PROTECT THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES OF THOSE WHO WORK HARD FOR OUR DISTRICT.
Equine Events
In 2010, the Kentucky Horse Park hosted the World Equestrian Games. This event successfully showcased the “Horse Capital of the World” on the global stage. However, in the 11 years since that event, Kentucky has not bid on hosting other large-scale events.
Would you encourage the state to bid on international events and return a spotlight to the Commonwealth?
ABSOLUTELY. AS A BUSINESS WOMAN WITH MANY INTERNATIONAL TIES and A FIRST GENERATION IMMIGRANT WHO BECAME A PROUD AMERICAN CITIZEN AFTER IMMIGRATING TO KENTUCKY OVER 20 YEARS AGO, I WILL ACTIVELY WORK TO ATTRACT GLOBAL TOURISM TO OUR DISTRICT AND TO OUR BEAUTIFUL KENTUCKY.