Pubdate: Thu, 07 Mar 2013
Source: Richmond Register (KY)
Copyright: 2013 Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.richmondregister.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4305
Author: Ronnie Ellis, CNHI
Page: A2

HEMP BILL CLEARS HURDLE BUT MUST FACE OTHERS

FRANKFORT - The House Agriculture Committee on Wednesday passed 
Senate Bill 50 to provide a "framework" for the cultivation of hemp 
after days of pressure on the committee chairman, Tom McKee, D- Cynthiana.

But House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D- Prestonsburg, seems in no mood to 
bring the bill to the floor for a vote.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Paul Hornback, R- Shelbyville, and pushed 
by Republican Agriculture Commissioner James Comer, would set up 
regulations for growing industrial hemp if the federal government 
legalizes the product.

It easily passed the Senate but isn't supported by Stumbo, who says 
current law already positions Kentucky to move immediately if the 
federal government relaxes or ends its ban on growing hemp.

Last week McKee denied a vote on the bill in his committee, instead 
planning to offer a committee substitute to SB 50 for a vote.

He began that meeting saying SB 50 had been scheduled "for discussion 
only." But when Rep. Jim DeCesare, R- Bowling Green, moved for a vote 
on the original bill, McKee recessed the meeting and subsequently 
adjourned the committee when it reconvened on the House floor that afternoon.

Supporters of the bill reacted angrily, accusing McKee of 
obstructionism and playing politics, and apparently mobilized farmers 
in McKee's district to call him in support of the bill.

So Wednesday, the committee again took up the bill, but not before 
McKee made a five-minute speech about the legislative process and 
again declaring last week's motion was out of order.

"I did not refuse to allow a vote that was in order," McKee said. 
"I'd announced plainly ( the bill) was for discussion only and that 
means no vote would be taken at that time."

McKee reviewed his history of supporting hemp as an alternative 
agriculture product while several other committee members decried how 
McKee had been characterized in the fight over hemp.

"If industrial hemp can offer new opportunities for our farmers and 
create thousands of jobs for our economy ( both claims of hemp 
supporters), then this committee is ready to vote on that proposed 
legislation," McKee said. "So a motion on Senate Bill 50 is in order."

The bill easily passed, with only Republican Tommy Turner of Somerset 
voting no. Several Democrats who voted for the bill, however, 
qualified their votes by saying they hoped Comer and Hornback would 
agree to work with law enforcement to address some of their concerns 
about the difficulty in distinguishing hemp from marijuana. Some 
spoke in defense of McKee. "The chairman of this committee has been 
bedeviled, but he's a good man," said Rep. Terry Mills, D- Lebanon. 
He also described the "passion" about the issue on both sides and 
urged all to "remain calm."

"This is my 13th year up here," said Rep. Mike Denham, D- Maysville. 
"Tom McKee is one of the most honorable and fair people down here."

Turner said he voted no because his concerns about law enforcement 
questions hadn't been adequately answered. He said those concerns 
weren't overcome by the overwhelming support of the bill by members 
of his party.

"In the end, I've got to do what Tommy Turner thinks is the right 
thing to do," Turner said.

Afterward, Comer said he "is very excited about what the committee 
did and we look forward to getting a fair vote on the House floor in 
the next couple of days." Stumbo said that's unlikely. "I doubt it 
will go to the House floor," Stumbo said. "It's got a lot of problems."

Stumbo said since the bill charges a fee, SB 50 might be out of order 
because revenue bills must begin in the House.

He again questioned the claims by Comer and others about its economic 
benefits and said the bill would actually add a layer of bureaucracy 
since he believes current law allows Kentucky to move immediately if 
the federal govern

Comer predicted as many as 80 votes for the bill - if it gets a vote. 
Only four days remain in the 30- day session.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom