Jason Bailey
@jbaileyky.bsky.social
Executive Director, @KyPolicy
That's more than the state will spend in 2026 on Medicaid, which covers 1.5 million kids, seniors, people with disabilities and low-wage workers now at risk of losing health coverage due to HR 1. 4/
November 11, 2025 at 3:01 PM
That's more than the state will spend in 2026 on Medicaid, which covers 1.5 million kids, seniors, people with disabilities and low-wage workers now at risk of losing health coverage due to HR 1. 4/
While most Kentuckians are struggling with affordability, the wealthy have been showered with enormous state and federal tax cuts passed over the last decade, a new @kypolicy.bsky.social reports shows. 1/
November 11, 2025 at 3:00 PM
While most Kentuckians are struggling with affordability, the wealthy have been showered with enormous state and federal tax cuts passed over the last decade, a new @kypolicy.bsky.social reports shows. 1/
The money is there in the state’s Budget Reserve Trust Fund to fill the gap in the loss of November SNAP benefits. Kentucky has stockpiled $3.76 billion in that fund, and aid equal in cost to November benefits would take a fraction of that. 2/
October 30, 2025 at 4:52 PM
The money is there in the state’s Budget Reserve Trust Fund to fill the gap in the loss of November SNAP benefits. Kentucky has stockpiled $3.76 billion in that fund, and aid equal in cost to November benefits would take a fraction of that. 2/
Kentuckians in every corner of the state could see their health premiums double or more if Congress does not extend the expiring kynect subsidies. That includes:
--1,122 people in Calloway Co
--603 in Adair
--2,551 in Daviess
--474 in Floyd
--3,977 in Warren
--1,429 in Bullitt
1/2
--1,122 people in Calloway Co
--603 in Adair
--2,551 in Daviess
--474 in Floyd
--3,977 in Warren
--1,429 in Bullitt
1/2
October 22, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Kentuckians in every corner of the state could see their health premiums double or more if Congress does not extend the expiring kynect subsidies. That includes:
--1,122 people in Calloway Co
--603 in Adair
--2,551 in Daviess
--474 in Floyd
--3,977 in Warren
--1,429 in Bullitt
1/2
--1,122 people in Calloway Co
--603 in Adair
--2,551 in Daviess
--474 in Floyd
--3,977 in Warren
--1,429 in Bullitt
1/2
If Congress doesn't extend expiring healthcare aid, costs will skyrocket for Kentuckians buying health insurance on kynect:
September 30, 2025 at 6:57 PM
If Congress doesn't extend expiring healthcare aid, costs will skyrocket for Kentuckians buying health insurance on kynect:
The typical KY school district increased teacher pay by only 2% this year, with 40 districts providing no raise at all. Inadequate state funding kept districts from gaining ground on eroding teacher salaries, which are 20% below inflation-adjusted 2008 levels 1/2
September 24, 2025 at 1:45 PM
The typical KY school district increased teacher pay by only 2% this year, with 40 districts providing no raise at all. Inadequate state funding kept districts from gaining ground on eroding teacher salaries, which are 20% below inflation-adjusted 2008 levels 1/2
Kentucky is now a "casino state" with gambling on slot machines surpassing $10 billion this year, more betting per capita than neighboring Ohio. But tax revenue from slots in KY falls far below comparable states even as the problems with gambling addiction grow dramatically. 1/2
September 15, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Kentucky is now a "casino state" with gambling on slot machines surpassing $10 billion this year, more betting per capita than neighboring Ohio. But tax revenue from slots in KY falls far below comparable states even as the problems with gambling addiction grow dramatically. 1/2
As Kentucky kids head back to school, the funding gap between wealthy and poor school districts grew again last year to $4,247 per student. Adjusted for inflation, that's a 13.6% bigger gap than it was in 1990 when the state passed KERA to address insufficient school funding. 1/2
August 13, 2025 at 1:37 PM
As Kentucky kids head back to school, the funding gap between wealthy and poor school districts grew again last year to $4,247 per student. Adjusted for inflation, that's a 13.6% bigger gap than it was in 1990 when the state passed KERA to address insufficient school funding. 1/2
Biggest 20 per student district wide, though impacts are much larger for students in need specifically served by most of these programs
July 18, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Biggest 20 per student district wide, though impacts are much larger for students in need specifically served by most of these programs
Spencer County, Mayfield Independent and Monroe County are the Kentucky school districts where the programs the Trump administration is now withholding funds for--totaling $87 million across the state--made up the largest share of their 2024 federal funds.
Here are the top 20:
Here are the top 20:
July 18, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Spencer County, Mayfield Independent and Monroe County are the Kentucky school districts where the programs the Trump administration is now withholding funds for--totaling $87 million across the state--made up the largest share of their 2024 federal funds.
Here are the top 20:
Here are the top 20:
And both plans will lead to cuts to public services--though intentionally delayed so the harms happen later. OBBBA will slash Medicaid, SNAP & more, while state income tax cuts will inevitably mean less for schools, health care and other needs. 3/
July 17, 2025 at 8:27 PM
And both plans will lead to cuts to public services--though intentionally delayed so the harms happen later. OBBBA will slash Medicaid, SNAP & more, while state income tax cuts will inevitably mean less for schools, health care and other needs. 3/
The tax cuts are heavily skewed to the wealthy in both cases. In the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), 64% of the tax cuts in KY go to the wealthiest 20%, and 19% to the richest 1%. And with state income tax reductions, 60% goes to the top 20%, and 29% to the richest 1% 2/
July 17, 2025 at 8:26 PM
The tax cuts are heavily skewed to the wealthy in both cases. In the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), 64% of the tax cuts in KY go to the wealthiest 20%, and 19% to the richest 1%. And with state income tax reductions, 60% goes to the top 20%, and 29% to the richest 1% 2/
The federal budget and tax law that passed last week will worsen health and deepen hardship in Kentucky and provide more giveaways to the already wealthy. Harms include: 1/
July 11, 2025 at 7:30 PM
The federal budget and tax law that passed last week will worsen health and deepen hardship in Kentucky and provide more giveaways to the already wealthy. Harms include: 1/
Muhlenberg County hospital: "we believe these proposed cuts could force some hospitals in Kentucky to close and reduce programs and services, harming access to care for all patients, not just those covered by Medicaid."
July 3, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Muhlenberg County hospital: "we believe these proposed cuts could force some hospitals in Kentucky to close and reduce programs and services, harming access to care for all patients, not just those covered by Medicaid."
The cuts to Medicaid in Congress threaten five of the original Miners' Memorial Hospitals set up by the UMWA, plus nine others in eastern Kentucky 1/2
June 27, 2025 at 7:46 PM
The cuts to Medicaid in Congress threaten five of the original Miners' Memorial Hospitals set up by the UMWA, plus nine others in eastern Kentucky 1/2
Rural Kentucky would be the bull's eye of harm from the Medicaid cuts in Congress. Just devastating
June 27, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Rural Kentucky would be the bull's eye of harm from the Medicaid cuts in Congress. Just devastating
Congress is looking to pass the buck on its cuts to state budgets and say "you figure it out." For example, the House plan shifts costs for SNAP food assistance that equal the current expense of employing 3,135 Kentucky public school teachers. 1/2
June 10, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Congress is looking to pass the buck on its cuts to state budgets and say "you figure it out." For example, the House plan shifts costs for SNAP food assistance that equal the current expense of employing 3,135 Kentucky public school teachers. 1/2
Medicaid in Kentucky gets absolutely hammered in the House bill--loss of $1.7 billion, 2nd-worst proportionally of all states, and lost coverage of 207,000-345,000 Kentuckians, 5th-worst among states
May 22, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Medicaid in Kentucky gets absolutely hammered in the House bill--loss of $1.7 billion, 2nd-worst proportionally of all states, and lost coverage of 207,000-345,000 Kentuckians, 5th-worst among states
In flood-ridden eastern Kentucky, staffing at the Jackson National Weather Service office had been cut so much there aren’t meteorologists for the overnight shift, according to WaPo
May 15, 2025 at 7:04 PM
In flood-ridden eastern Kentucky, staffing at the Jackson National Weather Service office had been cut so much there aren’t meteorologists for the overnight shift, according to WaPo
The House is proposing the biggest cuts to Medicaid and SNAP in history. Their plan would take coverage and food away from many thousands of Kentuckians, weaken health, & pull dollars out of our communities to put them in the pockets of the wealthy. @kypolicy.bsky.social statement here: 1/2
May 13, 2025 at 5:44 PM
The House is proposing the biggest cuts to Medicaid and SNAP in history. Their plan would take coverage and food away from many thousands of Kentuckians, weaken health, & pull dollars out of our communities to put them in the pockets of the wealthy. @kypolicy.bsky.social statement here: 1/2
Congress is considering cuts to Medicaid & SNAP that would blow a massive hole in the Kentucky state budget--jeopardizing health and nutrition while also squeezing other state funding for education and more. One possible cut to Medicaid alone would blow a $1.1 billion hole. 1/2
May 7, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Congress is considering cuts to Medicaid & SNAP that would blow a massive hole in the Kentucky state budget--jeopardizing health and nutrition while also squeezing other state funding for education and more. One possible cut to Medicaid alone would blow a $1.1 billion hole. 1/2
100 Kentucky health and community organizations send letter to Congressional delegation: no cuts to Medicaid drive.google.com/file/d/1GAzB...
May 5, 2025 at 10:02 PM
100 Kentucky health and community organizations send letter to Congressional delegation: no cuts to Medicaid drive.google.com/file/d/1GAzB...
Cuts to Medicaid by Congress would be a massive setback to the health of Kentuckians and a severe wound to our economy, where Medicaid creates healthcare jobs, props up rural hospitals and spurs other jobs in communities from its $15 billion in federal spending. 1/2
April 24, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Cuts to Medicaid by Congress would be a massive setback to the health of Kentuckians and a severe wound to our economy, where Medicaid creates healthcare jobs, props up rural hospitals and spurs other jobs in communities from its $15 billion in federal spending. 1/2
Kentucky receives over $800 million a year in federal funding to help address its opioid and addiction crisis, largely through Medicaid. But recent progress and work still needed are at serious risk due to cuts on the table in DC. 1/2
April 21, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Kentucky receives over $800 million a year in federal funding to help address its opioid and addiction crisis, largely through Medicaid. But recent progress and work still needed are at serious risk due to cuts on the table in DC. 1/2