Beech Tree News Network

When you think of the Christmas season, what comes to mind?  Perhaps going to your child’s holiday play at their school?  Or fighting the crowds at your local mall to get the newest smart phone?

For most of us, Christmas is a time to give thanks for what we have been given in the past 12 months, and share the goodwill with family and friends to remember why we celebrate Christmas every December.  It’s also about the hope we have on Christmas and every day for the future of our nation and our Commonwealth.

One of our greatest presidents, Ronald Reagan, said this during his Christmas message in 1981, “On Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Christ with prayer, feasting, and great merriment. But, most of all, we experience it in our hearts. For, more than just a day Christmas is a state of mind. It is found throughout the year whenever faith overcomes doubt, hope conquers despair, and love triumphs over hate. It is present when men of any creed bring love and understanding to the hearts of their fellow man. The feeling is seen in the wondrous faces of children and in the hopeful eyes of the aged. It overflows the hearts of cheerful givers and the souls.”

Kentucky and the nation have experienced moments of celebration, and moments of conflict during 2013.  In less than two weeks we will gather in Frankfort to begin the upcoming 60 day Regular Session of the General Assembly.  There is hope and apprehension as we begin to work on a two-year budget plan for the Commonwealth, much in the same way we’ve seen bipartisanship and division in Washington as they work on a budget agreement for our nation.

As we move into a new year and have to make those crucial decisions on our fiscal policy, I am hopeful that all of us can retain the spirit of Christmas.  There is a reason why Kentucky’s motto is ‘United We Stand, Divided We Fall.’  Only through truly working together in the strength of mind will allow us to overcome those things that cause conflict, and to bring those solutions for the betterment of Kentucky and our great United States of America.

In that same spirit, I want to wish you and yours a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.

I welcome your comments and concerns on any issues impacting our Commonwealth as we prepare for the 2014 Regular Session.  I can be reached through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181, or you can contact me via e-mail at [email protected]. You can keep track of committee meetings and potential legislation through the Kentucky Legislature Home Page at www.lrc.ky.gov.