FRANKFORT, Ky. (1/11/13) – State Rep. Keith Hall, the long-time chairman of the House Special Subcommittee on Energy, will now serve as chair of the House Committee on Tourism Development and Energy, according to a two-year organizational plan released for the chamber today by House leaders.
 
“This is a tremendous honor, and I’m really looking forward to taking on this responsibility,” said Rep. Hall, D-Phelps. “These two areas are extremely crucial to the state, with both being multi-billion dollar industries.”
 
“Keith has done an outstanding job of promoting Kentucky’s role in helping the country becoming energy independent, and he’s now leading the way in getting more of our coal getting shipped overseas,” said House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg. “This new role will give him an opportunity to do even more.”

Rep. Hall will replace state Rep. Leslie Combs, who is moving over to chair the House Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation.
 
“I firmly believe Kentucky is at a crossroads when it comes to energy, and not just with coal,” Rep. Hall said. “If we continue making the right steps, we can help put more coal miners back to work while also playing a leading role in clean-coal technology and other alternative-energy research. Our tourism industry, meanwhile, is doing extremely well, but there is always room for improvement.”
 
Rep. Hall’s new committee is one of 15 that considers and votes on bills during a legislative session. That process will begin when the General Assembly returns to the Capitol in early February to kick off the remaining 26 days of the legislative session.
 
SurfKY News
Information provided by Brian Wilkerson

Copyright © 2012 SurfKY News Group, Inc. all rights reserved.  SurfKY.com is an eNewspaper providing local news FREE to Kentucky 24/7.  Read Statewide Kentucky News, Sports, Obituaries and more from the following Kentucky Counties:  Calloway, Christian, Daviess, Fayette (Lexington), Henderson, Hopkins, Logan, McCracken, Muhlenberg, Warren, and Webster Counties as well as the Kentucky Lakes Area.