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U.S. gender wage gap grows for first time in a decade; Trump has embraced NC's Mark Robinson, calling him 'Martin Luther King on steroids'; Volunteers sought as early voting kicks off in MN; Women's political contributions in congressional races fall short of men's.

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Rising threats of political violence, a Federal Reserve rate cut, crypto industry campaign contributions and reproductive rights are shaping today's political landscape.

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A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

Report: Limits on 'Sustainable Investing' Hurt KY Taxpayers

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Wednesday, February 8, 2023   

Kentucky lawmakers are clamping down on corporations advocating environmentally and socially responsible investing.

A new report said the decision comes at a cost. The report by EcoConsult Solutions finds limiting investments will likely cost taxpayers at least $26 million, and perhaps as much as $70 million annually.

Senate Bill 205, signed into law by Gov. Andy Beshear last year, restricts companies deemed by legislators to be "energy boycotters" from doing business with the Commonwealth.

Mark Ritter, a Franklin County resident and retiree from the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection, believes his freedom to invest and make the best financial decisions has been curtailed.

"The fact that was signed into law hijacks my options as an investor," Ritter contended. "Investment
decisions in the marketplace should be made by me, in consultation with my financial adviser."

Last month, more than a dozen Kentucky lawmakers introduced a bill to restrict companies they said boycott firearms. House Bill 123 would block governmental bodies from entering into contracts valued at or above $100,000 with companies legislators claimed "discriminate against" gun manufacturers or firearm trade associations.

Ritter thinks most Kentuckians want state investment funds to consider environmental and social factors, especially as the western and eastern parts of the state continue to rebuild from extreme flooding and tornadoes.

"This law to protect the fossil fuel industry by punishing financial institutions and their customers is an outrageous abuse of power," Ritter argued.

According to the report, more than a dozen states so far have either passed or have bills pending to pull state funds from investments deemed to be adverse to the oil and gas industry.


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