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Robert Stivers II
RWon the General, 2020 Kentucky State Senate District 25
Won the General, 2016 Kentucky State Senate District 25
Won the General, 2012 Kentucky State Senate District 25
President, Commonwealth of Kentucky Senate (2013 - Present)
Kentucky State Senate, District 25 (1997 - Present)
To be claimed
Former Chair, Rules Committee, Commonwealth of Kentucky Senate
Chair, Committee on Committees
Member, Education Committee
Member, Joint Committee on Education
Member, Joint Committee on Judiciary
Member, Judiciary Committee
Co-Chair, Legislative Research Commission
Member, Public Pensions Working Group
Chair, Rules Committee
— Awards:
1. Abortions should always be legally available.
- No Answer
2. Abortions should be legally available when the procedure is completed within the first trimester of pregnancy.
- No Answer
3. Abortions should be legal only when the pregnancy resulted from incest, rape, or when the life of the woman is endangered.
- X
4. Abortions should be legal only when the life of the woman is endangered.
- No Answer
5. Abortions should always be illegal.
- No Answer
6. Abortions should be limited by waiting periods and parental notification requirements.
- No Answer
7. Support legislation which would require abortion clinics to meet the same size and equipment standards as ambulatory surgical centers.
- No Answer
8. Should the Kentucky government prevent Medicaid funding from being provided to clinics providing non-emergency abortion services?
- No
1. Kentucky government should prosecute cases of discrimination in the public and private sectors.
- No Answer
2. Kentucky government should provide no affirmative action programs.
- No Answer
3. Award specific, adjustable percentages of contracts for state work to minority or woman-owned businesses.
- X
4. Do you believe that the Kentucky government should recognize same-sex marriages?
- No
5. Do you believe sexual orientation should be added to Kentucky's anti-discrimination laws?
- No
1. Increase state funding for programs to prevent teen pregnancy.
- No Answer
2. Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for their employees.
- X
3. Deny or suspend state-issued permits and licenses to parents who are delinquent in paying court-ordered child support.
- X
1. Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and for hiring of additional prison staff.
- X
2. Provide state funding for expanding and promoting "community policing" programs in Kentucky.
- X
3. Support "truth in sentencing" with no chance of parole for violent repeat offenders.
- X
4. Expand the use of the death penalty for additional circumstances relating to murder.
- No Answer
5. Oppose the death penalty.
- No Answer
6. Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
- X
7. Require mandatory life sentences for third-time, violent felons.
- No Answer
8. Inform communities when a convicted sex offender moves into the community.
- X
9. Increase state funds for programs which rehabilitate and educate inmates during and after their prison sentences.
- No Answer
10. Decriminalize the possession and private use of certain illegal drugs such as marijuana.
- No Answer
11. Strengthen penalties and sentences associated with drug-related crimes.
- No Answer
12. Implement chain gangs in which prison inmates work together in chained work groups.
- No Answer
13. Fund programs for victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence (e.g. shelters, medical care and police protection).
- X
1. Prosecute juveniles who commit murder or other serious violent crimes as adults.
- X
2. Provide state funding for military-style "boot-camps" for juvenile first-time felons.
- X
3. Increase state funding for community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
- No Answer
4. Support state government funding of programs for at-risk youth such as guaranteed college loans and job training and placement.
- X
5. Increase state funding for prosecution of juvenile offenders and enforcement of tougher laws against juvenile crime.
- X
6. Allow cities to impose mandatory curfews for minors in high crime areas.
- No Answer
1. Increase state funds for improving the state's transportation system, including major roadways, railways, and airports.
- X
2. Provide low interest loans and tax credits for expanding, start-up, or relocating businesses.
- X
3. Allow casinos to be located at racetracks.
- No Answer
4. Reduce state government regulations on the private sector.
- X
5. Remove state government controls or caps from wages, prices, rents, profits, production, and interest rates.
- No Answer
6. Support an amendment to the Kentucky Constitution which would limit cash damages in lawsuits against businesses and professionals for product liability or malpractice.
- No Answer
7. Increase state funding for programs to re-train unemployed workers.
- X
8. Initiate cost-benefit analysis of all state laws and regulations to determine their economic impact.
- No Answer
9. Limit Kentucky's workers' compensation system to more narrowly define "injury".
- No Answer
10. Do you support the recently passed prevailing wage law which requires local governments to pay a state-mandated wage on construction projects?
- Undecided
1. Increase state funds for professional development and salaries of public school faculty.
- X
2. Endorse teacher-led voluntary school prayer in public schools.
- X
3. Encourage private or corporate investment in certain public school programs.
- X
4. Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any participating school (public, private, religious, technical).
- No Answer
5. Implement charter schools where teachers and other professionals receive state authorization and funding to establish new schools.
- No Answer
6. Require the use of state-wide achievement standards for all state public schools.
- X
7. Emphasize local control of education as long as the school district meets state health and safety standards.
- X
8. Support sex education programs which stress abstinence.
- X
9. Support sex education programs which stress safe sexual practices.
- No Answer
10. Provide funding to assist parents of private school students with student transportation costs.
- No Answer
11. Increase funding for Kentucky's state universities and community colleges.
- No Answer
12. Increase funding for adult GED-equivalent and vocational education.
- X
1. Grouping of students in kindergarten through third grade.
- No
2. The KIRIS (Kentucky Instructional Results Information System) test which assesses both individual student and school performance.
- No
3. Providing fiscal rewards to schools with the most improvement in student test scores.
- Undecided
1. Enact tougher environmental standards to encourage the sale of cleaner burning fuels throughout Kentucky.
- No Answer
2. Support "self-audit" legislation which creates incentives for polluting industries to audit themselves and clean up pollution.
- No Answer
3. Require a cost/benefit analysis be completed on the economic impact of proposed environmental regulations before they are implemented.
- No Answer
4. Require the state to reimburse citizens when state-sponsored environmental regulations limit the use of privately owned land.
- X
5. Provide funding for recycling programs in Kentucky.
- X
6. Request flexibility from the federal government in enforcing and funding federal environmental regulations.
- No Answer
7. Suspend Kentucky's participation in unfunded, federally mandated environmental protection legislation.
- No Answer
8. Maintain minimum environmental quality as mandated by current federal regulations.
- X
9. Do you believe the state government should require timber harvesters to have training and education in timber regulations and harvesting techniques?
- No
10. Do you support Kentucky's current agreement with Illinois to share in the disposal of both states' commercial low-level radioactive waste?
- Undecided
1. $100 or less
- No Answer
2. $101 to $500
- No Answer
3. $501 to $1000
- X
4. More than $1000
- No Answer
5. No limit
- No Answer
6. Do you support requiring limits on PAC contributions to state legislative candidates?
- Yes
1. 10 % or less
- No Answer
2. 11% to 35%
- X
3. 36% to 50%
- No Answer
4. More than 50%
- No Answer
5. No limit
- No Answer
6. Do you support amending the Kentucky Constitution to remove limits on corporate contributions to state legislative candidates?
- No
7. Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
- Yes
8. Do you support imposing spending limits on state level political campaigns?
- Yes
9. Do you support partial funding from state taxes for state legislative political campaigns?
- No
10. Should the salary and expense allowances of legislators be adjusted annually to the cost of inflation?
- No
1. Support expanding the nationwide federal ban on the public sale of assault weapons to include all forms of semi-automatic weapons.
- No Answer
2. Increase state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
- No Answer
3. Allow local governments to enact and enforce gun-control ordinances.
- No Answer
4. Continue the present Kentucky policy of no state-specific restrictions on gun purchase and registration.
- X
5. Do you support continuing to allow law-abiding citizens to carry concealed firearms?
- Yes
1. Expand state funding for pre-natal and infant care programs available in the state, including immunizations.
- X
2. Provide tax incentives to assist small businesses in providing health care to their employees.
- X
3. Ensure that Kentucky's citizens have access to basic health care, through managed care, insurance reforms, or state-funded care where necessary.
- X
4. Guaranteeing medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
- X
5. Limit the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
- No Answer
6. Encourage tax-free medical savings accounts, to be taxed if used for any purpose other than medical costs.
- No Answer
7. Support the current law which requires health insurers of Kentucky residents to accept any applicant, regardless of pre-existing conditions.
- No Answer
8. Support turning Kentucky's Medicaid funding over to private managed care organizations (HMOs).
- No Answer
9. Support state-funded incentives that increase the supply and retention of health professionals in rural areas.
- X
10. Support continuing the "provider tax" on health care professionals which helps fund health care for low-income Kentuckians.
- No Answer
11. Support a broad tax on all state residents to fund health care for low-income Kentuckians, to replace the current "provider tax" on health care professionals.
- No Answer
1. Abortion
- Eliminate
2. Affirmative Action
- Maintain Status
3. Agriculture
- Slightly Increase
4. AIDS Programs
- Maintain Status
5. Education
- Slightly Increase
6. Environment
- Maintain Status
7. Health care
- Slightly Increase
8. Law enforcement
- Slightly Increase
9. Welfare
- Slightly Decrease
1. Alcohol Taxes
- Slightly Increase
2. Business Taxes
- Greatly Decrease
3. Capital gains taxes
- Slightly Increase
4. Gasoline taxes
- Slightly Decrease
5. Income Taxes (incomes less than $75,000)
- Slightly Decrease
6. Income Taxes (incomes greater than $75,000)
- Slightly Decrease
7. Property taxes
- Slightly Decrease
8. Sales taxes
- Maintain Status
9. State Fees
- Slightly Increase
10. Do you support a flat tax structure for state income taxes?
- Undecided
11. Do you support reducing the number of tax brackets in Kentucky's state income tax structure (5 brackets for incomes under $8000, one for incomes over $8000)?
- Undecided
1. Provide child care services to welfare recipients who work or attend school.
- X
2. Allow welfare recipients to work and still receive state-funded health care and child care (if needed) until they become self-sufficient.
- X
3. Require that able-bodied welfare recipients receive job training, attend school, or work in order to receive welfare benefits.
- X
4. Require that unwed mothers under the age of 18 attend school and live with a parent or guardian (if possible) to receive welfare benefits.
- X
5. Limit the welfare benefits given to recipients if they have additional children.
- X
6. Provide two-parent families living in poverty the same welfare benefits as one-parent families.
- No Answer
7. Eliminate government-funded welfare and advocate privately-funded assistance to people in need.
- No Answer
8. Impose a two-year limit on welfare benefits for recipients who are able to work.
- X
9. Support the recent increase in benefits paid to welfare recipients.
- No Answer
Explain what your two main legislative priorities will be if elected to the Kentucky General Assembly. If any of your priorities will require additional government funding, explain how you intend to obtain the additional funding.
- 1. Economic development in rural Eastern Kentucky would be my top priority. We have been neglected because of population and politics for many years. 2. Education; We must succeed in developing a better educational system for K-12. We must emphasize on Vo-Tech training. Facilitating my priorities would not mean increasing taxes, just re-prioritizing values and cutting governmental waste.
Type: resolution Chamber: upper
Type: resolution Chamber: upper
Type: resolution Chamber: upper
By Gov. Matt Bevin, Sen. Robert Stivers, and Rep. Jeff Hoover "Keeping the Promise," our plan to save Kentucky's pension systems, keeps the promise made to Kentucky's current employees while also meeting the legal and moral obligations we owe to those who have already retired. Promises made are promises kept. Make no mistake: there will be no changes, clawbacks or reductions to the paychecks of current retirees, and there will be protections for healthcare benefits. That is a promise you can literally take to the bank. This legislature is committed to solving the pension crisis, and is ready to lead by example. Our pension legislation immediately stops the defined benefits plan for all legislators, moving them into the same plan as other state employees under the jurisdiction of the KRS Board. Future elected officials will be required by law to pay the full ARC amount, creating a new funding formula that mandates hundreds of millions more every year into every retirement plan, until they are fully funded. Looking to the future, the defined benefit plans of current employees and teachers will continue until they reach the promised level of service for their pension, with no increase to the retirement age. As new non-hazardous employees and teachers enter the workforce, they will be enrolled in a defined contribution retirement plan that provides comparable or better retirement benefits. Hazardous employees will continue in the same plan they are in now. We are also closing the loophole that has prevented the payment of death benefits for the families of hazardous employees. "Keeping the Promise" will improve the Commonwealth's rating with credit agencies. These ratings have steadily declined in recent years specifically due to our unfunded pension burdens. The right thing to do is often difficult, but we are determined to fix the pension problem. We are doing it in a way that will be of the most benefit to all Kentuckians. This is the most comprehensive and fiscally responsible pension reform plan in the history of the United States. We are confident that the rest of the country will pay close attention to this solution and that it will serve as a prudent model for others to follow. For those retired, for those working, and for those yet to be hired: we are truly fixing our broken pension systems. United we stand. Divided we fall.
By Gov. Matt Bevin, Robert Stivers and Jeff Hoover Kentucky's pension systems are in critical condition. While some state retirement plans are arguably in "better shape" than others are, every system is severely underfunded and rapidly spiraling downward toward a single outcome: no more money to pay Kentucky's retirees. Understandably, retirees and those nearing retirement are concerned. Over the past 10 years, Kentucky's pension systems have lost more than $7 billion in value. If we keep with the current pace, the only way Kentucky will be able to fund these systems will be through massive cuts to important programs, hurting education, health care, public safety and infrastructure. Without significant fundamental changes, our retirement systems will become bankrupt. Change will not be easy, but it is necessary. Our state's credit rating has been repeatedly downgraded in recent months and years as a result of our unfunded pension liability. We must stop kicking the can of financial responsibility down the road. We must solve this problem -- there is no other option. In order to fully understand the severity of this crisis, we hired an independent pension consultant firm to analyze each of our pension systems. At this time, we have received three reports from this independent group, all of which are currently under review by elected leaders in Frankfort. Going forward, these reports will help inform our difficult decisions as we prepare for a special session. Some of the recommendations will likely be adopted and others will likely not be adopted. Our consultants discovered the biggest cause of the shortfall was erroneous actuarial assumptions made by past members of the boards of these systems, which led to significant underfunding. Sadly, it seems past assumptions were often manipulated by the prior pension boards in order to minimize the "cost" of pensions to the state budget. Unreasonably high investment expectations were made, and funding was based on false payroll numbers. The result was to provide a false sense of security and justify smaller than necessary contributions to the pension plans. This was a morally negligent and irresponsible thing to do. We refuse to hide the problem by understating liabilities, as others have been eager to do. Going forward, we must require all of our state pension systems to use a funding method that cannot be so easily manipulated by politically appointed board members. This change alone will ensure a much higher funding level is provided to meet the legal and moral obligations we owe to our retired teachers and public servants. We also must make certain that retired teachers and other public employees are not negatively affected by any required pension changes. Those who count on their retirement today should be able to count on that same retirement tomorrow. We intend to meet the legal obligations we have to each retiree. Likewise, any changes made to our pension systems will not negatively influence the plans of those nearing retirement. The General Assembly will not pass any legislation with an emergency clause, which would make any changes immediately effective. Rather, public servants and teachers eligible for retirement will receive adequate time to understand and review any options they may have.Additionally, it is not our intention to strip away any accrued benefits from current public servants or teachers. We are fully committed to solving this very important challenge by making thoughtful, but necessary, changes. We refuse to allow continued manipulation of these plans for the benefit of a few well-connected individuals at the expense of taxpayers, hard-working teachers and other public servants. For those now retired, for those still working and for those yet to come, we are determined to save the Kentucky retirement systems. We will not kick the can down the road. We were elected to fix this problem, and we will. The fiscal abuse of Kentucky's retirement systems is over.
