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Quick Facts
Personal Details

Ruth Palumbo is a Democratic member of the Kentucky House of Representatives, representing District 76. Palumbo is running for re-election in the primary on May 22, 2018. The general election will take place on November 6, 2018. She was first elected to the chamber in 1990.

Palumbo and her husband, John, have four children. She has been involved with many organizations, including American Association of University Women, American Cancer Society, Bluegrass International Affairs, Bryan Station Neighborhood Association, Focus on Family Child Care Council, Girl Scouts United States of America, Greater Lexington Chamber of Commerce, Greater Lexington Democratic Woman's Club, and the League of Women Voters.


Education

  • BA, Education, University of Kentucky, 1972

Political Experience

  • BA, Education, University of Kentucky, 1972
  • Representative, Commonwealth of Kentucky House of Representatives, District 76, 1991-present
  • Candidate, Commonwealth of Kentucky House of Representatives, District 76, 2018, 2020

Former Committees/Caucuses

Former Chair, Economic Development and Workforce Investment Committee, Commonwealth of Kentucky House of Representatives

Former Member, Education Committee, Commonwealth of Kentucky House of Representatives

Former Member, Health and Family Services Committee, Commonwealth of Kentucky House of Representatives

Former Member, Interim Joint Committee on Economic Development and Tourism, Commonwealth of Kentucky House of Representatives

Former Member, Joint Committee on Banking and Insurance, Commonwealth of Kentucky House of Representatives

Former Member, Joint Committee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Protection, Commonwealth of Kentucky House of Representatives

Former Member, Joint Committee on Education, Commonwealth of Kentucky House of Representatives

Former Member, Joint Committee on Health and Welfare, Commonwealth of Kentucky House of Representatives

Former Member, Joint Committee on Licensing and Occupations, Commonwealth of Kentucky House of Representatives

Former Member, Joint Committee on Medicaid Oversight and Advisory, Commonwealth of Kentucky House of Representatives

Former Member, Rules Committee, Commonwealth of Kentucky House of Representatives

Former Member, Subcommittee on Elementary and Secondary Education, Commonwealth of Kentucky House of Representatives

Former Co-Chair, Task Force on Economic Development, Commonwealth of Kentucky House of Representatives

Former Member, Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection Committee, Commonwealth of Kentucky House of Representatives

Current Legislative Committees

Member, Appropriations and Revenue Committee

Member, Budget Review Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Protection, Tourism, and Energy

Member, Budget Review Subcommittee on Economic Development, Tourism,and Environmental Protection

Member, Joint Committee on 2020-2022 Budget Preparation and Submission

Member, Joint Committee on Appropriations and Revenue

Member, Joint Committee on Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations

Member, Joint Committee on Program Review and Investigations

Member, Joint Committee on Tourism, Small Business, and Information Technology

Member, Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations Committee

Member, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Committee

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • BA, Education, University of Kentucky, 1972
  • Representative, Commonwealth of Kentucky House of Representatives, District 76, 1991-present
  • Candidate, Commonwealth of Kentucky House of Representatives, District 76, 2018, 2020
  • Member, American Association of University Women
  • Board Member/Former President, American Cancer Society
  • Volunteer Council, American Symphony Orchestra League
  • Member, Bluegrass International Affairs
  • Board Member, Bryan Station High School Alumni
  • Member, Bryan Station Neighborhood Association
  • Member, Development Council, University of Kentucky
  • Member, Focus on Family Child Care Council
  • Member, Girl Scouts of America
  • Member, Governor's Advisory Commission on Federal Funding for Education
  • Member, Greater Lexington Democratic Women's Club
  • Board Member, Interdisciplinary Human Development Institute, University of Kentucky
  • Horse Show States Chair, Junior League of Lexington
  • Member, League of Women Voters
  • Member, Lexington Chamber of Commerce
  • Member, Lexington Musical Theater
  • President/Ball Chair, Lexington Philharmonic Women's Guild
  • Member, National Association for Women Business Owners
  • Member, National Conference of Christians/Jews
  • Member, Professional Women's Club
  • Member, Professional Women's Forum
  • Member, Steering Council, Children's Miracle Network Telethon, University of Kentucky
  • Member, United States Navy League
  • Fellow, University of Kentucky
  • Member, Greater Lexington Democratic Women's Club, 1975-2004
  • Fundraising Chair, Operation Lead, 2003-2004
  • Co-Chair, Talent Show, Women's Club of Central Kentucky, 2004
  • Member, Women's Network, 2004
  • Participant, Leadership Lexington, 1988
  • President, Fayette County Young Democrats, 1973-1974
  • Treasurer, Kentucky Young Democrats, 1973-1974

Other Info

— Awards:

  • Leadership America, 1989
  • Governors Volunteer Activist Award, 1989
  • Sayre School's Dorothy Moomaw Miles Service Award, 1986
  • Lexington Outstanding Young Woman, 1982

Policy Positions

Kentucky State Legislative Election 2012 Political Courage Test

Abortion & Reproductive

1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-choice

2. Should abortions be illegal after the first trimester of pregnancy?
- No

3. Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
- Yes

4. Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered?
- Yes

5. Should an ultrasound be required prior to an abortion?
- No

6. Do you support requiring parental notification before an abortion is performed on a minor?
- No

7. Do you support requiring parental consent before an abortion is performed on a minor?
- No

8. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for abortion procedures?
- No

9. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
- No

10. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Budget, Spending, & Tax

State Spending:

Using the key, indicate what state funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.

1. Education (higher)
- Greatly Increase

2. Education (K-12)
- Greatly Increase

3. Environment
- Maintain Status

4. Health care
- Slightly Increase

5. Law enforcement/corrections
- Maintain Status

6. Transportation/infrastructure
- Maintain Status

7. Welfare
- Slightly Decrease

8. Other or expanded categories
- No Answer

State Taxes:

Using the key,indicate what state tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.

1. Alcohol taxes
- Maintain Status

2. Cigarette taxes
- Slightly Increase

3. Corporate taxes
- Maintain Status

4. Gas/Oil taxes
- Maintain Status

5. Property taxes
- Slightly Decrease

6. Sales taxes
- Slightly Increase

7. Income taxes (low-income families)
- Slightly Decrease

8. Income taxes (mid-income families)
- Maintain Status

9. Income taxes (high-income families)
- Maintain Status

10. Other or expanded categories
- No Answer

Budget Stabilization:

Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing Kentucky's budget.

1. Tapping into Kentucky's "rainy day" fund
- No

2. Increasing tuition rates at public universities
- No

3. Reducing or eliminating public worker collective bargaining
- No

4. Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions
- No

5. Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees
- Yes

6. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Campaign Finance & Government Reform

Do you support limits on the following types of contributions for state candidates?

1. Individual
- Yes

2. Political Action Committee
- Yes

3. Corporate
- Yes

4. Political Party
- Yes

5. Should candidates for state office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits?
- Yes

6. Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
- Yes

7. Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
- Yes

8. Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
- No

9. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Crime & Public Safety

1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- Yes

2. Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders, such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment?
- Yes

3. Do you support decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana?
- Yes

4. Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
- Yes

5. Should a minor who sends sexually-explicit or nude photos by cell phone face criminal charges?
- Yes

6. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Economic

1. Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector?
- Yes

2. Do you support increased state funding for job-training programs that re-train displaced workers?
- Yes

3. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
- Yes

4. Do you support providing financial incentives to the private sector for the purpose of job creation?
- Yes

5. Do you support increased spending on infrastructure projects for the purpose of job creation?
- Yes

6. Do you support providing direct financial assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure?
- Yes

7. Do you support expanded gambling in Kentucky?
- Yes

8. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Education

1. Do you support the national Common Core State Standards initiative?
- No Answer

2. Do you support a merit pay system for teachers?
- No Answer

3. Is the tenure process for public school teachers producing effective teachers?
- No Answer

4. Should parents be allowed to use vouchers to send their children to any school?
- No

5. Do you support state funding for charter schools?
- No

6. Do you support the state government providing college students with financial aid?
- Yes

7. Should illegal immigrants who graduate from Kentucky high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
- Yes

8. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Environment & Energy

1. Do you support state funding for the development of alternative energy?
- Yes

2. Do you support state funding for the development of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil)?
- Yes

3. Do you support increased regulations on mountaintop removal mining and disposal?
- No Answer

4. Do you support state funding for improvements to Kentucky's energy infrastructure?
- Yes

5. Do you support state funding for open space preservation?
- No

6. Do you support enacting environmental regulations aimed at reducing the effects of climate change?
- No Answer

7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Gun

1. Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
- No

2. Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
- No Answer

3. Should citizens be allowed to carry concealed guns?
- Yes

4. Should a license be required for gun possession?
- No Answer

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Health

1. Do you support a universally-accessible, publicly-administered health insurance option?
- Yes

2. Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform?
- No Answer

3. Do you support interstate health insurance compacts?
- Yes

4. Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
- Yes

5. Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits?
- No

6. Do you support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes?
- No Answer

7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Social

1. Should marriage only be between one man and one woman?
- No

2. Should same-sex couples be allowed to form civil unions?
- Yes

3. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Kentucky's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

4. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Kentucky's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Legislative Priorities

In the following area, on an attached page, or via e-mail, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
- No Answer