Beshear names 23, including Todd and Silberman, to tax reform commission

"This is not a question of courage. 

This is a question of timing.

I firmly believe that Kentucky's leaders, 

in the governor's office and in the legislature, 

have the political courage and will to tackle this complex issue."

-- Gov Steve Beshear

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 This from the Herald-leader:

Gov. Steve Beshear has named 23 people, including former University of Kentucky President Lee T. Todd Jr. and Stu Silberman, executive director of the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence and former Fayette County school superintendent, to a commission that will draft a proposal to overhaul Kentucky's tax code.

The commission must have its recommendations finished by Nov. 15, giving lawmakers time to review them before the 2013 General Assembly begins in January.

Beshear, speaking at a Capitol news conference Thursday, said commission members are from diverse geographic areas and backgrounds — they include bankers, educators, union members, small-business leaders and mental health advocates. Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson previously was named chairman of the commission.

The state has slashed more than $1 billion in spending during the past four years, and Beshear's proposed budget for the next two fiscal years would cut an additional $286 million. Some of those cuts have been in core services, such as education. The state is losing traction in key areas because of lack of investment, Beshear said Thursday...