We are working for a day when Kentuckians, and all people, enjoy a

better quality of life.

KFTC Leadership Retreat 2011

Trends & conditions affecting our health, economy, and democracy

in Kentucky.

“Do not seek to become a shining pearl in the mud.” – Scott Douglas

We are not defined by state rankings. But the numbers matter, because the people behind them matter.

We are Kentuckians.

I. Demographics

Chart produced by Lexington Herald Leader

Chart produced by MACED

Chart produced by KY Workforce Investment Board

Poverty deepest for people of color

Per-capita income was $22,323 for whites, $15,287 for blacks, and $14, 238 for Hispanics (2009).

The poverty rate was 15% among whites, 30% among blacks, and 17% overall (2007).

Education: progress & work to doKY ranked 33rd among states on a range of

education measures, up from 48th in 1990 (report produced by UK, July 2011)

Yet, according to 2010 Census, adults (25 years +) ranked:

49th for high school graduation 46th for associate degree 47th for bachelor’s degree38th for graduate/professional degree

II. Kentucky’s Economy

Chart produced by MACED

Chart produced by MACED

This is a snapshot.

The trend is continued loss of manufacturing and biggest gains in services, leisure and hospitality.

Kentucky’s job market different for men, women.

The average monthly wages earned by male new hires were 50.0% higher than those earned by female new hires in 2008. (KY Workforce Development Cabinet, 2009)

Declining State Revenue

Chart produced by Kentucky Youth Advocates

Federal $ won’t be there in 2012

KY’s corporate taxes keep sliding

KY spends big on tax breaks

In 2010, Kentucky gave up $8.4 billion in tax expenditures (breaks), more than the General Fund revenue collected that year.

(KY Office of State Budget Director)

Inequality is growing fast in KY

Chart produced by MACED

Chart produced by MACED

III. Key trends facing Appalachia

http://www.post-gazette.com/headlines/20001126appalachiamainnat2.asp

Kentucky Coal Mining Production and Employment (1979-2006)

Coal’s Declining Share of US Electricity

Chart produced by Energy Information Agency

Coal production in Central Appalachia projected to decline steeply over next 20 years

IV. Environment and Health

KY’s over-dependence on coal is costly to our air, land, water, climate & health.

We live in the designated smoking section for power plants in the US

Chart produced by the Clean Air Task Force

Water pollution is a statewide concern

Graphic produced by the New York Times

Water quality violations are self-reported…and often unreported.

Graphic produced by Appalachian Voices

Kentuckians 49th in “Well-being”

Chart produced by MACED. Results of a 2010 Gallup Survey.

Health Outcomes Worst in 5th District

Chart produced by CountyHealthRankings.org

V. Energy and Electricity

Nearly all of Kentucky’s Electricity comes from burning coal

Chart produced by MACED

The price of electricity in KY is historically low – 4th lowest in nation

Chart produced by MACED

Rates have been low, but bills are high!

Average kilowatt hours used by a customer in one year

Residential Energy Intensity(Source: Energy Information Administration, 2007)

High use = High bills

And now, the cost of coal-fired power is sky-rocketing.

Chart produced by MACED

VI. Democracy & Governance in KY

Who votes in Kentucky?Kentucky voters age 51-60 had

highest voting turnout in 2008.

In general, young adults, men, people with less formal education, and lower-income folks vote less than older folks, women, people with more education, and wealthier voters.

Voter Turnout Generally Low in KY2006 General Election turnout: 41%

2008 General Election: 58.8%

May 2011 primary election: 10.3%

There’s a reason we call it the “good ol boy” system.KY ranks 47th in the number of women elected officials. (Institute for Women’s Policy Research)

Only 0.8% of all elected officials in our state are black, while African Americans make up more than 7% of our total population. (Southern States Legislative Review)

Loss of Voting RightsKY is one of two states that takes away a person’s right to vote, permanently, when convicted of a felony.

As a result, 186,000 citizens are disenfranchised – 6% of the adult population!

Big Money in Politics just got Bigger

Chart produced by Opensecrets.org.

VII. Hopeful trends!?!

Source: Compiled by Joe Figueroa, U.Va. Center for Politics

In 2010, 2 Kentucky congressmen who were champions of clean water protection Act were re-elected, despite the national political trends and coal industry $.

The 66 red dots represent US House seats that changed from D to R. 3 changed R to D.

All your local organizing and efforts…

We are.