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Redistricting, education, casino gambling and bridge maintenance led the discussion Saturday morning as State Sen. Joe Bowen and State Rep. Jim Glenn addressed a small crowd at the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce’s second of three legislative breakfasts scheduled for this winter.

The one-hour question-and-answer session began at 8 a.m. inside Western Kentucky University-Owensboro, where more than 30 locals gathered, penning questions onto index cards that moderator Ken Lawson gave to the legislators.

During a brief introduction, Bowen, an Owensboro Republican, and Glenn, an Owensboro Democrat, gave updates on several measures, including a road safety bill, two education bills and a bill proposing police training for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. They also discussed the recent resignation of Janie Miller, secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

Weighing heavily on both of their minds was congressional redistricting.

On Friday, lawmakers in both the Senate and the House approved a plan, signed into law by Gov. Steve Beshear, that would keep Owensboro in the 2nd District. There had been discussion of moving Owensboro into the 1st District.

“So that’s pretty much been resolved,” Bowen said, “not without a lot of debate and emotion and theater. It wasn’t easy to do, but it’s done now. Now we move on.”

Bowen blamed the state legislature’s lack of progress so far this session on the controversial redistricting plan. The legislature has also been working on the state legislative districts.

A Franklin Circuit Court judge ruled Tuesday that Kentucky’s recently redrawn House and Senate districts were unconstitutional.

“People are not motivated to move any legislation that’s going to be of a contentious nature,” Bowen said, “because they don’t want to stick their necks out there before they file and draw somebody into the race. Nothing gets done.”

Bowen said he is in favor of changing certain filing deadlines for elected offices from the last Tuesday in January to the last Tuesday in April and changing the date of primaries from the first Tuesday after the third Monday in May to the first Tuesday after the first Monday in August

Senate Bill 4, which passed 21-14 in January, seeks to make those changes. The bill was posted in House committee for Feb. 24.

Other community questions probed the leaders over more local issues, such as requiring a prescription to purchase pseudoephedrine and whether Glenn and Bowen supported the repainting of the Glover H. Cary Bridge.

On pseudoephedrine, Glenn emphasized his belief that self-medication tends to follow an economic downturn, but that restricting access to a key ingredient won’t eliminate the methamphetamine problem, only slow it down. Bowen was against the measure.

Painting the bridge — estimated to cost $17 million — was deemed a low priority in comparison to other, more immediate obligations, but the project will remain in motion, Bowen said.

When asked about traction this session for the pro-gambling coalition, Bowen said he couldn’t see himself supporting any constitutional amendment guaranteeing a specific entity the right to conduct business in the state of Kentucky.

Glenn pointed to the state’s multilevel acceptance of gambling, noting horse racing, charitable betting and lotteries. If a law is ever brought to the floor, he said he would support holding a public vote to gauge interest before taking a firm stance.

The chamber’s final legislative forum is scheduled for 8 a.m. March 3 at Western Kentucky University-Owensboro.

Megan Harris, 691-7302, mharris@messenger-inquirer.com