Rep. Russell Webber Presented with 2022 Kentucky Chamber MVP Award

Rep. Russell Webber was presented the Kentucky Chamber MVP Award in November by Kentucky Chamber Chair Kevin Smith of Beam Suntory, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Kate Shanks, and Center for Policy and Research Executive Director Charles Aull.

Rep. Webber was among a select group of legislators who “went to bat” for Kentucky business during the 2022 Kentucky General Assembly by displaying conspicuous actions to strengthen business, improve competitiveness, and ensure growth.

Recipients of the Kentucky Chamber MVP Award show strong leadership for the business community by sponsoring or carrying Chamber priority legislation to final passage, showing leadership on passage of critical legislation to improve Kentucky, or by taking hard votes in defense of business.

During the 2022 session, Rep. Webber championed two top priorities for the Chamber including House Bill 4, legislation to reform Kentucky’s unemployment insurance (UI) system, and House Bill 144, legislation to freeze the unemployment insurance tax rate and allocate money to replenish the state’s UI fund, which will save businesses $75 per employee in 2022.

“Rep. Webber has been a tremendous ally in our work to address Kentucky’s workforce shortage. How Kentucky addresses the workforce challenge will mean the difference between a historic missed opportunity to capitalize on incoming investments and a growing and thriving economy,” said Shanks. “I have no doubt, Rep. Webber will continue to lead on policy that supports the latter.”  

The 2022 General Assembly saw monumental progress on several critical priorities of the Kentucky business community, and the pro-growth policies passed saved Kentucky businesses an estimated $1.281 billion, roughly $19,000 for each employer in the Commonwealth.

While monitoring the progress of bills that create a better business climate and advance the Commonwealth, the Chamber tracks how each legislator votes on these bills. The Chamber’s MVP Award recipients displayed more than just a business-friendly voting record, but also went out of their way, and at times across party lines, to support or oppose an issue critical to the business climate in Kentucky.

Learn more about business issues during the 2022 Kentucky General Assembly in the Kentucky Chamber’s “Results for Business” publication.