LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Kentucky U.S. Sen. Rand Paul joined a roundtable discussion Monday in Louisville focused on several topics in the Commonwealth, including tackling crime.

Paul joined state legislators from Jefferson, Oldham, Shelby, Bullitt and Spencer counties. They discussed everything from Medicaid to education, state income tax, violence and more.

On several occasions, the discussion centered around the Safer Kentucky Act, a proposal by a group of state lawmakers aimed at tackling violent crime. It was just discussed in Frankfort last week as lawmakers met before a committee.

"It's incredible to get an opportunity to discuss the bill with Sen. Paul and listen to him weigh in on different components on it from the way he views the world and views our state and city," said Rep. Jared Bauman, R-Louisville. "And that's very valuable to us."

The plan, according to the Kentucky House Majority Caucus, will be designed to "tackle crime at many levels and modernize criminal statutes originally written almost 50 years ago."

After the recent discussion in Frankfort, Bauman said several people, including fellow lawmakers have reached out to him. Some lawmakers during Friday's committee discussion expressed concerns over various aspects of the proposal. 

"What this bill does, it sets up a system where if you're poor, you're going to have a worse time, and that's already what's happening," Rep. Lindsey Burke D-Lexington said Friday. "We need to do better."

Bauman said meetings will continue to be taken as the policy is adapted and adjusted leading up to the upcoming session.  

"It is our job to provide the strongest and most effective policy possible to hold criminals accountable for their actions," Bauman said last week in Frankfort.

The upcoming Regular Session will begin in January.

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