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Karen Berg (politician)

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This article is about the physician and politician. For the religious writer, see Karen Berg.
Karen Berg
Member of the Kentucky Senate
from the 26th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
July 13, 2020
Preceded byErnie Harris
Personal details
Born (1961-12-30) December 30, 1961 (age 62)[1]
Political partyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of Kentucky (BA)
University of Louisville (MD)

Karen A. Berg (born December 30, 1961) is a physician and professor[2] who also serves in the Kentucky State Senate, representing the 26th District. She was elected to the Kentucky Senate (26th district) as a Democrat in a special election held on June 23, 2020, defeating Bill Ferko.[3] She succeeded Senator Ernie Harris, who resigned on April 15, 2020.[4] She is the only Jewish member of the Kentucky State Senate.[5]

Early life

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Berg is a graduate of Central High School in Louisville, Kentucky, the University of Kentucky where she earned her Bachelor of Arts, and the University of Louisville, where she earned a Doctor of Medicine in 1987.[6][7]

She is the daughter of Harold Berg, a physician and artist.[8]

Career

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Berg is a diagnostic radiologist.[9] She is also an assistant professor in the Department of Radiology at the University of Louisville.[10]

Berg ran for the Kentucky State Senate in 2018, losing the seat to incumbent Ernie Harris. She won the seat in a special election in June 2020 after Harris announced his retirement.[11][12] This was the first time in 25 years that the seat was won by a Democrat.[13][14] She is the only Jewish member serving on the Kentucky State Senate.[15]

She supports Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear’s efforts to reinstate Kentucky's health insurance exchange, a program that was abandoned by previous Republican governor Matt Bevin.[16]

Berg is a member of the Kentucky Antisemitism Task Force started by Governor Andy Beshear on December 21, 2023. The task force was founded as a response to bomb threats across the United States that targeted many locations including Kentucky synagogues.The task force is also responsible for revising training for law enforcement and Holocaust curriculum in Kentucky public middle and high schools.[17]

During the 2023 Regular Session of the Kentucky General Assembly, Berg sponsored five amendments to Senate Bill 150: AN ACT relating to children.[18] Her advocacy for LGBTQ+ youth in Kentucky prevented the passage of the bill.

Controversy

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Source:[19]

Senate Session Standing Committees

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Source:[19]

  • Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection (S) (Member)
  • Transportation (S) (Member)
  • BR Sub. on Health & Family Services (S) (Liaison Member)
  • Judiciary (S) (Member)
  • Health Services (S) (Member)

Interim Joint Committees

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Source:[19]

  • Judiciary (Member)
  • Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection (Member)
  • Transportation (Member)
  • Health Services (Member)
  • BR Sub on Health & Family Services (Liaison Member)

Statutory Committees

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Source:[19]

  • Commission on Race & Access to Opportunity (Member)
  • Public Pension Oversight Board (Member)

Caucuses

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Source:[19]

  • Women's Caucus (Member)
  • Bourbon Trail Caucus (Member)
  • Louisville Metropolitan Caucus (Member)
  • Kentucky Nonprofit Caucus (Member)

Personal life

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Berg's son, Henry Berg-Brousseau, was a transgender rights advocate and worked as a deputy press secretary for politics of the Human Rights Campaign.[20] In 2015, at 16 years old, he testified against a bathroom bill in the Kentucky state legislature.[21] He died by suicide at the age of 24 on December 16, 2022.[20]

References

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  1. ^ "Legislator-Profile - Legislative Research Commission".
  2. ^ "Karen Berg, M.D." UofL Physicians. 2020-05-11. Retrieved 2022-03-20.
  3. ^ "Democrat Karen Berg wins special election to succeed state Sen. Ernie Harris", WHAS11 television, June 30, 2020
  4. ^ "Ernie Harris". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2022-03-20.
  5. ^ "Legislator-Profile - Legislative Research Commission". legislature.ky.gov. Retrieved 2022-03-20.
  6. ^ "Karen Berg". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
  7. ^ "Dr. Karen Berg, MD | Louisville, KY | Healthgrades". www.healthgrades.com. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
  8. ^ Chottiner, Lee (2017-06-06). "Forty-eight years after unveiling, Berg mural to be rededicated at JCL Awards Meeting". Jewish Community of Louisville. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
  9. ^ "Dr. Karen Berg". DLCC. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
  10. ^ "Dr. Karen Berg, M.D. — School of Medicine University of Louisville". louisville.edu. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
  11. ^ "Democrat Karen Berg wins special election to succeed state Sen. Ernie Harris". wwltv.com. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
  12. ^ "Democrats Flip First State Senate Seat For First Time In A Decade". spectrumnews1.com. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
  13. ^ "Democrats flip state Senate seat held by Republicans for 25 years". The Independent. 2020-07-01. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
  14. ^ "Democrat Karen Berg wins special election to replace state GOP Sen. Ernie Harris, who held seat 25 years | NKyTribune". Retrieved 2020-07-09.
  15. ^ "Karen Berg To Become Only Jewish Member of Kentucky State Legislature". CrownHeights.info - Chabad News, Crown Heights News, Lubavitch News. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
  16. ^ Chottiner, Lee. "Physician to become only Jewish member of Kentucky's state legislature". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
  17. ^ "Kentucky starts task force against antisemitism". Louisville Public Media. 2023-12-22. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  18. ^ "23RS SB 150". apps.legislature.ky.gov. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  19. ^ a b c d e "Legislator-Profile - Legislative Research Commission". legislature.ky.gov. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  20. ^ a b "Transgender rights advocate Henry Berg-Brousseau dies at 24". Associated Press. 2022-12-21. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
  21. ^ "Transgender rights activist Henry Berg-Brousseau dies aged 24". The Guardian. December 22, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
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