Governor Steve Beshear’s 45 vetoes to the executive branch budget will remain intact. House Speaker Greg Stumbo says the House Democratic caucus chose not to override any vetoes, despite the objections of individual lawmakers. “But collectively as a body the caucus chose to support the governor’s decisions to veto. He gave a very good presentation […]
Tag Archives: budget
Outside of Budget Line Items, Beshear Doesn’t Expect to Veto Other Bills
Kentucky lawmakers have one more legislative day in their calendar this year, but they likely won’t spend it overriding vetoed bills. Governor Steve Beshear spent most of Wednesday signing bills into law. And outside of the almost mandatory line item vetoes every governor has in budget bills, Beshear says he doesn’t expect to use his […]
Lawmakers Officially Approve Budget Bills
Kentucky lawmakers have officially passed two-year budgets for all three branches of state government. After hatching a deal early Thursday morning, lawmakers finally received the compromise in bill form this afternoon. The Senate passed the executive branch budget 36 to 1 and passed a judicial budget compromise unanimously. The House also overwhelmingly approved the budgets. […]
Expansion of Preschool Funding Cut in Budget Compromise
An effort by Governor Steve Beshear to expand preschool services in the commonwealth did not make it into the final state budget. Beshear put a $15 million appropriation for preschool in his budget proposal. The House cut that figure in half and funded other education programs with what was left. The Senate struck all the […]
Lawmakers Reach Early Morning Budget Compromise
After a night of discussions, Kentucky lawmakers have finally reached a budget agreement. Negotiations on a budget compromise began Monday. By Tuesday, talks had stalled. Lawmakers were unable to work out differences over funding school construction, paying for indigent care at University Hospital in Louisville and reducing bonded debt. House and Senate leaders resolved their […]
Stumbo Says Budget Talks Have Stalled
Budget talks in Frankfort appear to have stalled. Lawmakers have met for three straight days, usually twice a day, to resolve differences between budget proposals passed by the House and Senate. But there are firm disagreements over school construction, cuts to the governor’s office and coal severance projects. House Speaker Greg Stumbo says the Senate […]
School Construction Could Be A Roadblock in Budget Talks
Kentucky lawmakers continue to work on a budget compromise. Both chambers of the General Assembly have approved budget bills and a conference committee has been meeting since Monday to work out the differences. One major point of disagreement is funding for school construction. It’s a priority for the House. But Senators were not ready to […]
Lawmakers Start Budget Talks, Instant Compromise Unlikely
Kentucky lawmakers will spend much of the last full week of the legislative session trying to hatch a compromise on budget bills. House and Senate leadership started talks this morning, breaking only for committee meetings and floor duties. They are expected to continue negotiations well into the night. So far, lawmakers have looked line by […]
Stumbo Says Budget Compromise Should Be Easy
House Speaker Greg Stumbo says his chamber’s priorities for the next two-year budget are not that different from the senate’s. Both chambers have passed their own budget bills for each branch of state government. The two sides must now work out a compromise. Stumbo says he doesn’t have many concerns with the Senate’s changes and he […]
Senate Passes Budget Bills, Must Compromise With House
After hours of closed-door meetings, the Kentucky Senate approved budgets for the three branches of state government Thursday night. The House previously approved its own versions of the budgets. The Senate kept the House’s legislative plan intact but modified the executive and judicial budgets. The two chambers must now form a conference committee to work […]