by Josh James, Kentucky Public Radio The seventh straight special session in Frankfort has ended with agreements on a transportation budget and House Bill 1, dubbed the “pill mill bill.” The former survived after eleventh hour negotiations between the House and Senate produced a watered down compromise. The revised bull keeps KASPER, the state’s drug tracking… Continue reading Lawmakers End Special Session
Tag: special session
Kentucky’s Special Session Begins
Kentucky lawmakers have returned to the capitol for a special session, and it’s not clear how long they’ll remain in Frankfort to finish their work. The House gaveled in at noon today and quickly filed two bills. One measure cracks down on prescription pill abuse and another funds the state road plan. Neither measure cleared… Continue reading Kentucky’s Special Session Begins
Lawmakers Return for Special Session
Kentucky lawmakers are returning to Frankfort today to begin a special session called by Governor Steve Beshear. Beshear has ordered lawmakers to take up a funding bill for the state’s road plan and one addressing prescription pill abuse. Those were the two major bills that died in the final hours of the 2012 regular session… Continue reading Lawmakers Return for Special Session
Williams Says Beshear Needs to ‘Tone Down’ Rhetoric
Republican Senate President David Williams says Democratic Governor Steve Beshear needs to tone down his rhetoric over the upcoming special session. The two men butted heads yesterday when the Senate didn’t pass two of the session’s critical bills. The Senate adjourned, effectively killing a bill that funded the state’s road plan and one that would… Continue reading Williams Says Beshear Needs to ‘Tone Down’ Rhetoric
Coal Scholarship, Dropout Bills Won’t Be Added to Special Session Agenda
An education proposal favored by Kentucky House leadership will not be included in next week’s special session, effectively killing its chances this year. A bill that began as a measure to bring the University of Pikeville into the state system morphed into one that would have created scholarships for college students from coal counties. House… Continue reading Coal Scholarship, Dropout Bills Won’t Be Added to Special Session Agenda
Beshear Continues to Blame Williams Over Deadlock
A blame game over important legislation leftover in the 2012 General Assembly is turning into a repeat of last year’s gubernatorial election. Democratic Governor Steve Beshear and Republican Senate President David Williams are arguing over who is to blame for state lawmakers adjourning their regular session without passing key bills. A bill to crack down… Continue reading Beshear Continues to Blame Williams Over Deadlock
Stumbo Prefers Special Session for Redistricting
The speaker of the Kentucky state House says a special legislative session on redistricting could be in order this year. Speaker Greg Stumbo says he would prefer to redraw the legislative boundaries before next year’s regular session Special sessions cost more than $60,000 per day. And Governor Steve Beshear has previously said he would support… Continue reading Stumbo Prefers Special Session for Redistricting
Senate Adjourns Special Session
Kentucky’s special session on Medicaid officially ended Wednesday evening. Adjournment came after Senate Republicans approved resolutions symbolically overriding Governor Beshear’s line-item vetoes of the Medicaid bill. Eleven Democrats in the chamber, including Representative Robin Webb of Grayson, refused to support the resolutions. “My outrage is we had to come back for a special session. It… Continue reading Senate Adjourns Special Session
State Senate Reconvenes
As expected, the Kentucky Senate reconvened the special session on Medicaid. But not much has happened yet. Senate President David Williams gaveled the session to order, and 27 members recorded their presence. A couple of resolutions were read, and then Senate Republicans went behind closed doors to caucus, where they remain. Democratic Senatir Walter Blevins… Continue reading State Senate Reconvenes
Kentucky Senate To Reconvene; House Remains Adjourned
Until the Senate officially adjourns, lawmakers are being paid, but Legislative Research Commission Director Bobby Sherman says money that has accrued since March 24 is being held in escrow until legal questions about it are cleared up.