Post by Logan on Jun 27, 2016 19:27:30 GMT -6
FRANKFORT, Ky. - The Kentucky Supreme Court agreed Monday to directly hear the appeal of the case challenging Gov. Matt Bevin's directive for mid-year cuts to state funding of universities and community colleges.
An order signed Monday morning by Kentucky Chief Justice John D. Minton Jr. expedites the hearing of the case, skipping the normal stop at the Kentucky Court of Appeals and scheduling arguments before the high court for Aug. 18.
At issue in the case are cuts of 4.5 percent ordered by Bevin last spring in funding to the state's public colleges and universities – one of several actions the governor has taken to save money to address the crisis of billions of dollars in unfunded pension liabilities in Kentucky's public pension systems. Bevin later agreed to reduce the size of the university cuts to 2 percent, which amounts to about $18 million.
Attorney General Andy Beshear filed suit challenging Bevin's authority to make the cuts. He was joined by three Democratic state representatives from Louisville: Mary Lou Marzian, Darryl Owens and Jim Wayne. They contend that the governor does not have the power to cut funding to universities and colleges below what the General Assembly had appropriated unless the state is suffering a revenue shortfall, which is not the case.
Read more: www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/ky-governor/2016/06/27/high-court-takes-appeal-university-cuts-case/86428050/
An order signed Monday morning by Kentucky Chief Justice John D. Minton Jr. expedites the hearing of the case, skipping the normal stop at the Kentucky Court of Appeals and scheduling arguments before the high court for Aug. 18.
At issue in the case are cuts of 4.5 percent ordered by Bevin last spring in funding to the state's public colleges and universities – one of several actions the governor has taken to save money to address the crisis of billions of dollars in unfunded pension liabilities in Kentucky's public pension systems. Bevin later agreed to reduce the size of the university cuts to 2 percent, which amounts to about $18 million.
Attorney General Andy Beshear filed suit challenging Bevin's authority to make the cuts. He was joined by three Democratic state representatives from Louisville: Mary Lou Marzian, Darryl Owens and Jim Wayne. They contend that the governor does not have the power to cut funding to universities and colleges below what the General Assembly had appropriated unless the state is suffering a revenue shortfall, which is not the case.
Read more: www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/ky-governor/2016/06/27/high-court-takes-appeal-university-cuts-case/86428050/