Post by Logan on Feb 3, 2016 4:22:20 GMT -6
FRANKFORT, Ky. -- House Democrats said Tuesday they likely will not approve $650 million worth of state spending cuts proposed by Republican Gov. Matt Bevin, setting up a budget battle one month ahead of four special elections that could shift the balance of power in the legislature.
State economists now expect the state will have $900 million more to spend over the next two years than they had earlier predicted. That includes a projected $200 million surplus when the fiscal year ends on June 30. But ballooning pension debts and the ever increasing costs of health care in the state's Medicaid system prompted Bevin to slash the budget by 4.5 percent this year and another 9 percent over the next two years.
"I think cutting, in a fiscal year where the budget is balanced and we know we're going to have a $200 million surplus, that's hard for me to understand," Democratic House budget chairman Rick Rand said. He added that the committee would shrink Bevin's cuts before sending the proposal on to the full House of Representatives.
Democrats have a 50-46 majority in the Kentucky House, which they have controlled for nearly a century. But the House has four vacant seats, and special elections to fill them are scheduled March 8. If Republicans win all four, they would share power with Democrats and potentially upend the budget negotiations.
Read more here: www.kentucky.com/news/local/article57955658.html
State economists now expect the state will have $900 million more to spend over the next two years than they had earlier predicted. That includes a projected $200 million surplus when the fiscal year ends on June 30. But ballooning pension debts and the ever increasing costs of health care in the state's Medicaid system prompted Bevin to slash the budget by 4.5 percent this year and another 9 percent over the next two years.
"I think cutting, in a fiscal year where the budget is balanced and we know we're going to have a $200 million surplus, that's hard for me to understand," Democratic House budget chairman Rick Rand said. He added that the committee would shrink Bevin's cuts before sending the proposal on to the full House of Representatives.
Democrats have a 50-46 majority in the Kentucky House, which they have controlled for nearly a century. But the House has four vacant seats, and special elections to fill them are scheduled March 8. If Republicans win all four, they would share power with Democrats and potentially upend the budget negotiations.
Read more here: www.kentucky.com/news/local/article57955658.html