Post by Logan on Mar 16, 2016 21:00:49 GMT -6
Frankfort -- The Kentucky House voted along partisan lines Wednesday night to approve a two-year, $21 billion state budget that rejects Gov. Matt Bevin’s proposed spending cuts for education while pouring an additional $1.1 billion into the struggling state pension systems.
All 53 House Democrats voted for House Bill 303; all 47 Republicans declined to vote. The executive branch budget, which is House Bill 303, proceeds to the Republican-led Senate, which is expected to make its own changes in coming days. A conference committee between the two chambers will hammer out a final compromise this month.
“I believe this is a good budget,” House budget Chairman Rick Rand, D-Bedford, told his colleagues before their vote. “I believe in this budget. I believe it hits all the right notes.”
In January, Bevin called for $650 million in “cuts across the board,” with most of state government required to spend 4.5 percent less this fiscal year, which ends June 30, and then 9 percent less over the next two years. The Republican governor planned to spend the savings on partly meeting the state’s recommended pension contributions and on building up two enormous reserve funds for future contingencies.
Read more here: www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article66554057.html
All 53 House Democrats voted for House Bill 303; all 47 Republicans declined to vote. The executive branch budget, which is House Bill 303, proceeds to the Republican-led Senate, which is expected to make its own changes in coming days. A conference committee between the two chambers will hammer out a final compromise this month.
“I believe this is a good budget,” House budget Chairman Rick Rand, D-Bedford, told his colleagues before their vote. “I believe in this budget. I believe it hits all the right notes.”
In January, Bevin called for $650 million in “cuts across the board,” with most of state government required to spend 4.5 percent less this fiscal year, which ends June 30, and then 9 percent less over the next two years. The Republican governor planned to spend the savings on partly meeting the state’s recommended pension contributions and on building up two enormous reserve funds for future contingencies.
Read more here: www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article66554057.html