Gov. Matt Bevin says he will veto the entire two-year state budget and revenue bills passed by the legislature last week, saying that the tax plan isn’t comprehensive enough and the budget spends too much money.
The budget passed by the legislature included about $600 million more in spending than the budget proposed by Bevin back in January.
Most of the legislature’s increases went towards K-12 schools and higher education, which still received cuts.
During a press conference on Monday, Bevin said that the legislation comes up short.
“It’s why we have to get tax policy done that is sound. That is comprehensive. So we can actually pay for all the things we need and want to spend money on,”
The tax bill raises some taxes and lowers others--it would expand the sales tax to 17 new services, eliminate some income tax exemptions and creates a flat 5 percent tax on corporate and individual incomes.
The legislature can override Bevin’s vetoes during the final two days of the legislative session later this week.
“These are all things that I’ve been advocating for in some respects, but as it relates to these services, I think perhaps a little different level of thought. There’s a whole lot of services that are capable of being taxed. Some of those that were chosen, I don’t know that I follow the logic behind.”
The legislature could override Bevin’s vetoes during the final two days of the legislative session later this week.
