Kentucky House Speaker Greg Stumbo is suggesting that the current general assembly session may end without passage of a state budget. House and Senate budget conferees met during a public session Monday afternoon.
Stumbo says the prospects of reaching agreement on a spending plan are slim. “Well, I thought this morning there was a glimmer of hope, but it seems that’s vanished in the afternoon session," Stumbo said. "So I think we’re still light years apart."
The House version of the budget restores the governor’s cuts to higher education. The Senate also approved the suggested cuts to higher ed in their version of the budget.
Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer is not ready to say that agreement is unattainable. “There’s a long time between now and midnight on April 12, so I’m not gonna make a prediction like that," Thayer said. "But for right now, we’re definitely at a standstill.” Thayer says the Senate majority wants to back up Governor Bevin’s plan to put as much money as possible into stabilizing the pension plans.
Conferees are scheduled to meet again at 6 p.m. Monday.
If they cannot agree on a compromise budget, Stumbo says the governor could only spend money for public protection, education, and federally mandated items.
The governor would also have to call lawmakers into a special session before the end of June to try to adopt a state budget.?
