Now that Governor Bevin has offered his two year budget for review, the state’s 138 lawmakers will begin their work, culminating with floor votes in each chamber. The House gets the first shot at the budget as outlined in statute.
But, Senate President Robert Stivers says his members will also be in a review mode, hoping to meet with State Budget Director John Chilton. “And we’re talking about maybe having some committee hearings to bring Mr. Chilton in and say, ‘let’s go through this, let’s have question and answer,” said Stivers. “So, we understand exactly what you are doing and what the rationale is of what you are doing.”
In the House, Speaker Pro Tem David Osborne expects budget subcommittees to begin meeting this week to delve into Governor Bevin’s spending plan.
Osborne was asked Friday if he could see even larger cuts to help support public pension reforms. “The cuts are severe and they’re difficult and we’re trying to manage those and being as thoughtful as we can with those and we’ll continue to do that. But, I think, not funding the pension is just not an option,” noted Osborne.
Final action on a two year state spending plan is not anticipated until the end of the legislative session in late March.
