House adjourns, 2009 session ends a day early

With several substantial legislative proposals on the table, the 2009 regular session of the General Assembly ended a day early Thursday and set the stage for the possibility of special session this summer.
The early end came after the House voted to adjourn for the session over the objections of some lawmakers and Gov. Steve Beshear, [...]

Chair of western KY caucus makes pitch to use final two days of session

The chairman of the Western Kentucky Caucus has made an appeal to House and Senate members from the region for the final two days of the session to be used to take up remaining legislation, including House Bill 102 and House Bill 229.
“I am writing in hopes to gain your support for HB 102, regarding [...]

Governor, House leaders at odds over energy policy

The debate over the state’s comprehensive energy policy could be over for this year’s legislative session, or could be taken up in the session’s final two days next week, depending upon who you ask.
House Majority Floor Leader Rocky Adkins, a Sandy Hook Democrat and the chamber’s point person on energy issues, said earlier this week [...]

Road plan stalls over gas tax freeze

Work to pass a road plan and funding mechanism stalled Friday over a disagreement between House and Senate  leaders about when the legislation should be delivered to Gov. Steve Beshear.
Senate President David Williams said Friday morning during a press conference with House Speaker Greg Stumbo that he wants the governor make any vetoes in the [...]

Stumbo lays out need for slots bill for committee

Perhaps laying the groundwork for a special session this summer, House Speaker Greg Stumbo made another pitch on Thursday to allow video lottery terminals at Kentucky’s horse racetracks.
Speaking to the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee and flanked by track owners, Stumbo told his fellow House members that the horse racing and breeding industry in Kentucky [...]

Senate committee passes road plan, saves vote on tax freeze until later

The Senate Transportation Committee voted this afternoon to send the proposed six-year road plan to the full chamber, but delayed action on a proposal to freeze the state’s motor fuels tax.
House Bill 330, which lays out transportation spending for this fiscal year and the next, along with House Joint Resolution 105, which sets project funding [...]

Retirement bill gets another shot in Senate A&R Committee on Thursday

The Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee will be taking a fresh look at a proposal to allow local governments to stretch out their increasing payments into the County Employees Retirement System.
House Bill 117 would give city and county governments and school boards 10 years instead of five to make actuarially required payments into the system [...]

Slots bill to receive hearing on Thursday

After a flurry of attention earlier this session, a bill that would allow video lottery terminals at Kentucky’s horse racetracks is set for another hearing Thursday.
House Speaker Greg Stumbo told reporters this afternoon that the hearing will allow lawmakers to become more educated about House Bill 158, but no vote will be called on the [...]

Road plan still receiving scrutiny in the Senate

Lawmakers are continuing to work on the state’s road plan passed by the House last week, with a Senate Transportation Committee meeting this morning coming and going without  the measure being called for a vote.
Sen. Ernie Harris, a Crestwood Republican and the committee’s chair, said some minor projects omitted from House Bill 330 were being [...]

Retirement system relief bill passed over by Senate A&R

A bill that would allow participants in the County Employees Retirement System to stretch out increased payments to the system over 10 years instead of five has been passed over by the Senate A&R Committee.
House Bill 117 is being pushed by cities, counties and school boards to help ease the immediate impact of increasing payments [...]