General Assembly may not take up additional bills this week

House leaders said today they plan to stick with House rules that reserve the final two days of the legislative session solely for dealing with overriding vetoed bills.
After a meeting between House and Senate leaders, Senate President David Williams and House Speaker Greg Stumbo both said the session could conclude without any action on remaining [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

House, Senate leaders hope to have budget plan passed in a week

Senate President David Williams and House Speaker Greg Stumbo said Friday during a morning press conference that they hope to have a plan to close a $456 million gap in the state’s budget passed and to the governor by Feb. 13. 
The plan, which is still being hammered out, will likely include cuts on par with [...]

Bits and pieces from Wednesday night

Here are a couple of quick observations and notes about Gov. Steve Beshear’s address Wednesday night -

By my count, the audience broke out in applause 15 times during Beshear’s speech which ran just under 33 minutes. 
After the speech, Senate President David Williams, a Burkesville Republican, paid tribute to former House Speaker Jody Richards, a Bowling Green Democrat, for [...]

House, Senate leaders continue meeting about budget shortfall

House and Senate leaders met yesterday to continue their discussion about the state’s $456 million budget shortfall. 
This is the latest in a series of meetings headed by Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, and House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, and few details about what’s being discussed are being shared, though those involved say the meetings have [...]

Turfway Park making plans for casino if VLT bill passes

Pat Crowley with the Kentucky Enquirer is reporting that horse track Turfway Park in northern Kentucky has plans to build a $150 million free-standing casino if a bill that would allow video lottery terminals in the state passes the legislature this year. 
House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, last week filed House Bill 158 that would allow video [...]

Williams pitches statewide smoking ban

On last night’s edition of Kentucky Tonight on KET, Senate President David Williams said he would support enacting a statewide smoking ban similar to those put in place by several Kentucky cities.
Louisville and Lexington, along with Daviess County, have imposed bans on smoking in certain public places. In Daviess County, smoking is prohibited in any [...]

Beshear, legislative leaders on Kentucky Tonight

Gov. Steve Beshear will join House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, and Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, on Kentucky Tonight. 
The KET program, hosted by Bill Goodman, airs live tonight on KET1 at 7 p.m. CST from the state Capitol and the group will be discussing the state’s budget. 
Viewers with questions and comments may send e-mail to kytonight@ket.org.