Beshear: Special session possible
FRANKFORT — Governor Steve Beshear is leaving open the possibility of a special legislative session in coming weeks to approve economic incentives for a possible Harley-Davidson plant in Shelbyville.
Gov. Steve Beshear
Harley-Davidson officials said last week that the Shelbyville location is the only one it’s considering if it relocates its York, Pa. plant.
The Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development has remained mum on what type of incentives the state is considering to lure the plant to Kentucky. The York plant employs 2,500 people. Harley-Davidson has also said it may stay in Pennsylvania.
The Kentucky Gazette, a Frankfort political publication, said on its Web site Thursday that Senate leaders had been warned by Beshear that he may call a special legislative session the week of Dec. 13, just a few weeks before a regular legislative session begins Jan. 5.
Beshear’s office would not confirm whether Beshear would call a special legislative session, but Beshear said Thursday that economic incentives for Harley-Davidson would be the only item on the agenda if a special session is called.
“We are very excited about the potential opportunity for Harley Davidson to locate a facility in the Commonwealth,” Beshear said. ” We are making plans related to this project and don’t know if there will be a need for a special session at this juncture.”
– Beth Musgrave
Filed Under: State Government • Steve Beshear
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Just wait 2 weeks and the House and Senate will be in session. Why waste the money..?
$42,000 per day for 5 days minimum. Over $1 million..?
Yeah, Daniel, with the economy in such good shape and unemployment at a mere 10%, why spend $42,000 to bring 2,500 jobs to Kentucky?
By the way, great math there, Daniel. $42,000 x 5 = $210,000. I hate to break it to you, but $210,000 is less than $1 million, not more.
And if a special session is called for this it’ll last 1 or 2 days, no more.
it’s more like $58,000 per day for a special session and why now? at about 2 weeks from that point, the legislature will go into session anyway…the motive here for Beshear is not Harley…it’s pure politics! Why hasn’t he called it? because it is politics-he’s waiting on the special election for the senate to determine whether their will be a special session.
Don’t get Zapped again, Mr. Burns.
It is unusual for the state to offer incentives to business and not let the public know what they are, PRIOR to the announcement.
Wonder if Harley Davidson is wedging their PA plant for more PA state incentives?
IE,
“”"well we can get this in KENTUCKY!”"”
It does happen…it’s part of business. Politicians bite the carrot way too soon.
I do hope this is for real as the jobs are truly needed. Where else would the Harley Davidson, pioneer of bikes build? Only in America.
It’s a reasonable consideration.
State government and Shelbyville officials have already meet with Harley-Davidson officials and offered some type of incentive package based on projected figures Harley-Davidson supplied.
It would be naive to think for one second that state or local officials have told Harley-Davidson that they’ll have to wait till after there’s been a special session before they’ll discuss / know the incentive package.
Formality is all that’s left and it can wait till the regular session is underway.