Senate President says budget deal unlikely; Stumbo still hopeful

PDF: Tuesday’s House budget proposal
UPDATED: 4:35 P.M.

FRANKFORT — An agreement on the state’s spending plan for the next year had not been reached by late Wednesday afternoon, diminishing the chances of legislators leaving Frankfort with a budget.

Senate President David Williams told a Lexington radio show early Wednesday that he doubted a deal on the state’s budget could be reached before midnight Thursday.

“I believe the probability is great that we will leave here without a budget,” Williams said on the Jack Pattie Show on WVLK in Lexington Wednesday morning.

Williams said that after two weeks of negotiations House Democrats sent an ultimatum to the Senate — a one-year budget that included “hundreds of millions” of dollars in projects that would require more borrowing. The House also said the Senate must agree to it’s two-year road budget, Williams said .

Williams said Senate Republicans could not agree to that ultimatum.

The Burkesville Republican’s comments came hours before legislators were set to return to the Capitol at noon on Wednesday to begin the final two days of the legislative session. The Constitution says that the 60-day legislative session must conclude by midnight on April 15.

House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, told reporters shortly after the House Democratic caucus met Wednesday afternoon that the caucus supports the plan that he sent to Senate leaders on Tuesday but said he was still willing to negotiate.

Stumbo said that he had still not heard an official response from the Senate as of 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. It typically takes between 24 to 48 hours for a budget to be printed after an agreement is inked. But Stumbo said that if the Senate and House were to come to an agreement by late Wednesday afternoon, it was still possible to pass a budget.

“I still hold out hope,” Stumbo said. “We would certainly entertain anything … Our position has always been we want a budget.”

Williams said the Republican-controlled Senate could not agree to a budget that include more debt because the Republicans feel that the state needs to pay for essential services first before it adds to the state’s overall debt.

But Stumbo said that the amount of borrowing in the House proposal was a little more than $200 million.

A special legislative session is likely if a budget agreement is not inked before the fiscal year begins on July 1. It could cost taxpayers about $64,000 a day to pay for such a session.

Williams pledged on Wednesday that he would not participate in a special session unless there was an agreement on a budget before it begins.

Williams said that Gov. Steve Beshear should wait until after the May primary to call a special legislative session so voters can voice their displeasure, Williams said. That outcry from voters will likely force the two sides to agree.

When asked if going home without a budget would hurt legislators, Stumbo said the lack of a budget will not be good for either party.
“The Senate is going to have the same problem that we have,” Stumbo said. “People are going to want to know why didn’t you do this?”

Stumbo has said that Kentucky lost close to 100,000 jobs last year and that the original House construction plan could put up to 25,000 people back to work. Stumbo has said in recent days that House Democrats do not want to leave Frankfort without a jobs program.

Rep. Bill Farmer, R-Lexington, has a primary opponent in the May 18 primary. Facing voters in May without a budget is far from ideal, Farmer said early Wednesday afternoon.

But Farmer said House Republicans feel like they can’t vote for a budget that includes irresponsible spending.

“I think you’ve got both edges of the sword here,” Farmer said. “The want us to have a budget but they want us to be responsible,” he said of the public comments that he has heard.

If an agreement can not be reached by July 1, a recent Supreme Court decision says only essential services outlined in the Constitution could be funded.

– Beth Musgrave

Filed Under: David Williams • Elections • Greg Stumbo • KY General Assembly • State Budget • State Government