Saturday, February 13, 2010
Stumbo And Williams Talk About The Budget
KENTUCKY...
"I don't know of anybody who is getting a raise in this economy," Greg Stumbo said during his weekly news conference with Senate President David Williams. Stumbo and Williams stressed that they have "not reached an accord" on the final budget. "Government employees from top to bottom — whether they are in education or anywhere else — cannot be expected to be completely insulated from the situation that we find ourselves in economically," Williams said. Legislators are trying to address an expected $1.5 billion shortfall in the state budget over the next two years. Both Stumbo and Williams expressed doubt that the legislature will respond to Gov. Steve Beshear's letter Thursday to House members, asking them to revisit his proposal to allow video lottery terminals at Kentucky racetracks. Stumbo said lawmakers are focusing on how they can best spend the dollars available to them. Stumbo said there will be no tax changes this year to deal with the budget. Williams said he does not think Beshear will ever participate in enacting tax reform because of his push for expanded gambling.
"I don't know of anybody who is getting a raise in this economy," Greg Stumbo said during his weekly news conference with Senate President David Williams. Stumbo and Williams stressed that they have "not reached an accord" on the final budget. "Government employees from top to bottom — whether they are in education or anywhere else — cannot be expected to be completely insulated from the situation that we find ourselves in economically," Williams said. Legislators are trying to address an expected $1.5 billion shortfall in the state budget over the next two years. Both Stumbo and Williams expressed doubt that the legislature will respond to Gov. Steve Beshear's letter Thursday to House members, asking them to revisit his proposal to allow video lottery terminals at Kentucky racetracks. Stumbo said lawmakers are focusing on how they can best spend the dollars available to them. Stumbo said there will be no tax changes this year to deal with the budget. Williams said he does not think Beshear will ever participate in enacting tax reform because of his push for expanded gambling.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 2:01 PM 
