By Todd Hatton
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkms/local-wkms-957125.mp3
Frankfort, KY – Despite cautious optimism over better-than-expected state revenue receipts, Kentucky lawmakers have been wrangling over spending issues, and budget cuts in the recent regular session. And it appears as though they'll keep wrangling, as Governor Steve Beshear has called a special session to begin Monday. One of the issues they'll address, or re-address, is the almost 167 million dollar shortfall in the Commonwealth's Medicaid budget. The Governor and Senate President David Williams have offered competing plans to solve the problem, but the process of reaching a solution has been complicated by the increasingly harsh tone of debate as well as this year's governor's race. Governor Beshear is running for a second term, and Senator Williams is running for the Republican nomination to challenge him. Todd Hatton spoke with Governor Beshear to get his perspective on the upcoming special session, and the rhetoric surrounding it.