Kentucky legislative leaders Thursday spelled out their party’s 2016 priorities before a large group of county officials in Lexington.
They spoke at the Kentucky Association of Counties conference.
Next month a republican, only the second in four decades, is set to move into the Kentucky governor’s mansion. House Speaker Greg Stumbo told county leaders he’s hopeful that the Democratic Party will work well with the republican governor-elect. “I believe governor Bevin is gonna be a breath of fresh air," Stumbo said. "We have asked our members in the democratic house not to get out here and draw lines in the sand. Let’s don’t start fights.”
Senate President Robert Stivers told attendees of the Kentucky Association of Counties meeting that lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle have similar interests. “We all want better education, we all want better jobs, we all want better health care," Stivers said. "We’re all in agreement. The question becomes is how you do it.”
The house and senate leaders agree that health care will likely be a major topic of discussion during the 2016 session. Stumbo believes the state’s health exchange, Kynect, has benefits. “I would submit that the facts as we know them now appears that it is a good deal for Kentucky," he said. "Your insurance rates have stabilized.”
Stivers, however, says not enough is being done to control health care costs among a growing Medicaid population. “There is no incentive for them to not smoke or to have healthier lifestyles," said Stivers. "So that’s where we need to change the model.” .
Republican Governor-elect Matt Bevin has indicated he will do away with Kentucky’s health insurance cooperative and move to a federal exchange. The 2016 session of the Kentucky General Assembly convenes on January 5.
