A week from tomorrow lawmakers will converge on the State Capitol for the start of the 2016 general assembly session. It will likely be a time to get a feel for new leadership.
Before the first vote is cast on a bill, talk of political philosophy is likely to surface in both chambers. Republican Governor Matt Bevin is likely to find many friends in the GOP majority Senate. Minority Floor Leader, Democrat Ray Jones expects some political tension, "I don’t think that relations between the parties are gonna be warm and fuzzy." “That’s par for the course," Jones continued.
Still, Jones says, Bevin will be given a chance to see how he will govern. In the House, Democrats hold a dwindling edge. Since the fall election, one Democratic member has switched parties and another was picked by the new governor to head a cabinet. House Minority Whip Jim DeCesare believes party makeup may stabilize. “I think we’ve seen most of the movement we’ve seen for now, but that doesn’t mean some things and dynamics won’t change between now and November,” said DeCesare.
Both DeCesare and Jones says finding a solution for the state's pension problems is the priority issue.
