By Stu Johnson
Frankfort, KY – Kentucky lawmakers could end this 2010 legislative session without a state budget. That possibility heightened Wednesday when budget negotiators broke up with no plans for another meeting. Senate President David Williams says the house spending play relies too much on borrowed money.
"And we're just not in a situation in this state right now with a structurally imbalanced budget, to increase such a huge amount of debt," Williams says.
The house budget borrowed nearly a billion dollars for sewer, water, and school projects. It's a disagreement, Williams says, voters could settle in the next election. House speaker Greg Stumbo, who's a Democrat, welcomes such a ballot question.
"We'll be happy to stand in a public referendum on that position I'd like to remind people who drove us into this recession we'll call it the republican recession," Stumbo says.
Stumbo argues the additional debt will create jobs. If lawmakers don't reach an agreement in the next couple of weeks, a special session is possible.