By Tony McVeigh
Frankfort, KY – Now that the election's over, Kentucky Senate President David Williams is anxious to start work in the 2011 General Assembly. Williams says budget tweaks, Medicaid, public pensions, school reforms, and possibly redistricting are among the issues facing lawmakers in January. Williams is already running for governor and could face a challenge from Sen. Julie Denton for his leadership position. Will those distract him, or prevent him from working with Gov. Steve Beshear?
"I won't be distracted. I wonder if he's been distracted over his three year campaign to take control of the Senate. I don't know whether that's distracted him, but that distraction ended last night."
Post-election, the Senate now has 22 Republicans, 15 Democrats and one independent. Budget chairman Bob Leeper, the lone independent, caucuses with the Republicans.