News and Music Discovery
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Ky. lawmakers with differing agendas

By Tony McVeigh

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkms/local-wkms-941933.mp3

Kentucky – Lawmakers are preparing to return to Frankfort for the 2011 General Assembly, which convenes January 4th. And as Kentucky Public Radio's Tony McVeigh reports, two key gubernatorial candidates have different plans for the session.

Gov. Beshear, who's seeking re-election, may face Senate President David Williams in the fall, depending on the results of next year's primary. Williams has unveiled an aggressive agenda for the 2011 session, including tax code, pension and immigration reform, but Beshear's agenda appears more modest.

"We're going to need a little legislation to balance the Medicaid budget. And we will utilize this session for that. There may be a few educational things that we will propose doing, like raising the drop-out age from 16 to 18."

Beshear says he's also open to further discussion on charter schools. This will be a so-called short session, lasting only 30 days. It will be over before April. The primary election is May 17th.