By Tony McVeigh
Frankfort, KY – The Kentucky Senate last night approved a Medicaid budget fix proposed by the Republican majority. Rejecting Gov. Beshear's plan for balancing the Medicaid budget, the Senate opted for small, across-the-board cuts to state agencies. The vote was 24-12, mostly along party lines, with the exceptions of Democratic Sens. Joey Pendleton and Ray Jones.
"This is not gonna be the last time that we have to make hard decisions about the budget. Ask yourself this, Madame President - where would we be without a billion and a half dollar infusion in federal stimulus money? We're talking about minor cuts in this bill."
Earlier in the day, House Speaker Greg Stumbo told reporters he believes there's room for compromise in the Senate bill, which looks nothing like the bill that passed the House. The issue likely will wind up in a House/Senate conference committee before the session ends.