By Associated Press
Frankfort, KY – Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice John Minton has sent a letter to legislative leaders warning additional budget cuts would mean a drastic impact on a court system that has already reduced its workforce by more than 200. Minton sent the letter Thursday in response to a Senate call for another round of cuts to all branches of state government to funnel more money into Medicaid. Lawmakers have competing proposals for dealing with an almost $167 million shortfall in the program that provides medical care for more than 800,000 poor, elderly and disabled Kentuckians. The House plan calls for shuffling funds within Medicaid. The Senate's version calls for 2.25% across-the-board cuts.