By KPR
Frankfort, KY – The $17.5 billion dollar biennial budget approved by the Kentucky Senate Monday is getting a lukewarm response from House Speaker Greg Stumbo. Stumbo's particularly unhappy with the Senate's decision to eliminate $600 million in bonded school and water and sewer projects.
"And I'm hopeful as we work through the budget negotiation process that we'll be able to convince our counterparts in the Senate that the creation of jobs that we created in our budget - these 25,000 jobs for Kentucky's working families - are necessary. So, that's how we'll begin our negotiations."
House and Senate leaders now must meet in conference committee to try to iron out their differences. Only six days remain before the 2010 session takes a 10-day recess, so Gov. Beshear can consider possible vetoes. After that, the session resumes for two final days in mid-April.