House Leaders Send Revised Budget To Senate

by Stu Johnson, Kentucky Public RadioDemocratic leaders in the Kentucky House have sent a revised budget proposal to Senate Republicans.House Speaker Greg Stumbo says, among other changes, the plan cuts job creation for the next biennium in half."It would mean fewer projects and fewer jobs but we have to have a budget I think everybody agrees we need to get a budget so we're gonna do everything we can to try to be reasonable and try to facilitate this compromise," he says.Stumbo adds that the latest budget also cuts the amount of debt for projects roughly in half compared to the original House plan. It also directs the governor to accelerate sales tax collection for a one time boost in revenue.The original House budget cut two days from the public school calendar.  Stumbo says this latest offer keeps the two days intact, but with some stipulations."We pay for one in the first year and the district pays for one in the first year and in the second year the districts would be required to pay for both of them, but remember we'll be reviewing this come January and hopefully if things are better at that time we can always change it at that time like we did last January," he says.Legislators hope to pass a budget when the General Assembly reconvenes for two days next week.