Beshear Offers Budget Plan, Sets Special Session

from Kentucky Public Radio's Tony McVeighKentucky Gov. Steve Beshear is offering a proposal he hopes will end the state’s budget stalemate and has set the date for a special session.Gov. Beshear says his $17.1-billion dollar biennial spending plan is not a new budget. It’s just a compromise based on the separate budget plans approved by the House and Senate during the 2010 session.“It meets the basic needs of our people over the next two years," says Beshear. "But it’s predicated on the understanding that the General Assembly is not willing to raise significant recurring revenue at this time.”Beshear says his proposal includes no new taxes, restores two classroom days and includes spending cuts, but they’re prioritized. Among areas spared the deepest cuts are education, corrections and Kentucky State Police.The governor set May 24th as the starting date for the special session and sees no reason for the session to last more than five days.