Beshear Surprised By Sampling Bill's Treatment

by Tony McVeigh, Kentucky Public RadioKentucky Gov. Steve Beshear says he’s surprised a bourbon sampling bill is struggling in the special session in Frankfort.On a close vote Wednesday, the House rejected a bill allowing free bourbon tastings at events like the upcoming World Equestrian Games.  A similar bill in the Senate won approval, so the issue’s not dead for the session, but Gov. Beshear’s still trying to figure out what happened.“I know that before I put it on the call I talked to both the president of the senate and the speaker of the house who both asked me, privately and publicly to put that issue on the call because they had the votes to pass it," he says.Beshear’s also disappointed the House eliminated funding to replace 14 dilapidated schools, choosing instead to conduct further study of the problem.  However, Beshear remains optimistic lawmakers will approve a new state budget by Friday.