FRANKFORT, Ky. (WKYT) – Republican leaders in the Kentucky House and Senate are critical of Gov. Matt Bevin’s plan to veto the revenue and budget bills passed one week ago.
Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, and House Speaker Pro Tempore David Osborne, R-Prospect, issued a joint statement hours after Bevin’s announcement responding to the vetos, saying the governor is “misguided in his interpretation of the budget and the revenue bills.”
Lawmakers would only need a simple majority to override Bevin’s announced vetoes, which the governor said he did not expect.
Stivers and Osborne were critical of Bevin’s decision, saying he did not talk to lawmakers before his announcement.
“To our knowledge, the Governor has had no discussions with any legislators on the details of this budget and what he might consider to be a shortfall,” Stivers and Osborne said, “We believe Governor Bevin would be best served to meet with legislators to understand their thoughts and rationale before making a final decision on vetoing the revenue and/or budget bills.”
The two stand behind the revenue projections the Legislative Research Commission issued, which differs with what the governor’s office said about the plan.
Bevin said during his news conference Kentucky is in a financial crisis, and lawmakers are “kicking the can down the road” with current proposals.
