(WKYT) – A budget and numerous related bills are now on Gov. Beshear’s desk for review.
Beshear could either sign or veto those bills, or line-item veto parts of the spending plan.
Despite criticism over education and Medicaid funding from both sides of the aisle, the Senate unanimously approved the $32.4 billion budget Wednesday. When it reached the House, 21 members voted against it. Budget chair Jason Petrie defended the measures.
“And we continue to fund the things that are priorities in this commonwealth. We have stuck with Medicaid, with pensions, with K-12, higher education. You name it, we’ve done it,” said Rep. Jason Petrie, R-Ky District 16, in his fiery remarks on the House floor.
Beshear criticized the budget in his Team Kentucky briefing. He said the legislature cut $2.8 billion from Medicaid and said the consequences will be serious.
“What this means is that 2.8 billion dollars that is not included in the General Assembly’s budget is coming out of Kentucky businesses because that is the only place that they have left for us to ultimately try to make this work,” said Beshear.
House Bill 757 contained tax and other revenue-related issues. It taxes fantasy games, lessens the tax burden on religious institutions and caps taxes on premium cigars.
The bill will also raise the minimum age to participate in some sports betting games from 18 to 21.
The general fund budget included a 2 percent raise for state workers and placed more money in classroom funding. Beshear said he found some things to like about the budget but questioned others.
“Here’s an extra $5 million for Kentuckians to afford a new home, while they spend $470 million on our offices,” Beshear said.
“You look at the whole thing in this budget Mr. Speaker and it’s an awesome budget. It’s going to re write some basic issues that we have. Guess what? This budget grows in spending,” Petrie said.
Petrie said the budget meets core needs while avoiding unnecessary spending.
Beshear will likely veto at least parts of the budget. Lawmakers will attempt to override those vetoes when they return April 14.