Another Indication Kentucky's Special Session Might Be Short-Circuited As I Have Predicted. Read More.
Read more here, or these statements from the Courier Journal:
Beshear bridge funding bill hits Democratic opposition
Gov. Steve Beshear today released details of a bill that would help Kentucky pay for its share of the Ohio River Bridges Project, but the proposal immediately ran into opposition from a top Louisville Democrat.
Louisville’s highest-ranking House member, Speaker Pro Tem Larry Clark claimed Beshear went against a consensus reached among Louisville leaders.
“We had a final product that we thought was a good policy,” Clark said. Now, “the governor wants to change it, and I think that he’s created a lot of problems. I think that the bill may not ever be called.”
Beshear unveiled a plan that is narrowly focused — essentially aiding the Louisville-area bridges project and a proposed Interstate 69 span near Henderson, Ky. — and includes tolls as a possible source of money.
Clark, D-Okolona, said Beshear’s proposal may make it hard for Louisville legislators “to vote on legislation where we feel like the taxpayers in Jefferson County have to pay tolls on their projects and everybody else would be excused from that.”
The measure is on the agenda for next week’s special session.
The proposal would:
-Create the Kentucky Public Transportation Authority to review and approve bridge projects between Kentucky and Indiana. The authority would have 11 members.
-Allow the state authority to oversee construction and financing of transportation projects between the two states. The authority also could issue project revenue bonds.
-Allow the creation of bi-state authorities between Indiana and Kentucky to finance, construct and operate projects, which the state authority would have to approve.
Bills to create a separate organization to oversee financing for the bridges plan and other “megaprojects” have stalled during the last two sessions of the General Assembly.
The two chambers could not resolve a key sticking point before the legislature adjourned in late March. The Senate preferred the existing Kentucky Turnpike Authority, while the House proposed a new statewide authority.
The $4.1 billion bridges project calls for two new spans at Louisville and a redesigned Spaghetti Junction near downtown. It was approved by the federal government in 2003.
Beshear bridge funding bill hits Democratic opposition
Gov. Steve Beshear today released details of a bill that would help Kentucky pay for its share of the Ohio River Bridges Project, but the proposal immediately ran into opposition from a top Louisville Democrat.
Louisville’s highest-ranking House member, Speaker Pro Tem Larry Clark claimed Beshear went against a consensus reached among Louisville leaders.
“We had a final product that we thought was a good policy,” Clark said. Now, “the governor wants to change it, and I think that he’s created a lot of problems. I think that the bill may not ever be called.”
Beshear unveiled a plan that is narrowly focused — essentially aiding the Louisville-area bridges project and a proposed Interstate 69 span near Henderson, Ky. — and includes tolls as a possible source of money.
Clark, D-Okolona, said Beshear’s proposal may make it hard for Louisville legislators “to vote on legislation where we feel like the taxpayers in Jefferson County have to pay tolls on their projects and everybody else would be excused from that.”
The measure is on the agenda for next week’s special session.
The proposal would:
-Create the Kentucky Public Transportation Authority to review and approve bridge projects between Kentucky and Indiana. The authority would have 11 members.
-Allow the state authority to oversee construction and financing of transportation projects between the two states. The authority also could issue project revenue bonds.
-Allow the creation of bi-state authorities between Indiana and Kentucky to finance, construct and operate projects, which the state authority would have to approve.
Bills to create a separate organization to oversee financing for the bridges plan and other “megaprojects” have stalled during the last two sessions of the General Assembly.
The two chambers could not resolve a key sticking point before the legislature adjourned in late March. The Senate preferred the existing Kentucky Turnpike Authority, while the House proposed a new statewide authority.
The $4.1 billion bridges project calls for two new spans at Louisville and a redesigned Spaghetti Junction near downtown. It was approved by the federal government in 2003.
Labels: Democratism, Kentucky politics
posted by KYJurisDoctor at 10:10 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home