In Kentucky, Speaker Greg Stumbo Warns Governor Steve Beshear On The Budget: "It’s Hard To Put The Genie Back In The Bottle". Wise Warning. Read More.
Lawmakers see 'defining moment' in budget impasse
By Ronnie Ellis
FRANKFORT, Ky. – You spend the week thinking this Friday you can write a column about something other than the budget, the governor and gambling.
But you didn’t expect Gov. Steve Beshear to send all House members a letter pleading with them to pass his budget plan, the one with $780 million of gambling revenue that doesn’t exist because lawmakers haven’t authorized the video lottery terminals at race tracks.
Just a minor detail, according to Beshear. All the House need do is pass the budget and then pressure the Republican Senate to pass the bill sponsored by Sen. Ed Worley, D-Richmond, which would authorize VLTs. That’s the same Senate, of course, which has killed the bill previously; which picked up a new member who opposes the bill; and which is led by David Williams, R-Burkesville, who has pronounced expanded gambling dead and who would like nothing more than to downsize state government through budget cuts – “reducing the base” as he terms it.
The other interesting part of the letter is Beshear’s contention that despite media reports he and House leaders “are in regular communication” and continue “to work to find common ground on as many issues as possible.” Somebody isn’t telling it like it is – either the governor or House Speaker Greg Stumbo. D-Prestonsburg, who said Friday morning about Beshear’s letter: “I haven’t read it.” Maybe that communication is regular – just not too effective.
Then Stumbo said Beshear has provided “a defining moment for the General Assembly,” by essentially handing over the authority to write the entire budget. Williams pointed out that – unlike the federal budget – the state budget authorizes but does not require the governor to spend money. But that could change, Williams said. Lawmakers could write into law not only how much Beshear has to spend but how and where he must spend it.
Later, walking to the House chamber, Stumbo said that would represent a major shift in institutional power, a shift like the one which occurred under Gov. John Y. Brown who allowed the legislature to become a significant partner in the budgeting process 30 years ago. Stumbo didn’t say it, but he must have been asking himself if Beshear realizes what he’s risking in doing that.
“Once that genie’s out of the bottle,” Stumbo said, “you can’t put it back.” That means Beshear is not only abdicating power he has but that of future governors.
Meanwhile, it’s becoming clear House lawmakers aren’t having any luck building a budget. Stumbo first said he expected to share an outline of the budget with rank-and-file members by the middle of last week. The week passed, and now another has passed, and still there is no plan. House budget chairman Rick Rand, D-Bedford, has apparently shown House leaders some potential scenarios – but they are so ugly they don’t want to contemplate such a budget.
Stumbo originally told House members they’d be given at least a broad overview of the budget plan more than a week ago. It still wasn’t available on Friday though Stumbo said, “We’re close,” and Rand later agreed. They may also be close to taking permanent control over the budgeting process which they aren’t likely to give back. That’s not a legacy Beshear should want or that future governors will appreciate.
As Stumbo said, it’s hard to put the genie back in the bottle.
Ronnie Ellis writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort, Ky. He may be contacted by email at rellis@cnhi.com. Follow CNHI News Service stories on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cnhifrankfort.
By Ronnie Ellis
FRANKFORT, Ky. – You spend the week thinking this Friday you can write a column about something other than the budget, the governor and gambling.
But you didn’t expect Gov. Steve Beshear to send all House members a letter pleading with them to pass his budget plan, the one with $780 million of gambling revenue that doesn’t exist because lawmakers haven’t authorized the video lottery terminals at race tracks.
Just a minor detail, according to Beshear. All the House need do is pass the budget and then pressure the Republican Senate to pass the bill sponsored by Sen. Ed Worley, D-Richmond, which would authorize VLTs. That’s the same Senate, of course, which has killed the bill previously; which picked up a new member who opposes the bill; and which is led by David Williams, R-Burkesville, who has pronounced expanded gambling dead and who would like nothing more than to downsize state government through budget cuts – “reducing the base” as he terms it.
The other interesting part of the letter is Beshear’s contention that despite media reports he and House leaders “are in regular communication” and continue “to work to find common ground on as many issues as possible.” Somebody isn’t telling it like it is – either the governor or House Speaker Greg Stumbo. D-Prestonsburg, who said Friday morning about Beshear’s letter: “I haven’t read it.” Maybe that communication is regular – just not too effective.
Then Stumbo said Beshear has provided “a defining moment for the General Assembly,” by essentially handing over the authority to write the entire budget. Williams pointed out that – unlike the federal budget – the state budget authorizes but does not require the governor to spend money. But that could change, Williams said. Lawmakers could write into law not only how much Beshear has to spend but how and where he must spend it.
Later, walking to the House chamber, Stumbo said that would represent a major shift in institutional power, a shift like the one which occurred under Gov. John Y. Brown who allowed the legislature to become a significant partner in the budgeting process 30 years ago. Stumbo didn’t say it, but he must have been asking himself if Beshear realizes what he’s risking in doing that.
“Once that genie’s out of the bottle,” Stumbo said, “you can’t put it back.” That means Beshear is not only abdicating power he has but that of future governors.
Meanwhile, it’s becoming clear House lawmakers aren’t having any luck building a budget. Stumbo first said he expected to share an outline of the budget with rank-and-file members by the middle of last week. The week passed, and now another has passed, and still there is no plan. House budget chairman Rick Rand, D-Bedford, has apparently shown House leaders some potential scenarios – but they are so ugly they don’t want to contemplate such a budget.
Stumbo originally told House members they’d be given at least a broad overview of the budget plan more than a week ago. It still wasn’t available on Friday though Stumbo said, “We’re close,” and Rand later agreed. They may also be close to taking permanent control over the budgeting process which they aren’t likely to give back. That’s not a legacy Beshear should want or that future governors will appreciate.
As Stumbo said, it’s hard to put the genie back in the bottle.
Ronnie Ellis writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort, Ky. He may be contacted by email at rellis@cnhi.com. Follow CNHI News Service stories on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cnhifrankfort.
Labels: Democratism, Kentucky politics, Republicanism
posted by KYJurisDoctor at 7:37 PM
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