Bowling Green Daily News Opines "[Steve] Beshear Needs To Reimburse State For Travel".
Beshear needs to reimburse state for travel
By the Daily News
The threat of a 35 percent cut in Medicaid reimbursements is sure to rally the troops to call on state lawmakers to reach a budget agreement during this special session.
The problem is that the threat - and the spreading of the threat - comes during what appears to be a political move to bolster Gov. Steve Beshear’s re-election chances.
Beshear spent Monday and Tuesday flying around the state, including a stop in Bowling Green, spreading the message about the impending cuts.
We agree with Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, that Beshear or his re-election campaign should reimburse the state for cost of the travel and security for the trips, an estimated $8,000.
Beshear denies the move is political, but it can hardly be seen as anything else but a ploy to make Republicans and Williams look bad.
Why else would he call lawmakers back into session so quickly when it was apparent that both sides continued to have a great divide between them? Generally, special sessions are called only after it appears lawmakers are close to agreeing on a subject.
Now, if lawmakers again can’t reach an agreement during this quickly called special session, Beshear is laying the blame for the large Medicaid cuts at Republicans’ feet. The 35 percent cuts will be effective April 1 if no agreement is reached.
He said Williams is playing politics.
“The citizens of this state should be outraged - as I am - that Sen. David Williams has once again allowed petty politics to overrule the needs of the people of Kentucky,” Beshear said in a news release sent from his office. “Sen. Williams and the Senate Republicans have one job to do in Frankfort, and that is to balance the budget. They not only failed to complete this critical task, but also proposed to balance the Medicaid budget on the backs of our schoolchildren, our state troopers, our veterans, our senior citizens and our college students. It’s a draconian and totally unnecessary approach.”
Presenting a balanced budget is also the duty of the governor, and his proposal was based on a wing and a prayer by borrowing money from the upcoming Medicaid budget, where he hopes savings can be had.
Shame on you, Gov. Beshear. You ought to have been in Frankfort this week trying to broker a deal, rather than flying around the state pedaling your influence over voters.
By the Daily News
The threat of a 35 percent cut in Medicaid reimbursements is sure to rally the troops to call on state lawmakers to reach a budget agreement during this special session.
The problem is that the threat - and the spreading of the threat - comes during what appears to be a political move to bolster Gov. Steve Beshear’s re-election chances.
Beshear spent Monday and Tuesday flying around the state, including a stop in Bowling Green, spreading the message about the impending cuts.
We agree with Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, that Beshear or his re-election campaign should reimburse the state for cost of the travel and security for the trips, an estimated $8,000.
Beshear denies the move is political, but it can hardly be seen as anything else but a ploy to make Republicans and Williams look bad.
Why else would he call lawmakers back into session so quickly when it was apparent that both sides continued to have a great divide between them? Generally, special sessions are called only after it appears lawmakers are close to agreeing on a subject.
Now, if lawmakers again can’t reach an agreement during this quickly called special session, Beshear is laying the blame for the large Medicaid cuts at Republicans’ feet. The 35 percent cuts will be effective April 1 if no agreement is reached.
He said Williams is playing politics.
“The citizens of this state should be outraged - as I am - that Sen. David Williams has once again allowed petty politics to overrule the needs of the people of Kentucky,” Beshear said in a news release sent from his office. “Sen. Williams and the Senate Republicans have one job to do in Frankfort, and that is to balance the budget. They not only failed to complete this critical task, but also proposed to balance the Medicaid budget on the backs of our schoolchildren, our state troopers, our veterans, our senior citizens and our college students. It’s a draconian and totally unnecessary approach.”
Presenting a balanced budget is also the duty of the governor, and his proposal was based on a wing and a prayer by borrowing money from the upcoming Medicaid budget, where he hopes savings can be had.
Shame on you, Gov. Beshear. You ought to have been in Frankfort this week trying to broker a deal, rather than flying around the state pedaling your influence over voters.
Labels: News reporting
posted by KYJurisDoctor at 10:41 PM
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