Clerks to lawmakers: Give us money or no mandates

A House panel approved a bill that would, among other things, boost the pay of election poll workers and the amount of money the state provides to counties.

Under the legislation, H.B. 360, counties would have to pay poll workers at least $100 instead of the $60 minimum paycheck for an election.

However, it's unlikely that will it will take effect this year, because Gov. Steve Beshear had slashed back the amount of money counties would be reimbursed by the state. Currently counties get $255 per precinct from the state. Under Beshear's proposal, counties would get about $200. It costs roughly $1,800 per precinct to run an election.

So the House Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee passed the bill, sponsored by Democratic Rep. Darryl Owens of Louisville, 7-0 out of the House with the understanding that they wouldn't let it take effect until the 2010 elections.

- Ryan Alessi