Beshear urges negotiations on funding for megaprojects

FRANKFORT -- Gov. Steve Beshear urged state lawmakers Wednesday to negotiate on the details of a House bill that could pave the way for using tolls to fund mega transportation projects, such as two new bridges in Louisville.

He said he hopes this legislative session will not end without a funding mechanism in place for such projects.

Beshear's comments came after he met privately in his office with Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson. He had met earlier behind closed doors with Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville.

Beshear said Abramson and he urged Williams to form a conference committee of lawmakers from both chambers to discuss House Bill 689. But, so far, "the Senate leadership is reluctant to do anything on this issue."

Williams declined to talk to reporters after he left the governor's office, only to say the meeting was "wonderful."  Several senators from Northern Kentucky have expressed concern about the use of tolls to improve the Brent Spence bridge in their area.

The House bill sets up a state authority that could consider various funding options for megaprojects -- ones that cost more than $500 million.

An earlier Senate bill sponsored by Williams would have allowed local authorities to come up with funding ideas for megaprojects, but Williams said opponents of the proposal turned it into a "tolls bill" so he stopped pushing it.

The Senate's version of the state budget adds $130 million for a total of $341 million for the Louisville bridges project. The extra money would from other federally-funded road projects, half of them in Jefferson County.

Pressed on whether he would support tolls to fund the Louisville bridges, Beshear said, "We need a mechanism in place to consider all the funding options."

He added that he wants "to have all the options on the table."

Beshear also said no decision has been made on whether the House will vote on a constitutional amendment to allow casino gambling.

He said he will talk to House Democratic leaders tonight and Thursday morning about the issue.

The Republican-led Senate will not approve such a measure, Williams has said.

--Jack Brammer

Comments

[tjl]

geez i am so sick of all our tax money going to make sure Louisville lives in the lap of luxury

I say sell the bridge to a private contractor and let them build a new one and then let them put tolls on it. Let Louisville pay for their own damn problems.

[Taxpayer]

tjl: Louisville pays for 90% of the "damn" problems across the state of KY. They are are our "economic engine" that produces the majority of tax dollars in this state, they deserve some of it back. They get back less than 1/3 of the taxes they pay in. If you've ever been to Louisville you'll know that they don't "live in the lap of luxury". And, no, I'm not from Louisville. I'm from the Lexington area.