House Democrats assail budget; passage in doubt

Several House lawmakers say they can't support a proposed state budget that leading lawmakers from the House and Senate agreed upon early Tuesday morning.

Some are upset at what they call paltry raises for state employees and teachers. Other have lambasted the treatment of coal severance tax revenue that generally goes to coal-producing counties for projects.

And many are frustrated that they voted for a controversial bill to increase taxes in order to bolster spending for health, education and construction projects but have little to show for the effort.

"I have a real problem with it," said Rep. Derrick Graham, D-Frankfort, who is a government and history teacher.

Graham cited cuts to higher education and slim raises for state workers and teachers. But he also railed against the budget process, which he said allowed just a few lawmakers to participate, kept the bulk of legislators away and barred the press and public for the last two days of secret negotiations that ended 7 a.m. Tuesday.

"The doors are closed. Most of us are hearing it by word of mouth and by word of the press," he said.

He said many House members are expected to vent similar frustrations later Tuesday at a Democratic caucus meeting. "I'm not going to say they're going to revolt, but they're not going to sign off on it," Graham said.

UPDATE 4:39 p.m.: Rep. Charlie Hoffman, the House Democratic Caucus chairman, announced on the floor that the closed door meeting would be 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, much to the surprise of many members, some of whom were heard muttering aloud, "tomorrow?"

Rep. Jim Gooch, D-Providence, said he was most frustrated that lawmakers would be unable to earmark coal severance tax money for specific projects in their districts. Instead, counties would have to apply for the money through the Governors Office on Local Development.

"From what I've heard, I haven't seen any reason to vote for it," Gooch said.

Rep. Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg and a former House floor leader, said this would be the first budget in 28 years in the legislature that he would vote against.

"It's a bad document," he said. He said he didn't think the House would approve the compromised version.

UPDATE 4:56 p.m.: Even the chairman of the House budget committee, Rep. Harry Moberly, D-Richmond, said he believes the $19 billion two-year spending plan will hurt education and services.

However, he said it was the best that budget negotiators could do after Senators rejected a plan to raise revenue by increasing the tax on packs of cigarettes from 30 cents to 55 cents.

"I will hold my nose and vote for it," Moberly said. 

Rep. Don Pasley, D-Winchester, was one of the 20-some legislators participating in the drawn out budget negotiations. He said he understands the frustration of his colleagues.

"It's not a good budget," he said. "I hope we can pass it because we worked so hard with what we had to work with. When you don't have the revenue, we're talking about a scorched earth-type budget."

- Ryan Alessi

Comments

[David Adams]

It's not that complicated, guys. Make the lottery cough up 35%, repeal prevailing wage, and replace CATS. After you reverse the funny money and shore up the retirement systems, you will have at least enough for a more responsible continuation budget.

[Lowly State Employee]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Raise a big stink and vote for it like you always do. I would like to see Derrick Graham vote against something.

[Blazing Tiger]

Hold your nose and vote for it?? Are you kidding me? The General Assembly had no problem approving 5% increases in their own budget, but can't find common ground on this budget? I suggest that the GA keep the status quo on their budget, meaning ZERO increase for LRC, don't vote for this exec branch budget, and force some of the senate (and house) bullies to knuckle under and make some hard choices that benefit the state as a whole, and not just earmarks for districts where representatives face tough re-election.

[state worker too]

Derrick,
You are quoted as saying "I have a real problem with it," ...

Graham cited cuts to higher education and slim raises for state workers and teachers. But he also railed against the budget process, which he said allowed just a few lawmakers to participate, kept the bulk of legislators away and barred the press and public for the last two days of secret negotiations that ended 7 a.m. Tuesday.

"The doors are closed. Most of us are hearing it by word of mouth and by word of the press," he said."

Well, we are looking for real leadership in Frankfort and it is time to step up to the plate. I know you are a man of principle and believe in doing the right thing.

Here is the opportunity to do what we sent you to the legislature to do. Look out for the interests of thepeople of Frankfort.

I don't care if Speaker Richards trys to strong arm or threaten you. Stand up to him. Vote against the budget. State workers and teachers are sick and tired of the peoples business being conducted by a few dicatator wannabes behind closed doors. It happens every year and its time to stop it.

You have opposition this time in Frank Haynes. I don't know him and don't care to know him because if you vote for this budget me and everyone I know will vote for him because we will vote all incumbents out.

Be like Obama and be for CHANGE. We want and crave it. Be a leader and earn our respect.

One last thing... Think of your students. You are a history and government teacher. What kind of example are the legislators teaching our kids. It teaches them that a few make the decisions for the many with no input or openness to it.

All legislators better vote no on this or the teachers and state employees will vote you out of office.

[Truth]

I am a state worker, underpaid like so many others, and I would really like a bigger raise, but I would also like better roads,more help for education, more help for health and mental services, but just like with my own personal budget, I can't have it all. My income is limited too, and I can't have everything I want either, so I have to prioritize too. We all need to make sacrifices, and this budget looks a whole heck of a lot better than what Governor Beshear originally proposed. And they did it without raising taxes, which should please alot of us.

[Lowly State Employee]

Truth:

I would agree with you if state employees receive 2% as Governor Beshear proposed.

You have to understand that after everyone retires and no positions are filled, we will be doing the equivalent of 3-4 jobs a piece. The least they can do is give us 2% for our efforts. This is nothing but a double whammy.

Considering the law says we should get 5%, I think 2% per year is acceptable and that is "tightening the belt" if you will.

[Enough is Enough]

State workers have health insurance benefits that have been almost destroyed over the past four years. Compare the cost, copays and annual maximums to any other employer, and you'll be amazed at how little coverage they have and how much of their income they surrender back to the health care provider.

They were never paid as well as private industry, and accepted that sacrifice in exchange for decent health insurance and the statutory promise that they would make some of that salary back up in annual increases of 5 %.

That hasn't happened for 7 years. State workers are going to be like Wal-Mart workers soon, having to go on Medicaid and food stamps. Our "increases" haven't come close to even letting us pay our day to day bills for heating gas, gas for our cars, and clothes for our children.

And yet David Williams says it is okay for him and his staff to receive another five percent while the rest of the state suffers.

Kill this thing they're calling a budget, before any other Kentuckians are killed by it.

[truthteller]

House Democrats negotiated this budget too. It is an agreement between both chambers and both parties. If you are Democrat and unhappy with it then you should be mad at your party's leadership in the House.
As for state employee raises and those who aren't paid as well, etc. Well, under the last governor, state employees who made 20K or less received 5% raises. That is a fact! Since most of you are lamenting the "lowly paid state employee" and their pay and benefits, then you should appreciate that the last governor did more for you on that basis.

[Mark Burke]

truthteller,

The socialistic pay increments given under the last Governor made me and a lot of other Republicans ashamed of our party and willing to consider Beshear as an alternative. Most of us assumed it would be the Democrats who would use Karl Marx as a guide in establishing policy; we actually believed Fletcher was a free market conservative. Guess we were wrong.

[Charles]

I love how everyone calls it a 1% raise for state workers. It is a cost of living adjustment. If everyone thinks about it I am sure you will realize that the things we all buy (i.e... gas and groceries) have sure gone up more than 1%. Therefore, what does that 1% “raise” do. Puts state workers further in the hole. I wish everyone down in Frankfort would just use a little common sense about things. Let’s let the lottery pay for education, cigarette taxes pay for health care, fuel and auto taxes pay for the roads, ect.... Instead they are predicting that they are going to save millions on the retirement of state workers. With the shape the economy is in and the great "raises" that state workers have got over the past 6 years I don't see how anyone can retire. Here comes the great one, let’s restructure the state's debt. This will probably just mean that my kids or grandkids will just have to figure out the mess that we have created. Frankfort, please get it together and lets put Kentucky ahead of every other state.

[Nicholasville Republican]

How is Derrick Graham even allowed to vote on the state budget? He is a teacher and his pay is directly affected by this. Isn't this a MAJOR conflict of interest??

[state worker too]

Truthteller,
You are an idiot republican. Very few workers are in the under $20,000 range and if they are they leave state government withing 5 years at a 60% clip.