Legislative leaders trade jabs over failed bills

FRANKFORT -- House Speaker Jody Richards said the Senate flooded the House with so many important bills, including a measure to overhaul the state's retirement systems Tuesday night, that there was no time to address them before this year's law-making session ended.

"From now on we will have a cutoff time" to consider bills before the final hours of a session, said Richards, D-Bowling Green.

He also said the House will pass the time-consuming budget bill several days earlier in the session to give the Senate more time to work on it.

He accused the Republican-led Senate of "a contrived, calculated move to push things down to us."

He said he did not know why Senate leaders missed four scheduled meetings with House Democratic leaders on Monday to talk about the pension issue and other bills.

But Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, said the Democratic-controlled House "needed a backbone."

He also said Richards told him that he had "lost control" of the House in the final, frenetic hours of the session, during which legislative leaders actually stopped the clock before the midnight deadline to finish their work. The state constitution requires lawmakers to finish their work on April 15.

Richards denied making the remark and said he did not lose control in his chamber.

Another reason for the failure of the pension bill, Richards said, was opposition from the Kentucky Education Association and the Jefferson County Teachers Association.

Asked if he would advise Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear to call a special legislative session to consider a pension bill, Richards said he would have to think about that.  He added there may be additional issues worthy of a special session, mentioning ethics reforms and road projects.

Richards also said Beshear told House Democrats in a caucus Tuesday night that he needs to work better with legislators.

"We probably need to work on our relationship with him," Richards said.

Beshear said he did not tell the House how to handle the pension bill.

As for his political future, Richards said he will run again next January for another two years as House speaker and he expects no opposition.

The five current House Democratic leaders have not discussed talking about running as a slate, he said.

--Jack Brammer

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Comments

[Carl]

I think Jody needs a reality check. This person has no business running for office, any office. He has only become a joke and a disgrace to the poor people who have been foolish enough to vote him into office.

[Pappy]

all are jerk offs

[KYJurisDoctor]

Let the finger pointing begin!

[Mansfield]

They are a do nothing group. They all need to go. Jodi is a bafoon and Williams and Moberly hate each other, and the people of this state suffer...

[Kelsey]

This Leg group is the worse group of people that I have seen in Frankfort. As JYB said when he was Governor, "They are all not worth the cost of Car Fair to Haul them to Frankfort." They have failed the taxpayers. I for one will start to raise money for someone to beat any and all. Sorry, Sorry, Sorry.
Go Obama.
kelsey.

[Muckraker]

The committees have advance deadlines that must be met before a bill is considered. I think a 24 hour notice is required? Why shouldn't the full House and Senate body have deadlines established to allow proper review and debate?

It has just gotten too loose there trying to do everything at the last minute.

The posters Pappy and Mansfield need to run for office and make it better instead of just whining like a 5th grader.

[Mansfield]

The posters Pappy and Mansfield need to run for office and make it better instead of just whining like a 5th grader.

What a bunch of garbage. I repeat, the KY Gen Assembly is a joke. They are there to do a job and each and every year fail to do so. If I wanted to run I would, but I expect those that are in office to actually do something instead of fight like children. They should do their job so I don't have to listen to jerk offs like you call us whiners.