By Brenna Angel
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Republican-controlled Kentucky Senate plans to go back to work in Frankfort on April 6, but Democratic Governor Steve Beshear maintains that the special session is over.
Lawmakers passed the Senate's version of a Medicaid budget bill last Thursday. Before signing off on the legislation, Governor Beshear vetoed part of the proposal that would have cut funding to all state government agencies. Those cuts were supported by Senate Republicans.
Because the House, which is controlled by Democrats, has adjourned for the year, the governor says his vetoes will stick.
"For my vetoes to be overridden it takes votes of both houses. So the Senate meeting again is a useless exercise."
Beshear also vetoed language that would have suspended legislative pay during the veto-recess period, saying such a provision is unconstitutional. State lawmakers continue to be paid for the special session. It amounts to about $63,500 a day, including weekends.
"All that the Senate majority needs to do is pull out their checkbooks and write a check back to the Commonwealth for any pay that they receive after last Thursday, the last day that anybody worked up there," says Beshear.
But Republican lawmakers aren't giving up. House Minority Leader Jeff Hoover said Monday that his chamber should return to Frankfort on April 6, the same day the Senate will vote to override Beshear's vetoes.