By Tony McVeigh
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wuky/local-wuky-951675.mp3
FRANKFORT, Ky. -- – The Kentucky House voted 91-8 Thursday to raise the state's drop out age from 16 to 18 by July, 2016. Rep. Jeff Greer of Brandenburg, the bill's primary sponsor, made a passionate plea for approval.
"Almost 75 percent of our prison population do not have a high school diploma. Think about that. Do you see the correlation? Do you see the need for us to emphasize to our kids across this commonwealth the importance of a high school diploma?"
All eight of the bill's opponents were Republicans.
Earlier, the House voted 80-19 in favor of Gov. Beshear's plan for balancing the state's Medicaid budget. The measure would move $166 million from the second year of the Medicaid budget to the current year, to cover a huge deficit.
All 19 opponents, including Rep. Stan Lee of Lexington, were Republicans.
"I think we need to be cautious. I think we need to be worried about moving money from one account to another - one bookkeeping trick to another - to just balance books and hopefully get more federal dollars. I mean, it does seem to be a bit confusing," Says Lee.
Both the dropout bill and the Medicaid proposal head to the Kentucky Senate.