By Tony McVeigh
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wuky/local-wuky-840972.mp3
Frankfort, KY – House and Senate leaders are in Frankfort today for their regularly scheduled monthly meeting, and indications are they'll also meet with Governor Beshear. Beshear intends to call lawmakers to Frankfort June 15th for a special session on the budget, but Senator Damon Thayer isn't sure the governor's done enough to prepare for the session. "There seems to be some differing opinions on how much the shortfall is and I would tend to come down on not spending 60-thousand dollars in taxpayer money when the governor has the authority to manage the situation himself."
Last week, a panel of economic experts predicted Kentucky could be facing an almost one billion dollar revenue shortfall next fiscal year, which begins July 1st. Earlier this year, lawmakers approved alcohol and cigarette tax hikes to close an almost half-billion dollar shortfall in the current fiscal year.