By Tony McVeigh
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wuky/local-wuky-962024.mp3
FRANKFORT, Ky. -- – Kentucky's special session on Medicaid officially ended Wednesday evening. Adjournment came after Senate Republicans approved resolutions symbolically overriding Gov. Beshear's line-item vetoes of the Medicaid bill. Eleven Democrats in the chamber, including Rep. Robin Webb of Grayson, refused to support the resolutions.
"My outrage is we had to come back for a special session. It was unnecessary. It's been costly. And we're here today and we have no purpose today. Purpose here today is sheer politics. We've heard bashing the governor. We've heard all that. That's the purpose here today."
Constitutionally, lawmakers must be paid for the entire 24-day session, but Senate President David Williams promises no Senate member will be paid for any day past March 24th. That's the day the House adjourned, went home and refused to come back. The cost to taxpayers for the special session was nearly 64-thousand dollars a day.
"Either they can make refunds voluntarily, or I will withhold the days over the next several months."
Gov. Beshear called the special session last month after lawmakers failed to balance the Medicaid budget during the 30-day regular session. Beshear says he can balance Medicaid with savings from managed care, and because of his vetoes, he now gets that chance.