Via Twitter and other channels, here are some of the reactions to Governor Beshear’s budget address. We will update as we get more reactions to share.
Beshear gets loudest applause so far for offering $2,000 pay raises for teachers. ^JB
— Bluegrass Politics (@BGPolitics) January 29, 2020
UK President Capilouto says he appreciates Gov Beshear's state budget proposal. ^JC pic.twitter.com/D5SGyTDe92
— Bluegrass Politics (@BGPolitics) January 29, 2020
Ky @GovAndyBeshear wraps first budget address.
On @PubAffairsKET, retired Courier-Journal reporter and budget guru @TomLoftus_CJ says he is surprised commonwealth has as much money to spend, notes former Gov. Matt Bevin had a gloomier take on budget. Loftus calls speech upbeat.— The Kentucky Gazette (@KentuckyGazette) January 29, 2020
His budget doesn't include a gas tax or transportation tax to fund infrastructure, says Loftus. Says that's significant.
— KET Public Affairs (@PubAffairsKET) January 29, 2020
House Speaker David Osborne says now is the time for responsible talk. Says lawmakers have yet to get any details.
— KET Public Affairs (@PubAffairsKET) January 29, 2020
Senate President Robert Stivers says lawmakers weren't included in Beshear's budget development despite calls from the governor to work across the aisle. Stivers says the budget is "all puppy dogs and rainbows."
— KET Public Affairs (@PubAffairsKET) January 29, 2020
Stivers says the process bothered him. He said it’s the first time the press has been briefed and the legislators haven’t. Says it doesn’t live up to Beshear’s pledge to change the tone.
— Daniel Desrochers (@drdesrochers) January 29, 2020
https://twitter.com/cattleprod/status/1222331851777421312
Stivers pushes back on $2,000 teacher raises because it doesn't include support staff like cooks and janitors.
— Marcus Green (@mgreenKY) January 29, 2020
Osborne says it's disconcerting that Beshear did not propose full funding for school safety.
— KET Public Affairs (@PubAffairsKET) January 29, 2020
Wait…you mean you’re condemning @GovAndyBeshear for funding some when @KYGOP didn’t fund it at all? Got it. 🤦🏻♀️ #120Strong https://t.co/PVeg0Pfzu8
— KY 120 United-AFT (@120Strong) January 29, 2020
House Minority Floor Leader Joni Jenkins says the governor laid out a bold plan for Kentucky. Says there are many good things in the budget, including education, health care, K-CHIP
— KET Public Affairs (@PubAffairsKET) January 29, 2020
Senate Minority Leader Morgan McGarvey says this is a winner of a budget because you can't fix 14 years of cuts in one budget. Says this sets us up to have better budgets in the future.
— KET Public Affairs (@PubAffairsKET) January 29, 2020
“Ultimately, it will be our product,” Osborne says. Stivers said they intend to preserve their ability to override a veto.
— Daniel Desrochers (@drdesrochers) January 29, 2020
Statement from Kentucky Education Association
KEA fully supports Governor Beshear’s proposed budget. He promised during his campaign that public education will be the cornerstone of his administration’s policies. The budget he presented this evening backs up those words with action.
In stark contrast to the 2018 budget, Gov. Beshear proposed meaningful investments in public education, not cuts. He made good on his commitment to school safety by funding the first phase of SB1 as passed by the General Assembly last year. His budget increases per pupil SEEK funding, restores desperately needed money for textbooks and instructional materials, and funds support for pre-K and early learning for disadvantaged populations across the Commonwealth.
The proposed budget addresses Kentucky’s teacher shortage by committing to fully funding public employee pensions, raising public teacher salaries by $2,000, reinstating teacher professional development funding, and investing millions of dollars each year into the teacher loan forgiveness program.
The governor recognizes that investments in Kentucky’s future costs money today. His budget responsibly and transparently addresses that cost by recommending new revenue by means of legislation already filed in the House. Legalizing sports betting, increasing taxes on cigarettes, and imposing taxes on vaping are viable options to raise revenue. Bills proposing those new fees and taxes have already been filed by Republicans in the House and have bi-partisan support.
Although we certainly support this proposed budget and will work toward its passage in the House and Senate, we recognize that many of the needs of Kentucky’s citizens are still not met. All public employees have gone years without any meaningful pay increase, although the cost of their health insurance rises each year. Many education support professionals who work in Kentucky’s public schools are not paid a living wage. Kentucky has roads and bridges in need of repair. We have citizens without access to necessary mental and physical health services. The list goes on and on. Without new, permanent sources of revenue, Kentucky cannot hope to truly make progress.
KEA and its 44,000 members across Kentucky will reach out to legislators throughout this session to ensure our voices are heard in support of this budget. Public education and Kentucky’s educators make the difference in our communities, and KEA will stand up and speak out to support the governor’s commitment to providing a quality public education to every child in the Commonwealth.”
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