The “KYGA21 Snippets” series are compilations of small news items, side notes, tweets, and other things that don’t need a full story on their own.
Day 3 – January 7, 2021
Change to KYGA schedule
The Kentucky legislature will meet on Saturday this week and Monday through Wednesday next week. Originally they were off until February.
Still have to adjourn by the end of March, they only have 30 days to work with.— Ryland Barton (@RylandKY) January 8, 2021
Reaction to “playing politics” comment
Beshear just said "we can't play politics" in this moment. It's a sentiment that has worn on Republican lawmakers here. Several members of the senate just gave floor speeches to the effect of "we're not playing politics, he is."
— Daniel Desrochers (@drdesrochers) January 8, 2021
Reaction to GOP “ramming through” their bills
House Republican leadership rammed through their priority bills today and their top goal is crystal clear: making it harder for @GovAndyBeshear to enforce COVID-19 protections in schools, restaurants, & long-term care homes.
This is politicizing a pandemic at its most ruthless. pic.twitter.com/QTP5OPGH1o
— Patti Minter (@pattiminter4ky) January 7, 2021
Comments about the budget
.@RepJoniJenkins says Beshear presented a hopeful budget. Thanks to the federal infusion of money the state has weathered the pandemic pretty well. I believe it will gather bipartisan support by putting money in the Rainy Day Fund and fully funding pensions, she says.
— KET Public Affairs (@PubAffairsKET) January 8, 2021
.@MorganMcGarvey says we’re not going to agree on everything, but I feel good right now. It’s a good-news budget. It looks to get us out of the pandemic. he says.
— KET Public Affairs (@PubAffairsKET) January 8, 2021
.@RepJoniJenkins says she thinks medical marijuana, sports betting and historic horse racing will be bills separate from the budget. She says she looks forward to those bills being well received in the House.
— KET Public Affairs (@PubAffairsKET) January 8, 2021
.@MorganMcGarvey says the Senate has been the stumbling block on those issues. It’s time to have a vote on them, he says.
— KET Public Affairs (@PubAffairsKET) January 8, 2021
This week is going to be contentious, there’s no way around that, says @ItsShermanBrown. Once that gets done, hopefully we can move on. I’m watching Rocky Adkins. He knows Speaker Osborne and President Stivers. He’s been part of the budget negotiations for 20 years, says Brown.
— KET Public Affairs (@PubAffairsKET) January 8, 2021
Stivers says "we don't to rain on the parade but…"
He says he's concerned that the source of the money could be contributing to the federal deficit. Osborne agrees: "I think you'll see us taking a very, very conservative approach."
— Daniel Desrochers (@drdesrochers) January 8, 2021
.@reposborne says to read absolutely nothing into the budget that comes out first. It will be a continuation version of the budget to expedite the process and then lawmakers will get to the real work in conference, he says.
— KET Public Affairs (@PubAffairsKET) January 8, 2021
.@kysenatepres says everything sounds good until you put into the context on one-time dollars and recurring dollars. I can’t say yes, I can’t say no, he says.
— KET Public Affairs (@PubAffairsKET) January 8, 2021
Budget presentation to lawmakers on Friday
Watch State Budget Director John Hicks present the details of the governor's budget to lawmakers, Friday morning at 9 on KET-KY, or stream on KET's website and the KET apps.
— KET Public Affairs (@PubAffairsKET) January 8, 2021