Reactions to Governor Beshear’s proposed budget, gathered from various press releases
Senate President Robert Stivers, House Speaker David Osborne, Senate Appropriations and Revenue Chair Chris McDaniel, and House Appropriations and Revenue Chair Jason Petrie
“We appreciate the Governor’s diligence in crafting his version of the state budget and will continue to review the documents provided and welcome input from him as the budget process unfolds. A budget is the ultimate policy document, and this means we must invest every taxpayer dollar in a manner that reflects our state’s priorities and financial realities. This pandemic is far from over and our Commonwealth still faces great uncertainty. We question the prudence of spending millions of dollars in new programs when our economy remains extraordinarily unpredictable.
“While there is still much work to be done, the General Assembly will do so with extreme consideration and care as it develops a one-year budget that will most effectively benefit the people of the Commonwealth.”
House and Senate Democratic Caucus leaders: House Caucus Leader Joni Jenkins, House Caucus Chair Derrick Graham, House Caucus Whip Angie Hatton, Senate Caucus Leader Morgan McGarvey, Senate Caucus Chair Reginald Thomas, and Senate Caucus Whip Dennis Parrett.
“Governor Beshear’s budget is exactly the blueprint state government needs to help Kentuckians navigate what will hopefully be the final months of the COVID-19 pandemic. It makes major investments in our economy – including providing much-needed help for struggling businesses and those still unemployed – and it puts the commonwealth in position to thrive in the years ahead. We also value the increased investment in our schools, our state workers, and critical healthcare programs. We are definitely pleased that state revenues continue to be much stronger than expected, something that would have been thought impossible back in March. It’s hard to imagine how the General Assembly improves this spending plan.”
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Colmon Elridge, Chair of the Kentucky Democratic Party
“Tonight, Gov. Andy Beshear gave us a clear blueprint for leading us out of the worst pandemic in 100 years. The Governor’s strong, steady, honest, and compassionate leadership through this crisis has ensured that our commonwealth will be in better shape from both a public health and economic standpoint. The Governor has crafted a budget that, even in these difficult days, finds ways to invest in the people of our Commonwealth, because of his steadfast belief in the dignity and worth of every Kentuckian.
Unfortunately the steadiness of Governor Beshear’s leadership has been met with a Republican majority clearly suffering from Beshear Derangement Syndrome. Instead of working with this Governor to meet the historic challenges we face, a party devoid of an actual agenda, continues to put their own personal political interests above our Commonwealth.Their priority bills are not focused on the people of Kentucky, they are focused on a Governor who denied them a clean sweep of Frankfort offices, and who has continuously fought back and won by challenging their clear disregard for democratic norms.
Time after time during this pandemic, Governor Beshear has stepped up. He stepped up with an emergency fund for our restaurants when the federal government, led by Mitch McConnell, did nothing. He stepped up to keep Kentuckians safer than our neighboring states. He stepped up and worked with a bipartisan coalition of Governors to save lives. Now, he is once again stepping up with his proposals to help small businesses, prioritize education and invest in infrastructure like broadband.
I stand with Governor Andy Beshear and his proposal to move Kentucky forward. I invite all Kentuckians who care about the future of our Commonwealth to stand with him and stand up for him as he has always stood up for us.”
Joe Baer, President, Kentucky Professional Firefighters Association
“A budget is a statement of values, and Gov. Beshear has shown once again that he values Kentucky’s firefighters. Gov. Beshear continues to support our frontline first responders in his budget proposal by including the additional $600 training incentive, as well as continued funding for firefighter mental health. This is an acknowledgment by Gov. Beshear that we have stepped up to the plate in this pandemic to provide quality service to our communities.”
Jason Bailey, Executive Director, Kentucky Center for Economic Policy
“The Governor’s budget includes the kind of short-term aid and long-term investments Kentucky needs to survive this crisis and jump-start a robust recovery on the other side. It prioritizes relief to people who are hurting, begins restoring core services that are more important than ever and makes smart investments in our future. Especially in tough times, Kentuckians need a government that will deliver for them – this budget does that.”
Bart Baldwin, Executive Director, Kentucky Health Resources Alliance
“The Governor’s inclusion of additional funds to support a legislative solution to the pension crisis for Community Mental Health Centers and public health departments will be crucial to maintaining the public safety net for our most vulnerable Kentuckians. These agencies are and will continue to be on the frontline of supporting citizens during the pandemic and in our efforts to recover from the long-term impact on our mental and physical health.”
Sara Jo Best, Public Health Director, Lincoln Trail District Health Department; Kentucky Local Health Departments Association President
“The Kentucky Health Departments Association would like to express our gratitude to the Governor for his leadership during the public health response to the pandemic. The budget he has presented tonight demonstrates his continued commitment to local health departments by increasing funding for our foundational public health services and providing crucial financial relief from increasing pension costs.”
Terry Brooks, Executive Director, Kentucky Youth Advocates
“The Governor’s state budget proposal gives Kentucky families a life preserver in the immediate future and is a catalyst to creating a post-pandemic commonwealth where all kids can thrive. We are especially pleased to see that this budget embraces commitments that our legislative leaders and Governor share when it comes to creating brighter futures for children. The budget emphasizes key issues such as protecting kids from abuse, implementing trauma-informed supports within schools, closing gaps in health coverage for children and families and ensuring that our youngest children have high quality and affordable early care and education opportunities. These are neither urban nor rural, conservative or liberal, but are common ground for our commonwealth.”
Eddie Campbell, President, Kentucky Education Association
“Gov. Beshear’s proposed budget provides immediate financial relief to schools, prioritizes Kentucky’s citizens and makes significant investments in our collective future. The Governor knows that the best thing he can do for all Kentucky citizens is to appropriately use the more than $900 million in federal funds that are coming to the commonwealth to timely address urgent issues facing our state. We are pleased that the proposed budget uses some of those funds for public education. The last nine months have laid bare the inequities created by chronically underfunding public schools. It is equally important that individual citizens and the small businesses, state agencies and non-profits they rely on for vital services also receive relief. Making these investments today will build a great foundation for Kentucky and will pay dividends for all citizens far into the future.”
Jim Carroll, President, Kentucky Government Retirees
“Gov. Beshear’s budget request is welcome news for stakeholders in Kentucky Retirement Systems. The budget as submitted has our full support.”
Danielle Clore, CEO, Kentucky Nonprofit Network
“When a nonprofit closes its doors or must scale back, not only are jobs lost – vital services are lost as well. There is not always another nonprofit to step in to pick up the slack and it’s Kentuckians who can least afford it who pay the price. This relief will help ensure programs for our most vulnerable continue, that communities thrive and that Kentuckians remain employed. Kentucky’s future depends on a thriving nonprofit sector and Kentuckians will need nonprofit partners to support them and their families in the days and months ahead.”
Brent McKim, President, Jefferson County Teachers Association
“The Jefferson County Teachers Association applauds the unprecedented investments in public education that Gov. Beshear’s budget proposes. These investments in our public schools and educators are essential if the commonwealth is to compete successfully in our global 21st century economy. Thank you Gov. Beshear for keeping your promise to make public education a top priority in all you do.”
Berl Perdue, President, Kentucky Fraternal Order of Police
“The Kentucky Fraternal Order of Police appreciates the opportunity to meet with Gov. Beshear to discuss his draft budget. It is encouraging that he has fully funded the retirement ARC payments while at the same time providing a pay increase for state employees. His desire to invest in facilities at the Department of Criminal Justice training is necessary and we applaud his efforts to secure those funds. We will always strive to be the best trained and equipped Law Enforcement in the country and this draft budget helps us reach that goal. The Kentucky Fraternal Order of Police represents more than 10,800 current and retired officers. The items in this draft budget will help us recruit, retain and train the officers needed to protect the commonwealth.”
Joint Statement – Eileen Recktenwald, Executive Director, Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs; Caroline Ruschell, Executive Director, Children’s Advocacy Centers of Kentucky; Angela Yannelli, Chief Executive Officer, Kentucky Coalition Against Domestic Violence
“Gov. Beshear’s proposed budget provides long-awaited pension relief that will sustain and strengthen Kentucky’s network of child advocacy centers, domestic violence shelters and rape crisis centers, ensuring life-saving support services to our commonwealth’s most vulnerable citizens.”
Steve Shannon, Kentucky Association of Regional Programs, Inc.
“The Community Mental Health Centers greatly appreciate and are grateful for the fiscal support provided by Gov. Beshear’s budget. The additional funding assistance for the escalating public pension costs permits the CMHCs to continue operating as the behavioral health public safety net for all Kentuckians. Thank you, Gov. Beshear!”
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