It’s All About the State Budget

Monitoring the Kentucky Senate as I do frequently from the comfort of my office (you can watch from your office, too, on KET.org/legislature or on your smart phone with the KET Legislative Coverage App), I took note of recent remarks by Sen. Jared Carpenter (R-Berea). He was standing with a large group from Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, which is in his district. Carpenter said one thing he’s learned this legislative session is that when you talk about cuts to the state budget, you’ll hear from a lot of people.

Yes, lawmakers are debating social issues, the minimum wage, even expanded gaming, but the main topic of conversation in Frankfort is the budget. The spending plan Gov. Matt Bevin outlined before a joint session of the General Assembly in January is driving much of that discussion.

Among the many Kentuckians who are keeping a close eye on the budget battle are Kentucky Chamber of Commerce President Dave Adkisson and Jason Bailey, the executive director of the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy. We sat down last month to get their views on the state’s finances and what the next biennial budget for the commonwealth might look like.

Adkisson and Bailey along with Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee Chair Chris McDaniel (R-Taylor Mill) and Rep. Tommy Thompson (D-Owensboro), a member of the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee, will join me for a budget discussion on Kentucky Tonight. I hope you can join us Monday at 8 p.m. on KET.