Representative Hoover Urges Senate President, House Speaker For Budgetary Agreement
5/3/2010
Frankfort, KY- As the possibility of a state government shutdown looms closer to becoming a reality, House Republican Floor Leader Jeff Hoover (R-Jamestown) has sent a letter to Senate President David Williams and Speaker of the House Greg Stumbo urging both leaders to continue working in order to reach an agreement on the state’s executive branch budget.
Citing the concerns voiced by citizens across the Commonwealth, Representative Hoover stated in the letter, “…the main concern our caucus members hear from constituents related to the budget is they have grown weary of the tired strategy of ‘tax, borrow and spend.’ Our constituents do not want our Commonwealth to further borrow funds, but expect and demand us to show fiscal responsibility while crafting this document in tough economic times.”
The General Assembly was left to write its own spending plan after Governor Steve Beshear presented his budget proposal which was based on unrealistic expected funds rather than definite revenue, a vital budgetary component in this recession. Following the passage of two vastly different documents from each chamber, a bipartisan, bicameral conference committee took up the task of hammering out a compromise. The refusal to recede from contentious portions caused negotiations to go awry on more than one occasion and the General Assembly adjourned without a budget, which is the root of the public’s frustration and anger. If a budget is not approved by June 30, a host of state government programs would be halted since the Governor does not have the authority to make expenditure decisions to keep the state’s services in operation.
In the final moments of this year’s session, Representative Hoover addressed his colleagues in the House and pledged the House Republican Caucus’ willingness to place the discontent and malice behind them so the will of the people could be accomplished in the expected Extraordinary Session, a vow renewed in the letter.
“As always, I and our caucus members stand ready to do our part and will happily meet to further the goal of crafting a budget that all sides can agree to, if our participation is so desired,” concluded the letter.
An Extraordinary Session is expected to be called in May, allowing the Governor enough time to structure the shutdown of state government if an agreement cannot be reached.
