By RONNIE ELLIS
CNHI
FRANKFORT —
The state senate couldn’t quite make up its collective mind on a new road plan Friday — initially passing its amended version of one previously approved by the House but then reversing its decision and sending the bill back to the Transportation Committee.
At an early morning meeting of that committee, Chairman Sen. Ernie Harris, R-Crestwood, told committee members it was critical to pass the plan Friday.
“We need to get it out of committee today and we need to get it out of the Senate today to get it down to the House because we need to get it to conference committee and we are running out of days,” said Harris.
He said much the same thing later on the floor of the Senate, which subsequently passed the bill 38-0. Floor Leader Sen. Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, then said Senate leaders anticipate the House will not concur with changes made by the Senate, so he read off a list of senators appointed to the conference committee to work out differences with the House. The Senate shortly thereafter adjourned.
But not for long. About 30 minutes later, Stivers announced that the legislative journal should reflect that Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, objected to the motion to adjourn. The objection wasn’t contested or over-ruled and the Senate was back in session — or according to the journal or official record, had never adjourned.
Stivers then moved to recommit the road plan to the Transportation Committee and no one objected. Later Williams said because the House had already adjourned for the weekend, the Senate could wait until Monday to pass the plan and send it to the House. (Both chambers reconvene Monday at 4 p.m.)
Before the bizarre parliamentary moves, Harris had said the plan removed House-approved projects, which rely on a second round of federal stimulus funding — he said if the federal government ultimately approves a second round, state lawmakers can appropriate that money next January or in a special session. The bill funds projects for the base re-alignment of Ft. Knox and for Appalachian development.
It also restores funding for all bridges identified by the Transportation Cabinet as deficient, presumably including one in Carter County and one in Lincoln County which were deleted from the House plan. Those are in Republican represented districts and House Republicans charged they were deleted because Rep. Jill York, R-Grayson, and Rep. Danny Ford, R-Mt. Vernon, voted against a series of business tax changes the House used to produce more revenue for the next two years.
That means two major pieces of legislation, the road plan and the state budget, are still in limbo in the Senate as the calendar on the 2010 session winds down. The Senate budget committee met this week to review the House plan and committee chair Sen. Bob Leeper, I-Paducah, said it will be tough to balance the budget without making cuts to education.
The House largely avoided those with the business tax measures which are anticipated to produce about $370 million over two years, but the suspension of a business tax write-off and accelerating collection of sales taxes doesn’t have as much support in the Senate.
“Without new revenues,” Leeper said, “We face very difficult decisions.” And that means, he said, “Elementary and secondary education are still on the table.”
In other business this week:
— The Senate passed an amended version of “Amanda’s Bill,” which authorizes judges under some circumstances to order those accused of domestic abuse to wear electronic monitoring devices. Unlike the House bill, however, that can’t occur until criminal charges are brought against the alleged perpetrator. Differences will have to be worked out in conference committee.
— The Senate passed a measure to prohibit drug offenders from purchasing over the counter cold remedies, which are used to manufacture methamphetamine without a physician’s prescription for a legitimate medical need.
— It also passed SB 4, sponsored by Williams, to clarify how individuals or their families can donate organs upon death — or explicitly refuse to donate, thus preventing family members from donating their organs against their prior wishes.
— In the House, the budget committee passed a bill to increase contributions by retired teachers for health insurance in a move designed to protect the program from insolvency. Currently employed teachers, retired teachers, school districts and universities will phase in gradual increased contributions.
— Gambling continued to be an issue. In the Senate a bill to allow “instant racing” at horse tracks bogged down after some gambling opponents said it constitutes an expansion of gambling. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, who says it allows just another form of gambling on horse races at locations where gambling already exists. Williams initially seemed to agree — but late in the week said he will oppose the bill. Thayer said he still hopes to secure an agreement on the bill by the time his State and Local Government Committee is next scheduled to meet.
Ronnie Ellis writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. He may be contacted by email at rellis@cnhi.com. Follow CNHI News Service stories on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ cnhifrankfort.
