It’s unclear if $200 million in tax breaks the General Assembly passed this year are in violation of the federal act’s ban on states using the funds to offset cuts. The plan requires states to pay back the federal government if that happens.
The General Assembly overrode a veto by Gov. Andy Beshear, who said the legislation would cost the state $200,000 to identify noncustodial parents. The federal government pays for the food benefits.
The legislature dedicated $300 million to expand broadband internet in underserved parts of the state, $250 million for water and wastewater projects, $575 million to start repaying the state’s unemployment insurance loans, and $127 million for school construction and renovation.
One override, of the governor's veto of HB 312, will allow the legislative branch to judge for itself which records to produce in an open records request. A Democratic lawmaker said it was like "the fox watching the hen house."
Most Kentucky districts already have full-day kindergarten but a key swing vote on the controversial school choice bill appeared to hinge on the kindergarten funding.
The Republican-led legislature will likely override Beshear’s vetoes when lawmakers return for the final two days of this year’s session on Monday and Tuesday.
The governor also vetoed six bills, including a resolution ratifying some of his coronavirus-related executive orders in case laws stripping the Democratic governor’s emergency powers are upheld in court.
The governor's veto list included HB 312, restricting out-of-state records requests and allowing the legislature to have final authority on whether to release its own records.
