Hours of secret meetings but still no Kentucky budget deal

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP/WTVQ) – Kentucky lawmakers have still not reached an agreement on how to spend more than $65 billion in public money over the next two years.

House and Senate leaders met for hours on Wednesday in a series of secret meetings that sometimes included Republican Gov. Matt Bevin. Senate budget chairman Chris McDaniel said the two sides are trying to craft a compromise but said no major agreements have been reached.

House Speaker Greg Stumbo released a statement Wednesday night regarding the day’s budget discussions. “We have been working all day with Senate leadership, trying to iron out differences. We appreciate their work and the work of the staff,” Stumbo said.

Democrats control the House of Representatives while Republicans control the Senate. In a budget that includes $21 billion of state tax dollars, the two sides cannot agree on how to spend about $300 million. Democrats want to spend it on education while Republicans want to spend it on paying down the state’s massive public pension debt.

Budget talks are scheduled to resume at 9 a.m. Thursday.