Kentucky lawmakers brought to an impasse after bipartisan budget meeting

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) – A bipartisan budget committee met for hours on Sunday. The committee was trying to reach on agreement on a two-year, $21 Billion dollar budget for the state, but called it quits at around 11:30 Sunday night.

The original sticking point for the Republican-controlled senate and the Democrat-controlled house was spending on higher education. The senate originally sided with Governor Matt Bevin’s plan for a 9% cut to higher education.

The governor says it’s to shore up the state pension program.However, the senate later came back with a proposed 4.5% cut. According to senator Chris McDaniel house and senate negotiators finally agreed on that 4.5% cut Sunday night.

Last week, house democrats said they were willing to accept a 2% cut next year with ‘no’ cut the following year. McDaniel says it was how much to spend on the state’s public pension debt, estimated at more than 30-billion dollars that brought negotiators to an impasse.

House Democrats say when discussions about moving the end of the legislative session from Tuesday to Wednesday,Thursday or Friday to give more time to work on the budget, senate members walked away from discussions.

If there is no budget agreement Governor Bevin may call a special session. If no budget is in place by July, a partial government shutdown is possible.

There are no plans for lawmakers to discuss the budget Monday.