Officials weigh in after judge rules Bevin’s higher ed cuts legal

Governor Matt Bevin says Attorney General Beshear’s position on the issue was irresponsible and unsustainable for government to take. While Beshear says the governor is usurping “dangerous levels of power.”

The battle all started back in January when the governor proposed a 4.5% cut to higher education.  Since then 2% of those funds have been restored by executive order. But as both sides weigh in tonight, the fight is far from over.

House Speaker Greg Stumbo said previously “The only time the governor by statute can reduce an appropriation is if the revenues don’t meet the projections.”

A Franklin County Circuit Judge disagrees with Speaker Stumbo’s interpretation of the law, ruling Bevin’s $18 million cuts to education are legal.

At the lawsuit hearing last month Stephen told ABC 36 “When we get in situations where the commonwealth needs money for other things the governor needs to be in a position to reduce those allotments.”

It’s a win for the Bevin administration which wants the resulting $18 million savings to shore up the state’s pension fund. Bevin saying in a statement “While others focus on politically motivated attacks, we continue to focus on strengthening Kentucky’s fiscal foundation.”

Attorney General Andy Beshear coming out swinging, saying he will immediately be filing an appeal to the Supreme Court. At the hearing he said,

“You can’t just pick and chose any cuts you want to make as governor when there is no shortfall. There are laws that prevent you from doing that and it violates the constitution’s separation of powers.”

While Governor Bevin applauds the quick decision of judge Thomas Wingate, the judge ordered Bevin to leave the $18 million alone.

It remains to be seen how Kentucky’s Supreme Court will act before the state’s fiscal year ends at the end of next month.

Meanwhile schools are in limbo, many raising tuition and some like Kentucky’s Community and Technical College system now cutting 500 faculty and staff jobs to deal with the revenue shortfall.

The University of Kentucky declined to comment on this story.  Eastern Kentucky University and KCTCS also do not have a comment at this time either. Attorney General Andy Beshear will be in Lexington for two events Thursday, where we are told he will take questions on other subjects like this one.