By RONNIE ELLIS
FRANKFORT — Lawmakers returned to Frankfort on Monday after a weekend at home, but most said they didn’t hear much feed back on a state budget proposal that would shave two days off the school calendar.
Rep. Danny Ford, R-Mount Vernon, said he attended a legislative breakfast at home Monday morning and while the subject of the school days came up, he didn’t detect an uprising.
“We had some people say we wish you didn’t have to do that, but it wasn’t bad,” Ford said.
House Education Committee Chairman Carl Rollins, D-Midway, concurred. He said he’d received some blowback from teachers and educators, “but not that much. I was kind of surprised really.”
House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, said he’d not heard much about the days while back in Floyd County this weekend. He said some members told him they’d been asked about the days, but again, there was no indication of widespread shock or anger.
By reducing the number of instructional days from 177 to 175, the state will save about $34 million and teachers – on average – will lose about $500. Another cost savings, however, may yet rile educators – state employees will likely pay more from their paychecks for pensions and for health insurance.
Rep. Tim Firkins, D-Louisville, said like the other lawmakers he hadn’t heard much about the days over the weekend, but he added he wouldn’t expect to start seeing “green slip” messages from constituents for another couple of days because the broad budget plan became public only late last Thursday.
That plan relies on cuts to most agencies, including 2 percent cuts to universities, changes in employee health costs, reducing the number of political appointees in all three branches of government, and an assumption of continued federal assistance to Medicaid in the form of higher match money.
Stumbo said Monday afternoon that he expected House budget chairman Rick Rand, D-Bedford, to produce a budget document either by the end of this week or early next week.
“I would hope we could vote on it sometime next week toward the end of the week,” Stumbo said. “If not, then very early the next week.”
He said lawmakers continue to wrangle with the administration over data they seek about Medicaid and the number of political jobs. He said university presidents have asked to meet with leadership about the House budget proposal.
RONNIE ELLIS writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com. Follow CNHI News Service stories on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cnhifrankfort.
