Louisville Courier-Journal: Gov. Andy Beshear presents state budget plan with direct COVID-19 relief
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is a statement from Colmon Elridge, Chair of the Kentucky Democratic Party:
Tonight, Gov. Andy Beshear gave us a clear blueprint for leading us out of the worst pandemic in 100 years. The Governor’s strong, steady, honest, and compassionate leadership through this crisis has ensured that our commonwealth will be in better shape from both a public health and economic standpoint. The Governor has crafted a budget that, even in these difficult days, finds ways to invest in the people of our Commonwealth, because of his steadfast belief in the dignity and worth of every Kentuckian.
Unfortunately the steadiness of Governor Beshear’s leadership has been met with a Republican majority clearly suffering from Beshear Derangement Syndrome. Instead of working with this Governor to meet the historic challenges we face, a party devoid of an actual agenda, continues to put their own personal political interests above our Commonwealth.Their priority bills are not focused on the people of Kentucky, they are focused on a Governor who denied them a clean sweep of Frankfort offices, and who has continuously fought back and won by challenging their clear disregard for democratic norms.
Time after time during this pandemic, Governor Beshear has stepped up. He stepped up with an emergency fund for our restaurants when the federal government, led by Mitch McConnell, did nothing. He stepped up to keep Kentuckians safer than our neighboring states. He stepped up and worked with a bipartisan coalition of Governors to save lives. Now, he is once again stepping up with his proposals to help small businesses, prioritize education and invest in infrastructure like broadband.
I stand with Governor Andy Beshear and his proposal to move Kentucky forward. I invite all Kentuckians who care about the future of our Commonwealth to stand with him and stand up for him as he has always stood up for us.
A statement from Kentucky Education Association President Eddie Campbell regarding Governor Beshear’s Budget:
Governor Beshear’s proposed budget provides immediate financial relief to schools, prioritizes Kentucky’s citizens, and makes significant investments in our collective future. The Governor knows that the best thing he can do for all Kentucky citizens is to appropriately use the more than $900 million in federal funds that are coming to the Commonwealth to timely address urgent issues facing our state. We are pleased that the proposed budget uses some of those funds for public education. The last nine months have laid bare the inequities created by chronically underfunding public schools. It is equally important that individual citizens and the small businesses, state agencies, and non-profits they rely on for vital services also receive relief.
Governor Beshear’s increased investments in SEEK, new technology, preschool, new school facilities and broadband puts the needs of our students first, and ensures that our classrooms offer a quality environment to learn. Proposed investments in teacher and education support professional pay, retirement and loan forgiveness helps ensure we continue to attract and retain quality educators. And fully funding our retired teacher medical insurance illustrates the governor’s commitment to those educators who have spent their careers educating Kentucky’s children.
Making these investments today will build a great foundation for Kentucky and will pay dividends for all citizens far into the future.
By JOE SONKA
FRANKFORT — Gov. Andy Beshear on Thursday unveiled his one-year state budget proposal, which he said would create "bold investments" for Kentucky to defeat and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, with no spending cuts or tax increases.
The executive summary of the governor's recommended budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year outlines the use of $613 million in one-time funds to provide immediate relief for those negatively impacted by the pandemic and long-term investments in infrastructure, while also giving raises to state workers and employees of K-12 schools.
Beshear presented his budget plan Thursday evening in his State of the Commonwealth address, which was done via video instead of the governor's typical speech to a joint session of the General Assembly and constitutional officers due to the pandemic.