Budget Unlikely to Move Kentucky Forward

The Courier-Journal is rightly disappointed by a budget that now heads into the choppy waters of a conference committee. They're not wild about the partisan gamesmanship still on display from the Bully of Burkesville either.

Probably no final document can prove satisfying this year, given the state's poor revenue situation and the lack of willingness of lawmakers to do anything dramatic to address that problem -- raise significant taxes, for example, or approve casinos and expanded gambling.

But some scenarios are less bad than others, and there are some parts of each chamber's budget that ought to be preserved...

Senate needs to go along with the House on the wimpy little tax increases House members voted to impose....

But the Senate version is superior on some critical justice system issues. ... [and it modestly starts] to fund the pension liability...

Looking at all versions of the budget, the real sadness is the lack of interest in moving Kentucky forward this year. Those who have the power to do so have decided to try and contain damage instead.

Passing any budget will be challenging during this session, given the poor revenue situation, philosophical differences between chambers and the short tempers on display in the last week.

But passing a budget is the General Assembly's main duty. Members must realize neither side has all the best answers.