What Stinks?

This from C-J:

Many House Democrats say

$19 billion plan is inadequate

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Many House Democrats expressed disappointment -- and in some cases anger -- over the lean state budget produced yesterday by a conference committee after all-night negotiations.

"I think so little of it, this will be the first time in 28 years that I'm not going to vote for the budget," said Rep. Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg. "It's a terrible document. It doesn't adequately fund education, doesn't adequately fund human services, it doesn't do anything for our infrastructure."

While support in the Senate seemed solid, Stumbo's concerns were echoed by many other House Democrats on the eve of today's vote in both chambers.

Some said they were disappointed that their representatives on the committee didn't push harder for a House revenue package, including a cigarette tax increase, that would have generated about $760 million over the biennium...

...Teachers and state workers will get raises of only 1 percent in each of the next two years. Funding for state universities will be cut by 3 percent. Programs in education, health and social services also will be cut.

Rep. Harry Moberly, the Richmond Democrat who is chairman of the Appropriations and Revenue Committee, said the budget is "totally inadequate."

"I think we will go backward in education," he said.

Moberly said the House version barely allowed the state to make progress over the 2008-10 budget period. But the final budget falls well short because the Senate refused to agree to the cigarette tax increase, he said.

Still, he said, "I'm going to hold my nose and vote for it" because failure to pass a budget would force a special session...

...As for public education, the only additional revenue in the budget is the 1 percent annual raises for teachers and other school workers.

It retains cuts in the Senate version for the extended school-tutoring program and professional development for teachers, as well as other programs.

Department of Education spokeswoman Lisa Gross said the 1 percent annual teacher raises are appreciated but will still leave Kentucky behind surrounding states.

"We really have to have a huge percent increase to get us up to the level of surrounding states," she said.

Brent McKim, president of the Jefferson County Teachers' Association, said, "We are particularly disappointed that this (abandons) the commitment to raise our salaries and to reach the average of surrounding states." ...