House Democrats assail budget; passage in doubt
Upon learning fresh details of the compromise budget deal, many House lawmakers are declaring that they can't be for it.
Some are upset at what they call paltry raises for state employees and teachers. Other have lambasted the treatment of coal severance tax revenue that generally goes to coal-producing counties for projects. And many are frustrated that they voted for a bill that increased some taxes in order to bolster the spending for health and education programs and projects and feel like now the budget contains little of that.
"I have a real problem with it," said Rep. Derrick Graham, D-Frankfort, who is a government and history teacher.
Graham cited cuts to higher education and slim raises for state workers and teachers. But he also railed against the budget process, which he said allowed just a few lawmakers to participate, kept the bulk of legislators away and barred the press and public for the last two crazy days of secret negotiations that ended 7 a.m. Tuesday.
"The doors are closed. Most of us are hearing it by word of mouth and by word of the press," he said...
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