Thank you, Sir. May I have Another.

Lovin' the bad news...'cause it's not worse.

This from PolWatchers:

'Good news and bad news' budget agreed upon

After an all-nighter, lawmakers negotiating the state’s budget emerged from behind closed doors at about 7 a.m. with a plan that cuts university funding by 3 percent and other government programs by an as-yet unknown amount.

State workers and teachers are slated for 1 percent pay raises in each of the next two years. "There's some good news and bad news," said House Speaker Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green. "Not as good in human services and education as we'd like but it's an improvement over the (governor's proposed) budget that we got."

This latest version of the $19 billion two-year spending plan, which key House and Senate members finally finished cobbling together after 21 straight hours of work, adds at least $150 million more each year beyond what Gov. Steve Beshear first outlined in January...

..EDUCATION: Public universities would have to trim another 3 percent beyond the 3 percent Beshear asked them to cut back already this year.

The Bucks for Brains program, which helps attract prominent professors to Kentucky public colleges, would receive the $60 million Beshear requested, Kelly said.

The budget also includes more money for student financial aid than was proposed by Beshear.

The spending plan, Kelly and Richards said, also includes money local school districts can use for textbooks and safe schools programs, which has been urged by Rep. Harry Moberly, D-Richmond...

..."Given the revenue constraints they had, I think it's a remarkable showing of how much both chambers value us," said Doug Whitlock, president of Eastern Kentucky University. "We recognize the realities of the situation." ...

...UNIVERSITIES REACT: Several university presidents expressed gratitude that their budgets weren't cut further.

"Given the revenue constraints they had, I think it's a remarkable showing of how much both chambers value us," said Doug Whitlock, president of Eastern Kentucky University. "We recognize the realities of the situation."

..."I'm quite ecstatic," said Brad Cowgill, interim president of the council. " It's like a coming from behind win for the home team. Higher education has staying power with this legislature, and we're grateful for that." ...