Speakers Race could Determine Ed Chair

This from the State-Journal:

Stumbo challenges Richards for House leadership

House Democrats will elect new leaders when they come back to Frankfort on Tuesday.

Rep. Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, is seeking to usurp Jody Richards, the longest-serving House speaker in Kentucky's history. Richards has held the job for 14 years. Stumbo is a former attorney general and House majority leader.

Rep. Carl Rollins, D-Midway, and Rep. Derrick Graham, D-Frankfort, say they have been flooded with phone calls and letters from those candidates, as well as contenders in other elections.

...Rep. Carl Rollins, D-Midway, and Rep. Derrick Graham, D-Frankfort, say they have been flooded with phone calls and letters from those candidates, as well as contenders in other elections.

"They've all been working hard to garner the support of all our membership," Rollins said. "Especially this week." ...

...The elections are made by a secret ballot and Rollins and Graham were tight-lipped about whom they were supporting. Rollins called for a change in the way business is conducted in the House. He said strong leadership is needed. ...

...Whatever the results are, both Rollins and Graham said the new leaders will need to work together and avoid backlash against members who didn't support them.

"We've got a tough job and we don't need to be playing games by punishing some people or rewarding others," Rollins said...

Hat tip to KSBA.

House Mushrooms May Refuse to Approve Budget

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...

PolWatchers doing more great work these days.