Rep. Lynn Bechler
State legislators from the Pennyrile region previewed the 2021 session of the General Assembly during the final PADD Board of Directors virtual meeting of 2020 Monday afternoon.
Representative Lynn Bechler of Marion, who represents a portion of Christian County, pointed out the obvious—passing a one-year budget that will require a two-thirds majority vote will be the top priority.
Representative Walker Thomas of Hopkinsville says House leadership has made it known they plan to get to work passing legislation immediately when the session begins.
Multiple lawmakers talked about reigning in the emergency powers of a governor and Representative Melinda Prunty of Muhlenberg County says it’s not necessarily about any angst against the current governor, she and others want the legislature to be more involved when there is a prolonged event such as the pandemic.
All of the legislators agreed there will be discussion about how to address an unemployment insurance fund crippled by pandemic shutdowns and they hope to do it in a way that doesn’t make Kentucky businesses pay all of the bill.
PADD said goodbye to outgoing Senator Stan Humphries of Cadiz, who ends his final term this month after choosing to not seek re-election.