The 2021 short session of the Kentucky General Assembly opened Tuesday morning in Frankfort and passing a one-year budget is top of mind for lawmakers from across the commonwealth.
Representative Jason Petrie of Elkton is serving his first session as chair of the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee where the budget begins and says there are still many unknowns to wrestle with regarding expenses and funds due to the pandemic.
Petrie doesn’t expect any major tax reform or measures to create new revenue during this short session.
Governor Andy Beshear will give his State of the Commonwealth and Budget Address Wednesday night at 6 and Representative Petrie says the legislature will have to get to work quickly to get a budget that’s likely to look very different from the governor’s version to his desk before the veto recess.
Any budget measure must pass both chambers with a two-thirds majority during an odd-numbered year and Petrie says that will be difficult, even with large Republican majorities in both chambers.
The governor’s speech Wednesday night will air live on KET and on the governor’s Facebook and YouTube pages.
Listen to our entire interview with Rep. Petrie below: