The Kentucky General Assembly overrode all of the governor’s line item budget vetoes on the session’s final day.
All 18 gubernatorial vetoes to House Bill 352 were read by bill sponsor and House Appropriations and Revenue Chair Rep. Steven Rudy, R-Paducah, before he called the House to cast a single vote to override the vetoes. That vote passed, 57-33. In the Senate, the vote to override the vetoes on HB 352 was 27-7.
The governor said the budget limited his flexibility to respond to the ongoing pandemic, while Rep. Rudy said he couldn’t foresee any funding issues that could arise between the start of the fiscal year in July and next year’s session in January.
Other language in the budget that was vetoed by the governor but reinstated by the General Assembly will give Kentucky’s Attorney General the final word regarding any questions that arise regarding interpretation of HB 352 or the Transportation Cabinet budget.