 |
AP
Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher makes a point while delivering his State of the Commonwealth address to a joint session of the General Assembly in Frankfort Tuesday. |
Governor proposes $250M in additional spending
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Gov. Ernie Fletcher is recommending $250 million in additional spending to pay for a variety of initiatives, including one that would provide vaccinations to middle school girls to prevent a common sexually transmitted disease known to cause cervical cancer.
The Republican governor outlined his proposals for a $401 million budget surplus on Tuesday in his annual State of the Commonwealth speech to a joint session of the House and Senate.
Fletcher, who is involved in a re-election campaign, will recommend putting $151 million aside for a trust fund to be used only in unforeseen emergencies. With the remainder he recommended a broad range of projects and initiatives that include:
- $50 million to be transferred into the retirement systems for teachers and state employees to help with financial problems that could put the health care and pensions of retirees at risk in years to come.
- $25 million to supplement financial aid for needy college students.
- $10 million to pay for retraining of workers at two Ford plants in Louisville.
- $5.8 million to purchase antiviral drugs to guard against bird flu.
- $4.1 million to cover the cost of voluntary vaccines against human papilloma virus.
"We have the second highest rate of cervical cancer deaths in the nation," said Fletcher, who worked as a physician before entering politics. "Most of these deaths are caused by the human papilloma virus. ... If you have ever watched a patient die of cervical cancer, and I have, you would do everything you could to make this vaccine available."
Fletcher also asked lawmakers to restore more than $351.6 million worth of construction projects, primarily at the state's public colleges and universities. That total also includes $6 million for a polar bear exhibit at the Louisville Zoo. He had vetoed the expenditures last year.
"I believe we can now responsibly move forward on those vetoed projects and I support restoring all of them," he said.
State Rep. Harry Moberly, D-Richmond, said the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee will look at Fletcher's proposals, but he said he expects many of them may be postponed until the next budget cycle.
"Opening up the budget to as great a degree as he proposed we don't think would be appropriate for this session," said Moberly, who chairs the appropriations committee.
State Treasurer Jonathan Miller, who is running for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, was critical of the governor's spending plan.
"I think Kentuckians are tired of the governor playing these financial games where he talks about these massive surpluses and yet admits that we have enormous, enormous deficit of the pension funds," Miller said.
Fletcher also used his speech to ask lawmakers to provide tax incentives and tax credits for new electric generating plants and facilities that would turn coal into liquid fuels. He also asked that state government be allowed to provide bond funds and grants for new plants that provide "new and clean methods" for generating fuel and energy.
"Energy independence transcends politics," he said. "It is good policy for our nation, our state and our citizens."
Weakened politically by two years of legal troubles, experts say the annual State of the Commonwealth speech could help Fletcher persuade voters to give him a second term in office.
"Especially in an election year, it's a good opportunity for free media coverage," said Kendra Stewart, a political scientist at Eastern Kentucky University. "A governor will hope to see his ratings go up slightly after the speech, then capitalize on that and try to keep that ball rolling through the rest of the primary season."
Two Republicans have filed to run against Fletcher in the May 22 primary, saying the first-term governor has been damaged beyond political repair and would not be the best GOP candidate to put up against Democrats in the November election.
Seven Democrats also are vying for the job, and they, too, have been critical of Fletcher, who was indicted last year on charges that he illegally rewarded political supporters with protected state jobs.
The indictment was dismissed in a deal with prosecutors, but a grand jury later issued its findings in the case, saying Fletcher had approved a "widespread and coordinated plan" to skirt state hiring laws. Fletcher has maintained that the investigation was politically motivated by Attorney General Greg Stumbo, the running mate of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bruce Lunsford.
Fletcher, an ordained Baptist minister, did not address the hiring scandal in the speech. However, he said his administration has gone about its work with "time-honored and proven values" in mind.
"From the Old Testament, we are admonished to execute true justice, show mercy and compassion," he said. "I believe we have followed those values _ treating our vulnerable more compassionately, providing better protection and justice for our unborn, caring for our newborns more thoroughly, and strengthening our commitment to education and to those who teach our children."
A governor running for a second term may include proposals that he knows may not be successful, Stewart said, "so when he starts campaigning, he can at least talk about having put that issue on the agenda."
Story created Feb 07, 2007 - 11:01:54 EST.
|
