Leaders of the minority caucuses in the state House and Senate both argue the atmosphere in Frankfort has been tainted by political gamesmanship.
It’s not unusual to hear a grumbling sound coming from the party out of power in either chamber – and this year’s short 30-day session has been no different.
Speaking on KET’s Kentucky Tonight Monday, Republican House Minority Floor Leader Jeff Hoover called 2015 one of the most disturbing years he’s witnessed, citing the decision by House Speaker Greg Stumbo to give freshmen Republicans only one committee assignment each.
"Everyone else, House and Senate, has three or four. Some have five. And it just started out that way, it wasn't good, and it hasn't improved a whole lot. It's been one of the most frustrating sessions for me just from a procedure and process standpoint," Hoover said.
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Floor Leader Ray Jones maintains the majority party in his chamber pressed ahead with session business during severe winter weather as a way of one-upping their Democratic colleagues in the House.
"The House Republicans and Democrats agreed that we shouldn't put not only the members but you know really you're putting a lot of staff members at risk by bringing them in in those weather conditions," he said. "And then when you pick up your Twitter and you've got Senate Republicans saying, 'We're here to do work. Where's the House?'"
Lawmakers now have just 48 hours remaining in the session to overcome any lingering acrimony to pass compromise measures on heroin, dating violence, and the gas tax.
