Recent passed by the legislature, Senate Joint Resolution 150 would trim weeks off the state of emergency, which had been scheduled to end April 14. In his Monday briefing, Gov. Andy Beshear was blunt about how the action would affect federal aid to the state.
"There is no way to our knowledge — and we've had all our lawyers look at it — that we can get that additional $50 million of food assistance to struggling seniors and struggling kids without the executive order I signed being extended."Gov. Andy Beshear
Defenders argued the move signals a return to normalcy and an end to federal relief that may no longer be needed. Rep. Kim Moser, a Republican from Taylor Mill, reminded her colleagues the COVID relief funds still come out of the pocket of taxpayers.
"I think that we have a reason to be concerned with the spending of any taxpayer dollars, whether they're state of federal. If the state of emergency is over, we shouldn't be reliant on additional taxpayer dollars."Rep. Kim Moser (R-Taylor Mill)
Yet responses from Republicans have varied — with some arguing Kentucky no longer needs the federal dollars and others saying the loss of the relief funds won't affect SNAP benefits for those who are eligible. Meanwhile, Senate President Robert Stivers noted that the resolution states that lawmakers have no intent to "impair or delay" the state's capacity to collect the federal funds.
But the situation has left both sides pointing fingers. Stivers says Beshear could still come to the legislature and ask for changes, but the governor's office has said the General Assembly hasn't made any overtures to that effect.
The Lexington Herald-Leader reports Cabinet for Health and Family Services spokeswoman Susan Dunlap did report reaching out to two Republican health committee chairs about "unintended consequences" of the resolution.
