Vetoes Undone
The phrase of the day: "Veto of the governor notwithstanding."
Flexing their supermajorities, Republicans did away with Beshear's short lived vetoes in short order — reinstating bills that allow school boards to permit students to attend an hour of off campus "moral instruction" every week if they choose, narrowing the definition of the Kentucky waters protected by state environmental officials, and other controversial measures.
While the overriding of vetoes has been reduced to a formality in the current political climate, Laura Collin Glasscock with the Kentucky Gazette said the reversals do put Beshear on the spot on issues that could resurface during his potential campaigns for higher office.
"They're putting him on the record on issues," she said. "So for example, House Bill 154, which deals with transgender health care. The governor vetoed that bill. Republicans will come back and override the veto, but they forced the governor on the record to take a stance on transgender health care."
A number of bills that have only passed one chamber also remain, including one that could upend Lexington's rules limiting density of short term rentals, but the dynamic during the last two days is different. Once the legislature gavels out on Friday, the governor can again exercise his veto authority on any new bills passed, this time leaving no recourse for the legislature to overturn his actions.
Hanging On
They didn't make it through before the governor's veto period, but they could still make it to his desk — depending on what happens in the home stretch.
These are some bills to watch.
On the list is: Senate Bill 132, a measure that would prohibit punishment of health care workers who decline to perform procedures that violate their conscience; Senate Bill 9, requiring school districts to provide up to 30 days maternity leave for teachers and staff who give birth; and a joint resolution requiring public colleges and universities to create policies surrounding antisemitism and to track incidents on campus.
Two measures that would affect policies enacted in Lexington are House Bill 20, which would place limits on the retention of data from license plate readers; and House Bill 211, creating a carve-out in anti-smoke laws for cigar bars.
Medicaid Work Requirements
Kentucky lawmakers are moving to reinstate vetoed changes to the state's Medicaid program.
House Bill 695 creates work requirements for able-bodied Kentuckians between 18 and 60, among other provisions. Beshear vetoed the bill, but the GOP-led House led the charge to overturn that decision Thursday afternoon.
Democratic Rep. Rachel Roarx said the bill creates cumbersome red tape and noted how quickly it was passed.
"I want to remind the body that this bill was passed out of this chamber, after a limiting debate in the 11th hour... on Day 28 of this 30-day legislative session," she said. "Had I been able to speak on it, what I would have liked to have said is that work reporting requirements are trip wires made out of bureaucracy and paperwork."
Advocates of the change — once attempted by former Gov. Matt Bevin — say the program is being over-utilized and contributing to ballooning costs.
Almost 1.5 million Kentuckians are covered under Medicaid.