For
Immediate Release
August 19, 2002
Contact: Rusty Cheuvront or Denis Fleming (502) 564-2611
Frankfort,
KY -- Last Friday, Senator David Williams filed a motion in Franklin Circuit
Court, in regard to the budget litigation, to stop state government from
proceeding with the expenditure of coal severance tax funds for economic
development projects across Kentucky.
“Senator
Williams’ continuing challenge to the Governor’s authority to operate state
government is endangering vital state services and threatens the jobs of over
4,000 state worker,” said Finance Cabinet Secretary Kevin Flanery. “By
filing this challenge to the Governor’s authority to spend coal severance tax
proceeds, Senator Williams continues down the path to severely restrict the
Governor’s ability to maintain the continuity of state government.” The
Finance Cabinet, through legal counsel, will strongly oppose this effort to stop
these important projects because the Governor’s
emergency spending plan is a valid exercise of his authority under
Kentucky’s Constitution. Flanery
added, “Mr. Williams’ motion not only jeopardizes important projects for
coal counties but if successful would worsen the budget shortfall by over $4
million and threatens to shut down important elements of state government.”
The
Governor’s spending plan is virtually identical in its key features, including
coal severance projects, to the budget passed by both houses of the General
Assembly and voted for by Senator Williams. The effective operation of state
government requires the suspension of certain statutes, which were included in
the budget. These provisions are necessary to balance the state budget and
provide for important services of state government.
“Once
again, Mr. Williams is attempting to take us down the slippery slope of tying
the hands of the Governor by making it impossible to implement a rational
spending plan,” Governor Patton said. “ I intend to proceed with my spending
plan, maintain the operations of government in an efficient manner and provide
for the implementation of these important projects for Kentucky’s coal
counties.
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