House And Senate Negotiate Budget

• {Frankfort, Kentucky}...On the first full day of negotiations over a two-year, $19 billion budget, House and Senate leaders met three times Monday to work out differences between the two budgets. Leaders have agreed to cut a $30,000 annual living expense for Lt. Governor Jerry Abramson. Legislators said Abramson lives in Louisville and drives to Frankfort each day, and he does not need a housing allowance. The Senate version does not authorize a $3.5 million state bond for the downtown Lexington redevelopment project around Lexington Center and Rupp Arena, eliminates an additional $3.5 million appropriation to the Kentucky Horse Park, does not include the Kentucky Appalachian College Completion Program, a proposed college scholarship for kids in Eastern Kentucky that would be financed by coal severance taxes and asks the governor to cut nearly $100 million in contracts over the two years. The House version includes millions of dollars in coal severance projects and authorizes $552 million in borrowing, while the Senate authorizes $391 million. The two sides need to reach an agreement by 3 a.m. Thursday for a budget bill to be printed and ready for a vote by both chambers Friday.