Lawmakers Kick Off Special Session

{Frankfort, Kentucky}...Lawmakers have kicked off a special legislation session to pass a transportation budget and a prescription drug abuse bill. The House gaveled in shortly after noon Monday, and the Senate followed at 4:00 P.M. Governor Steve Beshear was angry that lawmakers ended their 2012 session late Thursday night without passing the two key bills that would appropriate money for road construction projects and attempt to curb overdose deaths from widespread prescription drug abuse in the state. The session is expected to cost more than $60,000 a day. Beshear says he hopes lawmakers can wrap up their work by Friday. Kentucky lawmakers need a minimum of five days to get legislation through both the House and Senate. If lawmakers can wrap up their work by the end of this week, the cost of the session would be limited to some $300,000. House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, says House committees will act on the bills Tuesday, and the full House will vote on them and send them to the Senate by noon Wednesday.