If there’s one thing you can say about Matt Bevin, he has been consistent in his jabbing of the legislature. Last December, he called a special session, with 4 hours notice, on pensions. That lasted all of two days, as he had not worked with legislative leaders in advance.
On the heels of that debacle, he has now vetoed House Bill 358, which was designed to provide pension relief for regional universities and other quasi-governmental agencies such as health departments. The bill was passed on the last day of the legislative session, making it impossible to override a veto. However, we are told that legislative leaders were specifically told that he would not veto the bill, even though he had some concerns.
The governor made it clear that he preferred the Senate’s version of the bill, which was championed by Senator Chris McDaniel. In an odd turn of political events, Bevin now finds himself closer to the former running mate of Congressman James Comer, his arch-rival, than he is with his own Lt. Governor, Jenean Hampton.
In the conference committee, it quickly became apparent that not only would the House not agree to that version, many Senators were not enamored with that language either. So the House version passed, much to the chagrin of Bevin.
Now Bevin has reneged on his promise and vetoed the bill with . . . wait for it . . . the promise of another special session sometime prior to July 1. Once again, we are told this has come about without him talking to Senate or House majority leadership.
In fact, we are told there is already a movement among some legislators to make it clear they will adjourn the first day of any special session called on this topic. Battle lines are definitely being drawn.
Inside The Connector 