Beshear: GOP leaders reject overture on essential-worker pay
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky's Republican legislative leaders rejected a request to appoint members to a group to discuss using federal pandemic aid to reward frontline workers with bonuses, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear said Monday.
Instead, in yet another reflection of the state's fiercely divided politics, the top GOP lawmakers suggested the governor work through the legislature's committee process.
The governor had asked that legislative leaders select a handful of Republican and Democratic lawmakers to join a working group to fill in details of his plan. Beshear wants to use $400 million in federal pandemic assistance to award extra pay to essential workers employed throughout the pandemic. Republicans hold overwhelming majorities in the legislature.
The group, also to include members of Beshear’s administration, would try to reach consensus on key issues — which professions should be included and the amount of payments.
Read more: https://www.bgdailynews.com/news/state/beshear-gop-leaders-reject-overture-on-essential-worker-pay/article_d01cd012-d884-52e0-a3e2-a537f682c3a0.html
(Bowling Green Daily News)