Road plans axed

By JOE BIESK
Associated Press

FRANKFORT April 29, 2008 02:12 pm

— Gov. Steve Beshear vetoed a two-year, $3.8 billion transportation plan on Monday, saying the legislation would have hampered his administration’s ability to adequately manage road projects in the state.
Beshear, a Democrat, said his administration would continue with an alternate transportation plan that would be compiled within the coming months. It would include projects authorized by the General Assembly and more, and would give his administration more flexibility, Beshear said.
“This legislation would have severely limited the Transportation Cabinet in its ability to deal with project cost overruns and any potential emergencies,” Beshear said. “Without this veto, some critical projects may have to sit idle because the actual cost could exceed the amount set forth in the legislation.”
Kentucky lawmakers earlier this month approved a two-year, $19 billion state spending plan but authorized the state’s transportation construction plan in separate legislation. Beshear vetoed that measure in its entirety on Monday.
The plan authorized federal and state transportation construction projects, including hundreds of road and bridge plans throughout the state. Beshear noted the plan listed more projects than the state could pay for.
Transportation Cabinet Secretary Joe Prather said the state would have up to about $150 million available to spend on road projects during the next two years. Meanwhile, the federal government would have about $1.3 billion available during that period, Prather said.
The move sparked a debate over whether Beshear, a Democrat, missed a veto deadline set out by the constitution and whether the state could continue building roads after the current state budget expires on June 30.
By law, the governor has 10 days — not counting Sundays — to veto or sign into law legislation passed by the legislature. The governor may allow legislation to become law without signing it.
Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, claimed Beshear had acted outside the parameters outlined in the Kentucky Constitution. Williams said the veto may have jeopardized road projects pending further action by the legislature.
Williams said he did not believe the veto would stand and expected it to face a legal challenge.
“I believe that he (Beshear) has put at serious risk the building of any roads within the next two years,” Williams said in an afternoon conference call with reporters.
Left to stand as law, the administration would not have a way to handle projects that cost more than expected, Beshear said.
House Speaker Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green, said he supported Beshear’s veto and said it came within the constitutional limits.