Tagged: Governor Beshear

The Courier-Journal is reporting that Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear will consider proposing an expanded gambling package this year that does not include increased gaming at the state's horsetracks.

Beshear says that may be the only way he can get a gambling bill passed in the state legislature.

The Governor has tried unsuccessfully in the past to get a casino gambling bill through the Kentucky Senate. Expanded gambling supporters have hoped that last year's retirement of former Senate President David Williams, who opposed increased gaming, would better the bill's odds in 2013.

Gov. Steve Beshear will deliver the annual State of the Commonwealth address in early February.

Spokeswoman Kerri Richardson said that the exact date hasn't yet been pinned down.

Beshear is expected to highlight his legislative priorities in the speech that will be delivered to a joint session of the Legislature.

Lawmakers are set to arrive in Frankfort on Tuesday to start the legislative session. But after a week, they're scheduled to adjourn until Feb. 5 when they return to get down to business.

Despite progress toward building a state-run health insurance exchange in Kentucky, Governor Steve Beshear will likely have to re-issue an executive order to keep it alive.

Beshear issued an order creating the exchange earlier this year, after the Supreme Court ruled the Affordable Care Act was constitutional. And it’s a goal of state health officials to get the exchange protected under a law, rather than an executive order.

But Republican State Senator Tom Buford says his colleagues aren’t likely to support an exchange law.

“Probably not, in my opinion, we will probably allow the Governor to re-order the executive order again," said Buford.