It's an open secret in Frankfort that house leaders are unhappy with the way Moberly is running the committee. They're particularly upset that Moberly seems to be pushing a controversial bill whose biggest backer is Senate President David Williams. That's the bill to allow the legislature to stuff new laws into the budget bill. Critics claim that would give, and has already given, members of the budget conference committee a virtual free hand in writing new laws as well as the budget.

Moberly barked back Thursday night by refusing to hear a TIF bill being pushed by House Speaker Pro-Tem Larry Clark. That bill would help finance the $450 million Museum Plaza project in Louisville. Moberly apparently has concerns about helping finance bricks and mortar when, in his mind, there's not enough money being poured into the "Boni Bill" for social workers.

The humor showed up on Friday morning when reporters started grilling Moberly and House Speaker Jody Richards about the rift. Moberly told reporters it was just part of the "normal give and take" between himself and house leaders. When asked who was doing the giving and who was doing the taking, Moberly smiled and said "it's about equal". The Richards proceeding to deny that any internal strife exists, claiming reporters were trying to create a "schism". Richards said everything with Moberly was "honky dory" and anybody who claimed differently wasn't telling the truth Uh-huh. Clark was prickly when approached by reporters saying he was going into meetings and didn't have time to talk to any reporters. Democratic house leaders had a meeting friday afternoon that included Moberly. It might have been fun to be a fly on the wall to hear that one.