This is the second time House dems have rejected a big Beshear roll out in less than 24 hours. His plan for up to 12 casinos and two casino bills passing this session of the legislature was rejected and changed by House democrats during its first 24 hours in the house's hands.

Today, after meeting with the House Democratic Caucus for about an hour, Beshear told reporters the meeting was not a confrontational one. Beshear says he tried to tell House members that they should take bold political steps and support a 70 cents per pack increase in the cigarette tax. He also told lawmakers from his own party that the budget plan that 2/3rds of them want to push forward is filled with "funny money" and would result in Kentucky being stuck with big bills in the future. House budget chairman Harry Moberly disagreed, saying the House's plan is solid and calling Beshear's plan "irresponsible" and "unpassable." Moberly says he's willing to work with the governor on a budget compromise but says the new governor needs "an attitude adjustment" before there's any negotiating. In other words, Moberly is ticked off at the governor.

The bottom line is that the House dems voted to push forward with their own tax plan which I reported here last night. House Minority Leader Jeff Hoover told me that he feels stronger than ever that the discord will result in lawmakers leaving Frankfort without passing a budget. And Hoover says the fault will lie "solely with the House democratic leadership and this governor."

I'll try and take some time later this weekend to cobble together a rundown of Beshear's problems since taking office and how some folks are already comparing Beshear to Ernie Fletcher.