Instead, House leaders are promising skeptical democratic House members that they'll try to get the Senate to agree to $150 million in bonds for water and sewer projects as well as a funding mechanism for the bridges, between now and April 14th when the legislature returns to Frankfort.

But a number of House democrats say they still won't vote for the compromise budget that was hammered out in a conference committee early yesterday morning. During a tow hour closed door caucus meeting, House democratic leaders tried to assure their members that they'd work to get the projects included in a separate bill that could be passed by both chambers on the 14th. But the Senate would have to agree with the changes and passing the projects on April 14th would leave no time to override a possible veto by Governor Beshear. Sources tell me that only about 35 of the more than 60 democratic house members in the caucus pledged to vote for the "trust me" budget with budget committee chairman Harry Moberly among those who don't intend to vote for it. House Speaker Jody Richards acknowledges that the compromise budget plan will need some republican votes to pass tonight.