The budget bill doesn't include any specific language providing funds for those water and sewer projects or the Ohio River Bridges project. But, at the urging of Senate president David Williams, House and Senate leaders agreed to write some language in HB 410, essentially promising certain projects as well as authorization to sell $231 million in federal highway bonds to fund the bridges for the next two years. There was still confusion over the specifics, and whether another vote will be needed when lawmakers return to Frankfort on April 14th.

Meanwhile, there was plenty of fingerpointing about the way the budget bill went from being "unpassable" in the House yesterday to miraculously having 74 votes for passage Wednesday night. House Appropriations and Revenue Committee Chairman Harry Moberly accused his fellow members of being "puppets" to Senate President David Williams and claimed Williams "bought off" House members with the promise of projects. Moberly voted against the budget bill calling it "a diabolical deal with the devil (Williams)."
The Richmond democrat accused House members of "selling out the kids and teachers" for water and sewer projects. The budget includes cuts to education and just a one percent annual raise for teachers and state employees.

But in an earlier speech on the Senate floor, Williams said bonding for the water and sewer projects wouldn't have any impact on funding for education and social services. And he says teachers are actually getting a good deal in the budget because the state will pay increases in their health insurance and pump millions of dollars into their pension system.

House Speaker Jody Richards denied that the house negotiators were pushed around aand "played" by Williams and the senators on the budget conference committee. He ssays senators wouldn't budge on the House's 25 cents per pack increase in the cigarette tax so the House had to do its best to agree on a budget, which he says is the most important job the legislature has. Richards says he hopes to press the Senate to approve a cigarette tax hike again, perhaps soon, if the economic recession continues and the state's tax revenues take a big dive. When asked if he plans to run for Speaker again next year, Richards replied "absolutely!"

8 of the 21 "no" votes in the House came from Louisville legislators.