Teacher victory: Kentucky House overrides tax increase veto

Source: Associated Press



By BRUCE SCHREINER and ADAM BEAM
27 minutes ago

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — With the chants of hundreds of teachers ringing in their ears, Kentucky House lawmakers voted Friday to override the Republican governor’s veto of a two-year operating budget that increases public education spending with the help of a $480 million tax increase.

The vote came as thousands of teachers rallied inside and outside the Capitol, forcing more than 30 school districts to close as Kentucky continued the chorus of teacher protests across the country. The rally took on a festival-like atmosphere as some teachers sat in lawn chairs or sprawled out on blankets. Crosby Stills, Nash and Young’s hit “Teach Your Children” bellowed from the loud speakers.

“I don’t want to be out of my classroom. I want to be in my classroom instructing future citizens, but I’m afraid that spending at the state level is getting worse and worse, and we need those dollars for a 21st century education,” said Stephanie Ikanovic, who has been a teacher for 21 years.

The two-year operating budget includes record new spending for public education, fueled by a 50-cent increase in the cigarette tax and a 6 percent sales tax on some services including home and auto repair. But Republican Gov. Matt Bevin vetoed both the budget and the money in it, calling the bills “sloppy” and “non-transparent.” He said they would not raise enough money to cover the new spending.

Read more: https://apnews.com/5fe98a38b7d44c3aaac36e80bd55ac6c/Teacher-victory:-Kentucky-House-overrides-tax-increase-veto