Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has vetoed five bills sent to his desk for him to sign into law, including three that deal with limiting his emergency orders.
Beshear vetoed Senate Bills 1 and 2 saying his executive orders worked to keep down COVID-19 deaths compared to other states.
click to download audioSenate Bill 1 limits the governor’s emergency orders to 30 days. If he wants to extend an order, the General Assembly must be called in.
Beshear said this would be a costly move for the state.
click to download audioSenate Bill 2 allows legislative committees to strike down a governor’s emergency administrative regulations.
Beshear also struck down House Bill 1 that would allow schools and businesses to stay open during the pandemic if they follow guidelines from the CDC or the governor’s office, whichever is less restrictive.
Beshear also vetoed House Bill 2 which gives the Attorney General the power to regulate and enforce violations on abortion clinics in Kentucky. Currently, the attorney general can regulate abortion clinics only with permission from the governor.
Beshear vetoed House Bill 5 which would prohibit the governor from temporarily reorganizing state boards and commissions.
The state legislature is in recess and won’t reconvene until February 2. Republicans have the majority in both houses and can vote to override the veto of the Democratic governor. However, legislators and Beshear have time to talk before override votes are set up.
click to download audioBills passed by the legislature normally take effect 90 days after passage, but all three bills have an emergency clause that would make them effective immediately.
If the legislature overrides Beshear’s vetoes, the next stop is likely a court filing that could delay the enacting of the laws for several months.
