The Truth About Kentuckys Medicaid Budget

Statement

Dear Supporter,

You have probably heard something about Kentucky's Medicaid budget problem, but I wanted you to have the truth about what's going on in Frankfort.

Governor Steve Beshear failed to properly manage the budget and now we have a $166 million budget hole to fill this year. Governor Beshear's plan is to spend money we don't have to make up the difference, putting off dealing with this problem until after the November election. The State Senate, on the other hand, passed a bipartisan compromise that fixes the Medicaid budget by making modest, across-the-board budget cuts. This shared sacrifice will result in cuts of less than 2% for all state agencies.

In the likely event that Governor Beshear further mismanages Medicaid, our plan includes a taxpayer safety net to ensure much deeper cuts aren't necessary next year. The State Senate plan is a responsible bipartisan compromise that protects Kentucky's most vulnerable citizens while recognizing that we must tighten our belts as a state government. We shouldn't spend money we don't have unless we make reasonable cuts to pay for that spending.

You might have also heard that Governor Beshear called the Legislature into special session today. He thought it was so important for us all to be in Frankfort that he took off in the state airplane, at taxpayer expense, to hold multiple campaign events. Kentucky taxpayers are footing the bill for Beshear's campaign rallies while legislators are in Frankfort working to reach agreement.

I am in Frankfort working to forge a solution. That's what leadership is all about -- solving problems and getting the job done for Kentucky's citizens. I challenged the Governor to appear on statewide television with me tonight to debate this important issue so all Kentuckians might better understand the situation. But Governor Beshear declined because he lacks courage. A real leader with confidence in his ideas would be willing to have them debated and challenged by others. But of course Steve Beshear isn't a real leader. He is afraid because the facts are on our side. The truth is that Governor Beshear failed to properly manage Medicaid and is now looking for someone to blame, and he fears being exposed as a failure on statewide television.

Kentucky needs a Governor more interested in problem solving than blaming others. I'm working to clean up Governor Beshear's mess and fix the Medicaid budget so Kentucky's most vulnerable citizens aren't devastated by his incompetence.

Sincerely,

David Williams

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