FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - The Kentucky House has approved a proposed
$17.5 billion two-year state budget that would cut education
funding and trim the prison population by releasing nonviolent
criminals on parole.
The spending plan passed Wednesday evening on a vote of 65-33.
The proposed budget includes about $1.3 billion in general fund
bonding for construction projects aimed at creating thousands of
jobs at a time of high unemployment.
State employees would go without pay raises, and the plan would
revise state health insurance offerings at a projected savings of
$150 million in the two years.
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The legislation is House Bill 290.

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