Kentucky lawmakers start overriding gubernatorial vetoes

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Republican lawmakers in Kentucky started overriding the Democratic governor's vetoes Wednesday as they worked through a packed agenda with two days left in this year's session.

The House took the first step toward overriding Gov. Andy Beshear's veto of a charter schools bill — one of the most contentious issues of the 2022 session. The measure aims to launch charter schools in the Bluegrass State and supply them with funding. In a pivotal showdown, the House narrowly overrode the veto on a 52-46 vote, sending the bill to the Senate for final action.

Lawmakers started the process of overriding vetoes of other high-profile bills that would tighten rules for public assistance, revamp the state’s tax code and shift key school governance decisions to superintendents and away from school-based decision-making councils. Those override votes cleared one chamber and moved to the other chamber. Republicans hold supermajorities in both chambers.

The override votes — reflecting the deep policy differences between Beshear and GOP lawmakers — came as legislators settled in for a marathon session on Day 59 of the 60-day legislative session.

One of the sharpest disagreements has been over the charter schools bill. It has drawn strong pushback from many in public education, and opponents continued to warn that it would siphon money from traditional public schools if it becomes law.

The bill would set up a long-term funding method for charter schools. Public charters, like traditional public schools, would receive a mix of local and state tax support.

The proposal also would require that at least two charter schools be created under pilot projects — one in Louisville and one in northern Kentucky. Opponents said that would only be the start, warning that charters...