FRANKFORT, Ky. ā Wednesday is the last day Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky.,can veto bills before lawmakers return for the final two days of the legislative session later this week.
Since pausing for the veto period earlier this month, Beshear has vetoed at least 20 bills. It includes blocking Medicaid from covering gender transition care for transgender adults and the overturning of a ban on practicing conversion therapy on minors.
Beshear also vetoed House Bill 90, which would allow for the operation of freestanding birthing centers and add clarifying language for when abortions can be performed to save a motherās life.
In his veto message, Beshear wrote, āHouse Bill 90 restricts access to medical care, places barriers on doctors and undermines their clinical judgement, and threatens the lives of pregnant women in Kentucky.ā
āIf there is the need for clarity, we want to make sure there is clarity. Havenāt seen the governor make any suggestions as to what it should say, only that he talks about thereās no exceptions, which there always has been,ā said Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, Wednesday.
Along with the vetoes, Beshear has let seven bills will become law without his signature. As of Wednesday morning, he has signed nearly 90 bills.
Stivers said when lawmakers gavel back in Thursday, lawmakers will move to pass bills they believe wonāt be vetoed. The two chambers, which are controlled by Republicans, will also overturn Beshearās vetoes.
āAnd we consider them and we read them as they come out. Itās not like we just donāt pay attention to them. We read them and see what his theories and thoughts are and some things we have, understood what they were talking about, some things we just donāt agree with, and weāll override the veto,ā Stivers said.
While the Senate president would not go into what they might consider next year, he said much of their work will be centered on crafting the next state budget. It will be the last one passed under Beshearās administration.