House adjourns despite Fletcher's call

By PAUL GLASSER Published:

The House has voted 56 to 34 to immediately adjourn the special legislative session.

House Speaker Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green, gave a 20-minute speech and said Gov. Ernie Fletcher had not been able to justify his decision to call lawmakers back.

"Calling a special session based on vague speculation about future benefits is simply not good stewardship of taxpayer dollars," Richards said. "It is beyond audacious for the Governor to attempt to manufacture an emergency out of an issue he ignored just three months ago."

On Monday, Fletcher signed an executive order recalling lawmakers and set a broad agenda, including energy incentives, funding for $427 million in vetoed projects and tax exemptions for soldiers on active duty.

House Minority Leader Jeff Hoover, R-Jamestown, said the decision to immediately adjourn was damaging to the House as an institution.

"By our actions here today, without any opportunity or attempt to consider these important duties is an abdication of our responsibility," he said.

Rep. Carl Rollins, D-Midway, and Rep. Derrick Graham, D-Frankfort, supported the motion to adjourn because they said the session was a waste of taxpayers' dollars.

According to the Legislative Research Commission, the special session would have cost $59,400 per day.

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