Possible special session in December

Gov. Steve Beshear has told legislative leaders to keep the week of Dec. 14 open for a possible special session, according to the The Kentucky Gazette, which reported the scoop this afternoon on its Web site (www.kentuckygazette.com). The paper quotes Senate President David Williams and Senate Minority Leader Ed Worley as sources.

After interviewing Williams and Worley today, Gazette Editor Laura Glasscock called the governor’s press office for additional information. The spokesperson for the governor, Jill Midkiff, would neither confirm nor deny the story.

The special session would come one week after the Dec. 8 special election in Senate Dist. 14 to fill a seat vacated by Dan Kelly, R, who was appointed circuit judge last month by the governor — a move to give the Democrats a chance to pick up an additional Senate seat.

Expanded gambling interests heavily support the Democratic nominee in that race, Jodie Haydon of Bardstown, who favors their issue. If Haydon defeats the Republican nominee, Rep. Jimmy Higdon of Lebanon, it would close the GOP’s advantage in the Senate to 19-18 (and one Independent).

The timing of the special session raises the question of the governor’s intent in calling it (if he does). Is it to push a bill through legislature to authorize video slots machines at racetrack before the General Assembly convenes Jan. 5? Slots may or may not end up on the agenda, but it’s not the out-front issue.

Sen. Worley told the Gazette the topic of the special session would be an economic incentives package for the possible relocation of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle plant to Shelbyville.

Harley-Davidson, based in Milwaukee, is considering relocating a manufacturing operation from York, Pa. and building a retail establishment in Shelbyville. Its board meets “the first of December,” and if they finalize the move to Shelbyville, it would “involve a large industrial revenue bond” that would be outside the scope of the executive branch, Worley said.

A source told Kentucky Roll Call that the timing of the special session relates to the situation with Harley-Davidson in Pennsylvania. By acting in December, Kentucky could possibly close the deal before year’s end — ahead of the Pennsylvania legislature convening in January and trying to block the move via richer incentives. The source said the governor does not intend to muddle up the special session with the gambling issue, which is too controversial to pass in December anyway.