How will Kentucky pay for flood recovery? Beshear asks legislature to commit more money

DemocraticGov.AndyBeshearandmembersofhisadministrationareaskingtheRepublican-controlledstatelegislatureforadditionalfundingtoaddressextensivedamagefromlastmonth’sdeadlyfloods. Atleast23peoplediedbecauseofstormsthatstruckKentuckyoverValentine’sDayweekend,andrecoveryeffortsareexpectedtocost“hundredsofmillionsofdollars,”Beshearhassaid. PresidentDonaldTrumpapprovedamajordisasterdeclarationforthestate,with11countieseligibleforFEMAaid.ButBeshearandmembersofhisadministrationsaymorefinancialreliefisneeded—andthey’relookingtotheGeneralAssemblyforhelp. TheHouseandSenateAppropriationsandRevenuecommitteeshostedajointmeetingMonday,whereStateBudgetDirectorJohnHickstestifiedonthestatusoffloodrecoveryeffortsalongsiderepresentativesfromtheKentuckyEmergencyManagementCenterandKentuckyTransportationCabinet. Hickssaidthatwhilethedamageisstillbeingassessed,theadministrationfeels“prettycerta