FRANKFORT - Senate leaders said Tuesday it is unlikely that the Republican chamber will agree to the Democratic House budget plan to fix the state's Medicaid budget.

Senate Majority Leader Robert Stivers said chances are "pretty good" that the Senate will make some changes in the compromise budget bill that the House has approved. That means that a conference committee of representatives from both chambers will try to iron out the differences.

Sen. Robert Leeper, I-Paducah, said that the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee will meet Wednesday, but would not say whether the committee would vote on a Senate plan for the budget.

Tuesday was the ninth day of the special session, which costs taxpayers about $63,500 a day. It's not clear when the special legislative session will end.

Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear called the special session after the legislature's regular session ended March 9 without an agreement on how to provide for a $139 million shortfall in the state Medicaid budget.

Filed Under : Medicaid