FRANKFORT — Senate President David Williams said continuing revenue shortfalls make an even more compelling argument against a budget that includes any money for public financing of gubernatorial campaigns.

        In letters Thursday to Gov. Paul Patton and other legislative leaders, Mr. Williams said he wanted to meet to work out a budget, but offered no plan.

        During the 60-day regular session and an eight-day special session, lawmakers failed to enact a budget for the fiscal years beginning on July1.

        Mr. Patton said through a spokesman Thursday he wanted time to consider the letter and would probably respond today.

        Previously, Mr. Patton had said it was up to the Senate Republican leadership to propose a compromise because it was the GOP that blocked a budget. Mr. Williams laid the blame at the feet of Mr. Patton and House Democrats.

        There is no disagreement that the obstacle to a budget is the matter of public financing of gubernatorial campaigns. Mr. Patton proposed, and the House passed, a budget that would have continued the partial public financing system that has been in place for the last two gubernatorial elections.

        The Senate stripped out all the money for public financing in the waning days of the regular session, without the topic being discussed previously.

        Mr. Patton and the House argued that public financing has kept gubernatorial campaigns from being runaway spending contests.

        Republicans have called it a failed system and “welfare for politicians.”

        Mr. Williams said Senate negotiators offered compromises during earlier negotiations. House negotiators said the Senate never budged from its position that public financing be eliminated for the general election in 2003.

        “In the end, the House left the table because we would not agree to a blank check on the state treasury for political campaigns,” Mr. Williams said in his letter to House Speaker Jody Richards that was made public Thursday.

        Mr. Williams said revenue shortfalls indicate that there will be $120 million less to spend in the coming two fiscal years than originally thought. In light of that, “it is even more crucial that we resolve the situation without a campaign funding obligation that puts at risk spending on education, public safety and infrastructure,” Mr. Williams said in the letter.

        Republicans say they most object to a provision that could provide unlimited public financing for candidates.

        In his letter to Mr. Patton, Mr. Williams said he would also like to hear administration plans to cope with a shortfall this fiscal year that could require as much as $39 million in spending cuts or taken from the state's already depleted rainy day fund.

        No time was set or suggested for the meeting, which Mr. Williams said should be open to the public.

        Mr. Patton has said he would call another special session for lawmakers to enact a budget, but only if there is an agreement beforehand. Otherwise, Mr. Patton said he is prepared to operate state government after July 1 without a budget.

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