By Joe Biesk
The Associated Press

FRANKFORT - After weeks of political deadlock, a member of the Democratic House leadership hoped to trigger new budget negotiations last week by calling for an end to partisan politics over the state budget.

Flanked by Republican and Democratic House lawmakers, retiring House Majority Caucus Chairman Jim Callahan on Thursday called for a special session. Callahan, a Democrat from Wilder, said legislative leaders should promptly resume budget negotiations.

They should work toward passing a spending plan along with some form of Gov. Ernie Fletcher's proposed tax plan, Callahan said.

"It's time for us to put the R's and the D's aside, and recognize that we're all K's," Callahan said, "Kentuckians who are committed to Kentucky's future."

The 2004 General Assembly adjourned in April without passing a state budget for the next fiscal year, which starts July 1. Leadership in the House and Senate have been locked at odds over Fletcher's tax proposal.

The plan is supposed to be "revenue neutral" by cutting some taxes while increasing others.

The proposal includes a "trigger" that would cut income tax rates when state revenues reached certain levels.

Fletcher has said he was willing to negotiate on that trigger point.

However, the governor said he won't call legislators back to Frankfort for a special session unless leadership in the two chambers have an agreement.

Lawmakers should look at Fletcher's willingness to negotiate on the trigger as a starting point to resume negotiations and pass a budget for the next biennium before June 30, Callahan said.

Fletcher said he was encouraged by Callahan's statements.

"We're willing to certainly work with that group on that effort and I would encourage the speaker of the House to join that effort," Fletcher said. "I think it would certainly allow us to stop this deadlock that we've got and move things forward."

Senate Majority Leader Dan Kelly said Callahan and the other House lawmakers who stood with him gave him new hope.

"I have not been very hopeful that the House leadership would change their mind because of statements that I've heard them make from time to time," Kelly said last week. "What happened today gives me some encouragement."

Speaker Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green, said House leaders want to pass a state budget. However, he thought Fletcher's plan still had some questions.

It was unlikely, Richards said, that lawmakers would have time to pass both a budget and Fletcher's tax plan before the end of June.

"We continue to believe that we need tax reform," Richards said. "But we need to do it in a more measured way and a way that would produce the kind of results that we all want."

Rep. John Draud, R-Crestview Hills, stood with Callahan. He said rank-and-file members of the legislature would likely vote for Fletcher's plan.