"I'm hopeful that (lawmakers) will lay aside partisan politics and lay aside the political attacks and really start to do their jobs, and that's to solve the problem," Fletcher said before giving a speech at the Kentucky Summit on Civic Literacy at the Northern Kentucky University METS Corporate Training Center.

But then Fletcher said an attorney general's investigation into his administration over the awarding of the state insurance health contract is "very politically motivated."

"I'm very disappointed," Fletcher said. "They need to focus on the solution to this problem. There are absolutely no connections, no impropriety there. That is just a very, I think, egregious political move on their part to take the focus off of solving the problem."

Attorney General Greg Stumbo, a Democrat, said last week his office would investigate the role of former CHA Health executive Mark Birdwhistell, who is now an undersecretary in the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

Stumbo's lead investigator on the matter said Monday he would also examine actions of three other former executives of the bid-winning insurance company.

Stumbo's spokeswoman, Vicki Glass, said the investigation also would examine the appropriateness of CHA, a majority state-owned company, bidding on - and securing - state business.

Rep. Charles Geveden, a Wickliffe Democrat and chairman of the House state government committee, said the relationship between the state and CHA may be "too cozy."

"It concerns me that four individuals who worked for the same insurance company are now working for state government in positions of influence," Geveden said.

Last month, the governor announced he was overhauling the 2005 state health insurance package for teachers, public school employees and state workers. His announcement was met with a huge public outcry as over the increase in medical expenses.

Fletcher said he called the session to solve the problem, but a solution is up to the legislature.

"My hands are tied, I can't assess" anymore funds for health insurance without General Assembly approval, Fletcher said.

"The legislature is going to have to decide ... how much money are they going to put into this program, where are they going to get the money and how are they going to fund it," he said.

"So they are going to have to prioritize ... because if you look at past administrations, they've ignored this problem for years. And we've finally come to what I consider a cliff."

Fletcher said he does not believe, however, that a tax increase is needed to fund the health care system.

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The Associated Press contributed.