Kentucky attorney general sues governor over education cuts

(AP) — Kentucky's Democratic attorney general sued the state's Republican governor on Monday, arguing he overstepped his authority when he ordered budget cuts for state colleges and universities without the approval of the state legislature.

Attorney General Andy Beshear, the son of a former governor, followed through on his threat to file a lawsuit challenging Bevin's "blatant violations" of law by unilaterally cutting 4.5 percent, or $41 million, from the state's colleges and universities in the last three months of the fiscal year.

Bevin, who took office in late 2015, has proposed $650 million in state spending cuts over the next two years in a plan to begin paying down the state's public pension debt, estimated at more than $30 billion.

Beshear said the governor's unilateral action violated the state Constitution's separate of powers provision, as well as state laws specifying conditions for budget reductions.

The lawsuit escalates what has become a political feud between Bevin, Beshear and the attorney general's father, former Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear, who could not seek re-election last year due to term limits.

Before Bevin took office, he called Steve Beshear an "embarrassment" after the then-governor appointed his wife to an unpaid position to the board of directors for the Kentucky Horse Park.

"Given the amount of alleged corruption and personnel problems in the Office of Attorney General and his father's administration, it is clear that he is attempting to deflect attention away from his own challenges," Ditto said in her statement.