( Frankfort, Kentucky ) - The president of the Kentucky Senate says that issues with the speaker of the Kentucky House are affecting major legislation, according to the Associated Press.
Eight Republican lawmakers in the Kentucky House on Wednesday filed paperwork asking that GOP House Speaker Jeff Hoover be removed from office. They accuse him of sexual harassment, creating a hostile work environment, and using his position to cover it up. Hoover last year admitted to settling a sexual harassment claim with a female staffer, but he's denied that he actually harassed the woman. The lawmakers have filed disciplinary charges against Hoover, and now a bipartisan committee will investigate.
After calls from state leaders to step down, including from Governor Matt Bevin, Hoover announced in November that he would give up his leadership position. On Tuesday when the Kentucky House convened the 2018 session, however, Hoover did not give up anything. He's asked Speaker Pro Temp David Osborne to fill in "until further notice." Hoover has said that other lawmakers have asked him to not resign.
Majority Republicans have to pass a two-year budget that will likely have deep cuts, but they're looking to pass a major bill to overhaul the Public Pension System first. Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers said on Wednesday that unresolved questions about who will serve as House Speaker is "somewhat slowing the process" on the pension bill.