FRANKFORT, Ky. — The strained relationship between Kentucky's Democratic governor and Republican state lawmakers has been on display for years, with the GOP dominating both chambers of the legislature in Frankfort.
With Gov. Andy Beshear winning a second term, the question is: Will they be able to work together?
Following the election, the governor named his top priorities for the next four years including a statewide 11% pay raise for public school educators and universal pre-K for every 4-year-old in Kentucky. But powerful GOP lawmakers say it'll still be business as usual.
"The election is in the rear view mirror; we're moving forward," Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer said at a conference hosted by the Kentucky Chamber in Lexington on Monday.
Kentucky's Republican-led legislature plans to keep moving forward with or without the governor's support, Thayer told WHAS11.
"He's going to do his own thing, and we're going to do ours," Thayer added. "I've served with five governors now, and I've never seen one have a more antagonistic relationship with the General Assembly."
The back-and-forth accusations have only amplified with time.
Republicans insist Beshear takes credit for policies they pass and doesn't reach out to discuss his own initiatives, which Thayer says has led to "resentment in the legislature."
Beshear meanwhile, says that's not true, that his door is always open and the phone works both ways.
"My hope is we won't see this outward bickering," the Governor said at his first news conference following his election night victory last week. "I meet with legislators regularly in my office."
That day, Beshear was asked about his apparent strained relationship with the legislature. He told reporters that his administration would "double our efforts to make sure that we are building the types of relationships where we can get things done."
Stivers says whether or not the relationship can be repaired over the next four years is "more than likely up to [Beshear]."
"He needs to create a relationship, not just with me, but with the General Assembly as a whole," he said. "If there's policy out there that he wants to talk about, our doors are open."
State Representative James Tipton, who focuses heavily on education policy, is hopeful for better collaboration.
"We may not agree on every issue, but there are issues we can agree on," he said.
But Thayer is skeptical relations between the two branches of state government will change in the next four years.
"I think it's pretty far gone," Thayer said.
Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.
Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.