The Kentucky Senate has approved legislation aimed at a closer review of spending from relief funds set up to assist families affected by tornadoes and flooding. Private dollars have gone to support the two Team Kentucky relief programs. Hopkinsville Senator Whitney Westerfield said the measure is in response to checks mistakenly sent to those not impacted by the natural disasters.
“We ask for the information that we need so we can identify where these funds went. We can get money into the hands that actually need it. Because that thousand dollars that went to these many Kentuckians including the one that I’m aware of in Hopkinsville is a thousand dollars that didn’t go to people that need it,” said Westerfield.
Westerfield said he’s not blaming the governor for creating the two funds, but he believes the constitutional authority for overseeing such programs should rest with the legislature. The western Kentucky lawmaker said he’s received information from the Public Protection Cabinet which he continues to review.
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