Kentucky's plan to apply some inmates' time served on parole toward fulfilling their sentences goes before a circuit court judge on Wednesday.

Judge David A. Tapp is expected to hear additional arguments on whether the General Assembly's plan to help reduce the state's soaring prison costs is legal. Commonwealth's Attorney Eddy Montgomery has filed a lawsuit asking the judge to block the plan.

Earlier this month, Tapp issued a temporary restraining order blocking the state from applying the provision to inmates convicted in his three-county district that includes Pulaski, Lincoln and Rockcastle counties.

Kentucky lawmakers, faced with soaring prison costs and an estimated $900 million two-year drop in revenue, authorized the proposal as part of an $18 billion two-year budget bill earlier this year. The state now has more than 22,000 prison inmates.

So far, more than 2,400 inmates or parolees have benefitted from the plan.

Pol Watchers Democratic U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler , who has had a rocky history with U.S. Senate candidate Bruce Lunsford, used his time before Kentucky’s delegation at the national convention to endorse his former rival. Chandler, after weeks of avoiding questions about a possible endorsement, made the announcement at the Kentucky delegation’s breakfast in Denver at around [...]