>> Renee: WELCOME TO GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR'S THIRD STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH ADDRESS BEING CARRIED LIVE RIGHT HERE ON KET.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

SO GLAD THAT YOU ARE SHARING THIS HOUR WITH US TONIGHT AS WE BRING YOU HIS THIRD ADDRESS, THIS TIME IN PERSON.

YOU WILL RECALL LAST YEAR IT WAS A VIRTUAL OPPORTUNITY.

THE FIRST EVER STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH EVER DELIVERED THAT WAY.

WELL, THIS TIME HE'S BACK IN THE HOUSE CHAMBER TO A JOINT SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HE WILL BE COMING IN SHORTLY.

AND WE ARE GLAD THAT WE HAVE SOME POLITICAL PUNDITS WHO HAVE ALL THE KNOWLEDGE TO HELP US GET THROUGH THE EVENING.

WE HAVE COMING STRAT TIS SHERMAN BROWN AND REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST AMY.

AND THEY'RE BOTH WITH STRATEGIC CONTRIBUTIONS.

AND WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE THEM THIS YEAR.

YOU KNOW YOU'RE GOOD WHEN YOU GET ANOTHER ININVITE BACK.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> GOOD TO HAVE YOU UP.

AS I MENTIONED, LAST YEAR WE WERE DOING THIS VIRTUALLY.

NOW HERE WE ARE BACK IN PERSON.

LESS BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT AS FAR AS HOW THE GOVERNOR ENTERS.

HE'S NOT GOING TO BE COMING DOWN THE AISLE BUT COMING THROUGH THE SIDE.

DO WE KNOW HOW IT'S GOING TO LOOK OR FEEL DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE'RE IN SUCH PANDEMIC TIMES, SHERMAN BROWN?

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE SMALLER, AS FAR AS THE LOOK AND THE FEEL OF IT, IT'S GOING TO BE SMALLER.

AS YOU SAID, THE GOVERNOR'S ASKED FOR THERE TO BE SOME LIMITS, MASKS, THINGS LIKE THAT, TRYING TO LIMIT A LITTLE BIT OF THAT INTERACTION, THAT CONVERSATION THAT TAKES POLICE STATION AS WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.

>> AND TODAY THE NEWS IS THAT WE'RE NEARING 10,000 CASES IN A SINGLE DAY.

POSITIVITY RATE IS NEARING 23%, AMY WYCLIFFE.

THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN, AND THERE'S A LOT OF PROTOCOLS BEING TAKEN.

SO LAST YEAR WE KIND OF HEARD THE THEME FROM THE GOVERNOR ABOUT REBOUNDING FROM COVID, AND WE WERE STILL IN THE MIDST OF IT.

DO YOU THINK WE'LL HEAR THAT KIND OF THEME AGAIN TONIGHT?

>> I THINK SO, AND I THOUGHT WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN STILL TALKING ABOUT COVID HERE ALMOST TWO YEARS LATER, RIGHT?

BUT I THINK THERE'S ALSO A GREAT DESIRE FROM THE REPUBLICANS TO TRY TO CONTINUE BUSINESS AS NORMAL AND TRY TO MAKE SURE THEY TAKE PRECAUTIONS BUT CONTINUE TO DO THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS, SO I THINK WE'LL HEAR A LOT MORE FROM THE GOVERNOR WITH HOW HE'S HANDLED THE PANDEMIC, LOOKING FORWARD WHAT'S GOING TO BE NECESSARY, IF THERE ARE DISABILITY GOING TO BE NECESSARY PIECES LEGISLATION OR FUNDING TO HELP COMBAT COVID.

>> AND WE HAVE THE OTHER DISASTER THAT THE STATE HAS BEEN DEALING WITH, AND THAT'S THE WESTERN KENTUCKY TORNADOES, AND IT WAS A ONE-TWO PUNCH.

DECEMBER '11 EVERth AND 12th.

AND THEN JUST LAST WEEKEND WE KNOW CERTAIN COUNTIES GOT HIT YET AGAIN.

I EXPECT TO EAR HEAR SOME TYPE OF RELIEF THAT'S GOING TO HELP THOSE COUNTIES.

>> I I THINK HE'S GOING TO BE BANNING THE U.

TALKING ABOUT COVID WHAT HE DEALT WITH, AND FROM MARCH OF 2020 WHEN HE COMES IN ON DECEMBER 19 AND IS IMMEDIATELY HANDED A PANDEMIC.

BUT THEN WITH THE RECOVERY EFFORTS AND BE I THINK YOU HAVE I DO NOT HEARD FROM THE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS EVERYBODY COMING TOGETHER ON THE TORNADOES, ON THE RECOVERY EFFORTS, AND YOU HEARD FROM MEMBERS, YOU'VE HEARD FROM PEOPLE ON THE GROUND, THE VOLUNTEER EFFORTS, EVERYTHING AROUND THAT HAS BEEN KIND OF COLLABORATIVE.

>> CLABTIVE NOT SO MUCH AS REDISTRICTING, WHICH IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE FIRST COUPLE DAYS OF THE, AND THE GOVERNOR IS NOT SO INVOLVED IN THAT.

SO WHAT KIND OF OF CHORD DOES THE GOVERNOR NEED TO STRIKE TONIGHT?

THERE IS THEY REALITY AFTER PANDEMIC THAT'S THE WORST IT'S BEEN IN KENTUCKY AT THIS POINT, THEN THE WESTERN E. CAN TORNADOES.

WHAT KIND OF CHORD DO YOU NEED TO STRIKE?

IS IT OPTIMISM?

>> I THINK IT IS OPTIMISM.

I THINK IT IS A WILLING NOS.

TO WORK ACROSS THE AISLE.

HE KNOWS HE'S GOT TO WORK WITH TWO REPUBLICAN SUPER MAINTAINS IN ORDER TO GET ANYTHING DONE IN HISLECTION PRIORITIES, AND SO I THINK PERHAPS STANDING WITH THE E E. RELIEF PACKAGE THAT WE ANTICIPATE TO SEE, THAT'S GUIDE WAY TO START.

THERE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE POLICIES JUST BY NATURE OF THE POLICY AND THE DIRECTION THAT THE DEMOCRATS AND THE REPUBLICANS GO WANT TO GO THAT WILL GUIDE DIVIDE THOSE ENTITIES SOMEWHAT.

BUT I THINK OPTIMISM BUT HE'S REALLY GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HE CAN FIND COMMON GROUND ON WERE THE REPUBLICANS TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL SESSION.

>> DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT WANT SHERMAN?

>> YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT LEADERSHIP.

HE IS THE ONE AT THE HELM.

HE'S BEEN TESTED.

WE JUST GOT DONE TALKING ABOUT THAT.

NAME ANOTHER GOVERNOR WHO HAS BEEN THROUGH A PANDEMIC.

AND THEN LOOKING AT IT, I THINK WORKING TOGETHER PIECE OF THAT IS THIS IS THE TIME FOR THAT EFFORT AND FOR EVERYBODY TO COME TOGETHER AS WE START TRYING TO REBUILD AND GO THROUGH.

IT'S IT'S THE STATE OF COMMONWEALTH.

I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR THAT THE ECONOMY IS STRONG.

THAT'S KIND OF A NO-BRAINER.

HE'S ANNOUNCING SOMETHING NEW IT FEELS LIKE EVERY DAY, NEW JOBS, JUST WITH FORD AND PRATT INDUSTRIES AND HENDERSON.

THERE'S SO MANY, FIDELITY INVESTMENTS ADDING MORE JOBS UP IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF THAT I THINK THAT WILL COME OUT THOSE.

>> AND, OF COURSE, THE REPUBLICANS AFTER THE SPEECH CAN ALSO TAKE SOME CREDIT FOR SOME OF THAT ECONOMIC REBOUND RIGHT?

SAYING THE POLICIES THAT THEY HAVE NORTH DAKOTA OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS HAVE HELPED GET US HERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND A COMPETITIVE TIREMENT ENVIRONMENT DOESN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT TO ENTICE JOBS.

THOSE POLICIES STARTED TO BE SET IN PLACE FOUR TO SIX YEARS AGO AND WE'RE STARTING TO REAP THE BENEFITS OF THAT.

WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF OF THE ANNOUNCEMENTS OF THE JOB CREATION THAT'S GONE ON, BUT I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF CONGRATS TO GO ALONG FOR THAT TO MANY PEOPLE.

>> SO THIS TIME WE'VE GOT TWO ADDRESSES.

WE'VE GOT A STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH ADDRESS TONIGHT THAT WE'RE G.E.

READY TO HEAR SHORTLY, BUT THERE WILL ALSO BE A BUDGET ADDRESS NEXT THURSDAY.

THIS IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE OFTENTIMES THEY'VE BEEN A COMBO DEAL.

TONIGHT, SHERMAN, THIS IS ABOUT THE POLICY AGENDA.

DO YOU HAVE ANY INSIGHT ON WHAT WE CAN HEAR THAT HE LIKES THE LEGISLATURE TO COME TOGETHER WITH HIM ON?

>> I THINK THE FIRST THING GOES BACK TO WHERE WE ARE, THE STATE OF COMMONWEALTH, WHERE THINGS ARE.

WE'VE GOT A BUDGET SURPLUS.

WE'VE NOT MONEY COMING IN FROM THE ARPA PLANS, THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.

FINANCIAL YOU HAVE YOU'VE GOT THE -- WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAPST LOSS OF PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS IT.

FEELS CLOSER.

I DON'T THINK I'M ALONE ON THAT.

TALKING TO LEGISLATORS AND OTHER PEOPLE, CLEARLY THAT GOES ALONG WITH THE PRESIDENT'S PLAN AS WELL.

BUT AS FAR AS ALL OF THAT, I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE COMING IN HERE, AND -- >> A LOT OF MONEY.

A LOT OF CASH, AS I SAID ON MONDAY NIGHTLY IN THE STATE, BUT THE REPUBLICANS MAY HAVE SOME DEFENDER IDEAS ON HOW TO -- >> I THINK SO.

THAT'S WHERE YOU'VE GOT MONEY IN THERE, DIFFERENT WAYS ON EITHER SPEND THAT OR SAVE THAT, AND I THINK THERE'S STILL A CONCERN THAT WE'RE LIVING IN WHAT INFLATED ECONOMY RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT HAVE COME IN.

WE STILL HAVE A MASSIVE PENSION DEBT THAT NEEDS TO BE PAID DOUBT AN SOME POINT.

AND SO I THINK WE'LL LOOK AT -- I WOULD EXPECT THE REPUBLICANS TO BE VERY CONSERVATIVE IN THEIR BUDGET.

THEY'VE BEEN VERY CONSERVATIVE OVER THE LAST TWO BUDGETS.

I THINK THAT IS ALSO TO CREDIT WHILE WE'RE IN SUCH A GOOD FINANCIAL STANDPOINT RIGHT NOW.

BUT LIKE I SAID, THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOFTY OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE SOME BOLD INVESTMENTS AND TO MAKE SOME REAL CHANGE, AND SO LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING WHAT THOSE ARE.

>> OKAY.

SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE HOUSE FLOOR AS THEY ARE STARTING AND THEY ARE NOW IN THE PRAYER.

>> WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT.

WE HAVE -- BUT WE ARE RESILIENT AND WE WILL PREVAIL, AND IT IS YOUR PRAYERS, YOUR RESOURCES, YOUR THOUGHTFULNESS AND THE UNITY OF THE PEOPLE OF THE GREATEST STATE IN THE UNITED STATES THAT'S GOING TO PULL US ALL OUT OF THIS THING TOGETHER.

WE ARE A COMMON-WEALTH.

A COMMON-WEALTH.

WE'RE NOT A STATE.

WE'RE A COMMON-WEALTH.

AND IT IS THE WELL-BEING OF ALL OF US THAT WE HAVE IN COMMON THAT'S MOST IMPORTANT THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CARES, CONCERNS AND PRAYERS.

LET'S PRAY H. PRAY.

HEAVENLY FATHER, WE CLOUD COVER AND THANK YOU.

OUR COMMONWEALTH HAS BEEN THROUGH A LOT IN THE LAST FEW YEARS AND CERTAINLY THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

YOU HAVE SHOWN US FORE THOUSANDS OF YEARS NO YOU HAVE THE CAPACITY, YOU AND YOU ALONE, YOU'RE ZONK EVER SOVEREIGN OVER ALL THINK AT ALL TIMES.

NOTHING CONFUSIONS UP.

NOTHING WORRIES UP.

NOTHING BEIF YOU HADLES YOU AND CERTAINLY NOTHING SURPRISES UP.

YOU ARE SOVEREIGN ANDAL POLITY AT ALL TIMES.

EVEN WHEN LIFE IS BAD, YOU ARE GOOD.

EVEN WHEN TIMES DISPLAY OUR WEAKNESSES AND OUR POWERLESSNESS, YOU ARE GREAT.

WE FIND OUR STRENGTH IN KNOWING WHAT YOU KNEW.

FATHER, YOU APPROVED TO US THROUGH CHRIST JESUS OUR SAVIOR, THROUGH CRUCIFIXION AND RESURRECTION, THAT ONLY YOU CAN TRANSFORM ADVERSITY NO AN ACCELERANT.

YOU THROUGH ADVERSITY CAN TAKE TO US PLACES WE WOULD HAVE NEVER GOTTEN HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THAT VERY ADVERSITY ITSELF.

AND SO WE LEAN INTO TO FIND THAT STRENGTH.

IT'S YOUR WORD THAT SAYS THAT WE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS, WE ACTUALLY GLORY IN YOUR SUFFERINGS BECAUSE WE KNOW SUFFERING PRODUCES PERSEVERANCE, AND PERSEVERANCE PRODUCES CHARACTER, AND CHARACTER PRODUCES HOPE.

IT'S THROUGH YOU THAT WE LEARN THAT TRAGEDY DOESN'T ALWAYS TAKE, IT DOESN'T ALWAYS STEAL.

SOMETIMES IT ACTUALLY PRODUCES.

AND SO I PRAY OVER THIS GOVERNING BODY, THAT THEY WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT THE TRAGEDIES OF THIS GREAT COMMONWEALTH SHOULD NOT TAKE AWAY FROM US.

IT SHOULD PRODUCE SOMETHING WITHIN US.

A LOT WAS RUINED, BUT FAR MORE WAS REVEALED.

AND WHAT WAS REVEALED IS THE GOODNESS OF YOUR PEOPLE, THE GREATNESS OF THIS STATE, AND THE POWER OF UNITY AND COMMONALITY.

SO I PRAY, FATHER GOD, IN THIS MOMENT THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THEM STRENGTH AND GUIDANCE, THAT THEY WOULD UNDERSTAND AS A BODY OF ELECTED PEOPLE THEY HAVE AISHA LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES BUT THEY HAVE ONE RESPONSIBILITY, AND THAT IS TO PROTECT THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US.

FROM THE WOUND TO THE NURSING HOME, FROM DECK WOMB TO THE NURSING HOME, FROM HAZARD TO BOWLING EIGHTEEN GREEN TO BELL FRIDAY, OUR MOST IMPORTANT JOB IS TO PROTECT THE VULNERABLE.

AND IF WE LEARNED ANYTHING LATELY, THAT'S THE TREASURE OF LIFE.

IN ALL ITS FORMS.

AT ALL TIMES.

WE PROTECT LIFE.

WE PRAY OVER THE CHILDREN OF THIS GREAT COMMONWEALTH WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH MORE THAN ALL OF US COMBINED AS THEY STRUGGLE TO REGAIN A SENSE OF NORMALCY IN THEIR LIVES.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, FATHER, YOUR WORD SAYS IF ANY OF US LAX WISDOM, WE SHOULD ASK GOD WHO GIVES GENEROUSLY TO ALL WITHOUT FINDING FAULT, BUT THE SOURCE OF WISDOM BEGINS WITH THE FEAR OF THE LORD.

AND MAY YOU GIVE THEM THAT FEAR, THAT THEY MIGHT SEE, SENSE AND USE YOUR WISDOM.

WE LOVE YOU AND THANK YOU, IN JESUS' NAME WE PRAY TO YOU.

AND ALL OF GOD'S PEOPLE TOGETHER SAID "AMEN."

MAY GOD PRICHLY BLESS YOU.

>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

>> THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM MCCRACKEN.

>> Renee: SO WE ARE BEGINNING TO START THE ADDRESS.

WE'VE GOTTEN SOME OF THOSE MEASURES OUT OF THE WAY.

NOW WE'RE WAITING FOR THE GOVERNOR TO ENTER.

THE SENATE PRESIDENT WILL COME IN IN JUST A MOMENT.

AND AS WE TALKED EARLIER, THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO COME INTO A SIDE ENTRANCE JUST BECAUSE OF COVID PROTOCOL.

SO AS WE WERE SAYING BEFORE ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT, OPTIMISTIC.

AN OPTIMISTIC TONE.

A TONE OF BIPARTISANSHIP.

WHAT ELSE SHOULD HE DO TONIGHT, SHERMAN BROWN?

>> I THINK THOSE, AGAIN, I THINK THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT IF I WERE SCORING HIM, THOSE ARE THE THINGS I'M LOOKING FOR.

YOU'VE GOT TO TALK ABOUT BIPARTISANSHIP.

AS AMY SAID, HE'S DEALING WITH A SUPER MAJORITY, BOTH CHAMBERS, SUPER MAJOR REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE.

HE'S GOT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE FRIENDS AND TALKING ABOUT THE WINS THEY HAVE ALL HAD, AND I THINK WORKING TOGETHER, BRINGING THAT IN, USING -- I HATE TO USE A CRISIS OF THE MOMENT BUT WE HAVE ALL COME TOGETHER DURING THESE POINTS AND TO KIND OF BRING THAT IN.

>> BUT THERE HAS BEEN HEAVY CRITICISM OF THE GOVERNOR AND HOW HE'S HANDLED COVID, AND IT'S COME FROM RNC HAVE BEEN IRAQ RANKS.

WERE THERE SOME MEND.

>>> FENCES TO HAPPEN HERE, AMY WHITCLIFF, SAYING I WANT TO WORK BETTER WITH YOU THAN I DID BEFORE?

>> I THINK SO.

I THINK IF HE DOES THAT WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES.

WE'RE ALSO GOING INTO AN LEEKS.

>> AND HERE IS GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR.

>> INCLUDING KENTUCKY'S FIRST LADY AND TOY DRIVE SUPER WOMAN BRITAINY BESHEAR AND OUR CHILDREN WILL AND LILA.

AND, OF COURSE, VIRGINIA.

THANKS FOR BEING THERE FOR THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY ONCE AGAIN.

I AM HUMBLED TO STAND BEFORE YOU TONIGHT TO DELIVER BYE MY THIRD STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH ADDRESS.

IN MANY WAYS THIS ADDRESS FEELS BOTH THE TOUGHEST AND ALSO THE MOST EXCITING.

WE COME INTO THIS NEW YEAR WITH EXCITEMENT AND OPTIMISM WITH AN ECONOMY BOOMING LIKE NEVER BEFORE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE ARE ALL PROCESSING GRIEF AND SADNESS AFTER A YEAR OF UNPRECEDENTED NATURAL DISASTERS AND A CONTINUING PANDEMIC.

WE ARE NOW JUST WEEKS FROM THE DEADLIEST TORNADO OUTBREAK IN STATE HISTORY WHICH TOOK 77 LIVES, INCLUDING ONE CHILD JUST SIX DAYS OLD.

ENTIRE TOWNS WERE NEARLY WIPED OFF THE MAP, LEAVING UNS U.

THOUSANDS OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS HOMELESS AND STRUGGLING.

ALL OF THIS WHILE WE CONTINUE.

TO FIGHT A PANDEMIC THAT HAS NOW TAKEN MORE THAN 12,000 OF OUR KENTUCKY FAMILY, NEIGHBORS, AND FRIENDS AND MORE THAN 800 AND 28,000 OF OUR FELLOW AMERICANS.

-- 828,000 OF OUR FELLOW AMERICANS.

EVEN THROUGH THESE TRIALS AND THE PAIN THAT WE CARRY FROM THEM, I AM HERE TO REPORT THAT THE STATE OF OUR COMMONWEALTH IS STRONG.

[APPLAUSE] AND I AM CONFIDENTY EFFIN, EVEN CERTAIN, THAT OUR TIME, KENTUCKY'S TIME IS NOW.

OUR COMMONWEALTH IS STRONG.

IT IS STRONG BECAUSE WE ARE STRONG.

IN KENTUCKY WE ARE GOOD PEOPLE.

TOUGH PEOPLE.

RESILIENT PEOPLE.

WE CARE DEEPLY FOR ONE ANOTHER.

AND WHILE THEY MAY KNOCK US DOWN, NO TORNADO, NO PANDEMIC, NO FLOOD, NO ICE STORM CAN BREAK US BECAUSE WE DO NOT BREAK.

[APPLAUSE] ALL OF AMERICA, AND INDEED THIS ENTIRE WORLD, HAS NOW SEEN EXACTLY WHO WE ARE.

NEIGHBORS WHO OPEN OUR HOMES AND OUR HEARTS TO ONE ANOTHER.

PEOPLE WHO EMBRACE SELFLESSNESS, GENEROSITY, AND LOVE.

AND WHILE WE ARE REMIND, AT THE SAME TIME WE'RE REMINDED THAT ANY ARGUMENTS, ANY DIVISIONS, JUST AREN'T THAT IMPORTANT.

AND NOT EVEN THE DIFFICULTIES OF OUR PRESENT CAN STOP THE EXCITEMENT FOR OUR FUTURE.

AND GOOD PEOPLE DESERVE A GOOD FUTURE.

FOLKS, OUR TIME IS HERE.

KENTUCKY IS NO LONGER A FLYOVER STATE.

WE ARE THE DESTINATION.

[APPLAUSE] WE ARE CELEBRATING THE GREATEST ECONOMIC PROGRESS WE HAVE SEEN IN OUR NEARLY 230-YEAR STATE HISTORY WITH THE LARGEST EVER PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT, THE MOST NEW JOBS EVER CREATED, AND AT THE SECOND HIGHEST WAGES IN STATE HISTORY, AND WE'RE JUST GETTING STARTED.

SO WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THIS EXCITING TIME, OUR TIME.

BUT FIRST, LET'S ADDRESS OUR TRIALS AND OUR TRAGEDIES.

2021 WAS MARKED BY THE LOSS OF FAR TOO MANY OF OUR FRIENDS, FAMILY MEMBERS, AND NEIGHBORS.

EVERYONE LOST SOMEONE, MAYBE MULTIPLE SOMEONES OVER THE LAST YEAR.

ON TOP OF ANOTHER YEAR OF PAINFUL LOSSES TO THE PANDEMIC, 2021 WAS BOOK-ENDED BY NATURAL DISASTERS WITH DEVASTATING STORMS AND HISTORIC FLOODING IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, AND THEN THE DEADLY TORNADO OUTBREAKS IN DECEMBER.

AFTER EACH OF THESE DISASTERS, I VISITED THE COMMUNITIES THAT WERE SUFFERING TO SEE THE DAMAGE MYSELF AND TO LISTEN TO THE STORIES OF OUR FAMILIES.

I TRAVELED TO A WARMING CENTER IN ASHLAND DURING THE ICE STORM, AND I FOUND A FRIEND OF MINE SITTING IN THE CORNER WITH HIS DAD WHOSE DIALYSIS MACHINE WAS PLUGGED INTO THE WALL.

I WATCHED AS VOLUNTEERS BROUGHT IN MEALS AND A MEDICAL TEAM FROM KINGS DAUGHTER ARRIVED AND WALKED FAMILY TO FAMILY TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE WAS OKAY.

ONE MONTH LATER, THAT SAME WARMING CENTER WAS UNDER WATER AS RECORD FLOODING HIT PARTS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY.

DAYS LATER I 1 TO BEATTYVILLE WHICH HAD BEEN VERY MANY COMPLETELY SUBMERGED.

I LISTENED TO ONE OF OUR COUNTY JUDGES DESCRIBE AN AMAZING HEALTH CARE RESIDUE BY OUR NATIONAL GUARD.

HELICOPTER RESCUE.

LET'S TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK THE NATIONAL GUARD FOR THEIR HEROIC EFFORTS THIS YEAR.

I AM PROUD TO BE YOUR COMMANDER IN CHIEF.

[APPLAUSE] MONTHS AFTER BEATTYVILLE, I WAS IN NICHOLAS COUNTY.

A HISTORIC FLOOD HAD TAKEN HOMES CLEAR OFF THEIR FOUNDATION.

RED Xs PAINTED ON THEIR DOORS AS A PAINFUL SYMBOL THAT PEOPLE COULD NOT RETURN TO THEIR HOMES.

AND THEN CAME DECEMBER.

WANT LEAST FIVE TORNADOES HITTING ON THE SAME TERRIBLE NIGHT, ONE OF WHICH ON THE GROUND BRINGING DEATH AND DESTRUCTION FOR OVER 200 STRAIGHT MILES.

THE STORIES OF THAT NIGHT ARE TRAGIC, BUT THEY'RE ALSO HEROIC.

I MET A FARMER IN TAYLOR COUNTY WHO PULLED MULTIPLE NEIGHBORS FROM THEIR BASEMENTS OF THEIR COLLAPSED HOME, CLEARING OUT JUST ENOUGH DEBRIS TO PULL THEM OUT.

HE TOLD ME ONE FAMILY CALLED OUT, "PLEASE DON'T LEAVE US."

AND HE DIDN'T.

THAT MAN NEVIN PRICE IS HERE WITH US TONIGHT WITH HIS WIFE SHERRY.

WHY DON'T YOU STAND UP SO THAT WE CAN GIVE YOU THE APPLAUSE THAT OUR HEROS DESERVE.

[APPLAUSE] JEREMY CEASESON COULDN'T BE WITH US TONIGHT.

GENERALLY IS THE CHIEF OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN MAYFIELD.

HE WAS AMONG THE FIRST ON THE SCENE OF A TORNADO LEVELED A CANDLE FACTORY WITH DOZENS OF WORKERS INSIDE.

I REMEMBER TALKING TO JEREMY, THE MAYOR, THE POLICE CHIEF JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT ON THAT MOST DIFFICULT NIGHT AS THEY WORKED TO SAVE SO MANY LIVES.

SO TO ALL OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY, THANK YOU.

MINNEHAHA.

[APPLAUSE] NOTHING THAT I HAVE EVER WITNESSED PREPARED ME FOR THE LEVEL HAVE DESTRUCTION I SAW IN WESTERN KENTUCKY.

ONE OF THE HARDEST HIT PLACES WAS MY DAD'S HOMETOWN OF DAWSON SPRINGS.

THIS IS A PLACE I KNOW, A PLACE I LOVE.

THIS WAS ALWAYS A SAFE PLACE FOR ME WHERE MY FAMILY SAT ON MY GRANDPARENTS' PORCH AND SANG HYMNS.

MIRACULOUSLY, THAT PORCH STILL STANDS BUT ONE BLOCK AWAY, EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING IS GONE.

17 PEOPLE FROM A TOWN WHERE BAD THINGS DON'T HAPPEN WERE LOST.

MY FAITH TEACHES ME THAT WHILE WE STRUGGLE TO UNDERSTAND THE WHYS OF HUMAN SUFFERING, WE CAN SEE THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN THE RESPONSE.

SCRIPTURE TELLS US, BEAR ONE ANOTHER'S BURDENS AND SO FULFILL THE LAW OF CHRIST.

WE SAW THAT IN THE ACTIONS OF OUR PEOPLE, AND IN THE OUTPOURING OF LOVE AND SUPPORT FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER, MANY WITH LITTLE OR MOW PERSONAL CONNECTION TO KENTUCKY, HAVE PLEDGED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO HELP RECOVERY AND HAVE VOLUNTEERED THOUSANDS OF HOURS.

MANY OTHERS, INCLUDING LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR COLEMAN, FOLKS IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND LCR ALIKE, ROLLED UP THEIR SLAVES TO GIVE BLOOD A DRIVES LIKE THE ONE SPONSORED HERE AT THE CAPITOL.

AND WHEN THE FIRST LADY STARTED A TOY DRIVE, GIFTS POURED IN BY THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS TO MAKE SURE THESE KIDS WHO HAD BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH COULD HAVE A GREAT CHRISTMAS.

I KNOW YOU'RE AT HOME, BUT BRITTINI, I AM SO PROUD OF YOU.

[APPLAUSE] AND I WAS CHANGED BY YOUR TOY DRIVE.

PASSING OUT THOSE TOYS AND VISITING WITH THOSE FAMILIES, I HAD AT LAS TWO SPECIAL MOMENTS I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU TONIGHT.

ONE WAS WHEN I WAS JOINED BY COACH CAL AND SAMARITAN'S FEET TO HAND OUT SHOES.

A YOUNG BOY LIT UP.

AS I PULLED OUT THE BRIGHTEST, BLUEST PAIR OF SNEAK PERPS HE IMMEDIATELY ASKED IF HE COULD PUT THEM ON RIGHT THERE, RIGHT THEN.

WE GOT THEM ON HIM, AND HE JUMPED UP AND BEGAN RUNNING AROUND, SHOWING PURE JOY IN A PAIR OF SHOES, JUST DAYS AFTER DEV STATION STATION.

AND THEN THERE WAS CARA MCKNIGHT, A SPECIAL GIRL I MET AT THE CHRISTMAS AT PENNYROYAL PARK.

IT HAD BEEN A TOUGH MONTH FOR HER AND FOR HER FAMILY.

SHE HAD LOST HER OLDER BROTHER LOGAN AROUND THANKSGIVING, AND THEN SHE LOST HER HOUSE IN THE TORNADOES.

BY DAUGHTER LILA AND I VOLUNTEERED HOB CARA AS PERSONAL SHOPPERS AND WE STARTED HANDING HER MORE BOARD GAMES AND TOYS, AND WHEN HER ARMS WERE FULL I STARTED LOADING LILA UP WITH MORE JUST FOR CARA.

AND THAT'S WHEN IT HAPPENED.

SHE BEGAN TO LAUGH.

AN AMAZING, SPECIAL LAUGH I WILL AMS REMEMBER.

A LAUGH THAT REMINDED ME THAT EVEN IN THE DARKNESS THERE IS WONDERFUL, PURE, JOYFUL LIGHT.

CARA, HER BROTHER JET, AND HER PARENTS ARTICLE AND JASON ARE WITH US TONIGHT.

AND I KNOW LOGAN IS HERE WITH US TOO.

THANK YOU TO CARA AND HER ENTIRE FAMILY FOR THEIR STRENGTH AND FOR YOUR GOODNESS.

[APPLAUSE] THE COURAGE AND THE COMPASSION THAT AMERICANS HAVE SHOWN FOR ONE ANOTHER DURING OUR PLIGHT FILLS ME WITH PRIDE, THAT BEING YOUR GOVERNOR, AND FILLS ME WITH CERTAINTY THAT HE AS TEAM KENTUCKY HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO MEET THIS CHALLENGE.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO BEING THERE FOR THOSE THAT LOST EVERYTHING IN THESE TORNADOES.

I APPRECIATE PRESIDENT BIDEN'S SUPPORT FOR OUR PEOPLE DURING THIS DISASTER.

HE GRANTED MY REQUEST THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PAY FOR THE ENTIRE COST OF THE FIRST 30 DAYS OF CLEANUP.

THAT -- [APPLAUSE] THAT IS A HUGE HELP.

AND I REQUESTED AN EXTENSION BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH MORE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

AS PART OF THAT EFFORT, I'M WORKING WITH HOUSE AND SENATE MEMBERS ON FAST TRACK LEGISLATION TO HELP OUR IMPACTED FAMILIES.

THIS LEGISLATION DIRECTS $150 MILLION TO HELP OUR COMMUNITIES REBUILD, ANOTHER $50 MILLION WOULD GO TO THE REGION'S SCHOOLS TO HELP THEM RECOVER AND TO GET READY TO PROVIDE THE BEST EDUCATION FOR THE KIDS THERE.

IT PROVIDES ADDITIONAL TOOLS TO BRING AND KEEP JOBS IN THESE COMMUNITIES, AND IT SHOWS THAT WE, DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, HOUSE AND SENATE, EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE BRANCHES, WILL STAND WITH THESE FAMILIES.

WE WILL.

[APPLAUSE] SO I WANT EVERY FAMILY AND COMMUNITY TOUCHED BY THESE STORMS TO KNOW THAT I AM WITH YOU.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS WITH YOU.

THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY IS WITH YOU TODAY, TOMORROW, HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES.

WE WILL REBUILD EVERY STRUCTURE AND EVERY LIFE.

[APPLAUSE] NOW, WE CANNOT TALK ABOUT THE STATE OF OUR COMMONWEALTH WITHOUT ADDRESSING THE ONGOING COVID PANDEMIC.

AS I NOTED EARLIER, WE'VE LOST MORE THAN 12,000 OF OUR FELLOW KENTUCKIANS TO THIS EVIL VIRUS.

THE NATIONWIDE DEATH TOLL HAS SURPASSED 828,000.

THOSE ARE 828,000 CHILDREN OF GOD MISSED AND MOURNED BY THE COMMUNITIES, AND THOSE WHO LOVE THEM, AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE SEEING A SEVERE UNPRECEDENTED ESCALATION OF CASES DUE TO A NEW VARIANT WE MUST TAKE SERIOUSLY.

IN FACT, AT NEARLY 10,000 NEW CASES, TODAY IS THE MOST NEW CASES WE HAVE HAD IN ANY SINGLE DAY IN THE PANDEMIC.

YET EVEN WITH THESE CONCERNS, REMAIN CONVINCED THAT WE CAN AND WE WILL BEAT COVID BECAUSE IN 2021 WE GAINED THE TOOLS AND THE KNOWLEDGE WE NEEDED FOR VICTORY.

AND IN A POINT OF PRIDE WE SHOULD ALL SHARE, KENTUCKY AND OUR PEOPLE CONTINUED TO TAKE A LEADING ROLE IN THIS WORLDWIDE BATTLE.

IN LATE DECEMBER 2020 I VISITED UofL HEALTH AS THE VERY FIRST COVID VACCINES ARRIVED.

DELIVERED BY ONE OUR VERY OWN UPS EMPLOYEES.

LATER I VISITED UPS WORLDPORT, THE PROUD KENTUCKIANS AND MAYBE A FEW MISGUIDE HOOSIERS, CONTINUE TO ENSURE THESE LIFE-SAVING SHOTS OF HOPE REACH PEOPLE HERE, THROUGHOUT AMERICA, AND AROUND THE GLOBE.

THE TESTING AND VACCINE PROTOCOLS DEVELOPED HERE IN THE COMMONWEALTH WITH THE HELP OF PARTNERS LIKE KROGER AND GRAVITY DIAGNOSTICS HAVE GONE ON TO BECOME NATIONAL MODELS.

THINK ABOUT IT.

IN A LITTLE MORE THAN A YEAR, WE BUILT THE MOST ROBUST TESTING AND VACCINATION NETWORKS IN HUMAN HISTORY.

IT WAS CALLED THE GREATEST LOGISTICS CHALLENGES SINCE WORLD WAR II, AND WE GOT IT DONE.

IN JUST OVER A YEAR WE VACCINATED OVER 62% OF EVERY MAN, WOMAN AND CHILD IN THE COMMONWEALTH, SOMETHING THAT'S NEVER, EVER BEEN DONE BEFORE.

AND RIGHT NOW PEOPLE CAN DRIVE OR EVEN WALK TO MULTIPLE LOCATIONS WHERE THEY CAN RECEIVE FREE OF CHARGE COVID TESTING OR VACCINATION OR BOOSTER.

GET YOUR BOOSTER.

WE STILL NEED MANY MORE OF OUR PEOPLE TO CHOOSE TO GET VACCINATED AND BOOSTED.

BUT WE CAN AND SHOULD TAKE PRIDE THAT OUR VACCINATION RATE HAS CONSISTENTLY BEEN IN THE TOP THREE OF OUR REGION AND NOW NEARLY 75 PERCENT OF ALL KENTUCKIANS 18 AND OLDER HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST THEIR FIRST SHOT OF HOPE.

[APPLAUSE] MY ADMINISTRATION'S COVID RESPONSE HAS AND WILL ALWAYS BE ABOUT SAVING LIVES, NOT WHAT IS EASY, NOT WHAT IS POPULAR, BUT WHAT IS NECESSARY AND WHAT IS RIGHT.

[APPLAUSE] THAT'S WHY WE WERE ONE OF THE VERY FIRST STATES TO PRIORITIZED VACCINATIONS FOYER EDUCATORS.

IT'S HOW KENTUCKY WAS ONE OF THE FIRST STATES TO RETURN TO IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION IN EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THE REST OF THE NATION LATER ADOPTED OUR APPROACH.

AND AS OUR KIDS WENT BACK TO IN-PERSON LEARNING, THEY HAD THE SUPPORT OF THE FIRST LADY'S COVERINGS FOR KIDS.

THAT ENSURED THAT STUDENTS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH HAD A MASK TO WEAR TO PROTECT THEM AS THEY LEARNED.

INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES, INCLUDING FORD MORT COMPANY AND HUMANA, DONATED MORE THAN 2.4 MILLION MASKS.

FOLKS, COVID IS OUR SPANISH FLU.

IT IS OUR PLAGUE.

BUT WE ARE STRONG ENOUGH TO DEFEAT IT NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES.

YES, IN 2021 WE FACED A ONE IN EVERY 100-YEAR PANDEMIC.

THAT'S THE CHALLENGE OF OUR LIFETIME.

ON TOP OF THAT, WE'VE DEALT WITH FLOODING, ICE STORMS AND DEADLY TORNADOES.

STILL, WE NEVER TOOK OUR EYE OFF THE BALL AND WORKED EVERY DAY TO BUILD A BETTER FUTURE FOR MY KIDS AND YOURS.

ALONG THE WAY, WE SHATTERED EVERY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RECORD IN THE BOOKS.

[APPLAUSE] WE ATTRACTED $11.2 BILLION IN PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT.

EVEN BETTER, THESE INVESTMENTS WILL CREATE MORE THAN 18,000 QUALITY JOBS IN EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOUR DISTRICTS.

[APPLAUSE] AND HOW ABOUT THIS ONE.

IN SEPTEMBER WE LANDED THE LARGEST SINGLE INVESTMENT THIS STATE HAS EVER SEEN AT NEARLY $6 BILLION AND 5,000 NEW JOBS.

FORD MORT COMPANY AND ITS PARTNER INNOVATION GOING TO BUILD THE NATION'S LARGEST ELECTRIC BATTERY PLANTS RIGHT HERE IN KENTUCKY.

[APPLAUSE] BILL FORD IS FORD'S EXECUTIVE CHAIR.

HEALS HENRY FORD'S GREAT GRANDSON.

HE SAT IN MY OFFICE AND HE SAID, "ANDY, THIS IS THE BIGGEST STEP IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY SINCE THE MODEL T." AND THIS IS FORD'S BIGGEST INVESTMENT IN ITS HISTORY THAT THEY HAVE EVER MADE, AND THAT THEY WERE MAKING IT IN KENTUCKY.

THAT'S WHEN IT HIT ME.

FORD MOTOR COMPANY, A COMPANY AS AMERICAN AS AMERICA ITSELF, WAS BETTING ITS FUTURE, AND WHO DID FORD TRUST TO BET ITS ENTIRE FUTURE ON?

THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY.

THAT OUGHT TO MAKE YOU PRETTY PROUD.

[APPLAUSE] AND IT'S NOT JUST FORD.

PRATT INDUSTRIES IS MAKING ITS LARGEST INVESTMENT EVER AB WI HALF A BILLION DOLLARS IN HENDERSON.

THAT IS THE LARGEST PROJECT IN WESTERN KENTUCKY IN 25 YEARS.

TOYOTA CONTINUES TO BELIEVE IN US INVESTING OVER $460 MILLION IN ELECTRIC VEHICLES, AND ADDING 1400 DIRECT FULL-TIME JOBS.

GE APPLIANCES IS EXPANDING IN LOUISVILLE SHOWING THAT U.S. MANUFACTURING IS BACK.

IN OCTOBER THEY ANNOUNCED A $450 MILLION INVESTMENT THAT IS GOING TO CREATE 1,000 JOBS.

AMAZON, OPERATIONALIZED ITS NEW $1.5 BILLION AIR HUB, CREATING 2,000 NEW JOBS IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

LOCATED A SECOND FACILITY IN MADISONVILLE POURING IN $70 MILLION CREATING MORE THAN 50 GOOD-PAYING JOBS.

AND FIDELITY INVESTMENTS IN COVINGTON, WHICH WAS ALREADY ONE OF NORTHERN QWEST LARGEST EMPLOYERS, ANNOUNCED 600 NEW PROFESSIONAL JOBS THIS SUMMER.

THOSE ARE WORLD CLASS COMPANIES CHOOSING US.

SOME OF THE MOST SOPHISTICATED CORPORATIONS ON THE PLANET BETTING THEIR FUTURE ON KENTUCKY.

THESE ARE THE JOBS OF THE FUTURE, AND THEY ARE COMING TO EVERY PART OF OUR STATE.

WE ARE LEADING.

KENTUCKY IS LEADING ON ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

FORD AND TOYOTA'S INVESTMENTS WERE JOINED BY FIRESTONE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCT CREATING 250 JOBS IN WHIT.

WE ANNOUNCED FOUR EXPANSIONS IN MOORHEAD, SUMMER SO THE RICH RIMMED.

APPALACHIA WHO IS GROWING APPLES ON ABANDON COAL MINE PROPERTY IS EXPECTED TO CREATE 2,000 NEW FULL TIME JOBS.

APPALACHIA'S OWN BERNIE KOSAR, SUPER BOWL AND NATIONAL CHAMPION QUARTERBACK IS HERE WITH US TONIGHT.

STAND UP, BERNIE, SO WE CAN THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORKER YOU'RE DOING THIS APPALACHIA.

[APPLAUSE] LEER EVER LIGHTNING WITH THEM FRESH HARVEST CONTINUE TO GROW IN STANFORD AND ENVIROFLIGHT IS THRIVING IN MAYES VILLE.

OTHER-HIGH TECH MEANS MADE GREAT STRIDES.

AND NOVELES OPENED ITS FIRST NEW FACILITY SINCE 1982, INVESTING OVER $300 MILLION IN TODD COUNTY.

KENTUCKY WAS ALREADY THE LEADER, THE WORLDWIDE LEADER IN BOURBON PRODUCTION.

BUT IN 2021 WE SAW THE INDUSTRY CONTINUE TO EXPAND, BOTH IN PRODUCTION AND TOURISM.

WE WELCOMED RIVALS LIKE THE CAN'T FAMILY AND LOG STILL.

WE CELEBRATED EXCITING NEW PLAYERS LIKE CORE SOLDIER BURR THAT SOMERSET.

THESE FOLKS ARE THE REALM DEAL.

REAL AMERICAN HEROS WHO SHOWS US.

THEY'RE INVESTING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN SOUTHERN KENTUCKY TO BUILD SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL.

WE ALSO APPLAUDED A STALWARTS LIKE FOUR ROSES AND HEAVEN HILL, CUT RIBBONS ON EXPANDED VISITOR CENTERS.

AND I MUST SAY A VERY PERSONAL AND SPECIAL THANK YOU TO SECRETARY OF COMMERCE GINA RO MONDO WHO I PERSONALLY WORKED WITH TO REMOVE HARMFUL BOURBON TARIFFS AND ENSURE A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR OUR SIGNATURE INDUSTRY.

SO AS YOU CAN SEE, THE INCREDIBLE ECONOMIC LEAPS THAT WERE TAKEN AREN'T JUST CONFINED TO A FEW COUNTIES ORE A FEW CITIES, AND MY PLEDGE IS THAT EVERYONE WILL SANITARY COMING PROSPERITY, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN THE REGIONS OR IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE FAR TOO OFTEN LEFT OUT.

LET ME GIVE YOU ONE OF MY FAVORITE EXAMPLES.

A MONDAY AND A HALF AGO I RETURNED TO BEATTYVILLE.

THIS TIME NOT FOR A NATURAL DISASTER, THANK GOODNESS, BUT TO WELCOME LYON FIRST RESPONDER BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

LYON, WHICH HAD REOPENED ITS PPE MANUFACTURING IN THE COMMUNITY, DID SO IN THE SAME BUILDING THE COMPANY LEFT IN 2010.

WHEN I SAW THAT DAY WAS NOT JUST HOPE, IT WAS PROGRESS, AND GAS A STEP TOWARDS PROSPERITY.

SO HERE WITH US TONIGHT REPRESENTING LYON ARE DIANE BEST AND PATTY BARKER.

LET'S THANK THEM FOR INVESTING IN OUR KENTUCKY COMMUNITY.

[APPLAUSE] AND WE'RE ALSO THANKFUL FOR WHAT YOU DO.

BECAUSE THOSE MAYFIELD FIREFIGHTERS OUT ON THAT DIFFICULT NIGHT WERE DIRECT PROTECTED BY YOUR PRODUCTS.

SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR PROTECTING OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.

[APPLAUSE] SO AFTER A RECORD YEAR, ONE WHERE WE WON AND WE WON AND WE WON SOME MORE, WHERE DO WE GO?

THE ANSWER SHOULD BE SIMPLE.

FORWARD.

WITH ALL THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED THIS YEAR, WE SHOULD BE OVER THE FIGHTING, OVER THE BICKERING, OVER THE GAMES.

AFTER THIS YEAR I'M CONVINCED THAT OUR ROLE IN GOVERNMENT IS NOT TO MOVE A STATE RIGHT OR LEFT BUT TO MOVE IT FORWARD.

SO THIS YEAR AND IN THIS SESSION WE HAVE A DUTY AND A RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE THE INVESTMENTS THAT CAN TURN TWO YEARS OF GREAT PROGRESS INTO 20 YEARS OF REAL PROSPERITY.

IN A LITTLE OVER A WEEK I WILL JOIN YOU AGAIN TO UNVEIL A BUDGET THAT DOES JUST THAT.

NOW, I BELIEVE THAT A BUDGET IS MORE THAN LINES AND NUMBERS.

IT IS A VALUE STATEMENT.

AND MY UPCOMING BUDGET WILL REFLECT OUR KENTUCKY VALUES OF FAMILY, FAITH, COMMUNITY, AND A DEEP COMPASSION FOR OUR NEIGHBORS.

[APPLAUSE] THAT BUDGET WILL MAKE HISTORIC INVESTMENTS IN EDUCATION AS WORLD CLASS COMPANIES DESERVE A WORLD CLASS WORKFORCE.

P. [APPLAUSE] IT WILL CREATE A FUND FOR INVESTING IN DEVELOPMENT SITES SO WE CAN ATTRACT THE NEXT FORD AND TOYOTA.

IT WILL INVEST IN OUR ESSENTIAL WORKERS LIKE OUR KENTUCKY STATE POLICE.

OUR NURSES, OUR TEACHERS, TO ENSURE WE CANNOT ONLY RECRUIT BUT RETAIN THESE CRITICAL JOBS.

IT WILL ENSURE THAT WE REMAIN A LEADER IN AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY IN EASTERN KENTUCKY AND THAT WE BUILD ON OUR FOOTBALL PRESIDENT FOOTPRINT IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY WILL IT CONTINUE TO DELIVER ON THE PROMISE OF A WORLD CLASS AIRPORT IN PADUCAH.

IT WILL CONTINUE.

TO INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE WITH MORE WATER AND SEWER GRANTS IT.

WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND THE MOUNTAIN PARKWAY TO FOUR LANES, AND IT WILL WORK TO CONSTRUCT THAT I-69 BRIDGE.

IT WILL MOVE US EVER CLOSER TO THE ANNOUNCEMENTS WHICH I HOPE AND EXPECT THAT WE WILL MAKE NEXT YEAR THAT WE WILL CONSTRUCT A BRENT SPENCE COMPANION BRIDGE WITHOUT TOLLS.

[APPLAUSE] AND IT WILL INCLUDE A RAISE FOR ALL OF OUR STATE WORKERS.

[APPLAUSE] WE SIMPLY CANNOT SAY THAT WE RESPECT AND SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS, SOCIAL WORKERS AND OTHER STATE WORKERS WHILE REMOVING THEIR PENSIONS AND NOT PROVIDING THEM A RAISE IN OVER A DECADE.

AND I CARE ABOUT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM ENOUGH TO TRY TO GET THEM CLOSER TO PAYING THEM WHAT THEY'RE WORTH.

FOLKS, OUR TIME IS HERE, AND OUR FUTURE IS NOW.

BUT FOR US TO ACHIEVE OUR DESTINY, WE HAVE TO EMBRACE IT AND WE'VE GOT TO WORK FOR IT.

PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN, A HERO TO THIS STATE AND TO THIS COUNTRY, SAID IT BEST.

"YOU CANNOT ESCAPE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TOMORROW BY EVADING IT TODAY."

IT'S ANOTHER WAY OF SAYING, THIS IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY, OUR CHANCE, AND NOT THE TIME TO PASS THE BUCK.

[APPLAUSE] SO AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY, WE ARE AT THIS CRUCIALLY MOMENT TO ACCEPT OUR GREAT RESPONSIBILITY.

MAYBE EVEN OUR HISTORIC RESPONSIBILITY TO LEAD.

I KNOW WE CAN AGREE TO WORK TOGETHER TO REBUILD AND RECOVER.

I KNOW THAT WE CAN TAKE THE BOLD ACTIONS NEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE IF WE CHOOSE WISELY, MAYBE, IF WE CHOOSE KINDLY, THEN WE CAN LOOK BACK DECADES FROM NOW AND SAY, THIS WAS THE MOMENT.

THIS WAS THE MOMENT THAT MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

AFTER STANDING IN WHAT USED TO BE DOWNTOWN MAYFIELD, AND AFTER WALKING THROUGH WHAT USED TO BE DAWSON SPRINGS, AFTER SEEING THE DEVASTATION OF BREEMAN, I THINK WE SHOULD ALL BE CHANGED PEOPLE.

SO LET'S SPEND THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION FOCUSED ON BETTERING THE LIVES OF OUR PEOPLE.

LET'S FOCUS ON RESTORING AND REBUILDING LIVES AND BUILDINGS IN WESTERN KENTUCKY.

LET'S FOCUS ON REDUCING THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN OR SENIORS WHO GO TO BEHEAD HUNGRY EVERY NIGHT.

LET'S FOCUS ON BRINGING HEALING AND RECOVERY HAD TO THOSE STRUGGLING WITH OPIOID AND OTHER ADDICTION ISSUES LET'S FOCUS ON MAKING SURE OUR KIDS ARE GETTING THE VERY BEST EDUCATION.

LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO SUPPORT OUR WORKFORCE, TO FILL THE JOBS COMING OUR WAY.

AND LET'S MAKE SURE THAT THIS INCREDIBLE ECONOMIC MOMENTUM REACHES EVERY CORNER OF THE COMMONWEALTH AND EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IN ALL OF OUR CITIES.

AND LET'S NOT DEVOLVE INTO ANGER, DIVISION, BITTERNESS OR HATE EVER AGAIN.

[APPLAUSE] WE'VE BEEN CALLED TO BE BETTER PEOPLE, AND WE SHOULD BE.

SCRIPTURE FURTHER GUIDES US, LET US NOT BECOME WEARY OF DOING GOOD, FOR AT THE PROPER TIME WE WILL REAP A HARVEST IF WE DO NOT GIVE UP.

WE ARE TOO STRONG TO GIVE UP.

WE MUST GO FORWARD.

OUR TIME IS HERE.

OUR FUTURE IS NOW.

GOD BLESS YOU.

GOD BLESS THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[APPLAUSE] >> Renee: SO YOU JUST HEARD GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR DELIVER HIS THIRD STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH ADDRESS.

THIS TIME IN PERSON IN THE HOUSE CHAMBERS BEFORE A JOINT SESSION OF THE STATE HOUSE AND SENATE, AND SO WE HAD A LITTLE BIT SMALLER CROWD, WE NOTICED, IN THE CHAMBER TONIGHT, AND THAT'S PROBABLY BECAUSE OF COVID CONCERNS.

>> WE DID, AND IT COULD BE COVID.

IT COULD BE THAT MAYBE SOME OF THE REPUBLICANS KIND OF KNEW WHAT HE WAS GOING TO SAY AND DIDN'T FEEL LIKE STICKING AROUND.

WE DON'T KNOW.

>> SO LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT HE SAID BECAUSE IT SEEMED TO BE 25 MINUTES.

HE WENT THROUGH, OF COURSE, THE AFTERMATH OF THE TORNADO OUTBREAK AND THE COVID RESPONSE AND, OF COURSE, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND THE RECORD BREAKING INVESTMENT THAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

SHERMAN, IT SEEMED LOOK A RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN SPEECH AND IT DIDN'T HAVE A LOT ABOUT WHAT HE INTENDS TO DO OR ASKED THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TODAY THIS SESSION.

>> AGAIN, I THINK PARTIALLY YOU SAID BEFORE WE NORMALLY HEARD THE STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH AND THE BUDGET ADDRESS TOGETHER.

I MYSELF HAVE COMBINED THOSE AND WAITED FOR WHAT WAS GOING TO BE IN THE BUDGET, WHAT WAS GOING TO BE -- THAT'S NEXT WEEK.

THIS IS THE STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH, WHERE ARE WE RIGHT NOW.

AND I THINK WHAT I HEARD, AS YOU SAID, WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT -- WE TALKED FIRST ABOUT BIPARTISANSHIP AND WORKING TOGETHER, KIND OF GOING THROUGH THERE, THE STATE OF ECONOMY.

OBVIOUSLY THE $11.2 BILLION COMING IN HERE.

HE TALKED ABOUT WHERE ALL THAT IS GOING, NAMED PLACES ALL OVER THE STATE, NAMED DIFFERENT PEOPLE, SIMILAR TO A CAMPAIGN SPEECH.

I WILL GIVE YOU THAT.

BUT TALKING AND NAMING INDIVIDUALS OF WHO HE'S MET, WHERE HE WAS AT DIFFERENT POINTS, NOT JUST IN POSITIVES BUT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT HOPE.

WHERE ARE WE GOING FOR THE THE FUTURE?

BECAUSE THE LAST TWO YEARS HAVE BEEN ROUGH.

HE'S ACKNOWLEDGING THAT.

I THINK THAT IS VERY KNOWN.

WE ARE DEALING WITH IT, EVERYBODY, INDIVIDUALS.

MY FAMILY.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW IS HIM JUST KIND OF COMING OUT AND AS A CAMPAIGN SPEECH.

IT'S ALSO A CAMPAIGN I WOULD SAY FORTE KENTUCKY.

TEAM KENTUCKY AS ANN BEEN BRANDED, I THINK THAT'S WHERE HE WAS GOING FOR THIS AND IT PLAYS INTO POLITICIANS BUT IT HAD.

>> SO SO YOU THINK THERE I WAS SUCCESSFUL APPROACH THAT HE DID WHAT HEE NEEDED TO DO AND HEAL.

>> I HAVE THE NITTY GRIT OH THURSDAY.

AMY, HE SAID WHAT HE ASKED FOR, A COMPANION BRIDGE FOR THE BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE WITHOUT DOLES.

NAS WITH A A PRAY CLUED OF WHAT WE ARE GOING TO HEAR NEXT WEEK.

>> IT WAS NICE TO HEAR A HINT AS TO WHAT HIS BUDGET PROPOSAL WILL BE.

I WANT TO GO BACK TO SOMETHING THAT SHERMAN SAID.

I'M A LITTLE SURPRISED OF HOW LITTLE OF THE SPEECH WAS TALKED ABOUT LOOKING FORWARD.

WE TOOK ABOUT 30 MINUTES OF LOOKING BACKWARDS OF WHERE WE'VE BEEN AND WHAT WE'VE DONE, AND WHILE THAT'S IMPORTANT I THINK AS LEGISLATORS, THEY WERE READY TO HEAR WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANT TO WORK WITH US ON BESIDES THE BUDGET.

TYPICALLY WE HEAR A COUPLE LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES.

I EXPECTED TO EAR HEAR SOME OF THE INITIATIVE THAT THE HOUSE AND SENATE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS LEADERS ANNOUNCED THE OTHER DAYS PART OF SOME THINGS THAT THE GOVERNOR MIGHT PROPOSE, SO I WAS A LITTLE SHOCKED AT THAT BUT GRATEFUL TO HEAR ABOUT WEAK HEAR IN THE BUDGET.

>> I THINK THE LINE WAS, SHERMAN BROWN, HE SAID WE'RE NO GOING TO GO LEFT, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO GO FORWARD.

HE IS HARK ENG BACK TO WHAT HIS FATHER SAID.

IT'S A RED WHY, NOT A BLUE IDEA, DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN IDEA.

IT'S JUST A GOOD IDEA.

HE WAS HARKENING BACK TO THAT OF THEME OF BARNSSHIP.

A CENTRIST MOVE, I GUESS.

>> HE'S ALSO COME INTO, AS I SAID BEFORE, HE'S COME IN AND ALREADY HAD REPUBLICAN SUPER MAJORS THAT HE WAS DEALING WITH.

THAT'S WHAT HE WAS GIVEN AS HE WALKED THE IN DOOR.

HE HAS TO WORK TOGETHER.

THAT'S SOMETHING, JUST YOU LOOKING AT THAT FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE.

DID I HEAR, IN NO DETAIL, BUT I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT LATER, BUT HE TALKED ABOUT THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC.

DIDN'T EXPECT TO HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT THAT POLICY.

THAT IS SOMETHING HE HAS CARED ABOUT THE ENTIRE TIME, THAT THERE'S A ISSUE THAT HAS REALLY BROKEN IN THESE LAST TWO YEARS, GIVEN -- BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> 49% INCREASE FROM 2020 OVER 2019.

AND FATAL OVERDOSE DEATHS FROM OPIOIDS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> AND SO GETTING TO THE NITTY-GRITTY OF THE BUDGET ADDRESS, MAYBE WE'LL HEAR MORE OF THAT.

TONIGHT WAS IT ABOUT UNITY?

WAS IT ABOUT SAYING, I'M HERE, I'M EXTENDING AN OLIVE BRANCH.

LOOK WHAT WE CAN DO TOGETHER, LOOK WHAT WE'VE COME THROUGH TOGETHER AND HOW MUCH FURTHER WE CAN GO IF WE ALL WORK TOGETHER?

>> I DEFINITELY HEARD A CALL FOR UNIT AND CIVILITY.

THAT'S IMPORTANT.

I THINK KENTUCKIANS WANT TO HAVE CIVILITY IN THEIR POLITICS.

I THINK IT'S INTERESTING THAT HE DID NOT POINT OUT CERTAIN LEGISLATORS, CERTAIN MEMBERS LEADERSHIP ON CERTAIN ANALYZES HE WANTS TO WORK WITH.

WE HAVE SEEN THAT IN PAST YEARS.

>> DO YOU THINK THAT I WAS MISSED!

>> I DO.

I THINK THAT WOULD HAVE TAKEN THE OLIVE BRANCH FURTHER AND MADE SOME PEOPLE FEEL LIKE HE'S PAYING ATTENTION AND HE KNOWS THEY ARE IN POSITIONS OF CHAIRMANMANSHIP AND LEADERSHIP.

I THINK THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A MISSED OPPORTUNITY.

BUT OVERALL I THINK THE GOVERNOR DID WHAT HE CAME TO DO.

WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS WHAT THE LEGISLATOR INTENDED TO HEAR.

>> WHO WAS THE SPEECH SEE.

FOR?

OF COURSE, HE'S SPEAKING TO A STATEWIDE AUDIENCE, BUT WHO IS HE TRYING TO PERSUADE 911?

>> I THINK HE WAS TRYING TO REMIND KENTUCKIANS THAT HE IS TO CREDIT FOR A LOT OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

AND I DON'T THINK HE SHARED THAT CREDIT, ESPECIALLY IN THE ECONOMIC IMPACT AND THE ECONOMIC INVESTMENT THAT HE TALKED ABOUT, INTERESTING TO ME THAT HE DID NOT REALLY SHARE CREDIT WITH THAT, ACKNOWLEDGE PAST YEARS POLICIES PUT IN BITY REPUBLICAN SUPER MAJORITY.

>> WAS THAT A LOST OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND THAT OLIVE BRANCH A LITTLE BIT MORE ♪ >> I DON'T KNOW IF IT I WAS MISSED OPPORTUNITY.

I THINK YOU'VE GOT CERTAINLY YOU CAN NAME PEOPLE THAT CAN HELP UP.

THERE'S ALSO TIMES THEY CAN HURT YOU.

YOU'RE NAMING SOMEBODY AND YOU LEAVE SOMEBODY OUT.

THERE WERE -- HE DID GO THROUGH NAMES AND TALK ABOUT SPREADS THAT HE HAD SEEN OUT THERE AS FAR AS THE LEGISLATURE HE DID NOT BUT AGAIN IT GOES BACK TO WHAT THE PURPOSE OF SPEECH IS.

IF IT'S THE STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH, DIFFERENT THAN THE BUDGET, SO THIS -- OR THE BUDGET CEASE, ADDRESS THIS TO ME WAS STATING WHERE WE ARE.

HE DID LOOK BACK.

HE DIDN'T GIVE LONG OF A SPEECH EVEN THOUGH HE'S ON TV A LOT BECAUSE PANDEMIC, BUT ABOUT THESE THINGS AND GIVING A FULL OVERALL STATEMENT OF WHERE WE SIT, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

I GOT HOPE OUT OF IT.

I GOT THAT WE'RE -- WHERE WE ARE GOING FORWARD.

AND I THINK, AS HE SAID, HIS BUDGET ADDRESS IS A POLICY STATEMENT AND IT IS A VALUE STATEMENT.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE -- WHERE WE'LL SEE THE ACTUAL LAYOUT OF WHERE WE STAND MOVING FORWARD AND AS A COMMONWEALTH.

>> AND OFTEN IT IS THE COMMON REFRAIN THAT WE ALWAYS SAY WHEN THERE'S TWO ADDRESSES, THE THAT COMMONWEALTH'S ADDRESS IS OFTEN SOMETIMES SHORT ON REAL SUBSTANCE AND THAT YOU GET TO THE MEAT BECAUSE POLICIES ONLY GOOD AS YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOR IT.

SO THEN WHEN YOU GET TO PAY FORS THE NEXT WEEK, AS IT WILL BE THE CASE NEXT TIME AROUND, THEN REALLY WE'LL REALLY KNOW WHERE HE WANTS TO GO.

PAY RAISES FOR STATE WORKERS AND TEACHERS, AND THAT MIGHT BE A PRIORITY, BUT WHAT ARE THE OTHER THINGS?

LIKE YOU MENTIONED WITH THE DEMOCRATS, HOUSE AND SENATE, HAD JUST RELEASED THEIR AGENDA YESTERDAY, OPENING DAY OF THE SESSION.

MAYBE IT WAS THE MONDAY PRIOR.

SO WE WONDER HOW MUCH OF THAT WILL ALSO JIBE WITH WHAT HE WANTS TO DO.

>> RIGHT, BECAUSE THEY TALKED ABOUT SPORTS BETTING.

THEY TALKED ABOUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

>> AND CODIFYING SOME OF THE ACA PROVISIONS.

>> ALSO KIND OF TRYING TO REGAIN SOME OF THAT GUBERNATORIAL POWER.

>> THE EMERGENCY POWERS, THAT'S RIGHT.

HOW WOULD YOU THINK THAT'S GOING TO GO OVER?

>> I DON'T THINK IT WILL GO OVER WELL.

I THINK THE REPUBLICANS ARE PRETTY STRONG WHEN THEY MADE THOSE CHANGES.

I THINK THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE WORKING.

I THINK SOMETHING -- THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE A REALLY STRONG ARGUMENT FOR THEM TO BACK STEP ON THAT.

INTERESTING THAT THE GOVERNOR DID NOT REALLY MENTION THAT TONIGHT IN DETAIL.

BUT WE'LL SEE.

>> WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

WELL, WE ARE 28 TO GET SOME REACTION FROM THE LEGISLATURE LEADERS.

PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE SPEAKER DAVID OSBOURNE ARE FINISHING UP IN THE HOUSE AND THEY'LL BE JOINING US SHORTLY AND THERE THEY ARE RIGHT ON CUE.

GENTLEMEN, I BEING DOWN ON THE FLOOR WITH YOU BUT WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TONIGHT.

THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT AND MR. SPEAKER FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT.

LET ME START WITH YOU, SENATOR STIVERS.

YOUR REACTION TO WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAID TONIGHT.

>> I THINK THE GOVERNOR SET THE RIGHT TENOR AND TONE.

ABOUT TRYING THE WORK TOGETHER.

THIS IS MOVING THE STATE FORWARD.

I HAVE TO BE SOMEWHAT QUESTIONING THAT FACT BECAUSE WE HAVE SAID FOR THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS THAT WE WOULD BE BETTER OFF IN A CLAV NATURE.

AND ONLY AFTER THE RECENT COURT DECISION BACK THIS YEAR HAS THE GOVERNOR STARTED TO REACH OUT.

SO WE HOPE THAT THIS WILL CONTINUE, THAT HE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE MORE DISCUSSIONS WITH US.

AND WHEN WE HAVE, I LOOK TO THE SPEAKER, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SIT DOWN WITH HIM ON SEVERAL CASES,, BUT IT HAS BEEN TOO FEW AND TOO OFTEN.

>> SPEAKER OSBORNE, I'LL GIVE YOU A CHANCE FOCUS UP ON THAT POINT THAT SENATOR STIVERS JUST MADE.

>> I THINK THAT THE SENATOR HIT IT SQUARELY ON THE LED.

I THINK THAT THE TIMES WHERE WE HAVE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS SAT DOWN IN A COLLABORATIVE MANNER, WE HAVE MADE TREMENDOUS STRIDES, AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE STOOD READY TO DO THAT.

I AGREE WITH SENATOR STIVERS THAT THE TONE OF TONIGHT'S SPEECH WAS OUTSTANDING, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH TO MOVE THE COMMONWEALTH FORWARD.

>> MR. SPEAKER, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE LIKED TO HAVE HEARD FROM THE GOVERNOR TONIGHT?

DO YOU THINK HE GAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION AND DIRECTION ABOUT WHAT HE -- HIS POLICY ITEMS AND AGENDA IS THAT HE'D LIKE FOR YOU ALL TO CONSIDER OR DO YOU THINK THAT WILL AM COULD NEXT WEEK WHEN HE GIVES HIS BUDGET ADDRESS?

>> I THINK CERTAINLY THERE'S MORE CONVERSATIONS TO BE HAD, RENEE, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S NOT WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR FROM THE GOVERNOR IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH IN A SPEECH.

WHAT I AM LOOKING FOR IS WHEN WE SIT DOWN TO ACTUALLY TALC THE DIFFICULT ISSUES OF COMMONWEALTH, FOR A FACE-TO-FACE HONEST CONVERSATION AND COLLABORATIVE WORKING ARRANGEMENT.

>> HE DID MENTION TODAY ABOUT RAISES FOR STATE WORKERS AND CONSTRUCTING A COMPANION TO THE BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE WITHOUT TOLLS.

ARE THOSE THINGS THINGS THAT YOU ALL HAVE DISCUSSED WITH THE GOVERNOR UP TO NOW?

>> WE HAVE ACTUALLY HAD VERY FEW CONVERSATIONS WITH THE GOVERNOR REGARDING BUDGET ITEMS.

CERTAINLY WE HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF HIS PRESS CONFERENCES OVER THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS BUT WE HAVE BEEN DILIGENTLY WORKING WITH OUR BUDGET PROCESS.

CHAIRMAN PETRIE HAS BEEN PHIL ENGAGED IN THE BUDGET PROCESS, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING HIS IDEAS.

>> SENATOR STIVERS, TO YOU, WERE THERE ANY MISSED OPPORTUNITIES TONIGHT THAT YOU THINK THE GOVERNOR HAD AN OPPORTUNITY THAT HE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN TO MAYBE EXTEND AN OLIVE BRANCH MORE OVERNIGHT TO THE LEGISLATURE, TO LEGISLATIVE LEADERS LIKE YOURSELF AND SPEAKER?

>> I THINK THAT REALLY WOULD COME NEXT WEEK.

AS IS I HAVE HAVE I'VE SAID THROUGH MY CAREER HERE, THE ULTIMATELY POLICY DOCUMENT IS THE BUDGET, WHERE WE PUT MONEYS AND FUNDS.

WE WANT TO MAYBE TALK ABOUT EDUCATION, BUT LET'S -- LET'S LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON LIKE THE COURIER-JOURNAL WROTE ABOUT JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT POLICY, BUT THE ULTIMATELY POLICY WILL BE SET BY THE BUDGET NEXT WEEK.

>> WELL, GENTLEMEN, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT.

IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D CARE TO ADD, I'LL CERTAINLY GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO.

I KNOW YOU HAVE SOME OTHER PRESS THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO GET TO AS WELL BUT I DO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING.

>> THANK YOU, RENEE.

LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING BACK IN PERSON WITH YOU.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THANK YOU, RENEE.

MISS SEEING YOU HERE.

>> I'LL SEE YOU SOON, THOUGH, I THINK IN ANOTHER STUDIO.

TAKE GOOD CARE.

WE'RE ALSO GOING TO GET DEMOCRATIC RESPONSE.

HOUSE LEADER JONI JENKINS DEMOCRAT AND DEMOCRAT MORGAN McGARVEY WHO IS THE SENATE MINORITY FLOOR LEADER.

WE'RE GOING TO GET THEM IN THE QUEUE IN JUST A MOMENT.

THEY ALL AGREE WITH WHAT YOU SAID, AMY.

THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET TO THE NITTY GRITTY.

THE BUDGET DOES SET THE POLICY AGENDA.

>> RIGHT.

YEAH, YOU KNOW, IT WAS NICE TO HEAR.

I THINK THEY TOOK HIS SPEECH WITH THE RIGHT TONE.

I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR THAT TO COME ACROSS TO LEADERS AND HOPEFULLY THAT TRICKLES DOWN TO THE REST.

BUT THE REAL WORK IS GOING TO GET DONE.

I THINK SPEAKER OSBORNE SAID THE GOVERNOR CAN MAKE A SPEECH BUT WHAT REALLY MATTERS IS WHEN THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD, IT'S TIME TO SIT DOWN AND IT'S TIME TO MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS ABOUT WHERE KENTUCKY IS GOING AND WHAT THE BEST ROUTE IS.

>> AND WE KNOW JUST BECAUSE WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION ON MONDAY NIGHT ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" ABOUT THERE IS SOME THINKING, SHERMAN, ABOUT DO YOU SQUIRREL THE MONEY AWAY?

DO YOU BUT PUT I TOWARD THE PENSION LIABILITIES?

THE DEMOCRATS SAY NOW THE IS THE I'M TO INVEST.

THERE'S NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME WITH THE BUDGET RESERVE TRUST FUND AND MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THAT THOUSAND IS THE TIME TO MAKE THAT INVESTMENT, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIFURCATED CONVERSATION THAT THE GOVERNOR MAY HAVE WITH THE RN REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED LEADER, DOMINATED LEGISLATURE, THE LEADERS WE JUST HEARD FROM.

>> YEAH, ONE OF THE THINGS AMY SAID BEFORE THE SPEECH WAS THAT THAT'S WHERE SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO DISAGREEMENT, RIGHT?

YOU COULD SAY, YES, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE BIG INVESTMENTS AND WE'RE GOING TO DO THESE THINGS.

WHAT ARE YOU INVESTING IN?

I THINK WHAT HE TALKED ABOUT IS FIRST THAT TRAS FASTS FRAC LEGISLATION OF $150 MILLION FOR THE DRIVER I. CRO, HE TALKED ABOUT $50 MILLION FORTH SCHOOLS, HE TALKED ABOUT THE BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE.

HE TALKED ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE I THAN TO SAY IN GENERAL BUT GAVE SOME TARGETED PIECES.

WE'VE ALSO GOT THE BRIDGE IN WESTERN KENTUCKY, HENDERSON.

WE'VE GOT -- I MEAN, HE'S TALKED ABOUT SEVERAL PIECES HERE OF JUST KIND OF LOOKING FORWARD.

THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE CAN WORK ON THIS.

THOSE ARE THINGS, THE THINGS HE NAMED ARE THINGS THAT I THINK THE REPUBLICANS WOULD WANT TO WORK WITH HIM.

>> WESTERN KENTUCKY RELIEF, MAYBE YOU START THERE FIRST BECAUSE HOW ARE THEY GOING TO BE AGAINST THAT?

>> THAT'S PROBABLY A GOOD TONE TO SET FOR A BIPARTISAN BILL, NON-PARTISAN BILL REALLY TO PASS.

I THINK WHERE SOME DIVIDE IS GOING TO COME IS, OF COURSE, REPUBLICANS AND EVERYONE IT WASN'T TO GIVE SOCIAL WORKERS RAISES, THEY WANT TO GIVE TEACHERS RAISES AND MAKE THESE SMART INVESTMENTS, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO BE VERY CAREFUL BECAUSE THEY ALSO PROBABLY DON'T WANT TO MAKE INVESTMENTS, YOU KNOW, RECURRING INVESTMENTS WITH ONE-TIME MONEYS.

AND SO WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT JUST BECAUSE WE CAN AFFORD SOMETHING IN THIS BUDGET CYCLE, WE DON'T KNOW IF WE WILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD THAT IN TWO, FOUR, SIX YEARS, AND I WOULD EXPECT REPUBLICANS TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT THOSE RECURRING EXPENSES ARE THAT THE GOVERNOR PROPOSES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY FUND THOSE FOR LONG TERM.

>> AND AS REPUBLICANS HAVE SAID, A LOT, A LOT OF THE MONEY THAT'S IN THE ECONOMY IS ARTIFICIALLY THERE BECAUSE OF THE DOLLARS THAT HAVE COME FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND BECAUSE THEY'RE NONRECURRING, SHERMAN BROWN, THAT YOU CAN'T REALLY MAKE LONG-TERM COMMITMENTS TO RAISES BECAUSE THAT IS A COMPOUNDING KIND OF THING BECAUSE THAT MONEY MAY NOT BE THERE, AND MANY OF THEM FEEL THAT NOW IS THE TIME TO REALLY KEEP THE MONEY, RESERVE IT, PAY DOWN SOME LIABILITIES THAT YOU HAVE AND TAKE THAT APPROACH, A MORE AUSTERE APPROACH TO THE MONEY.

>> AND ONE THING WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT, DIDN'T COME UP TONIGHT IS TAX REFORM AND WHAT FURTHER CHANGES WILL THE LEGISLATURE CONSIDER IN TAX REFORM TO CONTINUE TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR ENVIRONMENT, TO GROW OUR ECONOMY, POTENTIALLY LOWER THE INCOME TAX, LOOK AT -- MAKE SOME SMART INVESTMENTS AS WELL, BUT TO FURTHER CREATE A COMPETITIVENESS AMONGST KENTUCKY AND MOVE US UP THE RANKS SO THAT -- >> OKAY.

SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE WITH US ON THE HOUSE FLOOR, WE APPRECIATE THEM JOINING ONCE THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERS, LORD JONI JENKINS AND MORGAN McGARVEY.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

I MISS BEING ON THE FLOOR WITH YOU.

YOU'VE GOT ENOUGH SAPPHIRES ME TO SQUEEZE IN THERE BUT WE'RE RESPECTING SAFETY PROTOCOLS.

LEADER JENKINS I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

YOUR RESPONSE TO WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAD TO SAY.

DID HE STRIKE THE RIGHT TONE?

DID HE SAY ENOUGH OF WHAT YOU WANTED TO HEAR FROM THE DEMOCRATIC AGENDA THIS SESSION?

>> ITALY THE GOVERNOR WAS VERY, VERY OPTIMISTIC.

EVEN THOUGH WE'VE COME THROUGH JUST A HORRIBLE DIME WITH THE PANDEMIC AND NATURAL DISASTERS.

HE TALKED ABOUT RESILIENCY, THAT KENTUCKIANS WILL COME BACK FORWARD AND COME BACK STRONGER.

AND HE TALK ABOUT THE GREAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING TO KENTUCKY BRINGING POS PERT FROM ONE END OF THE STATE TO THE OTHER.

>> THE STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH IS STRONG.

THAT WAS ONE OF HIS FIRST COMMENTS.

LEADER McGARVEY, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT?

AND WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO HEAR FROM THE GOVERNOR NEXT WEEK WHEN HE LAYS OUT ON YOU BUDGET PRIORITIES IN HIS BUDGET ADDRESS THAT WILL BE HAPPENING NEXT THURSDAY.

>> >> I THINK HE DID HIT THE RIGHT TONE WITH THIS SPEECH.

I THINK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN THE TWO YEARS SINCE HE BECAME GOVERNOR.

WE'VE HAD FLOODS.

WE'VE HAD TORNADOES.

WE'VE HAD A PANDEMIC TO DEAL WITH.

AND IN SPITE OF ALL THAT HE'S HANDLED THAT.

HE'S BEEN ON THE GROUND.

HE'S BEEN HELPING PEOPLE OUT.

HE'S LANDED THE BIGGEST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN THE STATE'S HISTORY WITH THE FORD MOTOR INVESTMENT $5.8 BILLION.

AS YOU SAW, HE'S ADDING JOBS IN LOUISVILLE, IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY, IN HENDERSON, IN APPALACHIA WITH APP HARVEST.

THIS IS VERY MUCH ABOUT LOOK AT WHAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH BUT STILL LOOK AT WHAT WE'VE GOT DONE AND LOOK AT WHAT'S NEXT BECAUSE THIS IS THE STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH, NOT BUDGET ADDRESS, BUT WE HAVE A ONCE THAT A GENERATION OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE $5 BILLION IN INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY COMING.

WE HAVE $1 BILLION IN AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT MONEY TO SPEND.

WE HAVE MORE THAN $1 BILLION SURPLUS, AND OUR RAIN DAY FUND IS OVERFLOWING.

HE STRUCK THE RIGHT TONE OF WEIR THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY THIS IS TEAM KENTUCKY.

LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE DOING.

AND NOW LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> LEADER JENKINS, HE SAID WE DON'T NEED TO MOVE RIGHT ON MOVE LEFT BUT MOVE FORWARD, AND A LOT OF THE SPEECH WAS LOOKING BACKWARD.

DID HE NEED TO TALK MORE ABOUT HOW TO MOVE FORWARD?

HE MENTION AID COUPLE OF KEY AREAS SUCH AS TORNADO RELIEF AND EDUCATION AND TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, BUT DID HE NEED TO GO MORE CONSIDERING THAT YOU ALL, THE HOUSE AND SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADERS, HAD LAID OUT YOUR AGENDA THAT INCLUDED FAR MORE THAN WHAT HE MENTIONED TONIGHT?

>> I THINK HE WILL ADDRESS THAT NEXT WEEK IN HIS BUDGET ADDRESS.

I THINK THIS WAS A SPEECH TO SET THE DON'T, ASKING US ALL TO WORK TOGETHER AND COME DETECT TO WORK FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND I THINK WE'LL SEE MUCH MORE DETAIL NEXT WEEK.

>> LEADER McGARVEY, BECAUSE THERE IS A SUPER MAJORITY OF REPUBLICANS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, WHAT'S THE DEMOCRATIC STRATEGY GOING FORWARD TO HELP PUSH THE DEMOCRATIC AGENDA FROM LEGISLATORS AND THE GOVERNOR'S AGENDA FORWARD?

HOW DO YOU ACCOMPLISH THAT THE WITH NUMBERS?

>> THE ROLE OF THE MINORITY IS ALWAYS TO HOLD THE MAJORITY ACCOUNTABLE.

YOU LOOK AT THE THINGS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS SESSION.

AGAIN, IT GOES BACK TO ONCE IN THE GENERATING OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE WITH THE MONEY COMING INTO KENTUCKY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABLE QUALITY CHILD CARE, ABOUT HAVING UNIVERSAL PRE-K, PRESCHOOL FOR EVERY CHILD.

IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY STARTING AT AGE THREE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT USING THE MONEY COMING IN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT MAKES SURE EVERY KENTUCKIAN HAS ACCESS TO HIGH SPEED INTERNET WITH EVERYBODY KENTUCKIAN HAS ACCESS TO ULTIMATELY POLICY REQUEST AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE, TALKING ABOUT LEGALIZING SPORTS BETTING WITH MAKING SURE MEDICAL MARIJUANA PASSES BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE THIS YEAR.

THESE ARE TO.

LAR PRIORITIES.

THEY ARE THINGS OUR STATE NEEDS.

THEY ARE THINGS THE PEOPLE OF OUR STATE WANT.

AND I THINK THE GOVERNOR HELP SET THE RIGHT DON'T TONE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO GET THOSE THINGS DONE.

>> LEADER JENKINS, YOU FINALLY TO YOU AND RAISES TO STATE WORKERS AND TEACHERS AND OTHER PUBLIC SERVANTS.

DO YOU THINK IT'S TIME FOR THAT?

>> I THINK IT'S PAST TIME FOR THAT.

WE HAVE LEARNED A LOT OF THINGS IN THIS PANDEMIC, THINGS THAT WERE BUBBLING BELOW THE 1ST AS WE'VE COME FORWARD.

WE HAVE SEEN THE GAPS IN OUR SYSTEM AND IT'S TIME TO ADDRESS THOSE.

>> WELL, THANK YOU, LEADER JENKINS, JONI JENKINS.

AND LEADER MORGAN-INCOME GARVEY IN THE SENATE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING.

>> THANK YOU.

>> TAKE GOOD CARE AND BE WELL.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WELL, THAT'S WRAPPING UP OUR COVERAGE.

I'LL GIVE OUR OBSERVERS JUST A COUPLE OF LAST TAKEAWAYS BEFORE WE HEAD INTO REGULAR PROGRAMMING.

LADIES FIRST.

THE AMY WHITCLIFF, WHAT SHOULD THE GOVERNOR TO DO NEXT THURSDAY ON JANUARY PHILANTHROPY?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THE GOVERNOR SHOULD STRIKE A TONE SIMILAR TO WHEN WE STRUCK TONIGHT.

IT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR BUT I THINK THAT MORE -- THE MORE DETAIL, THAT IS WHAT'S GOING TO MAKE OR BREAK WHERE HIS BUDGET PROPOSAL GOES.

I THINK FINDING SOME THINGS THAT THE REPUBLICANS LOOKING FOR IN A BUDGET PROPOSAL TO FIND COMMON GROUND WILL BE SMART.

>> AND WE ALSO SAY THAT AFTER A BUDGET ADDRESS, ERM SHAN BROWN, THAT OFTENTIMES THE DETAILS ARE STILL NOT THERE.

DID YOU GIVE A BROAD STROKE APPROACH TO WHAT YOUR PROPRIETORS ARE BUT THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS AND THERE'S NO ENOUGH TIME IN A 35 MINUTE SPEECH TO DIVE DEEP INTO IT.

SO WHAT DO YOU HOPE THE GOVERNOR ACCOMPLISHES NEXT THURSDAY.

>> >> THERE ARE TWO THINGS THIS I'LL BE LOOKING FOR.

FIRST ON THE BUDGET -- LET ME GO THE OTHER WAY.

FIRST ON THAT FAST TRACK LEGISLATION HE MENTIONED HIGH WAS WORKING WITH MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND THE CINCINNATI IS HE MENTIONED HE'S ALREADY HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS, WORKING ON SOMEBODY COLLABORATIVELY THAT THEY CAN ALL AGREE ON.

HOW CAN YOU BE AGAINST THIS?

IT'S IN A RECOVERY MODE.

IF YOU'RE IN THAT ROOM AND ALREADY TALKING ABOUT MONEY, THAT'S AN EASY CONVERSATION TO HAVE THOSE, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET.

LET'S TALK ABOUT WHERE WE ARE, WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE REST OF FUNDS AND TRYING TO GET INTO SOME OF THAT AS THE SENATOR McGARVEY, LEADER McGARVEY SAID OF REALLY FRYING FOR ROOK AT THIS ONCE IN A GENERATIONAL WHERE DO WE PUT IN THIS INVESTMENT?

CAN WE DO THINGS THAT SET US UP FORE 20 YEARS FROM NOW.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THIS FOR THE ECONOMY THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE TRYING TO GET YOU BECAUSE YOU WANT THOSE REVENUES AND MONEY TOM COULD BACK.

>> SHERMAN BROWN, AMY WHITCLIFF, THANK YOU FOR BEING.

IT WAS NICE TO BE IN PERSON WITH YOU.

THANK YOU ALL FOR WATCHING AT HOME.

WE APPRECIATE THE PRIVILEGE OF YOUR TIME.

YOU HAVE A RECAP OF THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS AND OTHER LEGISLATIVE HAPPENS ON "LEGISLATIVE UPDATE" AT 11:00 P.M. MY COLLEAGUE CASEY PARKER-BELL WILL BRING YOU THAT REPORT.

P WE'LL BE HERE EVERY WEEK NIGHT AT 11:00 P.M. TO BRING YOU THE LEGISLATIVE HAPPENINGS HERE IN THE STATE CAPITOL.

NEXT THURSDAY MACARONI YOUR CALENDAR.

AL THAT WILL BE THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET ADDRESS THAT WE WILL BRING TO YOU AGAIN 7:00 P.M. EASTERN LIVE RIGHT HERE ON KET.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

TAKE GOOD CARE AND I'LL SEE YOU SOON.

care.

And all season.