><> GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO KENTUCKY TONIGHT.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

OUR TOPIC TONIGHT: THE KENTUCKY LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THE 2022 GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS PASSED THE HALFWAY POINT.

LAWMAKERS PASSED REDISTRICTING BILLS, THOUGH DEMOCRATS ARE CHALLENGING THE STATE HOUSE AND CONGRESSIONAL MAPS IN COURT.

THE HOUSE HAS PASSED A BUDGET.

IT'S NOW BEFORE THE SENATE.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS ALSO CONSIDERING NAME, IMAGE, AND LIKENESS LEGISLATION FOR COLLEGE ATHLETES, AND A BILL AIMED AT THE TEACHING OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY WITH SO MUCH ON LAWMAKER'S TO-DO LIST·.

WILL THEY GET AROUND TO TAX REFORM THIS SESSION?

WE'LL TALK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENED SO FAR, AND WHAT'S STILL OUT THERE, WITH FOUR LEADERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

IN OUR LEXINGTON STUDIO, WE HAVE SENATOR DAMON THAYER, REPUBLICAN FROM GEORGETOWN, AND SENATE MAJORITY FLOOR LEADER; REPRESENTATIVE ANGIE HATTON, DEMOCRAT FROM WHITESBURG, AND HOUSE MY INCREASITY WHEN, HOUSE SPEAKER PRO TEM.

IN OUR LOUISVILLE STUDIO, SENATOR MORGAN MCGARVEY, A DEMOCRAT FROM LOUISVILLE AND SENATE MINORITY FLOOR LEADER.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

SEND US A QUESTION OR COMMENT ON TWITTER AT KYTONIGHTK-E-T.

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WELCOME TO ALL OUR GUESTS.

YOU'RE NOT IN SESSION BUT YOU NEVER GET A DAY OFF SO WE THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE TRIP HERE TODAY AND I WANT TO START WITH THE BUDGET AND YOU, LEADER THAT IER ABOUT YOU GOT IT FROM THE HOUSE, YOU HAD IT FOR A COUPLE WEEKS.

YOU PROBABLY HAVE BEEN COMPARING THE HOUSE VERSION WITH WHAT THE GOVERNOR SUC SUCKED-GOVERNOR SUGGESTED AND WHEN CAN WE EXPECT TO HAVE PUBLIC HEARINGS.

>> THOSE A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND I'LL TRY ANSWER THEM AS WELL AS I CAN.

I FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE THE GANG BACK TOGETHER.

THIS GROUP.

>> YOU NEED YOUR OWN THEME MUSIC.

>> I'LL COME UP WITH SOMETHING BY THE EAGLE OR BOB SEGER OR SOMEONE FROM THE 07s, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF SPEAR OSBORNE AND OSBORNE AND PETRIE AND OTHERS.

THEY GOT THE BUDGET PASS DOWN THE SENATE?

RECORD TIME.

AND, THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR 8 MONTHS, AND, I REALLY GIVE THEM A TIP OF THE HAT AND IT IS A LOT OF WORK.

THE SENATE NOW HAS MORE TIME THAN WE HAVE EVER HAD BEFORE.

USUALLY WITH WE HAVE TO TURN IT AROUND IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS AND THAT'S A RUSHED PROCESS.

SO, WE'RE GOING THROUGH IT SEVERAL NIGHT AS TWEAK COMPARE WHAT 2 GOVERNOR PROPOSED WHAT THE HOUSE PASSED, AND ALSO WHAT IS IN THE ENACTED BUDGET SO IT IS A LOT OF NUMBERS AND WE'LL START MAKING DECISIONS SOON, AND I WOULD SAY PROBABLY, AROUND THE FIRST OF MARCH, EARLY MARCH, WE'LL PASS IT ON DOWN TO THE HOUSE, AND THEN THEY'LL TAKE THE APPROPRIATE STEP TO GET IT IN THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, AND WE'LL HAVE THE FINAL STAGES IN THE PROCESS AT THAT TIME.

>> ARE THERE MAY AREAS THAT YOU CAN AGREE WITH THE HOUSE TO SHARE WITH US OR DIFFERENCES THAT YOU WANT TO TWEAK?

>> I THINK IT IS PROBABLY TOO EARLY TO SAY THAT.

I MEAN, WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT THEY DID, AND THE EFFORTS THEY MADE IN NOT SPENDING ALL OFFAL OF THE MONEY THAT'S AVAILABLE AND THAT LEAVE ANSWER OPENING FOR TAX REFORM.

AND, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH HOUSE LEADERSHIP ABOUT.

AND THE PROSPECT OF THE TAX CUT FOR THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY.

THE POSSIBILITY OF A TAX REFUND OR REBATE.

SO, I THINK THAT THEY HAVE LEFT A LOT OF OPTIONS ON THE TABLE AND WE HAVE GOT PLENTY OF TIME TO DEAL WITH THEM WITH HALF THE SESSION REMAINING.

>> SO, LEADER, I WANT TO GO TO NEW LOUISVILLE AND GET YOUR TAKE ON THE BUDGET PROCESS.

ARE YOU INVOLVED RIGHT NOW AT THIS JUNCTURE?

>> >> WE'RE ABSOLUTELY PUTTING FORWARD OUR PRIORITY.

THIS IS OPPORTUNITY.

WE HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY, ABOUT $3 BILLION IN THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT.

WE HAVE A BILLION DOLLAR SURPLUS INITIATIVE PRO.

>>IC IDEA $2 BILLION SURPLUS, RAINY DAY FUND.

AND KENTUCKY WE OPERATE ON A BALANCED BUDGET.

SO, WE HAVE RESERVES.

WE SHOULD NOT SPEND ALL OF THE RESERVES.

BUT WE DO HAVE AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST IN KENTUCKY'S PEOPLE AND KENTUCKY'S FUTURE.

WHETHER IT IS PROVIDING HIGH SPEED INTERNET, IMPROVING THE INFRASTRUCTURE, ROADS AND BRIDGES AND OR INVEST IN AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE PUBLIC EDUCATION.

WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY US TO MAKE KENTUCKY A BETTER PLACE, LITERALLY FROM THE FAR MISSISSIPPI RIVER ALL THE WAY TO THE EASTERN EDGES OF STATE.

WE SHOULD TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO.

>> I WANT TO ASK THE MAJORITY LEADER, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE PREPARED TO DO IS FOLLOW SOME OF THE ADVICE THAT LEADER McGARVEY IS OFFERING.

>> WHEN I ANY WHEN MY FRIEND FRIEND LEADER McGARVEY TALK MAKING EAST MATE, WE WANT TO BE CONSERVATIVE AND PUT A SUB SPAN SHALE AMOUNT OF MONEY IN RAINY DAY FUND AND UNCERTAINTY IN THIS ECONOMIST ECONOMY.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THINGS WILL BE LIKE AS WE HAVE NOW MOVED FROM A PANDEMIC, INTO AN ENDETERMINEICKAND THINGS GET BACK TO NORMAL, WHATEVER THAT IS.

NOW ARE SPEEDING UP AND WE ALSO HAVE BEEN LIVING OFF OFF OF A LOT OF FAKE FEDERAL DOLLARS.

AND THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE HERE FOREVER.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS ONE, THE ECONOMY SETTLES OUT AND HOCHFULLY INFLATION GOES DOWN THAT WE'RE IN A STATE SPENDING SITUATION.

SO, I THINK THAT FOR US, THAT MEANS, A GOOD AMOUNT OF MONEY INTO THE RAINY DAY FUND, WE WANT TO CONSIDER MORE TAX REFORM, AND THAT MEANS TACK CUTS ON THE PERSONAL INCOME TAX SIDE.

AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A TAX REBATE AS WELL.

>> SO YOU AGREE -- >> ALLUDED TO THAT ON THE FLOOR ABOUT A WEEK OR SO AGO.

>> I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT.

YOU YOU A DEGREE WITH THE APPROACH THE HOUSE, 1.142 BILLION THAT'S UNEXPECTED.

SO I THINK THAT CHAIRMAN WOULD PREFER THAT WE CALL AT THIS TIME RESERVE TRUST FUND.

SO THIS IS JUST MONEY THAT'S NOT BEEN ALLOCATED OR APPROPRIATES, IT IS JUST THERE.

>> CORRECT.

AND I'M SURE THAT WE'LL GET TO THAT IN CONFERENCE COMMITTEE AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME AND I COMMEND THE HOUSE, FOR LEADING THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY ON THE TABLE, LEAVING THAT AMOUNTS OF MONEY ON TABLE IT LEAVES GOOD OPTIONS FOR KENTUCKY.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO ADVOCATE SPENDING AT ALL.

AND, I THINK THAT, SOME PEOPLE BASED ON THE KINDS OF MEETING THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE EVERY DAY, HAVE GOT WHAT FORMER IF SENATOR RICHIE SANDERS USED TO CALL THE BIG EYE.

ALL OF THIS MONEY OUT THERE AND EVERYBODY IS COMING ASKING FOR THIS SHARE OF THE PIE.

WE HAVE TO MAKE VERY GOOD DECISIONS.

NOT FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS SPENDING PLAN THAT BEGINS ON JULY 1 BUT FOR FUTURE YEARS BECAUSE, THE BUDGET THAT WE WILL PASS THIS YEAR, HAS A DOWN THE ROAD EFFECT ON FUTURE BUDGETS AND FUTURE GENERAL ASSEMBLYS.

AND SO WE WANT TO TRY TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS, AND CONSERVATIVE DECISIONS BECAUSE ALL OF THIS MONEY CAME FROM THE SAME PLACE.

THE TAXPAYERS.

>> REPRESENTATIVE, HAVE YOU ALL STARTED IN THE HOUSE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT TAX REFORM YET, JUST, KIND OF PRELIMINARY WHAT YOU, THE BASIC FRAMEWORK OR PRINCIPLES THAT YOU WANTED IT TO BE?

DO YOU FAVOR LOWERING THE PERSONAL INCOME TAX AND WHAT AMOUNT?

>> I DO.

AND WE'RE NOT EXACTLY SURE.

IT IS GOING TO BE 50 TRANSITIONING PERIOD OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS OF HOW LOW WE CAN GET.

WE'D ALL LIKE TO SEE ZERO PERCENT LIKE FLORIDA AND TEXAS AND INDIANA DID NOT GET ALL THE WAY TO ZERO BUT AROUND 3 OR SO I THINK, AND IT MAY BE THE APPROACH THAT WEND UP TAKING BUT DOING THIS BUDGET EARLY WAS PART OF THE THAT PROCESS, TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THAT RAINY DAY FUND OR THE BUDGET RESERVE TRUST FUND AND BUILD IT UP TO THAT AMOUNT SO THAT WE CAN DO THE TAX REFORM.

BUT YOU CAN'T DO TAX REFORM A YEAR THAT YOU NEED MONEY BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO END UP YOU UP PASSING TAX INCREASES.

YOU HAVE TO DO IT WHEN YOU HAVE A SURPLUS LIKE THIS AND THAT'S WHEN THE PLAN IS TO BE ABLE TO LOWER THE TAXES' WITH WE DO THAT AND ALSO THE REASON THAT MONEY IS IN THE BUDGET RESERVE TRUST FUND NOW IS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WITH THIS OVERINFLATED COMMITTEE ECONOMY AND HYPER INFLATION THIS IS NOT GOING LAST FOR THAT MUCH LONGER.

SO, WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BUDGET, AND ARE CAUTIOUS WITH HOW TO PENNED IS FUNDS.

>> ARE YOU GOING TO UNVEIL YOUR TAX REFORM PACKAGE BEFORE YOU GET THE BUDGET FROM THE SENATE OR SEE THIS SOON?

>> I WOULD SAY, YOU PROBABLY SEE IT WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

JUST, DEPENDS ON HOW WE GET THINGS CRAFTED IN THAT TIME PERIOD WE ALSO NEED TO TALK WITH THESE FOLK THIS IS THE SENATE TO SEE WHERE WE GO FROM HERE, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE IN AGREEMENT BEFORE WE FLOW TAX REFORM OUT THERE BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT BEEN WORK OKAFOR QUITE SOME TIME.

SO I THINK YOU'LL SEE IT.

>> SEE IT SOON.

AND WE THINK THAT WE'LL SEE THE BUDGET SOON.

MARCH IS NEXT WEEK, BELIEVE IT OR NOT SO A WEEK'S TIME THE SENATE WILL MOVE ON THIS.

>> KNOW THAT YOU AND YOUR VIEWERS WANT TO KNOW EXACTLY LIZ TO THE MINUTE WHEN WE WANT TO UNVEIL THINGS.

AND THAT'S JUST UNREALISTIC.

SOME TIME BETWEEN NOW AND MIDNIGHT ON APRIL 13, 14, ALL WILL BECOME CLEAR, BECOME OBVIOUS AND MAY NOT BE SOMETHING EVERYBODY LOVES AND IT WILL BE DONE.

>> 11:579:59, LEADER WEAVING AD I WANT TO BRING HIM IN THIS.

>> I WANT TO WEIGH IN ON THIS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE NEEDS OF KENTUCKY AND THIS BUDGET.

LOCATES TALK ABOUT THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE NOT INVESTED UP UNTIL NOW AND THE FACT THAT STATE WORKERS NEED A RAISE.

DO WE HAVE NOT FULLY COMMIT TO FUNDING FULL DAY KINDERGARTEN AND TAX REFORM.

LOOK, YOU'RE HEARING ABOUT TAX REFORM RIGHT NOW.

WOULDN'T WHAT HEARING IS NOTHING.

I'M CALLING THE FAX REFORM BILL -- TAX REFORM BILL THE BIG FOOT BY IT IS MAJOR POLICY IN KENTUCKY HERE WE ARE, WE VLT NO SEEN A BILL.

WE JUST ARE TALKING ABOUT LOWERING TAXES IN 2018, THE LAST TIME THERE WAS TAX REFORM THAT LOWERS THE INCOME TAX BUT DID IT IT FOR THE WEALTHIEST KENTUCKIANS AND DID NOT LOWER THE TAX BURDEN ON THE HARD-WORKING FAMILIES THAT KENTUCKYS.

IT RAISED AND IT QUEER SEEING THE THE EFFECTS.

ANY TAX REFORM HE WOULD NEED THAT TO BE FOCUSED ON HEMMING OUT THE KENTUCKIANS WOULD NEEDS IT MOST.

AND MAJOR POLICY.

YOU NEED INPUT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SETTING UP THE TAX CODE THAT BENEFITS ALL KENTUCKIANS.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN SEEN A BILL AT THIS POINT.

SO I THINK THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT WE SHOULD BE HAVING AND SHOULD HAVE OUT IN THE OPEN.

AND THAT'S NOT HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

>> WILL THAT BE OUT IN THE OPEN AND PUBLIC HEARINGS WHERE STAKE HOLDERS FROM BOTH SIDES CAN TESTIFY FOR AND AGAINST IT?

>> IT WILL TAKE PLACE DURING THE NORMAL COURSE OF ACTION COMMITTEES AND THE HOUSE AND SENATE, AND, EVERYBODY WILL BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT IT IS, AND I GET A KICK OUT OF MY FRIEND LEADER McGARVEY.

IT MUST BE NICE WHEN YOU'RE THE LEADER OF THE SMALLEST MINORITY IN THE HISTORY OF THE MINOR THITY AND COME OUT AND THROW BOMBS AT THE REPUBLICANS AND GET YOUR TALKING POINTS OUT THERE FOR THE PRIMARY RACE COMING UP IN THE A COUPLE OF MONTH BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WE'RE WORKING AND WILL HAVE A PROPOSAL.

AND AT THE RIGHT TIME, EVERYONE GETS A CHANCE TO SEE AND APPRECIATE AND GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.

AND, IT WILL PROBABLY CUT TAXES.

FOR WORKING KENTUCKIANS JUST LIKE WE CAN A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHEN WE CUT THE RATE FROM SIX TO FIVE PERCENT.

>> YOU HAVE AN IDEA ON CUTTING TAXES FOR KENTUCKIANS AND THAT'S LOWERING THE SALES TAX FROM 6 TO 5% THAT'S IN HOUSE BILL 508.

TELL US THAT.

>> THANK THANK YOU FOR ASKING ABOUT THAT SO, WITH INFLATION RATES HIGH, AND EVERYONE PAYING MORE FOR JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING, IT IS A TEMPORARY ONE PERCENT CUT IN SALES TAX, AND, WHICH SHOULD GIVE EVERYBODY A LITTLE BIT OF A BREAK AT LEAST, AND, WHAT WE'RE PAYING FOR THAT.

>> ONE YEAR?

>> BECAUSE WE NEED 20 LOOK IT A NEXT YEAR AND SEE IF INFLATION COP BACK DOWN.

AND ANOTHER REASON FOR FILING IT WAS TO GET US TALKING ABOUT, WHAT A BAD IDEA IT IS TO RAISE SALES TAX.

IF WE HAVE LOWER INCOME TAX.

RECORD REVENUES MONTH AFTER MONTH AND THE BUDGET LOOKS REALLY GREAT.

AND, THAT THE OUTLOOK FOR THE ECONOMY IS LOOKING REALLY GOOD RIGHT NOW, IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL TO CUT SOME INCOME TAX AS WELL WHEN 2 STATE DOESN'T NEED AS MUCH OF THE MONEY.

BUT, RAISING SALES TAX IS NOT GOING TO HELP THE -- >> WHAT IS THE METRIC BY WHICH THE INFLATION MARK, RIGHT, YOU SAID, TO KIND OF SEE HOW INFLATION WAS DECLINING, IS THERE MAGIC NUMBER THAT IT WOULD HIT IN ORDER FOR YOU TO CONTINUE THAT BEYOND ONE YEAR?

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE IS A MAGIC NUMBER.

BUT, IF INFLATION RATES GOWN AS PREDICTED BY THE TIME NEXT YEAR, THAT MAY NOT BE NEEDED BUT IT MAY BUT LIKE, SOMETHING WONDERFUL THAT WE WANT TO KEEP FOREVER.

>> SO, I'LL START WITH WITH YOU, HOUSE SPEAKER PRO TEM.

>> IT IS JUST A TEMPORARY FIX.

WHAT YOU'LL SEE IS, THE COST OF THAT IS GOING TO SNIFF CAN'TLY DEPLETE THAT BUDGET RESERVE TRUST FUND WHICH WE'LL NEED FOR TAX REFORM.

AND IF WE'RE GOING TO DID TAX REFORM, WE'LL NEED DO SIGNIFICANT REFORM THAT KEEPS MONEY IN PEOPLE'S POCKETS AND NOT ALLOW THEM TO -- THROUGH THE SPENDING PORTION FOR NEXT YEAR.

WE NEED LONG-TERM RESULTS IN THIS AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

I'LLS ARE SAY THAT IN OUR BUDGET, I'LL ALSO SAY IN OUR BUDGETER WE DID ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT HE MENTIONED.

AND PLUS WE WERE ABLE TO PUT THE MONEY IN BUDGET RESERVE TRUST FUND AND ALSAY THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORK ON TAX REFORM.

AND IT WAS MORE LIKE A BIG FOOT SIGHTING.

HE IS GOING TO SEE BIG FOOT WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

>> WELL PLAYED.

LEADER, YOUR RESPONSE TO THE SALES TAX PROPOSAL?

>> I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING, GOVERNOR BESHEAR APPEARS TO BE IN FULL-ON REELECTION MODE HE'LL HAVE A TOUGH TIME NEXT YEAR AND GOING OUT AND HASTY, PROPOSING A ONE PERCENT CUT IN SALES TAX, WITHOUT EXPLAINING HOW HE'S GOING THE PAY FOR IT, BLOWS ABOUT A BILLION DOLLAR HOLE IN HIS OWN BUDGET PROPOSAL WHICH IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

LEADER McGARVEY SAID, WE HAVE TO PASS A BALANCED BUDGET HERE ACCORDING TO THE CONSTITUTION.

AND, I THINK THAT, THAT WAS A HAIL MARY PASS BY THE GOVERNOR INSERT HIMSELF INTO THE TAX REFORM CONVERSATION, AND, MAJOR ECONOMISTS WHO ARE ON OUR SIDE, SORT OF REAGANOMICS, KNOW THAT THE BEST WAY, TO HELP WORKING PEOPLE, IS TO CUT INCOME TAXES.

AND, THEN, YOU MIGHT HAVE A HIGHER CONSUMPTION TAX OR A CONSUMPTION TAX THAT IS MORE BROADLY APPLIED, AND THEN PEOPLE GET TO DECIDE BASED ON WHAT THEY PURCHASED, HOW MUCH TAX THEY PAY BUT A WHOLE GUB.

MORE MONEY IN THE PAYCHECK.

>> SO REPRESENTATIVE I WANT TO COME TO YOU ABOUT THE STRUCTURAL.

BALANCE.

WHAT IT DOES DO?

DOES IT BLOW A BILLION DOLLAR HOLE IN THE BUDGET?

>> >> DEFINITELY NOT UNDER THE BUDGET THAT IS PROPOSED IN THE HOUSE AND WE'LL GET TO SEE WHAT THE SENATE BUDGET PROPOSES SO, IT IS HARD TO DO A BAD BUDGET IN A YEAR LIKE THIS, THAT THE FIRST YEAR SINCE 2016 THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD TO MAKE ANY MAJOR CUTS AND WE HAVE ALL OF THESE RECORD REVENUE MONTHS, AND, WE ARE FINALLY IN A POSITION TO HAVE NICE THINGS.

AND, I THINK THAT, THE STATE CAN AFFORD THIS CUT RIGHT NOW, THAT WILL AFFECT THE BOTTOM LINE OF EVERY FAMILY IN KENTUCKY THAT COMBINED WITH THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT LOWERED THE MOTOR VEHICLE TAX RATE.

>> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT BOTH SIDES AGREE WITH.

>> >> CO-HAVE DONE IT BEFORE.

.>> WE URGED HIM TO DO IT BUT HE SHOULD HAVE DONE IT RIGHT AWAY INSTEAD OF SENDING A LETTER SAYING THAT YOU HAVE TO CHARGE THE TAX BASED ON, AN INFLATIONARY RISE IN THE VALUE OF CARS.

40%.

PEOPLE STARTED GETTING AND HAVE PAID A 40% INCOME IN THE TAX AND GOVERNOR REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT ISN'T THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THE BODY THAT TABS CARE OF TAX POLLCY?

>> IN THE LAW, THERE IS SOMEONE SENTENCE IN THE LAW THAT SAYS HE CAN MAKE THIS CHANGE.

THAT'S EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY THAT DOES, IN FACT HAVE.

DONE THAT AND SAVED PEOPLE A LOT OFS HASSLE AND NOW THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE PAID THE INFLATED RATE, ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT MONTHS PROBABLY FOR THEIR REFUNDS.

SO, WE'RE GLAD THAT THE GOVERNOR RESPONDED TO ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

JUST SHOULD IT DONE IT SOONER.

>> I COMPLETELY DENY THE SENATE TOOK ANY ACTION.

ALL THEY DID IS PASS A RESOLUTION AND IN THAT TIME THEY COULD HAVE PASSED THE HOUSE VERSION OF THE BILL THAT I VOTED FOR, HOUSE BILL 6 AND INSTEAD THEY SPENT ALL DAY BLAMING THE GOVERNOR AND DEMANDING THAT HE TAKE ACTION AND PASS A RESOLUTION AND ABSOLUTELY COULD BE GETTING THE REFUNDS ALREADY HAD THE SENATE TAKEN ACTION, WE'RE AT DAY 32 AND THE SENATE ALL THEY DOES TRY TO BLAME THE GOVERNOR FOR THE SITUATION THAT'S BASED ON GLOBAL MARKET ISSUES AND THEN, DEMAND THAT HE EXERCISE MORE POWER THAN THEY WOULD NORMALLY EVER ADMIT THAT HE HAS WHY DID YOU LEADER DO THE RESOLUTION MOUTH ROUT AND NOT HOUSE BILL 6 THAT THE REPRESENTATIVE TALKED ABOUT TOO FREEZE THAT FOR THAT YEAR, AND, SO, WHY DIDN'T YOU GO THAT ROUTE?

WHAT'S THE POWER OF THE RESOLUTION?

>> IT IS PRETTY WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THE JOINT RESOLUTION HAS THE POWER OF LAW.

TOLD THE GOVERNOR NOR HE NEEDED TO REPEAL THE 40% INCREASE.

WE HAD THE BILL BUT REPRESENTATIVE KNOWS, BILLS ARE RELATED TO TAXES HAVE TO START IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SO WE WERE WAITING TO EVERY THE HOUSE BILL 6 AT THE SAME TIME WE WERE DEALING WITH HOUSE BILL SENATE RESOLUTION 99.

WE COULDN'T PASS A BILL.

WE WANTED TO TAKE SOME ACTION, AND, THOSE BILLS WERE CROSSING THE CHAMBERS ABOUT ON THE SAME DAY, AND, FINALLY THE GOVERNOR TOOK ACTION AND WE'RE GLAD HE DID.

BUT IT TOOK YOU ARE URGING BY REPUBLICANS TO GET THEM THERE.

>> LEADER McGARVEY WHY THOUGHTS ON THAT, DID THE GOVERNOR WAIT TO BE PROMPTED BY THE GOP TO DO WHAT HE SHOULD HAVE DONE BEFORE?

>> >> WE WATCHED THE GOVERNOR EXERCISE HOURS SINCE COMING INTO OFFICE ONLY TO HAVE REPUBLICANS TRY TO TAKE IT AWAY AT EVERY STEP.

AND SO, I THINK HE KNEW EVERYBODY WAS ON BOARD ECKER EXERCISED POWER.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR IS ALWAYS INTERESTED IN HELPING PEOPLE OUT AND LOOK AT HIS RECENT PROPOSALS IN TAXES.

YOU KNOW, THE HOUSE BLEW A BILLION DOLLAR HOLE AND SAID WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT 2003 DO TAX REFORM THIS YEAR, GO TO WORKING KENTUCKY.

AT LEAST WHAT WE'RE TACK AUGUST ABOUT.

AND THESE ARE NOT TAKING POINTS.

YOU HAVE DEMOCRATS IN FRANKFORT THAT WANT TO MAKE SURE IF WE DO TAX REFORM IT DOESN'T BENEFIT THE WEALTHIEST CITIZENS AND CORPORATIONS LIKE IN 2018.

AND SO I THINK THAT YOU SAW THE GOVERNOR TALK ABOUT, THE TAX, FREEZE ON THE TAX FOR MOTOR VEHICLES RIGHT NOW DUE TO INFLATION BECAUSE THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

>> SO, WE'VE GOT AN COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT MARIJUANA AND I'LL START WITH YOU, LEADER McGARVEY BECAUSE YOU ALONG WITH TWO OTHER DEMOCRATS, ONE THIS SENATE, DAVID YATES AND REPRESENTATIVE RACHAEL ROBERTS IN HOUSE, YOU ALL HAVE BILLS THAT WOULD ADDRESS THIS AND THERE'S ALSO A BILL THAT'S IN THE HOUSE BY REPUBLICAN, JAYSON, SO I WANT TO ASK, WHAT DOES YOUR ALL BILL DO THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN BEING PROPOSED BY REPRESENTATIVE JAYSON NEMUS.

>> TO GO AHEAD AND GET THE TAX BENEFITS FROM SOMETHING THAT IS HAPPENING WITHIN OUR BOARDS AND WE KNOW IT RYE KNOW.

-- RIGHT NOW.

WE TALKED A GENERATING REVENUE.

HOW ABOUT LEGALIZING MARIJUANA.

TAXING IT.

YOU DON'T TAX MEDICINE SO THAT'S NOT WHERE YOU GET MONEY IN MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND A LOT OF THE LOCALITIES TO HAVE A BIT HIGHER TAXES, USE THE TAXES, AND TO PROVIDE THE TREATMENT OPTIONS BUT ALSO TO COME THE GENERAL FUND TO FUND A LOT OF GOOD THING.

POTENTIALLY A CONCERNED INVESTMENT OF $100 MILLION OF EVERY DAY AND EVERY YEAR.

THAT'S BASED OFF WHATEVER WE HAVE SEEN IN OHIO AND MICHIGAN, STATES CLOSE TO US THAT DO THIS.

AND, I THINK THAT IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR KENTUCKY, IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE INDUSTRY AND AN GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE JOBS AND GET ADDITIONAL REVENUE IN KENTUCKY COFFERS.

>> REPRESENTATIVE MEADE WE KNOW THE BILL ONLY ADDRESSES MEDICINAL MARIJUANA AND THIS IS A GREAT PROPOSAL FROM WHAT HE'S PROPOSING.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> NUMBER,, 50 MILLION COMES FROM TAXING EVERYTHING WHICH INCLUDES MEDICINAL INNED ORER THE GET THAT NUMBER.

NOT NEARLY THAT HIGH BAZE, AS WE HAVE SAID WE DON'T TAX MEDICINE SHIN IN OUR STATE.

AS I SAID BEFORE, I'M KIND ON THE FENCE ON THIS ONE, NOT 100% SURE.

I VOTED FOR IT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND I KNOW THAT, THERE ARE GOOD QUALITIES THAT CAN COME OUT OF THIS FOR THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM CERTAIN ILLNESSES.

BUT, OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MORNING, THE REASON THAT I SAY THAT I'M ON THE FENCE, IS EITHER WORKING WITH SOME OF THE PROCESSORS WHO CAME TO ME AND SAID WE CAN DO THE SAME EXACT SAME THING WITH HEMP THAN MOAN MARIJUANA IN ORDER TO GET SAME RESULTS.

AND, I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE, THE ENTIRE PROCESS, BECAUSE I'M NOT IN THAT FIELD.

BUT, THEIR DESCRIPTION IS THEY CAN TAKE HEMP FROM THE FIELD AND THROUGH 245 PROCESS OF EXTRACTION OF THE OILS AND, THEY CREATE A CONCENTRATE.

AND IN CONCENTRATE, THE THC LEVELS STRIKE.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO I DON'T LIGHT.

THEY SAY THAT IN 25 PROCESS, THE THC SPEAK HAPPENS THAT THEY CAN CREATE IF SAME PRODUCTS WITH HIMMEN AS MARIJUANA AND THAT'S WHY, SORRY, WE WOULD HAVE TO REGULATORY PROCESS IN PLACE.

WE'D HAVE FARMERS IN FRONT IN PLACE AND HAVE, THE GROWERS AND PROCESSORS, AND ALSO BENEFIT OUR FARMERS IN A THYME THEY SUFFER AID LOFT OF LOSS.

>> REPRESENTATIVE, GIVEN WHAT REPRESENTATIVE MEADE JUST DESCRIBED AND THE THERAPEUTICS THAT COME FROM HEMP, THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK, WHY NOT GO THAT ROUTE?

>> HAVEN'T HEARD THOSE STATISTICS OR THOSE RESULTS ABOUT DOING THE SAME THING THING WITH HEMP BUT I'VE HEARD THAT 90 PERCENT OF KENTUCKIANS ARE ASKING FOR MEDICINAL MARIJUANA AND IT IS OVER 60% NOW FAVOR FULL LEGALIZATION.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE AT A POINT WHEN WE'RE IGNORING THE NEEDS OF VOTERS AND, MY PERSONAL OPINION IS THAT WE NEED MEDICINAL MARIJUANA.

>> 60%.

REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS?

>> YES, IT IS A WIDE, I THINK IT IS SUPPORTED BY THE CATTLEMAN'S ASSOCIATION.

WHEREVER YOU GO ON THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM, YOU'LL FIND SUPPORT FOR IT FROM VETERANS, FROM THOSE WHO SUFFER FROM EPILEPSY AND INTEREST THOSE WHO ARE BEING PRESCRIBED OPIOIDS FOR THINGS THAT THEY CAN BE PRESCRIBED, SOMETHING THAT'S NOT ADDICTIVE AND WHETHER A GRATEWAY DRUG AN OFF RAMP FOR THOSE ADDICTED AND, YOU KNOW, MAKE NO MISTAKE: FOR THOSE OF US IN EASTERN KENTUCKY JOSEY THE BLACK HELICOPTERS, CIRCLING EVERY FALL LOOK FOR THE CROP, IT IS FULLY IN KENTUCKY, AND, YOU KNOW, 5,000 YEARS, AND DON'T KNOW OF A SINGLE DIRECT CASE OF ANYONE D DIEING FROM, INGESTING PLANNA.

37 STATES HAVE LEGALIZED.

I THINK IT IS 17 MEDICINAL AND IT IS JUST TIME FOR KENTUCKY, WE CAN'T KEEP IGNORING THE VOTE WHAT'S WHAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR.

>> YOU'RE NOT BYING IT I SAID IT BEFORE ON THE SHOW SO THIS IS NOT NEWS.

NIGHTS GROWING TO VOTE FOR IT.

I WON'T STAND IN ITS WAY AND THAT OUGHT TO BE THE LEAD HERE.

THERE ARE ENOUGH REPUBLICANS WHO WANT TO PASS IT, I'M NOT GOING STAND IN THE WAY.

I'LL VOTE NO.

THINK THIS IS THIS IS A BAD IDEA AND DEFINITELY, UNALTERABLY OPPOSED TO FUN FULL ON RECREATIONAL MANNER IN THERE ARE A LOT OF STATES THAT HAVE GONE TO IT AND NOWISH THISSER BUSH THEY DID NOT THERE ARE LAWMAKER AREAS INCLUDING THE FORMER GOVERNOR MORE WHO SAID IT IS A BIG MISTAKE.

AND, I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE IN IF IN THE RECOVERY COMMUNITY THAT SAY ADOCKETS THAT ARE GATEWAY DRUG WAS PLAN THAT.

SO, MAYBE NOBODY EVER DIED FROM MARIJUANA ALTHOUGH I THINK THAT'S A PRETTY BROAD STATEMENT TO MAKE.

BUT, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO USED IT A AS GATEWAY TO OTHER DEADLY DRUGS THAT CREATE A BIG PROBLEM ACROSS THIS COMMONWEALTH.

>> THIS QUESTION IS FOR, TO FOLLOW UP ON WHAT YOU SAID, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT HOUSE BILL HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE MAJORITY IN YOUR CAUCUS?

>> I DON'T THINK IT, DOES I'LL BE HONEST.

RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T SEE A COUPLE OF MEMBERS.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT OF A COUPLE OTHER CONTROVERSIAL THINGS.

START WITH MEASURES HAPPENED IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

WOMEN'S SPORTS TWO MEASURES, SENATE BILL 83 PASSED LAST WEEK AND HOUSE BILL 23 THAT'S READY FOR A HOUSE FLOOR VOTE.

THIS WOULD ALLOW TRANSGENDER FEMALE ATHLETES IN KENTUCKY, ONLY FORCED TO PLAYBOYS SPORTS, RIGHT.

SO, TALK ABOUT WHY THIS ISUP A BIG ISSUE GIVEN THAT YOU HAVE SO MANY LARGE ISSUES TO TACKLETHIS SESSION?

>> WELL, WE HEAR ABOUT IT FROM OUR CONSTITUENT.

THIS IS A BIG ISSUE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THE BILL THE COUNTRY.

THE BILL IS PRETTY SIMPLE.

IT SAYS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL, THAT GIRLS, BOYS WHO ARE TRANS JEND GENDER IDENTIFYING AS GIRLS, THEY CAN'T PLAYBOY SPORTS.

PRETTY SIMPLE.

AND THERE IS EVIDENCE TO SHOW IT IS VERY UNFAIR TO GIRLS SPORTS AND SENATOR ROBBIE MILLS IS DOING A GREAT JOB GETTING THAT THROUGH THE PROCESS AND WE PASSED IT THROUGH THE SENATE FLOOR AND IT'S IN THE HOUSE FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION.

>> Renee: AND THEY'RE SIMILAR BILLS NOW BECAUSE THE SENATE AMENDED THEIRS TO ONLY BE SIXTH GRADERS AND UP.

>> CORRECT.

>> Renee: SO THAT MIRRORS WHAT PASSED THE HOUSE.

I THINK LEADER MCGARVEY MAY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET OUR CONVERSATION ABOUT THE MARIJUANA CONVERSATION.

JUST JUMP IN HERE WHERE YOU WOULD LIKE.

>> IT WAS.

LOOK, AND HERE IS AN EXAMPLE.

GOING BACK TO MARIJUANA.

WHAT YOU HEAR THE MAJORITY TALKING ABOUT IS THINGS WE CAN'T DO AS A STATE RIGHT NOW AND WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO TALK ABOUT IS WHAT WE CAN DO.

WE USED TO THANK GOD FOR MISSISSIPPI.

MISSISSIPPI HAS PASSED MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

IF YOU DON'T THINK IT WOULDN'T PASS THE SENATE, IT WON'T PASS THE SENATE BUT BRING IT FOR A VOTE.

IF IT DOESN'T PASS, IT DOESN'T PASS OFF THE SENATE FLOOR.

I DON'T KNOW WHY WE HAVE GOTTEN INTO A HABIT WE ONLY CONSIDER BILLS THAT WILL PASS OFF THE SENATE FLOOR.

LET'S BRING IT UP FOR A VOTE BECAUSE PEOPLE ASK US ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME.

I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT?

THE REASON WE DON'T MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN KENTUCKY RIGHT NOW IS BECAUSE THESE 20 SENATORS VOTED AGAINST IT, RIGHT?

I THINK THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY CLEARLY WANT IT.

REPRESENTATIVE HATTON SAID, 37 STATES HAVE DONE THIS.

LET'S NOT MAKE KENTUCKY LAST AGAIN.

>> Renee: WHILE WE HAVE YOU ON THE SCREEN HERE, DO YOU CARE TO WEIGH IN ON THE DEBATE ABOUT TRANS GENDER ATHLETES OR SPORTS?

>> YEAH, AGAIN, THIS IS A POLITICAL PANDERING IN AN ELECTION YEAR.

I'M GLAD THAT SENATOR BERG'S AMENDMENT WAS CONSIDERED AND ADDED TO THE BILL.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE KENTUCKY ATHLETIC HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION REGULATED THIS.

THERE IS NOT A SINGLE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETE THIS APPLIES TO IN KENTUCKY.

ONE OF THE VERY FEW BILLS WE HAVE CONSIDERED IN THE SENATE IN THE FIRST 32 DAYS.

I THINK WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT OTHER THINGS.

>> Renee: SO WHY, IF K.H.H.A.A.

ALREADY HAD A POLICY THERE, WAS THIS FOR NOT?

>> NO, I THINK THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY WANTED THEIR ELECTED LEADERS TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD THROUGH PASSING THIS.

AND YOU KNOW, WE HAVE DELAYED DOING IT FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT BECAUSE OF THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE SAY SEEING HAPPEN AT THE COLLEGIATE LEVEL, THEY'VE MADE IT CLEAR THEY WOULD LIKE TO US GET AHEAD OF IT AND WE HAVEN'T HAD A LOT OF CASES LIKE THIS TAKE PLACE IN KENTUCKY.

WHERE IT HAS BECOME CONTROVERSIAL, BUT IT COULD CERTAINLY SOME OF THE IVY LEAGUE SCHOOLS HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT.

THE NCAA WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT AT THE COLLEGIATE LEVEL BUT I THINK PEOPLE WANTED TO KNOW THAT IT WOULD BE LAW, NOT JUST A RULE PASSED BY THE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION.

>> Renee: CARE IN WEIGH IN HERE?

>> WE HAVE NOT HEARD THIS ONE DEBATED IN THE HOUSE YET SO I STILL NEED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IT BEFORE I DECIDE HOW I'LL VOTE ON IT.

BUT I DO THINK THAT, LIKE A LOT OF THINGS, IN AN ELECTION YEAR, IT IS DESIGNED TO ELICIT DEBATE, TO BE USED AGAINST PEOPLE OR IN THEIR FAVOR.

THAT IT PROBABLY IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE TAKEN UP TIME IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE SESSION WHEN WE STILL, YOU KNOW, HAVE SO MUCH ELSE TO DO, INCLUDING TAX REFORM.

>> Renee: SO DO I WANT TO GET TO SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES BUT THIS QUESTION KIND OF GOING BACK TO THE BUDGET, THIS QUESTION FROM FRANKLIN COUNTY, AS A STATE EMPLOYEE, THEY SAY, FOR OVER 25 YEARS, WE ARE TIRED OF LEGISLATORS WHO ALWAYS FALL BACK ON THE OLD STORY THAT WE ARE GOING TO REFORM TAXES.

THAT IS PROBABLY THE PLAN RATHER THAN TO PROVIDE A PAY RAISE.

IS THE SENATE GOING TO FOLLOW THE HOUSE PROPOSAL TO FINALLY GIVE US THIS PERSON AN INCREASE OR ARE WE PLAYING THE SAME OLD RECORD?

>> THAT'S TO BE DETERMINED.

NOTHING MORE THAN WE WOULD LIKE THAN TO GIVE STATE EMPLOYEE RAISES BUT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER IT AS PART OF THE WHOLE AND CONSIDER THE COMPOUNDING EFFECT THAT IT WILL HAVE ON BUDGETS DOWN THE LINE AS WELL AS PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS, WHICH WE ARE REQUIRED BY LAW THANKS TO MY BILL FROM 2013 THAT REQUIRES WE MAKE THE FULL CONTRIBUTION TO THE KERS SYSTEM.

THAT DECISION HAS NOT BEEN MADE.

WE HAVEN'T MADE A DECISION ONE WAY OR THE OTHER YET.

IT HAS TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE CONTEXT OF THE ENTIRE BUDGET.

>> Renee: SINCE THE HOUSE VOTED TO DO THAT, REPUBLICAN DOMINATED, DOES IT NOT PUT SOME PRESSURE ON THE SENATE REPUBLICANS TO GO ALONG WITH IT IN SOME FASHION, SOME PERCENTAGE OF INCREASE?

>> WE APPRECIATE, AS I SAID BEFORE, THE WORK THAT THE HOUSE HAS DONE, BUT THE SENATE IS GOING TO PUT ITS STAMP ON THE BUDGET, AND I'M SURE THERE WILL BE WIDE AREAS OF AGREEMENT WITH THE HOUSE.

BUT WHAT THEY WILL BE AND WHAT THEY WILL NOT BE HAS NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED AND I'M NOT IN A POSITION TO SAY WHAT THAT IS GOING TO BE JUST YES.

IT WILL ALL COME IN DUE TIME.

>> Renee: LEADER MCGARVEY?

>> YEAH, IT'S WAY PAST TIME FOR STATE EMPLOYEES TO GET A RAISE.

IT'S BEEN 13 YEARS SINCE A MEANINGFUL PAY INCREASE HAS HAPPENED FOR STATE EMPLOYEES MUCH WE HAVE VALUABLE STATE EMPLOYEES PERFORMING VALUABLE STATE SERVICES AND GUESS WHAT?

WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE STATE EMPLOYEES IF WE DON'T GIVE STATE EMPLOYEES A RAISE.

I KNOCKED ON A WOMAN'S DOOR THIS WEEKEND WHO HAS BEEN A SOCIAL WORKER FOR 2 IS YEARS.-- FOR 21 YEARS.

SHE SAID THEY CAN'T GET SOCIAL WORKERS ANYMORE BECAUSE THEY CAN GET BETTER PAY AND BENEFITS WORKING AT COSTCO.

WE HAVE TO KEEP WAGES AND BENEFITS UP TO DEEP UP WITH THE PRIVATE SECT FOR BEE WANT TO KEEP EMPLOYEE.

>> Renee: DO YOU AGREEY.

>> DIFFICULT MY DAY JOB TODAY.

I WAS IN COURT ALL DAY LONG AND I HEARD TESTIMONY FROM TWO DIFFERENT SOCIAL WORKERS, ONE OF THEM FROM LETCHER COUNTY IS ONE OF ONLY THREE SOCIAL WORKERS.

AND THEY ALL ACTIVELY WORK IN LETCHER COUNTY AND THEY'RE HAVING TO COVER CASES EVEN FROM OTHER COUNTIES.

THEY'RE SO OVERWORKED, EXHAUSTED AND IT'S HIGH TIME THAT WE PRIORITIZE THEM BECAUSE I GUESS SOME PEOPLE HAVE AN IDEA THAT WE WANT-- THAT BY PAYING EMPLOYEES LESS, WE GET SMALLER GOVERNMENT.

NO ONE WANTS BIGGER GOVERNMENT.

BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE A GOVERNMENT AND IF WE ARE GOING HAVE AN EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT, WE HAVE TO PAY OUR EMPLOYEES THE TYPE OF WALK THAT DOESN'T CAUSE THEM TO BE BELOW THE POVERTY LINE FOR DOING VALUABLE SERVICES LIKE SOCIAL WORK.

>> Renee: YOU HAVE ALREADY ENDORSED THE PLAN, 6%.

>> WE HAVE FOR STEAK WORKERS IT WAS OF%.

ROUGHLY ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY PLACED IN THE AND A RAISE TO STATE POLICE AND IT GETS BACK TO THAT FACT THAT AT YOU DON'T HEAR ME SAY IT VERY OFTEN BUT I AGREE WITH THE LEADER ON MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE COMPETITIVE WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND I KNOW SPEAKING WITH SENATOR THAYER, THAT'S THEIR GOAL.

THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT TO DO BUT WE HAVE TO WEIGH ALL OPTIONS.

>> Renee: THERE IS A LOT OF EDUCATION ISSUES I THINK THEY PRETTY MUCH DOMINATE UNLESS IT'S THE BUDGET, THE CONVERSATION CRITICAL RACE THEORY WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT NEXT MONDAY NIGHT BUT I WANT US TO, WHILE YOU ARE HERE, TO TALK ABOUT THAT ISSUE AND LEADER THAYER IN THE CONCEPT OF YOU PASSED SENATE BILL 1 EARLY IN THE SESSION THAT DEALT WITH SCHOOL BOARDS MAKING THESE DECISIONS ON CURRICULUM AND ALL OF THESE THINGS WHY IS THERE A NEED FOR SB-138 THAT TALKS ABOUT AND GIVES INSTRUCTION AND GUARD RAILS ON TEACHING HISTORY?

DIDN'T YOU ACCOMPLISH WHAT YOU SET OUT TO DO?

SENATE BILL 1 AND SENATE BILL 138 CONTRADICT THAT?

>> IT DOES NOT RENEE.

I THINK IT'S A BIT IDEALISTIC TO THINK THAT THE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE, WHO ALLOCATE AND APPROPRIATE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS A YEAR TO PUBLIC EDUCATION CANNOT WEIGH IN ON SOME BROAD GUARD RAILS AS YOU SAID FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION.

I THINK THAT'S JUST RIDICULOUS.

WE GET-- A FEW YEARS AGO WE MADE CURRICULUM CHANGES IN SENATE BILL 1 WITH SENATOR MIKE WILSON'S BILL THAT ELIMINATED COMMON CORE.

WE MADE CHANGES FROM THE CATS TEST TO GO TO THE A.C.T.

WE ARE ALLOWED TO MAKE POLICY DECISIONS IN FRANKFORT TO PROVIDE GUARD RAILS BACK HOME IN THE DISTRICTS AND I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT DISINGENUOUS WHEN EDUCATION ADVOCATES COME TO FRANKFORT AND ASK US TO GIVE THEM ALL THE MONEY POSSIBLE BUT THEN GET VERY UPSET AND OFFENDED WHEN WE GIVE A BROAD SCRIMGHTS OF THE DESCRIPTION OF THE THINGS WE WANT TAUGHT IN HISTORY AND CIVICS IN KENTUCKY CLASSROOMS.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SPEECHES BY MARTIN LUTHER KING AND FREDERICK DOUGLASS AND ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND F.D.R.

AND RONALD REAGAN AS WELL AS THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION AND LINCOLN'S GETTYSBURG ADDRESS AND FOUNDING DOCUMENTS, SOME OF THE FEDERALIST PAPERS.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE AT THE CORE OF OUR REPUBLIC AND THEY SHOULD BE CAUGHT IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THERE ARE 24 TEXTS AND ISN'T THAT UNPRECEDENTED FOR THAT TO BE NAMED IN STATUTE.

WE HEARD THAT IN COMMITTEE LAST WEEK THAT WHY GO SO FAR AS TO SAY THESE 24 PIECES WHETHER THEY'RE DOCUMENTS OR SPEECHES MUST BE TAUGHT AND IS THAT TAKING AWAY THE LATITUDE OF THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS?

>> WE ARE ALLOWED TO DO UNPRECEDENTED THINGS.

WE ARE THE LAW MAKING BODY AND WE ARE RESPONDING TO THE CONCERNS OF PARENTS WHO HAVE HEARD THE PROBLEMS WE ARE HAVING NATIONWIDE NOT JUST IN KENTUCKY WITH CIVICS AND TEACHING WHAT OUR COUNTRY IS ABOUT.

I MEAN WE HAD THE JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM TELL US THEY WEREN'T TEACHING CRITICAL RACE THEORY AND CAME BACK AND SAID NO, WE REALLY ARE.

THAT'S ONE SIXTH OF THE SCHOOL KIDS IN KENTUCKY ARE IN JCPS.

SO I THINK PARENTS WANT SOME ASSURANCES AND THAT'S REFLECTED IN THE GREAT WORK THAT SENATOR MAX WISE HAS DONE ON SENATE BILL 138.

I'M A CO-SPONSOR OF THE BILL.

HE LISTENED TO ADVOCATES IN THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY AND PUT FORWARD A MUCH MORE ACCEPTABLE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE AND THAT'S THE BILL WE PASSED AND IS DOWN IN CONSIDERATION AT THE HOUSE.

>> Renee: I WANT TO BRING YOU IN ON THIS CONVERSATION, YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS AS YOU WILL BE VOTING ON IT SOON.

>> IT IS UNPRECEDENTED.

IT'S UNPRECEDENTED BECAUSE EVEN IN THE EXAMPLES THAT LEADER THAYER GAVE IN TERMS OF GETTING RID OF THE COMMON CORE, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT STANDARDIZED TESTS.

FRANK FRANKFORT HAS ALWAYS WEIGHED IN ON EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS.

WE HAVE NEVER WEIGHED IN ON CURRICULUM.

AND THAT'S WHAT THIS BILL IS SEEKING TO DO.

IN FACT, ONE OF THE TEXTS THAT WE ARE GOING TO REQUIRE STUDENTS TO READ IS A SPEECH BY RONALD REAGAN.

MAYBE THE LEGISLATORS SHOULD READ SOME OF RONALD REAGAN'S WORK BECAUSE IT WAS RAILROAD RONALD REAGAN WHO FAVORED GOVERNMENT AT THE MOST LOCAL LEVEL AND THIS TAKES DECISIONS AWAY FROM THE SITE-BASED DECISION MAKING COUNCILS AND ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD LEADERS IN THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHERE THESE KIDS GO TO SCHOOL.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, TAKE ALL THIS STUFF AWAY.

I'M A DAD WITH THREE YOUNG KIDS, TWO OF WHOM ARE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, ONE IS NOT OLD ENOUGH TO BE IN SCHOOL.

I WANT OUR SCHOOLS IS TO BE PLACES WHERE OUR KIDS CAN GO AND LEARN, GO AND LEARN AND THEY DON'T HAVE FRANKFORT MESSING WITH THESE CURRICULUM DECISIONS FOR POLITICAL REASONS.

GLR.

>> Renee: SO I WANT TO GO TO YOU REPRESENTATIVE MEADE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TWO HOUSE BILLS IN THE HOUSE.

AND THEY DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE.

MAYBE IS NOT AS COMPROMISING AS WHAT SENATOR MAX WIDES HAS PROPOSED BUT WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THOSE BILLS MOVING ON YOUR SIDE.

SO WHERE DO THOSE STAND AT THIS JUNCTURE?

>> AS OF RIGHT NOW, IT HAS NOT BEEN A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION.

WITH US, WE HAVE THE BUDGET WE HAVE TO GET OUT.

WE DID THAT.

WE HAVE REDISTRICTING NOW.

WE ARE ON THE FRORM AND WELFARE REFORM AND OTHER ISSUES.

BUT I THINK FOR MOST OF US, WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CURRICULUM IS TAUGHT ACCURATELY, APPROPRIATELY AND NOT TAUGHT IN A DIVISIVE WAY.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT MOST OF US ARE LOOKING FOR.

>> Renee: YOU'VE READ AND HEARD ABOUT SENATE BILL 138.

DOES THAT STRIKE THE RIGHT BALANCE?

>> I HAVE NOT READ IT YET.

I HAVE HEARD JUST FROM THE TALKING POINTS JUST IN THE COMMITTEE HEARINGS BUT I'M NOT SURE IF IT DOES YET OR NOT.

>> Renee: OKAY.

KEEP YOUR EYES ON IT.

REPRESENTATIVE?

>> I WOULD SAY FROM WHAT I'VE NOTICED OR BEEN ABLE TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE BILLS PROPOSED SO FAR THAT SENATOR WISE'S DOES APPEAR TO BE A MORE REASONABLE APPROACH THAN THE HOUSE VERSIONS BUT MY PROBLEM WITH IT AND I STILL HAVEN'T DECIDED HOW I'LL VOTE ON IT.

IT TAKES LOCAL CONTROL AND THERE ARE 2346 PARENTS WHO LIKE ME MY KIDS WHY YOUNGER, SERVE ON SITE BASED COUNCIL AND HAVE A SAY IN THE CURRICULUM.

AND JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY I CALLED MY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS AT LETCHER COUNTY AND TALKED TO HER ABOUT THIS.

I SAID DO WE HAVE A PROCEDURE IN PLACE IF WE HAVE SET DISTRICT WIDE CURRICULUM AND A TEACHER GOES ROGUE AND STARTS TEACHING THINGS THAT ARE NOT APPROVED AS PART OF THE DISTRICT CURRICULUM?

SHE SAID ABSOLUTELY.

WE DO.

THERE WOULD BE DISCIPLINE AT THE PRINCIPAL LEVEL AND IF IT CONTINUED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT AND IT WOULD ABSOLUTELY NOT BE ALLOWED.

EVERY DISTRICT IN THE STATE IS DIFFERENT.

ONE SIZE FITS ALL APPROACH I'M NOT SURE IS THE RIGHT WAY TO GO LETCHER COUNTY HAS VERY DIFFERENT CORE VALUES THAN SOME OTHER COUNTIES AND LARGER METROPOLITAN AREAS.

WE LOVE LOCAL CONTROL UNTIL WE DON'T AND SAME THING WITH THE SCHOOL MASK MANDATES AS WELL.

>> Renee: WE ARE GOING GET TO THAT.

I WANT TO ASK LEADER MCGARVEY, THEY SAID THEY WERE NOT TEACHING CRITICAL RACE THEORY SAID THEY WERE AND THEN WEREN'T.

WHAT ARE THEY DOING IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.

ARE THEY CEECHING CRITICAL RACE THEORY K-12?

>> NOT THAT I KNOW OF.

>> Renee: OKAY.

>> Renee: DO YOU HAVE CONTRADICTORY INFORMATION?

>> THEY SAID LAST FALL THAT THEY WERE, AFTER COMING OUT AND SAYING THEY WEREN'T.

E IF FOUND OUT THERE WAS A TEACHER ACTUALLY TEACHING IT.

JUST CHECK THE "COURIER JOURNAL."

IT WAS WIDELY REPORTED.

>> Renee: DO YOU HAVE A FOLLOW-UP COMMENT TO THAT LEADER MCGARVEY?

>> AGAIN, NOT THAT I KNOW OF.

SO THERE WE GO.

THIS IS ANOTHER-- WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BILLS RIGHT NOW THAT HAVEN'T PASSED AND SEEM TO BE SOLUTIONS IN SEARCH OF PROBLEMS.

>> Renee: THE MASK MANDATE PASSED THAT WOULD PROHIBIT MASK MANDATES.

REPRESENTATIVE MEADE, HOW DO WE GET TO THIS PAINT?

THERE WAS A BAN STATEWIDE THAT YOU PASSED DURING THE SPECIAL SESSION.

WAS THAT NOT ENOUGH?

>> WELL, WHEN WE CAME BACK INTO SPECIAL SESSION WE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION ON LOCAL CONTROL WHICH WAS JUST MENTIONED BUT THERE IS NO GREATER LOCAL CONTROL THAN THE PARENT.

THERE IS ALL KINDS OF CONTRADICTING STATISTICS OUT THERE, STUDIES OUT THERE AND SEVERAL STUDIES THAT SHOW THAT MASKS HAVE A MINIMUM SUCCESS RATE ON THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS.

I THINK THAT'S BECAUSE PRIMARILY THE ONLY MASKS THAT MOVE THE NEEDLE ARE THE N-95 AND MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT WEARING THOSE.

THE KIDS HAVE BEEN IN THIS FOR TWO YEARS.

WE ARE SEEING HIGHER RATES OF DEPRESSION, HIGHER THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE, THERE IS JUST NEGATIVE EFFECTS.

TIME TO UNMASK THE KIDS AND LET THEM GO BACK TO SCHOOL.

GIVING PARENTS THE CHOICE IS THE BEST WAY TO DO IT.

>> Renee: YOU SAY GIVE THE CONTROL BACK TO THE PARENTS.

WHAT ABOUT TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES BASED ON SPREAD WHAT THEY SHOULD BE DO.

>> THEY CAN MANDATE IT.

IT'S UP TO THE PARENTS WHETHER THEY WANT THEIR CHILD TO WEAR OR NOT.

AS I SAID, IF YOU WANT TO GET TO LOCAL CONTROL, THE FURTHER YOU GO DOWN, THE MORE CONTROL YOU HAVE THEN THERE IS NO MORE LOCAL CONTROL THAN THAT OF A PARENT.

>> Renee: YOU STARTED DOWN THE MCGARVEY, FINISH YOUR THOUGHT ABOUT THE MASK MANDATE.

>> SURE.

I THINK I'M THE ONLY DEMOCRAT IN THE HOUSE THAT VOTED IN THE MAJORITY IN SEPTEMBER TO MAKE THIS A LOCAL DECISION AND NOT A STATEWIDE DECISION AND WE TALKED ABOUT HOW THIS CAN BE DONE LOCALLY.

COVID DIDN'T HIT MY COUNTY IN EXTREME EASTERN KENTUCKY UNTIL WAY, WAY LATER THAN IT DID SOME OF THE MORE URBAN AREAS SO WE WERE IN A LOCK DOWN SITUATION A LONG TIME BEFORE IT REALLY HIT OUR COUNTIES AND THE WAY IT HAS PLAYED OUT WITH LOCAL DECISION MAKING HAS BEEN EXACTLY THE RIGHT SOLUTION.

JUST THIS WEEK PIKE COUNTY SCHOOLS AND PIKEVILLE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS HAVE ANNOUNCED BASED ON THEIR MATRIX AND LOCAL LEVELS OF COVID, THEY WILL GO TO MASK OPTIONAL NEXT WEEK.

THE LETCHER COUNTY BOARD IS CONSIDERING AT THEIR NEXT MEETING NEXT WEEK AND BASED ON LOCAL STATISTICS, AS WELL AS INPUT FROM LOCAL PARENTS, THE TEACHERS, EACH SCHOOLS' KNOWLEDGE OF THE UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THEIR NUMBER OF HANDICAPPED CHILDREN, FOR EXAMPLE, OR OLDER TEACHERS, OLDER BUS DRIVERS, THINGS LIKE THAT, EACH OF THOSE CAN BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT AND FOR ALL OF US WHO GOT UP AND SAID, YOU KNOW, THIS NEED TO BE A LOCAL DECISION BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT THE GOVERNOR MAKING THE DECISION, NOW WE ARE TURNING AROUND AND DOING A DIRECT REVERSE OF THAT AND SAYING NO, WE ARE GOING TO MAKE THE DECISION.

IT'S IN THE GOING TO BE STATEWIDE AND THE VERY SWAY WITH THE WIND NATURE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND ESPECIALLY AN ELECTION YEAR, LETS ME KNOW THERE IS TOO MUCH POLITICS INVOLVED TO DO THIS WHEN WE CAN SWITCH ON A DIME WITHOUT CONSIDERING LOCAL NUMBERS.

>> Renee: SO LEADER THAYER, IS THIS AN ISSUE THE SENATE IS GOING TO TAKE UP.

>> I THINK SO, YES.

SENATOR DOUGLAS HAS A RESOLUTION FILED THAT WOULD END THE STATE OF EMERGENCY BY MARCH 7 AND.

>> Renee: THAT WOULD APPLY TO THIS SITUATION AS WELL.

>> CORRECT.

WE ARE WORKING CONCURRENTLY WITH THE HOUSE.

THEY'VE GOTTEN AN APPROACH AND WE HAVE AN APPROACH AND WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER.

A LOT HAS CHANGED SINCE SEPTEMBER AND THE SCIENCE SHOWS THAT OUTSIDE OF THE N-95, AS REPRESENTATIVE MEADE SAID, THE MASKTS HAVE NOT REALLY BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE IN MITIGATING THE SPREAD AND YOU KNOW, HERE WE ARE TWO WEEKS INTO 15 DAYS TO SLOW THE SPREAD AND FLATTEN THE CURVE AND WE HAVE DONE DAMAGE TO OUR KIDS BY FORCING THESE MASKS ON THEM FOR A LONG TIME AND I THINK WHAT WE DID IN SEPTEMBER WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

WE HAVE THE DELTA VARIANT, WE WANTED TO GIVE THE SCHOOLS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MASK.

BUT WHAT REALLY PROBABLY HELPED THE SCHOOLS THE BEST WAS THE TEST TO STAY.

THAT WAS SOMETHING HOUSE AND SENATE REPUBLICANS PROPOSE PROPOSED AND IT HAS BECOME A MAINSTREAM USAGE OUT IN OUR SCHOOLS.

WE NEED TO GET BACK TO NORMAL.

IF YOU WANT TO WEAR A MASK, FINE, WEAR A MASK.

I'M NOT GOING TO JUDGE YOU BUT I'M NOT GOING TO WEAR ONE AND I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD FORCE OUR KIDS TO WEAR ONE.

THE SCIENCE AND STATISTICS SHOW THAT THE SCHOOLS AND KIDS WEREN'T REALLY VECTORS FOR THE DISNIECE GREAT NUMBERS ANYWAY.

>> Renee: LEADER MCGARVEY, YOUR RESPONSE.

>> AGAIN, I APPROACH THIS AS A PARENT OF KIDS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, RIGHT AND I WANT OUR KIDS IN SCHOOL.

I WANT OUR KIDS SAFELY IN SCHOOL.

I'M GLAD THEY'RE IN SCHOOL.

THE TEST TO STAY PROGRAM HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL AT MY KIDS SCHOOL.

I CAN'T SPEAK TO EVERY SCHOOL IN JEFFERSON COUNTY OR THE STATE OF KENTUCKY BUT IT HAS BEEN A GOOD THING.

ALSO THIS IS A LOCAL DECISION.

THERE IS NO STATEWIDE MASK MANDATE AND ONE THING I THINK IS INTERESTING IS REPRESENTATIVE HATTON WAS SAYING, LAST SEPTEMBER WE CAME TOGETHER AS A GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SAID WE WANT THESE LOCAL DISTRICTS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS.

I THINK TO REMOVE ALL FLEXIBILITY AND DECISION MAKING AWAY FROM THE LOCAL DISTRICTS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE POSITIVITY NUMBERS WERE TODAY BUT LAST WEEK IT WAS 20% IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.

YES, WE WANT THE PANDEMIC TO END, WE WANT PEOPLE TO GO BACK TO NORMAL SAFELY AND I THINK WE ARE SEEING PEOPLE DO THAT.

>> I I SAY ONE THING.

>> WE TALK ABOUT THE POSITIVITY RATE SO MUCH AND THAT NUMBER IS USED QUITE OFTEN BUT IT'S BECOME A STATISTIC THAT IS JUST FOR AWK TALKING PIECE BECAUSE PRIMARILY THE FOLKS GETTING TESTED ARE THOSE WHO FEEL SICK AND OF COURSE YOU ARE GOING HAVE A HIGHER NUMBER OF THOSE TESTING POSITIVE WHEN IT'S ONLY THOSE GETTING TESTED.

IF YOU WANT A TRUE POSITIVITY RATE, SPREAD IT OUGHT ACROSS THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF THE STATE TO TELL WHAT THE POSITIVITY RATE IS NOT JUST BASED ON THOSE GOING TO GET TESTED RIGHT NOW.

SO THE POSITIVITY RATE, AS OF RIGHT NOW, IS JUST A TALKING PIECE.

>> Renee: HOSPITALIZATION NUMBERS THEY'RE DECLINING THEY'RE STILL HIGH.

DO YOU TAKE ANY STOCK IN MEASURING THE HOSPITAL RATES AND ICU RATES.

>> WE LOOK AT THE HOSPITALIZATION RATES AND ICU RATES BUT AS YOU SAID, IT HAS BEEN DECLINING FOR SOMETIME AND AS WE TALK ABOUT THE MASKS, MY DISTRICTS HAVE NOT HAD MASK MANDATES FOR DWIGHT SOMETIME.

ABOUT A MONTH AGO, ONE OF THE DISTRICTS HAD A SPIKE AND PUT THE MASK ON FOR A WHILE.

THEY SAW NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE SO THEY DECIDED TO DROP IT AGAIN BUT ANOTHER TALKING POINT IS IT'S ABOUT POLITICS.

IT'S NOT ABOUT POLITICS.

THIS IS DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS ACROSS THE NATION WHO ARE DROPPING THE MASK MANDATES AS WELL.

>> Renee: WE KNOW IT IS HAPPENING IN CALIFORNIA BUT THEIR VACCINATION RATE IS ABOVE 70%, WHICH IS 20 SOMETHING POINTS HIGHER THAN KENTUCKY'S VACCINATION RATES.

WHILE YOU ARE A PROPONENT FOR DROPPING THE MASK MANDATES, ARE YOU VOCAL ABOUT THE VACCINATION.

>> THE VACCINATION IS YOUR DECISION WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU AND THE HEALTH OF YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR CHILDREN I HAVE SPOKEN TO SOME SPOKES AND MY DOCTOR HE SAID THERE ARE SOME INSTANCES WHERE THEY SHOULD NOT BE VACCINATED.

IT'S UP TO THE PERSON.

I HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

I HAVE NO ISSUE WITH THAT BUT I THINK IT SHOULD BE EACH PERSON'S DECISION.

>> Renee: THERE IS A BILL THAT SENATOR AND PHYSICIAN ALVARADO HAD THAT WOULD EQUALIZE COVID ANTIBODY TEST TO VACCINATION.

CURIOUS ABOUT WHY THAT WAS DONE WE PASSED IT LAST WEEK IF YOU TAKE A TEST AND YOUR ANTIBODY LEVEL IS AT A CERTAIN LEVEL AND YOU HAVE HAD COVID, THE SCIENCE SUGGESTS IT IS AS GOOD AS BEING VACCINATED.

>> Renee: HOW LONG IS UNKNOWN.

>> DO WE KNOW HOW LONG GETTING THE MODERNA BOOSTER LIKE I GOT IN DECEMBER IS EFFECTIVE?

I AGREE WITH REPRESENTATIVE MEADE, THE DECISION TO GET THE VACCINE SHOULD BE PERSONAL.

I ALSO AGREE THAT VACCINATIONS HAVE HELPED US MOVE OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC INTO AN ENDEMIC BUT LECTURING PEOPLE ABOUT GETTING VACCINATED IS NOT GOING TO WORK AND IT'S SOMETHING PEOPLE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT ON THEIR OWN, TALK TO THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, TALKING TO THEIR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER AND MAKING THAT DECISION.

>> Renee: DO YOU WANT TO WEIGH IN?

>> I WENT TO LAW SCHOOL, NOT MEDICAL SCHOOL.

I WOULD JUST FOLLOW THE ADVICE OF MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS.

I HAVE NEVER BEEN FOR A VACCINE MANDATE.

AND I DO THINK THAT'S A PERSONAL DECISION FOR A FAMILY.

I JUST HATE TO SEE PEOPLE NOT LISTENING TO REAL SCIENCE AND DOING MENTAL GYMNASTICS TO FLIP OVER THE TRUTH AND STATISTICS TO FIN SOMETHING THAT MATCHES THEIR BELIEF.

I THINK IT'S JUST A COGNITIVE DISSONANCE THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO JUSTIFY.

>> Renee: WE'LL TAKE ANOTHER TOUGH PIVOT AWAY FROM THAT AND GO BACK TO PENSION FUNDING.

THIS QUESTION FROM FORT MITCHELL.

PLEASE ASK IF PENSION PLANS ARE APPROPRIATELY FUNDED AND IF NOT, WHY THE ONE-TIME WINDFALLS ARE NOT BEING USED TO SHORE THEM UP.

>> I'LL TAKE THAT, RENEE.

ON THE KERS SIDE, WE ARE REQUIRED UNDER MY BILL, SENATE BILL 2, THAT PASSED NINE YEARS AGO, TO MAKE THE ACTUARILY RECOMMENDED CONTRIBUTION TO THE STATE EMPLOYEES PENSION PLAN AND WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT EVER SINCE.

THAT IS THE LAW.

ON THE TRS SIDE, OF SINCE MATT BEVIN'S FIRST YEAR OF GOVERNOR WHEN HE RECOMMENDED WE DO ARC PLUS, WE HAVE BEEN OVERFUNDING THE REQUIREMENT FOR TRS, AS A MATTER OF FACT, THAT AMOUNT THIS YEAR IS 1.167 BILLION.

WE ARE REQUIRED TO PUT IN JUST UNDER HALF A BILLION BUT WE ARE ACTUALLY PUTTING IN MORE THAN DOUBLE THE REQUIRED AMOUNT AND HAVE BEEN DOING THAT SINCE GOVERNOR MATT BEVIN RECOMMENDED THAT AND WE HAVE TAKEN THE LEAD ON THAT FUNDING AND THAT'S ONE THING I CAN TELL YOU I FEEL PRETTY CERTAIN ABOUT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO-- REMEMBER,ERS CAN SIDE IS KERS IS REQUIRED BY LAW.

WE ARE DOING MORE THAN REQUIRED BY LAW ON THE TRS SIDE.

>> Renee: THIS QUESTION FROM MAYOR TOM WATSON OF OWENSBORO.

WE NEED A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD.

THE FORMER CITIES OF THE CLASS 2 AND 3 CITIES NEED THE OPTION TO CREATE SO CALLED RESTAURANT TAX OR OTHER REVENUE OPTIONS AND THAT'S COME UP JUST LAST WEEK THERE IS A LOCAL MESS TOWER GIVE MORE TAXING OPTIONS.

WHAT IS THE PROPOSAL?

>> IT IS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND WHAT IT DOES IS ALLOWS EXACTLY THAT FOR THE CITIES AND THE COUNTIES TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL THEIR OWN TAX REVENUE AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS BECAUSE IN A TAX REFORM PACKAGE, WHERE WE WOULD START TO LOWER THE INCOME TAX AND TRY TO BROADEN THE BASE, IF WE GET THE INCOME TAX TO ZERO, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS DEPEND SO MUCH ON STATE TAX MONEY, THEY WOULD HAVE NO WAY TO GENERATE REVENUE AT THAT POINT SO WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM THE CONTROL TO DO THAT.

>> Renee: DO YOU THINK THIS IS GOING TO MAKE IT THIS TIME?

IT HAS COME UP OTHER SESSIONS PREVIOUSLY.

>> WE JUST STARTED THE CONVERSATIONS LAST WEEK I THINK THERE IS A GOOD POSSIBILITY OF THAT, ESPECIALLY IF WE GET THE TAX REFORM PACKAGE ROLLED OUT THERE SO FOLKS CAN SEE WAS WE ARE DOING.

>> Renee: IT HAS GONE THROUGH SEVERAL ITERATIONS, LYFT,.

>> LIFT, LOST, WHAT IS THIS ONE?

>> MAYOR TOM WATSON IS A FRIEND OF MINE AND I APPRECIATE HIM WATCHING THE SHOW AND TEXTING ME DURING THE SHOW TO ASK A QUESTION.

I'M NOT GOING TO BE FOR A RESTAURANT TAX.

I THINK THAT HURTS THE WORKING PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT REALLY HARD AND.

>> Renee: WHAT ABOUT THE REVENUE OPTIONS.

>> I DON'T SENSE THERE IS A LOT OF ENERGY IN THE SENATE TO DO THE DRA.

>> Renee: DO IF YOU DO THE TAX REFORM OF TAX REFORM JUST MENTIONED AND IT COULD HURT THEM AND THEY'RE STRONG CONSTITUENTS AS WELL.

WHAT RELIEF COULD THEY SEE?

DON'T SNOW.

HAVE TO LISTEN TO SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY.

>> LEADER MCGARVEY, YOU CHAIR TO CHIME IN ABOUT THIS?

>> YEAH, I WILL RETURN TO THE FAVOR TO SPEAKER PRO TEM.

I DON'T SAY THIS VERY OFTEN BUT I AGREE WITH HIM GIVING THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THIS ABILITY.

I'VE PUSHED FOR THIS SINCE COMING TO THE SENATE.

THIS IS PUTTING GOVERNMENT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL WHERE YOU HAVE PEOPLE DECIDING WHAT KIND OF TAX REVENUE AND HOW THEY CAPTURE IT TO BENEFIT THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITIES SO I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR OF OWENSBORO IT CREATES A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD AND NEED TO CONSIDER IN A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

>> I WOULD SAY THAT PUTTING IT ON THE BALLOT AS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ALLOWS THE VOTERS IN GENERAL TO VOTE ON IT.

IF SUBMITSING THIS THEY WANT.

THAT'S APPEALING TO ME WHETHER OR NOT IT ENDS UP BEING A GOOD THING FOR THE CITIES TO DO IT, I'M NOT SURE IF IT DOESN'T MAKE THE DISPARITIES BETWEEN WEALTHY AREAS THAT CAN AFFORD TO DO MORE AREAS AND POOR AREAS MORE.

>> Renee: 30 SECONDS BEFORE WE CONCLUDE THE PROMISE.

>> JUST A REMINDER REMEMBER.

THIS IS A VOTE TO PUT A MEASURE ON THE BALLOT TO DECIDE IF VOTERS WANT TO VOTE TO GIVE THEMSELVES THE ABILITY TO AT SOME POINT VOTE WHETHER THEY WANT A TAX IN THEIR LOCALITY.

>> Renee: SO THIS HAS GOT THREE PROCESSES BEFORE IT FINALLY GETS TO THE FINISHED LINE IN MANY RESPECTS AND WE'VE HEARD THAT IN PREVIOUS ITERATIONS.

IN 20 SECONDS... >> LOCAL COMMUNITY.

>> Renee: YES, SIR.

SO IN 20 SECONDS, WHAT CAN WE SEE MOVE THIS WEEK, REPRESENTATIVE MEADE.

>> I THINK YOU ARE JUST GOING TO SEE-- YOU PROBABLY WON'T SEE ANY MARATHON MOVEMENT ON ANYTHING THIS WEEK BUT LIKE I SAID AGAIN, TAX REFORM IN A COUPLE WEEKS.

>> Renee: MARCH MADNESS RESONATES IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE.

THANK YOU FOR A VERY GOOD CONVERSATION.

NEXT WEEK WE WILL TALK ABOUT CRITICAL RACE THEORY NEXT MONDAY NIGHT RIGHT HERE ON KENTUCKY TONIGHT.

THE LEGISLATURE IS BACK IN ACTION TOMORROW.

SO WE WILL BE GIVING YOU LEGISLATIVE UPDATE TOMORROW NIGHT AT 11:30 P.M., I BELIEVE HERE ON KET AFTER SPECIAL PBS PROGRAMMING.

AND BE SURE TO TUNE IN FOR COMMENT ON KENTUCKY ON FRIDAY WITH THE ROUNDTABLE OF JOURNALISTS TO GIVE YOU ALL THE LATEST THAT HAPPENED IN FRANKFORT.

UNTIL I █SEE YOU AGAIN SOON, TAE