WELCOME TO "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

IN LESS THAN ONE MONTH, MAY 17TH, VOTERS WILL PICK DEMOCRATIC AND NOMINEES FOR THE U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE, GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND LOCAL OFFICES.

TONIGHT WE BEGIN OUR SERIES OF CONVERSATIONS WITH CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR THE U.S. HOUSE AND LATER IN THIS HOUR YOU WILL HEA FROM CONGRESSMAN ANDY BARR, A REPUBLICAN RUNNING IN THE 6TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, AND STUART RAY, A REPUBLICAN IN THE 3RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

WE BEGIN WITH HANK LINDERMAN, ONE OF TWO DEMOCRATS RUNNING IN THE 2ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

MR. LINDERMAN SATISFIED OUR CRITERIA AND JOINS US THIS EVEN YOU CAN ASK HIM A QUESTION ON T SEND AN EMAIL TO KYTONIGHT@KET.

OR USE THE WEB FORM AT KET.ORG/.

OR YOU MAY GIVE AS A CALL THE 1-800-494-7605.

MR. LINDERMAN, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>> I'M SO GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> THE LAST TIME WE SAW YOU WAS IN 2018.

>> NEACE A WHILE BACK.

I LOOK THE SAME, I THINK.

>> I THINK YOU DO, ABSOLUTELY.

WHY DON'T YOU REINTRODUCE YOURSELF TO THE VIEWERS AND THE VOTERS OF THE 2nd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.

>> HI, I'M HANK LINDERMAN.

I'M RUNNING FOR CONGRESS IN KENTUCKY'S 2nd REDISTRICT PI LIVE IN GRAYSON COUNTY.

MY CAREER WAS IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS AS A RECORDING ENGINEER AND A PERFORMER, AND I DIDN'T GET STARTED IN POLITICS UNTIL LATE 2017.

AND I'VE BEEN RUNNING SINCE 2018.

I WAS THE NOMINEE IN 2018 AND 2020.

>> SO LET'S JUST GET RIGHT TO IT BECAUSE TIME IS SHORT.

YOU HAVE SAID THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEEDS TO CHANGE IN TWO FUNDAMENTAL WAYS.

WHAT ARE THEY?

AND WHO WOULD YOU HOPE THAT YOU CAN BE PART OF THAT CHANGE IF YOU'RE ELECTED?

>> THE MAIN CHANGE THAT -- THE MAIN TWO CHANGES I THINK WE DEMOCRATS NEED TO MAKE IS FIRST, WE NEED TO RECONNECT WITH PEOPLE WHO WORK, AND BY THAT I MEAN PEOPLE WHO USE THEIR BODIES AS WELL AS THEIR MINDS TO THE WORK.

I'M TALKING ABOUT FACTORY WORKERS, CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, HEALTH CARE WORKERS WOULD BE FOLKS WORKING AT THE GROCERY STORE, DELIVERY PEOPLE, TRUCK DRIVERS, MUSICIANS, PEOPLE WHO ONLY GET PAID WHEN THEY WORK.

I THINK WE NEED MORE WORKING PEOPLE IN CONGRESS.

WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF ATTORNEYS.

WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF PEOPLE WITH CONNECTIONS TO BIG BUSINESS AND PLENTY OF FOLKS WHO WENT TO UNIVERSITY TO LEARN HOW TO GOVERN.

BUT I THINK WE WOULD BE BETTER SERVED WITH MORE FOLKS WHO WORK.

SO THAT'S THE FIRST WAY, IS TO RECONNECT WITH OUR TRADITIONAL BASE, WHICH IS PEOPLE WHO WORK.

BY THE WAY, I WISH I WOULD HEAR MORE DEMOCRATS PRAISING THE EFFORTS OF UNIONIZATION THAT ARE GOING ON AT AMAZON AND STARBUCKS, AND I THINK ELON MUSK IS IN THE NEWS TODAY.

APPARENTLY RECENTLY HE SAID, GO AHEAD AND UNIONIZE TO TESLA, SO HOPEFULLY THAT MOVES FORWARD.

THIS IS A VERY POSITIVE MOMENT FORE WORKING PEOPLE.

IT'S THE MOST PRO-LABOR MOMENT I'VE EXPERIENCED SINCE I'VE BEEN ALIVE.

SO WE AS DEMOCRATS NEED TO RECONNECT WITH THOSE FOLKS.

THE NEXT THING IS DEMOCRATS HAVE STOPPED INVESTING IN DISTRICTS LIKE THE 2nd.

THESE ARE RURAL AND SMALL TOWN DISTRICTS.

SO IF 1st, 2nd, 4th AND 5th WE HAVE NOT INVESTED IN FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AND I THINK THIS APPLIES NATIONALLY.

THERE ARE DISTRICTS THAT DEMOCRATS DECIDED TWO AND THREE DECADES AGO THAT MAYBE THEY COULDN'T WIN SO NECESSITY WOULD SAVE THEIR RESOURCES AND USE THOSE TO WORK ELSEWHERE.

THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A GOOD IDEA FOR AN ELECTION CYCLE OR TWO, ABOUT IT HAS MEANT THAT WE'VE BEEN OUT OF THE CONVERSATION IN A LOT OF THESE RACES.

IN 2016, THE 2nd DISTRICT DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A CANDIDATE.

SO THAT SHOULD GIVE US AN IDEA.

SO REACHING OUT TO FOLKS IN RURAL AND SMALL TOWN AMERICA, AND I THINK THAT BEGINS WITH JUST SHOWING UP AND SAYING, WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND?

>> AS YOU KNOW, THE 2nd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT HASN'T ELECTED A DEMOCRAT SINCE WILLIAM NATCHER WHO SERVED MORE THAN 40 YEARS.

WHY ARE YOU CONVINCED THAT THIS TIME AROUND YOU CAN UNSEAT THE WELL-HEELED, WELL-ENTRENCHED REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE.

>> YOU'VE GOOD NIGHT PROBLEM IN OUR PROGRAM THAT 40 ORE 50, MAYBEON 50 OR 70 POSITIONS ARE IN FLAY.

SO THAT ENCOURAGES THAT IDEA OF WHY EVEN BOTHER.

IF YOU'RE IN A DISTRICT THAT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH.

THERE'S STILL WORK TO BE DONE AND THERE'S STILL, YOU KNOW, IF YOU EVER WANT TO WIN A DISTRICT, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE DEVELOPMENT WORK.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND ACTIVISTS.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ORGANIZE ACROSS THE DISTRICT.

AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING SINCE THE FIRST TIME I LOST IN 2018.

>> SO YOU'RE MORE VISIBLE THAN YOU WERE FOUR YEARS AGO?

>> I'M FOCUSING HONESTLY MOSTLY ON OTHER ACTIVISTS AND OTHER LEADERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTIES IN THE DISTRICT, CONNECTING FOLKS IN DAVIS COUNTY WITH FOLKS IN WARN WAREN COUNTY AND HARDIN COUNTY, GETTING THESE FOLKS TO KNOW EACH OTHER.

THE FUNNY THING ABOUT KENTUCKY IS THE AMOUNT OF COUNTIES WE HAVE, 120 CONTRA COSTA FOR 4.4 MILLION PEOPLE.

THAT'S MORE COUNTIES PER PERSON, PER POPULATION THAN ANY STATE IN THE UNION.

AND SO WE'RE VERY INSULAR.

SO I'M TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO CONNECT FOLKS ACROSS THESE COUNTY LINES AND THEY FOUND OUT, WOW, THESE FOLKS ARE JUST LIKE ME.

THEY ARE MY FRIENDS.

>> THEY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAME THINGS YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT?

I KNOW YOU'RE A BIG PROPONENT OF MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION.

IS THAT RAKES?

IS THAT MEDICINAL ONLY OR BOTH?

>> BOTH.

AND BY THE WAY, THAT'S ONE OF THE -- IT'S ALMOST 100% WHEN I TALK TO REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS THAT THERE'S SUPPORT FOR LEGAL I'D CANNABIS.

I TALK TO PEOPLE ALL THE TIME.

IF I'M GETTING GAS AND SOMEBODY IS GETTING GAS NEXT TO ME I'LL TALK TO THEM.

AT ONE POINT THERE I WAS REPUBLICAN COUPLE I TALKED WITH.

THINK DIDN'T GREE WITH EVERYTHING, BUT WHEN I SAID CANNABIS, THE WIFE REACHED OVER AND TOUCHED HER SIDE AND SAID, OH, MY HIP.

SO I THINK IT'S WELL OVER HALF OF THE STATE.

I WOULD SAY THREE-QUARTERS OF THE FOLKS I TALK TO ARE COMPLETING IN FAVOR.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE OFTEN VOTE ON IS WHAT'S IN THEIR WALLETS OR WHAT'S NOT IN THEY'RE WALLETS, AND WE KNOW THAT THE KENTUCKY AND THE NATION ARE UNDER A LABOR SHORTAGE AS THERE ARE MORE JOBS THAN PEOPLE WHO ARE FILLING THEM IN KENTUCKY.

THAT'S ABOUT 160,000 JOBS THAT ARE UNFILLED.

AND THE STATE RANKS HIGHEST OR NEAR THE HIGHEST IN WORKERS QUITTING THEIR JOBS, PART OF THAT GREAT RESIGNATION.

DO YOU BELIEVE THERE IS A LABOR SHORTAGE, AS WE OFTEN HAEFER IT DEFINED?

AND HOW WOULD YOU SOLVE IT?

>> I THINK THERE IS A LABOR SHORTAGE, AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO CONNECT.

THE IDEA OF IMMIGRATION.

TO FULL EMPLOYMENT, AND WE'VE BEEN HAVING DIFFICULTY KEEPING FULL EMPLOYMENT, AND I THINK THE PANDEMIC TOOK A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT OF THE WORKPLACE.

YOU AND I WERE JUST DISCUSSING EARLIER THAT 20% OF THE FOLKS WHO GOT COVID MAY BE SUFFERING FROM LONG-TERM SYMPTOMS, AND THINK ABOUT THE FOLKS WHO HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT SIMPLY CAN'T GET SICK.

THIS HAS PUT A LOT OF STRESS ON PEOPLE THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO WORK THE WAY THEY USED TO.

AND THE ECONOMY IS NOW EXPANDING AGAIN, SO THAT PUTS EVEN MORE PRESSURE ON IT.

NOW -- >> WHAT'S THE IMMIGRATION CONNECTION?

>> WELL, THE CONNECTION THERE IS THAT WHEN YOU'VE GOT A SHORTAGE WORKERS, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE INFLATION.

THAT'S ONE OF THE CAUSES RELATED TO INFLATION.

BUT QUALIFIED IMMIGRANTS WHO CAN WORK WILL BE ABLE TO FILL SOME JOBS AND WILL SLOW SOME OF THAT INFLATION.

>> SO OPEN BORDERS?

THERE ARE MANY WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT BORDER SECURITY.

ARE YOU MAKING A CASE THAT WE SHOULD ALLOW MORE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION?

>> I THINK YOU HAVE TO BALANCE IT BETWEEN THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES, THE NEEDS OF THE ECONOMY, AND OUR SECURITY NEEDS FOR OUR NATIONAL SECURITY NEEDS.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE A FLOATING DISCUSSION.

NOW, UNFORTUNATELY DISCUSSION ON IMMIGRATION HAS BECOME SO POLITICIZED THAT IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO COME UP WITH ANY SOLUTIONS AT THE MOMENT, AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH -- PROBLEMS THAT BECOME POLITICIZED ARE THEN INSOLVABLE.

>> JUST TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR, ARE YOU FOR GRANTING LEGAL STATUS TO THE MILLIONS OF UNDOCUMENTED WHO ARE ALREADY HERE?

>> I THINK THERE SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF FORMULA FOR THAT.

PICK A DATE IN THE PAST.

IN FACT, I THINK IN 2018 I CAME OUT FOR I THINK IT WAS IN 2018 I CAME OUT FOR JULY 4, 2018, WOULD BE A TIME TO HAVE A PATH FOR CITIZENSHIP.

LOOK, MOST OF THOSE FOLKS HAVE BEEN HERE FOR TEN AND 15 YEARS.

IT'S 80% OF THEM HAVE BEEN HERE FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

>> YOU MENTIONED JUST A MOMENT AGO ABOUT INFLATION, SO THE ANNUAL INFLATION RATE FOR THE U.S. IS NOW AT 8.5% FOR THE 12 MONTHS ATTENDED MARCH 2022.

THE HIGHEST SINCE DECEMBER 1981, AND AFTER RYANS 7.9% PREVIOUSLY.

THAT'S ACCORDING THE TO U.S. LABOR DEPARTMENT DATA PUBLISHED RECENTLY.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO GET INFLATION UNCONTROL?

AND WITH SOME OF THE POLICIES THAT MANY PEOPLE THINK DEMOCRATSES SPOUSE, WOULD THAT NOT ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTE TO GREATER INFLATION?

>> I THINK A BIG PART OF THE INFLATION THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW.

IS CORPORATIONS FLEXING THEIR POWER, RAISING PRICES SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY CAN, AND WE HAVE SOME VERY, VERY LARGE CORPORATIONS IN THIS COUNTRY THAT I WOULD CONSIDER MONOPOLIES.

I'M TALKING ABOUT COMPANIES LIKE APPLE, LIKE GOOGLE, LIKE AMAZON, AND EVEN WALMART.

THESE ARE COMPANIES THAT HAVE SO MUCH POWER AND SO MUCH INFLUENCE IN THE MARKETPLACE THAT THEY CAN REALLY INFLUENCE THINGS IN A WAY THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY FOR THE BEST OF THE CONSUMER.

SO WE ARE GOING TO NEED AT SOME POINT A PRESIDENT, REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT, WHO WILL CALL ON THEIR ATTORNEY GENERAL AND SAY, WE'VE GOT SOME LAWS ON THE BOOKS RELATING TO MONOPOLIES.

LET'S HAVE A TALK ABOUT THESE FOLKS.

>> WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT INFLATION WAS LESS THAN 2% WHEN PRESIDENT BIDEN TOOK OFFICE AND NOW IT AT HISTORIC HIGHS, OVER 40-SOMETHING YEAR HIGH.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THE PRESIDENT'S CURRENT FISCAL POLICIES?

AND AREN'T THEY WHAT, IN FACT, IN ADDITION TO WHAT YOU HAVE SAID, ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO THE HIGH COST OF FUEL, FOOD, CLOTHING, ALL THAT?

>> WELL, LOOK AT WHAT THE INFLUENCE OF WAR IN UKRAINE IS DOING.

THAT'S RELATED TO FOOD PRICES.

THAT'S GOING TO BE RELATED TO FOOD PRICES.

UKRAINE IS ONE OF THE MAJOR PROVIDERS OF FOOD FOR EUROPE, AND I THINK THEY'VE ON PLANTED 20% THIS YEAR OF THEIR CROPS, SO THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT FOOD PRICES.

THE ENERGY PRICES FROM THAT PART OF THE WORLD, THAT'S ALL IN FLUX RIGHT NOW.

SO SOME OF THE INFLATION IS RELATED TO THAT.

SOME OF THE INFLATION IS RELATED TO THE ECONOMY TAKING OFF AFTER THE PANDEMIC.

AND SOME OF IT'S RELATED TO LABOR SHORTAGES.

AND AS I SAY, CORPORATIONS WHO ARE RAISING PRICES JUST BECAUSE THEY CAN.

>> AND GOVERNMENT SPENDING.

I MEAN, A LOT OF CASH HAS BEEN FLOATED TO STATES ARE FOR COVID RELIEF.

>> MOST OF THAT GOVERNMENT SPENDING I THINK WAS A GOOD THING.

WE SAW THEM GIVING MONEY TO PEOPLE DURING THE PANDEMIC ACTUALLY REDUCED CHILD POVERTY BY ALMOST 40%.

THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE.

>> SPEAKING OF POVERTY, DO YOU BELIEVE INCOME INEQUALITY IS A VERY KEY AND IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT HAS YET TO BE TACKLED?

AND HOW WOULD YOU TACKLE IT?

>> WE HAVE THREE PRONGS HERE THAT INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER.

INEQUALITY, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC INEQUITIES ARE MASSIVE.

ELON MUSK WHO IS IN THE NEWS TODAY IS WORTH -- WHAT, DIDN'T $35 BILLION, WHICH IS HARD TO EVEN WRAP YOUR HEAD AROUND, AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIM AND SOMEONE WHO IS A POOR PERSON WHO WORKS IS JUST TOO BROAD, SO THAT INEQUALITY IS REALLY CAUSING PROBLEMS IN OUR SYSTEM.

>> SO THE RICH SHOULD BE TADD MORE.

>> PROBABLY.

THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

THAT'S WHAT THOMAS PICK -- THE FRENCH ECONOMIST WHO WON THE NOBEL PRIZE SEVERAL YEARS AGO, HE'S GOT A NEW BOOK ABOUT DEALING WITH EQUALITY, AND HE IS PROPOSING HIGHER TAX RATES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

>> AND SOME WOULD SHAYE THAT THAT WOULD HURT JOB CREATION BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE FOLKS WHO ARE ACTUALLY CREATING THE JOBS.

>> I WOULD POINT TO OUR HISTORY WHEN WE HAD A VERY HIGH MARGINAL TAX RATE DURING PRESIDENT EISENHOWER'S ADMINISTRATION.

ITALY THE HIGHEST AAA RATE WAS OVER 90%, AND THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE MOST PRODUCTIVE PERIOD IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

HIGHEST TAX RATE.

THERE ARE OTHER PIECES TO THIS.

WE ALSO HAVE CORRUPTION IN OUR SYSTEM, IN OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM AND IN OUR ECONOMIC SYSTEM.

MOST OF US THAT ARE WORKING PEOPLE KNOW THAT THE SYSTEM IS NOT SET UP FOR OUR BENEFIT.

AND CORRUPTION CAUSES THE INEQUALITY.

AND THEN THE INEQUALITY CAUSES DIVISION, WHICH IS REALLY THE THING THAT I THINK WE NEED TO ALL START TO WORK ON IN OUR SOCIETY.

WE ARE SO DIVIDED RIGHT NOW.

AND DIVISION IS THE THING THAT -- >> HOW WOULD YOU BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER?

>> WELL, I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT FIXING DIVISION IS NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE FROM THE TOP DOWN.

I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S A POLITICAL FIGURE IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

THE MOST REVERED PRESIDENT MIGHT BE ABRAHAM LINCOLN, A KENTUCKIAN.

I DON'T IF I IF HE MAGICALLY SHOWED UP, THAT HE COULD BRING THE COUNTRY TOGETHER.

WE ARE TOO DIVIDED.

I HAVE CARELESSLY SAID TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT WE'RE MORE DIVIDED THAN WE'VE EVER BEEN, AND MY WIFE CORRECTED ME AND SAID, NO, WE WERE DIVIDED 20 YEARS AGO DURING THE AL GORE AND GEORGE BUSH ELECTION.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS OUR POSITIONS HAVE GROWN DEEPER AND HARDENED.

WE'VE HARD END ZONE OURSELVES TO EACH OTHER.

>> PRESIDENT BIDEN PLEDGED TO BE THE UNIFIER IN CHIEF.

HOW WOULD YOU RATE HIM ON TRYING TO -- >> I THINK PRESIDENT MACRON JUST ANNOUNCED THAT IT'S TIME FOR UNIT.

THIS IS WHAT PRESIDENTS DO, BUT I DON'T THIS IT'S POSSIBLE.

I THINK THIS IS WHY BOTH OF OUR PARTIES NEED TRO CONNECT TO THE GRASSROOTS.

THAT IS WHERE WE CAN REPAIR DIVISION.

ONE-ON-ONE WITH EACH OTHER.

AND I -- MOST OF MY NEIGHBORS ARE REPUBLICANS, AND THEY WILL -- THEY ARGUE WITH ME A BIT, BUT THEY'LL DO WHATEVER -- IF I NEED HELP, THEY'LL DROP WHATEVER THEY'RE DOING.

>> BUT THEY MAY NOT VOTE FOR YOU.

>> SOME OF THEM DO, I THINK.

WHEN I TALK ABOUT FOLKS, WHEN I TALK WITH REPUBLICANS ONE ON ONE, IT'S HARD TOO REACH 300,000 PEOPLE ONE ON ONE, BUT WHEN I TALK WITH THEM, ABOUT 50, 60 PERCENT OF THEM END UP SAYING, I LIKE YOU.

YOU'RE A PROBLEM SOLVER.

>> INTERESTING.

LET'S TALK ABOUT UKRAINE.

HOW WOULD YOU GRADE PRESIDENT BIDEN'S HANDLING OF THE CONFLICT IN UKRAINE RIGHT NOW?

WHAT IS HE DOING RIGHT?

AND WHAT DO YOU WISH HE WOULD DO?

>> BOY, I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S ANYTHING HELPFUL I CAN ADD TO THIS.

I THINK THAT THERE'S A REAL FOG OF DISINFORMATION AROUND THE WAR.

THERE ARE CONFLICTING REPORTS FROM ALL OVER.

SO I'D BE HESITANT TO DRAW ANY CONCLUSIONS.

>> DO YOU BELIEVE THAT VLADIMIR PUTIN ACTUALLY PLANS OR IS INTENT ONINGS ADVANTAGE EVEN MORE AND DISRUPTING FURTHER THAN JUST UKRAINE BUT POSSIBLY POLAND?

>> I DO NOT THINK SO.

I DON'T -- I HAVE FRIENDS IN POLAND AND THEY HAVE NOT INDICATED THAT THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

>> BUT MENTIONED THAT UKRAINE COULD BE WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE, THE CONFLICT COULD BE A DRIVER FOR THE INFLATIONARY RATE.

>> IT IS DEFINITELY IS A DRIVER OF INFLATION.

THIS IS A PROXY WAR BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND NATO AND RUSSIA.

>> I DO WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT BEING A FORMIDABLE CANDIDATE AS WE MENTIONED IN 2018 P YOU ARE THE DEMOCRATIC NOM INTOE IN IN 2nd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT BUT AS YOU HAVE ADMITTED THAT IS A HEAVILY REPUBLICAN DISTRICT.

HOW DO YOU PLAN ON BEING MORE COMPETITIVE THIS I'M AROUND?

BECAUSE LAST TIME IN 2018, REPRESENTATIVE GUTHRIE BEST PED THE YOU BY MORE THAN 91,000 VOTES.

>> WELL, LOOK, ALL YOU CAN DO IS THE WORK.

I THINK THAT POLITICIANS THAT PROMISE WE'RE GOING TO WIN THIS TIME, IT'S LIKE OFFERING SOMEONE APPLE HIGH.

IN THE 2nd DISTRICT AS FAR AS DEMOCRATS ARE CONCERNED WE DON'T HAVE ANY APPLE TREES SO I THINK THE JOB IS TO GROW SOME APPLE TREES, GROW APPLES AND THEN MAYBE WE CAN SEARCHER SOME APPLE PIE.

>> SO FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR CONCRETE SPECIFICS ON HOW YOU WILL DO THE JOB BETTER THAN THE CURRENT REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT YOU WOULD SAY WHAT?

>> MY FOCUS WOULD BE OVER AND OVER AGAIN HOW DOES THIS BENEFIT PEOPLE WHO WORK.

>> HOW DOES THIS BENEFIT THE AVERAGE CITIZEN?

HOW DOES THIS BENEFIT MY NEIGHBORS?

>> AND WHAT WOULD THOSE POLICIES LOOK LIKE SPECIFICALLY?

>> WELL, PICK AN AREA YOU'D BE TALKING ABOUT.

RULE BROADBAND.

LET'S TALK ABOUT RURAL BROADBAND BECAUSE WE HAVE AL REAL NEED FOR RURAL BROADBAND IN THE UNITED STATES.

IN FACT, THERE ARE PARTS OF OUR CITIES THAT NEED BROADBAND.

EVERY HOUSE IN UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE BROADBAND.

I DON'T LOVE THE CURRENT APPROACH WHICH IS SUBSIDIZING PROFITS OF LARGE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORPORATIONS.

I WOULD PREFER AN APPROACH OF VERY LOW INTEREST RATE LOANS TO LOCAL GROUPS LIKE THE RURAL ELECTRONIC COOPERATIVE, THE RECs THAT WE HAVE THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

IN OTHER WORDS, ENCOURAGE LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO SET UP CO-OPS TO PROVIDE BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THE NATIONAL DEBT THAT'S GROWING THAT'S OVER $30 TRILLION AND THAT IT JUST KEEPS TING UP AND UP AND UP?

ARE YOU CONCERNED HOW THAT'S GOING TO RE IMPACT FUTURE GENERATIONS?

>> I AM NOT.

>> WHY NOT.

>>> IT DEPENDS ON WHAT WE'RE SPENDING MONEY ON.

IF WE'RE SPENDING MONEY ON WASH THEN THAT'S A PROBLEM, BUT IF WE'RE SPENDING MONEY ON BRIDGES AND ROADS AND SCHOOLS AND HEALTH CARE, THEN I'M NOT SO WORRIED ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT.

IT WILL DEPENDS ON WHAT WE SPEND THE MONEY ON.

>> I'LL GIVE YOU 30 SECOND TO MAKE YOUR PITCH TO THE VOTERS IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY TO VOTE FOR YOU.

>> WELL, I'M JUST ASKING FOR YOUR HELP.

I HOPE WHETHER YOU GO IN THE BOOTH AND ON MAY 17th THAT YOU WILL PULL THE LEVER FOR ME.

I PROMISE I'LL WORK FOR FOLKS WHO WORK, AND I PROMISE I'LL WORK FOR YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

MR. LINDERMAN.

>> RENEE, THANK YOU.

>> BEEN A PLEASURE.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK IN JUST A MOMENT WITH THE 3RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE, STEWART RAY.

>> THE PBS NEWS HOUR, YOUR SOURCE FOR NEWS YOU CAN TRUST, ASKING TOUGH QUESTIONS TO THOSE IN POWER.

>> WE'RE IN THE FOURTH WAVE.

THERE AREN'T ENOUGH TESTS.

IS IT TIME FOR RAY NEW APPROACH?

>> WELCOME BACK TO "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

I'M RENEE SHAW.

WE ARE NOW JOINED BY THE WATER RAY, ONE OF SEVEN REPUBLICANS RUNNING IN THE 3RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MR. RAY SATISFIED OUR CRITERIA TO APPEAR TONIGHT.

A REMINDER, YOU CAN ASK HIM A QUESTION ON TWITTER@KY TONIGHT KET.

SEND AN EMAIL TO KY TONIGHT AT KET.ORG OR USE THE WEB FORM AT KET.ORG/KYTONIGHT OR YOU MAY GIVE US A CALL 1-800-494-7605.

MR. RAY, PLEASURE TO MEET.

>> YOU NICE TO MEET YOU.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> YOU ARE NO STRANGER TO POLITICS AND WE'LL GET INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT INTO FRANKFORT.

BUT TELL FOLKS WHY YOUR RUNG FOR 3rd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT SEAT.

>> SURE, THANK YOU.

WELL, I'M STUART RAY AND I DO REPRESENT THE 3rd DISTRICT WHICH IS PRACTICALLY ALL OF LOUISVILLE WITHOUT A FEW OTHER LITTLE BIT OF EASTERN JEFFERSON COUNTY NOT INCLUDED, BUT I'M A MS.MAN, I'M A OUTSIDERS, AND I HAVE BEEN MOTIVATED TO WANT TO CONTRIBUTE AND WANT TO RUN FOR CONGRESS BECAUSE I'M NOT SATISFIED WITH THE STATE OF COUNTRY.

I'M CERTAINLY NOT SATISFIED WITH THE STATE OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, AND THOSE ARE SOME OF THE FACTOR THAT MOTIVATED ME TO RUN.

>> LET'S START WITH WHY YOU'RE NOT SATISFIED WITH THE COUNTRY FIRST AND THEN WE'LL DRILL DOWN TO LOUISVILLE, JEFFERSON COUNTY.

>> SURE.

INFLATION IS A KEY DRIVER.

AGAIN, COMING FROM THE WORLD OF BUSINESS, I'VE SEEN THE NEGATIVE IMPACT ON INFLATION OVER THE YEARS ON BUSINESS, BUT PRIMARILY ON INDIVIDUALS AND THE PEOPLE OF OUR COMMUNITY.

IT'S A TERRIBLE TAX ON THE CITIZENS OF LOUISVILLE AND IN THE COUNTRY.

I'M CERTAINLY NOT SATISFIED WITH WHERE THINGS ARE INTERNATIONALLY AS WELL.

SO IT'S REALLY A COMBINATION OF WHAT THIS ADMINISTRATION IS DOING, BOTH INTERNATIONAL AND ECONOMICALLY AND THEN THE IMPACT IT'S HAVING ON MY COMMUNITY.

>> SO WHAT SPECIFIC ECONOMIC POLICY OF THE ADMINISTRATION DO YOU DISAGREE WITH AND YOU THINK THAT'S HARMING THE COUNTRY?

>> YOU TOUCHED ON IT PREVIOUSLY A LITTLE BIT.

THE SPENDING IS, I THINK, UNSUSTAINABLE AND OUT OF CONTROL.

WE USED TO TALK ABOUT HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, AND NOW WE TALK ABOUT TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS LIKE IT'S A COMMON NUMBER THAT ROLLS OFF PEOPLE'S TONGUES, AND I WASN'T IN COMPLETE FAVORITE 1.4AL TRILLION DOLLARS SPENT LAST TIME.

I AM -- THERE'S GOOD SPENDING OUT THERE.

I AM FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

I'M CERTAINLY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE -- >> WOULD YOU HAVE VOTED FOR THE COVID RELIEF PACKAGES?

>> I THINK THAT THE COVID RELIEF PACKAGE ORIGINALLY CERTAINLY NEEDED TO BE PASSED.

THIS LAST INFRASTRUCTURE $1.4 TRILLION, I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF PORK IN THAT, AS THEY USED TO SAY IN POLITICS.

>> WOULD YOU HAVE VOTED FOR IT?

>> DID I NOT LIKE MUCH OF THE EXCESS SPENDING IN IT.

AT THE 11th HOUR I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE VOTED FOR IT BECAUSE MAYBE IT WAS 700 BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF INFRASTRUCTURE SPENDING.

I THINK WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY GOOD THING.

IS A VERY GOOD THING FOR THE COUNTRY.

I JUST ISSUE WITH IT COULD HAVE BEEN TRIMMED SIGNIFICANTLY.

>> INTERNATIONALLY YOU'RE A CONTRADICT OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

>> I AM.

>> WHAT IS HE DOING INTERNATIONAL THAT'S YOU'RE DISPLEASED WITH?

>> WELL, THE UKRAINE SITUATION IS OBVIOUSLY A HUGE CONCERN OF MINE.

I STAND WITH THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE.

I DON'T -- I'M DISSATISFIED WITH HOW SLOW IT TOOK THE BIND ADMINISTRATION TO ACT ON UKRAINE.

I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE SUPPORTED THEM MUCH MORE FASTER AND SIGNIFICANTLY WITH MILITARY INVESTMENTS.

>> WITH TROOPS?

>> I'M SORRY?

>> WITH TROOPS?

>> NO, NOT WITH TROOPS, BUT SUPPORTED THEM EARLIER.

I MEAN, WE SAW 150,000 TROOPS FROM RUSSIA BUILDINGS IN POLAND AND ON THE BORDERS OF UKRAINE, SO IT WAS NO SURPRISE THAT RUSSIA WAS GOING TO TAKE ACTION IN UKRAINE, AND I THINK WE WERE VERY, VERY SLOW TO SUPPORT UKRAINE.

>> DO YOU THINK THAT PRESIDENT -- FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, DO YOU THINK HE WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE A BETTER JOB IN HANDLING THE CONFLICT OR WOULD HAVE STAVED THE CONFLICT OFF?

>> I DON'T ENERGIESLY KNOW THAT WE HE WOULD HAVE DONE IT I THINK THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF WAS TRYING TO PRESS FOR EARLIER ACTION, AND I WOULD HAVE SUPPORTED THAT SIGNIFICANTLY.

BUT IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE HE WAS BEING VERY SUPPORTIVE OF UKRAINE, AND WHAT WAS TRANSPIRING THERE EVEN UNDER HIS ADMINISTRATION.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN SOME PARALLELS DRAWN BETWEEN THE RESPONSE IN UKRAINE VERSUS PREVIOUS CONFLICT IN RWANDA YOU AND OTHER COUNTRIES IN AFRICA.

DO YOU CARE TO RESPOND TOTE PERCEPTION OF OUR -- OF THE UNITED STATES QUICK INTERVENTION PERHAPS OR NOT AS QUICK BUT CERTAINLY MORE INTERVENTION THERE THAN PERHAPS IN OTHER COUNTRIES?

>> WELL, THAT WAS MANY YEARS AGO, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE -- ANY TIME THERE'S A DEMOCRACY AND FREE PEOPLE, I THINK WE SHOULD SUPPORT AND INTERVENE AT A LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD IMMEDIATELY UPON THOSE ACTIONS, SO I'M NOT SO SURE I CAN REALLY COMMENT ON THE COMPARISONS, BUT WE SHOULD BE A CLEAR LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD AND SUPPORT COUNTRIES THAT NEED THAT REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY'RE LOCATED.

>> SO NOW THAT WE ARE WHERE WE ARE WITH THE CONFLICT IN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS MOVED PERHAPS TOO SLOW FOR YOU, WHAT CAN BE DONE TO ACCELERATE PUTIN'S EXIT FROM COUNTY.

EVAN INDEED IF DO YOU THINK THAT'S A POSSIBILITY?

>> I HOPE IT'S A POSSIBILITY.

I PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE.

YOU KNOW, GOING BACK A LITTLE BIT, WHEN PRYNNE ANNOUNCED SANCTIONS IN UKRAINE I PROBABLY LIKE MANY OTHER PEOPLE THOUGHT THIS IS A GREAT THING.

I'M GLAD WE'RE FINALLY PUTTING SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA AND SUPPORTING REALLY STRONGLY SUPPORTING UKRAINE, AND THEN TWO WEEKS LITTER PRESIDENT BIDEN COMES OUT AND SAYS, WELL, WE'RE PUTTING ADDITIONAL SANCTIONS OUT ON UKRAINE.

I FELT LIKE WE HAD PASSED ALL THE SANCTIONS THAT WE COULD HAVE POSSIBLY PASSED BUT THEN WE LEARN THAT THERE WERE ADDITIONAL SANCTIONS THAT WE COULD HAVE PASSED, SO I THINK WE'VE BEEN SLOW DEALING IT FOR LACKAFF OF A BETTER TERM ON WHAT WE COULD HAVE DONE TO SUPPORT UKRAINE.

I CERTAINLY THINK THAT WE HAVE TAKEN MANY ACTIONS MORE RECENTLY TO SUPPORT THEM WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND ADDITIONAL ARMS, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN AND AFFORD FOR THE PEOPLE OF COUNTY.

>> HOW WILL WE KNOW THAT WE'VE WON THE CAR WAR OR HELPED UKRAINE WIN THE WAR?

>> THERE ARE SIGNS, I THINK.

I THINK THAT THERE'S -- OBVIOUSLY UKRAINE IS DOING A FANTASTIC JOB.

THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE AND THEIR MILITARY ARE DOING A FANTASTIC JOB, AS DISADVANTAGED AS THEY ARE AGAINST RUSSIA, SO HOW IT'S WON I'M NOT SO SURE I'M THAT SMART.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT JEFFERSON COUNTY.

>> SURE.

>> AND WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE PARTICIPATE IN 30 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

WHAT ARE YOUR IDEAS?

>> WELL, I'M A BUSINESSMAN SO I LEAD WITH ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, AND I'M VERY EXCITED FOR KENTUCKY WHEN I SEE BILLIONS BEING SPENT IN ELIZABETHTOWN AND BILLIONS BEING SPENT IN BOWLING GREEN AND THESE TWO NEW BATTERY FACTORY ANNOUNCEMENTS, BUT THE REALITY IS, IS LOUISVILLE KENTUCKY HAS LOST MORE CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS AND WE'VE LOST A LOT OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY BETWEEN PAPA JOHN'S PULLING OUT AND GOING MAINLY DOWN TO ATLANTA AND YUM HAS ALSO RETRACTED THEIR PRESENCE IN LOUISVILLE, SO I WANT TO ATTRACT A COMBINATION, I WANT TO BE A FRIEND TO BIG EMPLOYERS THAT CAN ADD REALLY QUALITY ECONOMIC JOBS FOR PEOPLE OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND I WANT TO ATTRACT ADDITIONAL BUSINESSES TO COME TO LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

I KIND OF CALL AT THIS TIME ATHLETIC PORTHOLE, LIKE WHEN YOU'RE RECRUITING.

WE NEED TO COVET THE PLAYERS WE HAVE AND WE NEED TO ATTRACT NEW TALENT AND BRING THEM INTO OUR ECONOMY.

THOSE GOOD JOBS I THINK WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE FOR OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

I'D LIKE TO SEE A MORE WELL-BALANCED APPROACH, INCLUDING WESTERN LOUISVILLE AND SOUTHERN LOUISVILLE, TOO, BECAUSE I THINK THEY'VE BEEN IGNORED.

>> CRIME IN JEFFERSON COUNTY IS AN ISSUE THAT MAKES HEADLINES, IF NOT DAILY AT LEAST A COUPLE OF TIMES A WEEK.

>> IT DOES.

>> THERE WAS A RECENT DISCUSSION IN LOUISVILLE ABOUT VIOLENCE THAT INVOLVED THE SENATE MINORITY LEADER MITCH McCONNELL.

UofL UofL TRAUMA SURGEON DR. KEITH MILLS SAID DURING THAT TIME THAT IN LOUISVILLE, HE SAID WE'VE LOTT MORE YEAST OF POTENTIAL LIFE IN GUN VIOLENCE IN THE LAST YEAR THAN WE HAVE TO COVID.

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IT RIGHT SOLUTIONS TO CURB GUN VIOLENCE IN LOUISVILLE?

>> CERTAINLY.

I THINK WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR POLICE.

I AM PRO-POLICE.

I DON'T THINK IT NEEDS TO BE A WAVE OF ENFORCEMENTS.

BUT CURRENTLY EXCITING WE COULD ARGUE THE NUMBERS OR PEOPLE DO, BUT WE'RE CURRENTLY UNDERSTAFFED BY ROUGHLY 300 OFFICERS PLUS OR MINUS IN LOUISVILLE, AND THAT'S DOING TWO TERRIBLE THINGS.

A COMBINATION OF IT IS IT'S JEOPARDIZING THE LIVES OF OUR CITIZENS IN LOUISVILLE, ALL OF LOUISVILLE, AND IT'S ALSO JEOPARDIZING THE LIVES OF OUR EXISTING POLICE OFFICERS, BEING 300 MEMBERS UNDERSTAFFED.

SO I DEFINITELY THINK WE NEED A STRONG POLICE FORCE AND A WELL-FUNDED POLICE FORCE, BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT IDEAS IN COMMUNITY POLICING.

I THINK THAT THAT IS A WONDERFUL EXPRESSION THAT CAN -- WHERE POLICE ARE ENGAGED IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY, LIVE IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY.

THAT'S A COMBINATION OF A NEW EXPRESSION RIGHT NOW, BUT IT'S A LITTLE BIT OLD SCHOOL WHERE MAYBE THE FAMILIES AND THE KIDS KNEW THEIR POLICE OFFICERS.

>> SOME WOULD SAY THAT THE ROOT CAUSE OF SOME OF THE VIOLENCE THAT HAPPENS IS POVERTY, A LACK OF OPPORTUNITY.

HOW WOULD YOU ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES?

>> I HAVE A TENDENCY TO AGREE WITH THAT, AND THAT'S WHERE I'VE SAID TONGUE-IN-CHEEK A LITTLE BIT, BUT I DON'T KNOW WOULD APPLAUD ME IF I BROUGHT A NEW CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS TO HIRSCH BORN LIGHTEN EAST ENDS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, BUT THE REALITY IS WE HAVE A MORE BALANCED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN IN LOUISVILLE, IF WE ADD REALLY GREAT JOCKS IN THE WEST END AND IF WE ADD GREAT JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES BEYOND A GAS STATION OR A SERVICE STATION IN SOUTH LOUISVILLE, THEN THOSE GOOD-PAYING JOBS -- I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ENTRY LEVEL SERVICE TYPE JOBS BUT THOSE REALLY GOOD-A BIG JOBS WOULD REALLY BOOST OUR ENTIRE CITY AS A WHOLE.

>> SO IF YOU WERE ELECTED TO SERVE IN WASHINGTON, WHAT WOULD YOU DO ON THE FISCAL FRONT TO HELP ALL BOATS RISE?

>> WELL, AGAIN, FISCALLY AS A CONGRESSMAN YOU KNOW RIGHT NOW I THINK THE SPENDING NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL BECAUSE WE CANNOT SUSTAIN A $1.5 TRILLION EVERY QUARTER OR AS FAST AS THIS ADMINISTRATION WOULD LIKE TO, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO BRING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY TO A WELL-BALANCED LOUISVILLE, LIKE I SAID, WEST AND SOUTH.

AND SOMETIMES SIMPLY, YOU KNOW, OUR CONGRESSMEN IN THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE HAS NOT BEEN VERY VISIBLE.

I THINK AT A MINIMUM YOU COULD BE A CHEERLEADER.

WE HAVE GREAT FOOTPRINTS THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE WAY UNDERDEVELOPED, AND I THINK IF WE COULD HELP DEVELOP THOSE AREAS AT A MIN MINIMUM BE A GREAT CHEERLEADER FOR THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE AND REACH OUT TO CORPORATIONS AND REACH OUT TO EMPLOYERS, WHETHER IT'S MEDICAL OR MANUFACTURING, AND HAVE THEM INVEST IN OUR CITY BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S A GREAT CITY.

>> AS I MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING OF OUR CONVERSATION THAT YOU'RE NO STRANGER TO POLITICS OR TO FRANKFORT, YOU WERE APPOINTED IN 2010 AS COMMISSIONER, COMMISSION MEMBER TO THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES, AND YOU'VE DONATED TO BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

>> YES.

>> YOU HAVE DONATED TO MAYORAL CANDIDATE GREG GREENBURGH.

SO YOU CALL YOURSELF A PARTICULAR TYPE OF REPUBLICAN, AND I WANT YOU TO DEFINE WHAT YOU MEAN BY REASONABLE FIND EVER MINDED.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> WILL T. MEANS I DO WANT TOBLY OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY TOGETHER, AND OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW THAT LOUISVILLE, IT'S NO SURPRISE, IT'S BEEN A HEAVILY DEMOCRAT RUN AND DRIVEN CITY.

CONGRESSMAN YARMOUTH WAS REPRESENTED THE COMMUNITY AND THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE FOR THE LAST 16 YEARS.

I HAD BEEN APPOINTED BY A DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR TO SERVE ON THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE.

I BROUGHT SOME EXPERTISE TO THAT, AND I THINK WE DID A GOOD JOB.

I ALSO WAS APPOINTED TO THE KFC YUM CENTER AND SERVED ON THAT BOARD BOTH UNDER BESHEAR AND UNDER BEVIN.

AND I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY IF YOU CAN REACH OUT AND WORK WITH ALL PARTIES AND ALL PEOPLE THROUGHOUT OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND BE A UNIFIER, I DON'T WANT PARTISANSHIP DRIVING LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY AND WASHINGTON.

I WANT TO UNIFY AND WORK.

AND IF THAT PLAN'S FOR THE BETTERMENT OF LOUISVILLE ACROSS PARTY LINES, THEN I'M MORE THAN WILLING TO DO THAT.

>> SO CAN YOU GIVE US AN EXAMPLE A CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICAN CURRENTLY WITH WHOM YOU WOULD A PIPELINE WITH POLITICALLY IN TERMS OF IDEOLOGY?

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT I REALLY WANT TO NAME NAMES, BUT I DO GO BACK TO ANN NORTHROP WHO PREVIOUSLY REPRESENTED OUR COMMUNITY, AND ANN AND I ARE FRIENDS, AND I WORKED WITH HER AND REPRESENTED HER -- OR I'M SORRY -- WORKED WITH HER AND SUPPORTED HER EARLY ON, AND SHE REPRESENTED LOUISVILLE FOR 12 YEARS, SO IT WAS NO SHORT STINT.

AND CLEARLY CONGRESSMAN YARMOUTH HAS HAD A STRONGHOLD.

BUT NAMING AN ACTIVE CONGRESSMAN MIGHT BE A LITTLE TOUGH, BUT I THINK I HARKEN BACK TO ANN'S REPRESENTATION.

SHE DID A LOT OF GOOD WORK AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK OF HER FONDLY.

I'D LIKE TO CARRY ON IN THAT TYPE TRADITION.

>> AS YOU MENTIONED WITH THE POLITICAL COMPOSITION OF THE 3rd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAKES IT TOUGH FOR REPUBLICANS.

WHAT ARGUMENT ARE YOU MAKING TO VOTERS NOT JUST IN REPUBLICAN PRIMARY BUT ARE TO WIDEN YOUR APPEAL FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION?

>> RIGHT.

WELL, I WANT TO WIN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY FIRST AND FOREMOST, AND THEN WHEN IT COMES TO GENERAL, I THINK THAT THEY NEED TO LOOK AT -- AND LOOK AT THE REPRESENTATION OF THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE AND WHAT'S TRANSPIRED BOTH ON A NATIONAL BASIS WITH PREVIOUS CONGRESSMAN YARMOUTH AS WELL AS PRESIDENT BIDEN.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF REMORSE FOR THIS ADMINISTRATION AND THE STATE OF THE COUNTRY.

AND OUR MAYORAL REPRESENTATION HAS BEEN -- YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S BEEN SAD WHAT'S HAPPENED TO LOUISVILLE IN THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS.

SO I THINK THE ENTIRE CITY NEEDS A BIG CHANGE AND I THINK THAT BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, THEY'VE PROVEN THEY'RE SUPPORTING ME SO FAR IN MY RACE AND I'M HOPEFUL TO GET THEIR SUPPORT IN NOVEMBER.

>> SO IF YOU WERE SENT TO WASHINGTON, WHAT ARE THREE TOP ISSUES THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO TACKLE AND TO ADDRESS?

>> WELL, I WANT TO TACKLE FIRST AND FOREMOST INFLATION BECAUSE I DO THINK WE NEED TO REIN THE IN SPENDING AND WE JUST NOT CANNOT SUSTAIN NOT ON THE $1.4 TRILLION A QUARTER, $1.5 TRILLION BUT THE $30 TRILLION IN THE NATIONAL DEBT IS IN MY OPINION UNSUSTAINABLE FOR THE COUNTRY.

I AM VERY PRO-SAFETY AND I DO THINK THAT THAT CAN BE ADDRESSED AT A FEDERAL LEVEL AS WELL.

>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT, PRO-SAFETY?

>> PRO-SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITY, PRO-LAW ENFORCEMENT.

BUT I ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO IDENTIFY FEDERAL IS FUNDING AND UNFORTUNATELY I WANT TO PUT -- I SAY UNFORTUNATELY -- I WANT TO PUT METAL DETECTORS IN FRONT OF JCPS AS SOON AS OOH SCHOOLS, HARDEN SCHOOL ENTRANCES.

IF THERE'S A GUN IN JEFFERSON COUNTY SCHOOLS I BELIEVE EVERY DAY.

THEY HAVE FOUND MORE THIS YEAR THAN IN ANY YEAR IN THE PAST.

I THINK IT'S CLOSE TO 20 GUNS THAT THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED.

UNFORTUNATELY WITH BACKPACKS BEING BROUGHT INTO JCPS SCHOOLS, I THINK THAT THERE'S ADDITIONAL GUNS IN SCHOOLS EVERY DAY.

IT'S AN UNFORTUNATE WORLD WE LIVE IN, BUT I DO THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT GUNS AREN'T IN SCHOOLS, AND AS A RESULT I THINK WE SIMPLY NEED TO SEND -- IF YOU GO TO AN AIRPORT, IF YOU GO TO A CONGRESSIONAL BUILDING OR IF YOU GO INTO ANY KIND OF PUBLIC BUILDING, IF YOU GO TO A SPORTING EVENT, YOU CAN THROUGH A METAL DETECTOR AND YOUR BAGS ARE SCANNED.

I THINK WE CAN DO THAT QUICKLY AND UNINS TRUCE I WILL HAVE AND TO JCPS SCHOOLS AND MAKE SURE THERE'S NOT ONE GUN IN OUR SCHOOLS, MAKE SURE THERE AREN'T ANY KNIVES, NOT ILLICIT DRUGS, AND WE'VE GOT A HUGE DRUG PROBLEM IN LOUISVILLE AS WELL.

I KIND OF RELATE THAT TO THE SOUTHERN BORDER PROBLEM, TOO, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S FRONT OF THAT A LOT OF THE ILLICIT DRUGS, FENTANYL AND THE BARBITURATES ARE COMING IN THROUGH THE MEXICAN BORDER.

>> WELL, MR. STUART RAY, WE ESH FROM YOU BEING HERE TONIGHT AND FOR YOUR COMMUNICATION WITH THE VOTERS OF THE 3RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

>> THANKS WENT RAY.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH CONGRESSMAN ANDY BARR OF THE 6th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT SO STAY WITH US.

>> WE WANTED TO HONOR HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS.

ARTISTICALLY THROUGH SONGS.

>> THEY CAME TOGETHER TO TELL SURVIVORS STORIES THROUGH MUSIC.

>> MUSIC WAS VERY IMPORTANT IN MY LIFE.

I DON'T THINK I WOULD HAVE SURVIVED IF I DIDN'T HAVE MUSIC.

>> THE RESULT WAS A CONCERT OF HEALING AND CELEBRATION.

>> MUSIC IS WHAT REALLY TELLS THE HEART OF THE STORY.

>> WE REMEMBER, SONGS OF SURVIVORS.

TUESDAY, 8:00 EASTERN/7:00 CENTRAL CENTRAL ON KET.

>> I JUST GET THIS RIGHT?

MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER, THE APPLE OF MY EYE, KNOCK ON YOUR DOOR, HAVING NEVER BEEN OUTSIDE OF MANCHESTER, AND IN A MATTER OF A COUPLE OF DAYS YOU HAD HER LEACH HER HARE EVER HERRERA, ADOPT AN ALE WHYS AND SENT HER INTO A FULL-BLOWN HIT -- >> YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.

>> RIDLEY ROAD ON MASTERPIECE.

>> SUNDAY 9:00, 8:00 CENTRAL ON KET.

>> MEET THE FARMER AND THE FOODY.

TWO FRIENDS WITH A PASSION FORBEARING BRINGING FOOD FROM FARM TO TABLE.

FOLLOW SPEAK LINDSEY ON THEIR ADVENTURES AS THEY VISIT THE FARMS, MEET THE FARMERS, AND CREATE MOUTH-WATERING RECIPES FROM THEIR LOCALLY SOURCED HARVEST.

>> CHEERS.

>> THE FARMER AND THE FOODY.

SATURDAY 2:00/1:00 CENTRAL ON KET.

>> I'LL SAY ONE THING ON KET ONE THING REGISTERED FOR ME, EDUCATION.

PERIOD.

EDUCATION IS A KEY TO EVERYTHING.

I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU DO, WHERE YOU GO, EDUCATION IS THE KEY.

WHEN I GREW UP, WE HAD NO TELEVISION IN THE HOME.

SO NOW THESE KIDS HAVE GOT KET, TEACHERS IN THEIR CLASSROOM BRING THE PROGRAM UP WHERE THEY CAN ALL SIT THERE AND WATCH THE PROGRAM AND TALK ABOUT IT.

IT GIVES THEM ANOTHER AVENUE TO GET MORE LEARNING AND UNDERSTANDING AND JUST THINK OF WITH THAT IT'S DOING IN SUPPLYING KIDS OF THIS STATED THAT WE LIVE IN, THE PLACE THAT WE LOVE, AND OUR FUTURE LEADERS.

THEY'RE NOT GETTING LEFT BEHIND AND THEY'RE NOT GETTING LEFT BEHIND BECAUSE KET IS THERE, FURNISHING THE RESOURCES FOR THEM TO LEARN AND KEEP ON LEARNING.

AND THAT IS A BIG PLUS.

THAT IS A BIG PLUS NOT ONLY FOR THE CITY BUT FOR THE STATE.

>> KENTUCKY LIFE IS VISITING THE BEAUTIFUL CITY OF SOMERSET, A PLACE NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART, AND BRINGING YOU SOME BRAND NEW STORIES FROM AROUND THE COMMONWEALTH.

JOIN ME THIS SATURDAY FORE A NEW EPISODE OF KENTUCKY LIFE.

>> SATURDAY 8:00, 7:00 CENTRAL ON KET.

>> Renee: THANK YOU FOR STICKING WITH US ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

WE CONCLUDE TONIGHT WITH CONGRESSMAN ANDY BARR.

HE IS ONE OF THE TWO REPUBLICANS RUNNING IN 6th COVERAGE DISTRICT.

HE MET OUR CRITERIA TO APPEAR.

YOU CAN ASK HIM A QUESTION ON TWITTER AT KYTONIGHT KET.

SEND AN EMAIL TO KET.ORG OR USE THE WEB FORM AT KET.ORG/KYTONIGHT OR GIVE IS CALL AT 1-800-494-7605.

CONGRESSMAN BARB THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NEED A FORMAL INTRODUCTION SO WE'LL FOREGO THAT PART BUT DO TELL US WHY YOU'RE SEEKING ANOTHER TERM TO SERVE THE PEOPLE IN THE 60th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IN WASHINGTON.

>> EVERYWHERE I GO IN THE 6 CONGRESS AT DISTRICT PEOPLE ARE HURTING.

THEY WANTED CHANGES IN WASHINGTON.

THEY DON'T LIKE THE LEADERSHIP THEY'RE SEEING IN WASHINGTON.

THEY SEE A CONSTELLATION OF CRISES.

NUMBER ONE, IT'S THE INFLATION CRISIS.

EVERYTHING, WHETHER IT'S THE COST OF -- AT THE PUMP OR AT THE GROCERY STORE, RENT, EVERYTHING COSTS MORE FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THESE DAYS, INCLUDING THE PEOPLE OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN KENTUCKY.

AND THEN WHEN THEY SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE SOUTHERN BORDER, IT'S SO HEARTBREAKING TO SEE THE 2.4 MILLION ILLEGAL MIGRANTS THAT HAVE CROSSED THE BORDER.

WE NOW ARE HEARING FROM THE CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION AGENCY THAT 42 INDIVIDUALS APPREHENDED AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER SINCE PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS BEEN IN OFFICE WERE ON THE TERROR WATCH LIST.

WE KNOW THAT THE NUMBER OF CRIMINAL MIGRANTS THAT HAVE BEEN ARRESTED SINCE PRESIDENT BIDEN HATS BEEN IN OFFICE WAS QUADRUPLED.

AND THEN 11,201 POUNDS FENTANYL, THE DEADLY SYNTHETIC OPIOID, HAVE BEEN APPREHENDED, SEIZED AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER SINCE THESE OPEN BORDER POLICIES HAVE BEEN PUT INTO PLACE.

AND THAT MEANS KENTUCKY IS A BORDER STATE JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER STATE.

WE'VE SEEN A 50% SPIKE IN OVERDOSE DEATHS IN KENTUCKY AS A RESULT OF THE INFLUX OF DEADLY FENTANYL INTO OUR COUNTRY, AND IT'S SO BAD, THE SITUATION IS SO BAD AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER THAT THERE WAS ENOUGH FENTANYL I SEIZED AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER SINCE PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS BEEN IN OFFICE AND PUT IN THESE OPEN BORDER POLICIES, ENOUGH TO KILL EVERY MAN, WOMAN AND CHILD IN AMERICA SEVEN TIMES OVER.

THAT'S WHY THERE WAS OVER 100,000 FENTANYL OVERDOSE DEATHS LAST YEAR.

AND THEN FINALLY, I'M WEARING MY UKRAINE-U.S.

FLAG.

MY COLLEAGUES IN THE CONGRESS HAVE GIVEN ME THE RESPONSIBILITY TO LEAD THE OVERSIGHT OVER U.S. SANCTIONS POLICY, THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT'S IMPLEMENTATION OF ENFORCEMENT OF SANCTIONS.

WE NEED TO DO MORE TO HELP THE FREEDOM-FIGHTING RESISTANCE OF THE UKRAINE PEOPLE TO DETER AND TO FEND OFF THIS AGGRESSION FROM VLADIMIR PUTIN IN UKRAINE.

THERE'S A LOT AT STAKE.

WE'RE NOT DOING ENOUGH TO DEFEND THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS IN COUNTY.

>> SO I WANT TO GETTING BACK TO THAT AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THESE THINGS ONE BY ONE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE HURTING AS YOU MENTIONED INFLATION AND MANY PEOPLE HARKEN BACK TO SAY THERE'S A LABOR SHORTAGE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.

THE FORMER U.S. LABOR SECRETARY ROBOTIC REICH RECENTLY WROTE THAT THERE GOES NOT A LABOR SHORTAGE, THERE IS A CHILD CARE SHORTAGE, A LIVING WAGE SHORTAGE, A HAZARD PAY SHORTAGE AND PAID SICK LEAVE SHORTAGE AND A HEALTH CARE SHORTAGE.

HE SAYS UNTIL THESE SHORTAGES ARE REMEDIED, AMERICANS WON'T RETURN TO WORK ANY TIME SOON.

SO MAYBE THEY'RE HURTING BECAUSE OF ALL OF THESE OTHER THINGS AND NOT NECESSARILY JUST BECAUSE OF INFLATION.

YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

>> WELL, LOOK, INFLATION IS AT A 41-YEAR HIGH.

THE DAY THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN TOOK OFFICE, INFLATION WAS LOWER THAN 2%.

THERE'S A REASON WHY WE HAVE AN INFLATION CRISIS THE LIKES OF WHICH WE HAVEN'T SEEN SINCE 1981 AND THE REASON IS A TOXIC MIX OF BAD POLICY.

FORMER SECRETARY REICH IS RIGHT THAT THERE IS A LABOR SOLDIER BUT THERE'S A REASON WHY THERE'S A LABOR SHORTAGE, AND THAT IS BECAUSE OF OVERSPENDING AND PAYING AMERICANS TO NOT WORK, DISCOURAGING PEOPLE FROM REENTERING THE WORKFORCE.

IT'S ALSO BECAUSE OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S WAR ON DOMESTIC ENERGY PRODUCTION.

BOTH IN TERMS OF ENDING INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS LIKE THE KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE, ENDING LEASES FOR ENERGY EXPLORATION ON FEDERAL LANDS, ONSHORE AND OFFSHORE, BUT ALSO THE WEAPONIZATION OF FINANCIAL REGULATIONS TO REDIRECT CAPITAL WITH A FROM ENERGY PROJECTS.

THAT'S CONSTRAINING THE SUPPLY OF ENERGY.

AND THEN ON THE DEMAND SIDE, ALL THE WHILE WE'RE CONSTRAINING THE SUPPLY OF LABOR AND ENERGY, ON THE DEMAND SIDE, THIS ADMINISTRATION IN CONCERT WITH CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS IN THE MAJORITY, PASSED A $2 TRILLION SPENDING SPREE AFTER ALL OF THAT COVID RELIEF, THERE WAS A $1 TRILLION OF UNSPENT FUNDS.

LESS THAN 10% OF THAT SPENDING ACTUALLY WAS DEDICATED TO COVID.

AND THAT CREATED EXCESS DEMAND.

SO YOU HAD BAD FISCAL POLICY.

YOU HAD POLICIES CONSTRAINING SUPPLY WHILE YOU HAD POLICIES THAT PRODUCED EXCESS DEMAND.

THAT INCREASED PRICES.

THAT RESULTED IN SKYROCKETING PRICES, ESPECIALLY ENERGY PRICES.

AND THEN ON TOP OF IT, THE FEDERAL RESERVE DESERVES A GOOD BIT OF BLAME AS WELL.

AND I HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF LEAD RING THE REPUBLICANS IN OVERSIGHT OVER THE MONETARY POLICY SUBCOMMITTEE.

IT'S NOT JUST BAD FISCAL POLICY.

THE FEDERAL RESERVE FUELED THIS.

THEY CALLED IT INCORRECTLY, THEY CALLED THIS INFLATION PROBLEM TRANSITORY FOR TOO LONG.

WE PRESSED CHAIRMAN JAY POWELL AND THE OTHER FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD MEMBERS ON THIS.

THEY DIDN'T LISTEN.

THEY CONTINUED THEIR ASSET PURCHASE PROGRAM.

THEY KEPT THE INTEREST RATES TOO LOW FOR TOO LONG, AND THAT DRAMATICALLY ADDED FUEL TO THIS INFLATION FIRE.

AND NOW WE ARE WHERE WE ARE.

HISTORIC, INC. FLATION, IT'S GOING TO TAKE A VERY AGGRESSIVE MOVE BY THE FEDERAL RESERVE TO BREAK THIS INFLATION FEVER, AND THAT IS POTENTIALLY RECESSIONARY.

THAT'S WHY THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY WANT A CHANGE BECAUSE THEY'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT UKRAINE BECAUSE YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, AND I DOUGH WANT -- YOU ALREADY MENTIONED HOW YOU ASSESS PRESIDENT BIDEN'S HANDLING OF THE AGGRESSION, THIS UNPROVOKED BRUTAL AGGRESSION AS YOU HAVE SAID BEING THE FAULT OF VLADIMIR PUTIN BUT I AM KIND OF CHEWER JUST, CONGRESSMAN, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT DONALD TRUMP WOULD HAVE RESPONDED BETTER?

>> WILLIAM IF YOU LOOK AT THE RECORD OF THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, THEY SENT TOM HAWKS INTO SYRIA TO BASHAR AL ASSAD, PUTIN'S ALLY IN SYRIA.

PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ADMINISTRATION SUPPORTED THE EUROPEAN REASSURANCE INITIATIVE.

I WAS IN LITHUANIA AND TALKING TO THE LITHUANIAN AND THE BAL TICKS.

THEY APPRECIATED THE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE EUROPEAN ASSURANCE INITIATIVE THAT WAS A DETERRENT.

THE PREVIOUS PRESIDENT DID NOT TELEGRAPH FORE VLADIMIR PUTIN WHAT HE WOULD NOT DO.

AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN UNDER THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION d EVER -- AND BY THE WAY, BEING ENERGY DOMINANT I WAS DETERRENT.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, WHEREAS THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION IMPOSED TOUGH SANCTIONS ON THE NATURAL BASS PIPELINE, THIS ADMINISTRATION, PRESIDENT BIDEN UNILATERALLY WITHDREW THE HANKS SOOT IN ORDER STREAM 2 PIPELINE WHICH WAS A GREENLIGHT TO INVASION.

NO ONE IS FORTUNATE A TROS DISIN UKRAINE OTHER THAN VLADIMIR PUTIN.

HE'S A WAR CRIMINAL.

WE NEED TO HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE.

BUT THE LESS ONTARIO CURRENT ADMINISTERS' DISASTROUS FOREIGN POLICY IS THAT WEAKNESS INVITES AGGRESSION WHEN, AND THE NEW STAR TREATY WAS RENEGOTIATED AND WAS GIVEN A CLEAN EXTENSION WITH NO ADDITIONAL STRINGS ATTACHED, WHEN THERE WAS A ZERO RESPONSE TOTE COLONIAL PIPELINE HACK, WHEN PRESIDENT BIDEN WAIVED THE SANCTIONS ON IN ORDER STRING 2 AND THEN WHEN E HE ENGAGED IN THIS DISASTROUS RETREAT FROM AFGHANISTAN THAT SIGNALED TOTE REST OF THE WORLD THAT THE UNITED STATES WAS NOT WILLING TO STAND BY OUR ALLIES, AND WHEN WE LEFT THOUSANDS OF OUR SPECIAL VISA INTERPRETERS OVER THERE WITHOUT BRINGING THEM INTO -- OUT OF HARM'S WAY, THAT SENT A SIGNAL TO PUTIN THAT THIS PRESIDENT WAS WEAK, AND THAT'S WHY WE SEE THE INVASION WHEN IT HAPPENED.

SO NOW WE ARE WHERE WE ARE.

>> BUT THERE HAVE BEEN SANCTIONS ON THE RUSSIAN CENTRAL BANK AND THERE WAS AN EMBARGO OF IMPORTATION ON RUSSIAN OIL.

WHY WASN'T THAT ENOUGH?

AND WHAT SANCTIONS WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THAT WOULDN'T PUSH PUTIN FURTHER?

>> THAT WAS -- CERTAINLY I SUPPORT THE SANCTIONS PACKAGED EVERAGE THAT WE PUT INTO PLACE, BUT IT'S INSUFFICIENT.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU LISTEN TO WHAT PRESIDENT Z. ENDSKI -- IS THERE.

>> WHAT NOW?

>> SURFACE OF ALL WE HAVE A MASSIVE LOOPHOLE IN THE SANCTIONS WE HAVE AGE OF IMPOTION ODD RUSSIAN BANKS AND THE RUSSIAN CENTRAL BANK.

I SUPPORT THOSE SANCTIONS.

I HAVE TALKED THE DEPUTY YELIN AND DEPUTY SECRETARY OF TREASURY ABOUT THIS WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF SANCTION POLICIES, BUT AS THEY WILL ADMIT, THERE'S A GENERAL LICENSE IN THAT SANKS THAT ALLOWS FOR ALL OF THESE ENERGY-RELATED TRANSACTIONS TO GO THROUGH.

WHY I, AFTER THE STATE OF UNION ADDRESS, AFTER CONGRESS CALLED ON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO IMPOSE THAT BILATERAL EMBARGO ON RUSSIAN OIL, THEY DID IMPOSE THAT.

THE PROBLEM IS ALL OF THE OTHER ENERGY-RELATED TRANSACTIONS ARE CONTINUING TO GO THROUGH UNDER THIS GENERAL LICENSE.

THAT'S WHY I'VE INTRODUCED LEGISLATION CALLED NO ENERGY REVENUE FOR RUSSIAN HOSTILITIES ACT.

I'M TALKING TO MY COLLEAGUES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE ABOUT THIS.

I'VE TALKED TO SECRETARY YELIN IN THE HEARING ABOUT THIS.

SHE SAYS SHE'S OPEN TO IT.

AND THE IDEA WOULD BE TO SAY, WE WILL ALLOW ONLY THOSE TRANSACTIONS TO GO THROUGH TYPICALLY THE PURCHASE OF OIL AND GAS, RUSSIAN GAS BY THE EUROPEANS WHO ARE OVER DEPENDENT ON RUSSIAN GAS, BUT ONLY THROUGH A SPECIAL LICENSE IN INDIVIDUAL CASES, AND THEN THE PROCEEDS OF THOSE REVENUES WOULD BE ESCROWED, PUT IN AN ESCROW ACCOUNT AND THEN WE WOULD ONLY ALLOW THE RELIEFS THOSE FUNDS BACK TO THE KREMLIN TO PUTIN IF THE FUNDS WERE USED FOR HUMANITARIAN, NOT MILITARY PURPOSES ONLY, AND ONLY UPON WITHDRAWAL.

SO IT'S NOT JUST A STICK APPROACH.

IT'S CARROT APPROACH TO SAY TO PUTIN, IF YOU WANT YOUR ENERGY REVENUES, YOU HAVE TO WITHDRAW COMPLETELY.

>> -- >> YOU THINK THAT WOULD BE CONVINCING FOR THIS DICTATOR WHO IS BRUTAL IN HIS A DREGS.

>> LOOK, IT WOULD BE CERTAINLY BETTER THAN WHAT EV WOO RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE ENERGY REVENUES IS LITERALLY WHAT IS FINANCING THE WAR MACHINE RIGHT NOW.

THAT WOULD STRIKE A BLOW, AN ECONOMIC BLOW TO PUTIN, THE LIKES HE HASN'T SEEN BEFORE.

ZELENSKY IS ALSO ASKING FOR MORE LETHAL AID, MORE MILITARY ASSISTANCE.

I APPRECIATE WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION JUST ANNOUNCED.

>> DO YOU THINK THERE SHOULD BE DROOPS DEPLOYED THERE?

>> I THINK WE SHOULD SEVREN U.S.

TROOPS AND NATO TROOPS UNDER A MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE OPERATIONAL TEM NOTE EASTERN NATO COUNTRIES LIKE POLAND, SLOVAKIA, ROMANIA AND THE BALTIC IT.

>> NOTED ACTUALLY IN UKRAINE.

>>> WE DON'T NEED TO DEPLOY NATO TROOPS AND HAVE NATO DROOPS.

THAT'S NOT WHAT PRESIDENT SEM END SKI IS ASKING FOR.

HE IS ASKING FOR MORE LETHAL ASSISTANCE.

>> PRESIDENT ZELENSKY IS ALSO ASKING FOR A NEE FRY FLY ZONE.

>> WE DON'T NEED A FLOW FLY ZONE BEEP NEED TO GIVE HIM THE MILITARY SEE HE CAN HAVE A NO-FLY ZONE.

HE NEEDS MORE LETHAL ASSISTANCE.

YES, I SUPPORT THE SOVIET ERA MiG PLANES THAT POLAND PROPOSED TO TRANSFER TO THE UKRAINIANS.

THE UKRAINIAN AIR FORCE KNOWS HOW TO FLY THOSE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SQUASHED THAT, THAT DEAL.

WE NEED TO GIVE ZELENSKY THE WEAPON SYSTEMS THAT HE NEEDS.

YES, SOME IS MOVING INTO THE DON'T BASK REGION.

THAT'S GOOD.

BUT TWEAK DO MORE IN THE WAY OF MILITARY AID AND CERTAINLY WE CAN GET DOUBTFUL SANCTIONS.

>> OH THE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS YOU BELIEVE WOULD BE THE MOST DIPLOMATIC WAY TO END THE WAR.

DO I THINK THAT'S CONVINCING ENOUGH?

AND HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU WON IT?

>> I THINK THAT UKRAINE CAN WIN WITH ADEQUATE MILITARY ASSISTANCE AND WITH MORE ECONOMIC PRESSURE.

THE -- STABILIZED BECAUSE THE COUNTERMEASURES.

ONE OTHER THING WE HAVE TO DO IS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS TO REVERSE COURSE ON EFFORTS TO RENEW THE DISASTROUS IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL.

IF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS ITS WAY AND STARTS AGAIN THIS IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL, IT WOULD BE A SANCTIONS EVASION HUB FOR THE RUSSIANS.

THIS WOULD ENABLE RUSSIA TO EVADE OUR SANCTIONS.

SO IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY SANCTIONS RELIEF TO THE MULLAHS IN AT THE ARENA THAT WOULD INFINANCE THEIR TERRORIST ACTIVITIES AND FINANCE THEIR TERROR PROXIES AND THREATEN ISRAEL AND THE UNITED STATES THROUGH MORE BALLISTIC MISSILE DEVELOPMENT AND TERROR ACTIVITY, BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT RUSSIA CANNOT EVADE SANCTIONS THROUGH IRAN.

>> SO LET'S BRING THINGS CLOSER TO HOME AND TO THE FOLKS WHO LIVE IN THE 6th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING.

ARE HEARING ARE THEIR MAIN CONCERNS DOMESTICALLY I THEY WANT YOU TO ADDRESS?

>> IT'S THE PRICE AT THE PUMP.

IT'S INFLATION AT THE CROATIA GROCERY STORE.

IT'S THE FACT THAT RENT COSTS TOO MUCH.

ACCORDING TO A RECENT STUDY, THE AVERAGE AMERICAN IS PAYING $3,500 MORE THIS YEAR FOR THE SAME GOODS AND SERVICES IT PURCHASED LAST YEAR.

THAT IS A BIG HIT FOR FOLKS IN KENTUCKY, MIDDLE-INCOME PEOPLE, FIXED INCOME SENIORS WHO DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE MORE MONEY.

THIS IS A BIG HIT.

AND WHEN YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE FACT THAT IT PUSHES AMERICANS INTO HIGHER TAX BRACKETS, IT'S ESTIMATED IT'S ABOUT $5,000.

AND AMERICANS ARE PAYING $2,000 MORE A YEAR BASED ON ENERGY COSTS ALONE.

SO THIS IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE THAT MY CONSTITUENTS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT.

WE NEED TO GET INFLATION UNDER CONTROL.

WE NEED TO STOP THE OVERSPENDING IN WASHINGTON.

WE NEED TO STOP THIS WAR AGAINST DOMESTIC ENERGY PRODUCTION.

WE NEED MORE, NOT LESS ENERGY PRODUCTION.

AND TO THINK THAT AT A TIME WHEN WE ARE BEING ONCE AGAIN TAUGHT THIS LESSON, THAT IF YOU'RE OVER DEPENDENT ON FOREIGN SOURCES OF ENERGY, THAT ONLY FINANCES AND FUELS BAD ACTORS LIKE VLADIMIR PUTIN.

WE WERE IMPORTING 600,000 BARRELS OF RUSSIAN OIL BEFORE THE INFLATION.

WHY?

BECAUSE WE WEREN'T PRODUCING OUR OWN ENERGY HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

SO, YES, IT'S ABOUT THE KEYSTONE PIPELINE.

IT'S ABOUT MORE LEASES ON FEDERAL LAND ONSHORE AND OFFSHORE.

BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IN THE FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE, THE FINANCIAL REGULATORS CHOKING OFF CAPITAL, STARVING FINANCING FROM AMERICAN ENERGY COMPANIES.

WE NEED TO GIVE AMERICAN ENERGY COMPANIES GREATER ACCESS, NOT LESS ACCESS, TO THE CAPITAL MARKETS.

AND BY THE WAY, THIS IS GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

YOU KNOW, THE GREEN NEW DEAL AND THE EFFORT FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO CHOKE OFF THESE ENERGY COMPANIES FROM THE CAPITAL MARKETS PRESUMABLY IS BECAUSE THEY THINK THIS WILL HELP WITH THE CLIMATE CHANGE CRISIS.

THE REALITY IS THAT THE BEST STITES IN THE WORLD, THE BEST INVESTIGATORS -- SCIENTISTS IN THE WORLD, THE BEST INVESTIGATORS OF CARBON CAP COMMUTER AND PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO INVEST TER CARBON, THESE SCIENTISTS ARE AT AMERICAN ENERGY COMPANIES.

WE ALSO HAVE LOWERED EMISSIONS IN UNITED STATES.

>> DO YOU BELIEVE IN CLIMATE CHANGE?

>> WELL, YEAH, I BELIEVE IN CLIMATE CHANGE.

BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT WHAT WE NEED IS TO NOT DEPRIVE AMERICAN SCIENTISTS AND ENERGY COMPANIES OF ACCESS TO FINANCING AND CAPITAL.

WE ACTUALLY NEED TO LEAN IN ON AMERICAN FREE ENTERPRISE.

THAT'S WHERE INNOVATION IS.

THE UNITED STATES LEADS THE WORLD IN REDUCTION OF EMISSIONS.

THE WAY WE DO THAT IS NOT TO CHOKE OFF FINANCING BUT TO GIVE AMERICAN ENERGY COMPANIES GREATER ACCESS TO FINANCING, AND THEN WE -- >> AND THAT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE SOLAR AND OTHER RENEWABLE ENERGY COMPANIES AS WELL, RIGHT?

>> OF COURSE.

BUT WE NEED A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD.

WE NEED AN ALL-OF-THE-ABOVE STRATEGY FOR OUR ENERGY.

AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THE TRANSITION TO A CARBON -- CARBON-FREE ECONOMY IS A LONG WAY OFF.

AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT IF THE UNITED STATES IS NOT THE NUMBER ONE POLLUTER, NOT IF NUMBER ONE EMITTER ARE CARBON.

IF YOU'RE REALLY TRULY CONCERNED ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND CARBON EMISSIONS, THEN LOOK AT THE BAD ACTORS.

LOOK AT THE POLLUTERS.

CHINA, INDIA, LESSER DEVELOPED COUNTRIES IN AFRICA.

WE NEED TO NO SEPARATE IN UNITED STATES AND EXPORT OUR TECHNOLOGIES, OUR CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES IN BOTH FOSSIL AND NON-FOSSIL ENERGY, EXPORT THAT TO THE REST OF THE WORLD.

THAT'S HOW YOU SOLVE CLIMATE CHANGE, NOT THROUGH ANOTHER 1,000 PAGES OF REGULATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE WEATHER.

WHAT'S GOING TO CHANGE THE WEATHER OR WHAT'S GOING TO CONTROL CLIMATE CHANGE IS AMERICAN INNOVATION.

>> SO WITH JUST A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN A MINUTE REMAINING, I'LL LET YOU GIVE ANOTHER PITCH FOR RE-ELECTION THIS TIME AROUND.

YOU'VE GOT TO GET OUT OF THE PRIMARY, BUT GIVE IT A SHOT.

>> IT IS TOTALLY A PRIVILEGE TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN KENTUCKY AND FIGHT FOR THEM ON THE ECONOMY, ON JOBS, TO STOP INFLATION, TO SECURE OUR BORDER, TO DEAL WITH THIS FENTANYL DRUG CRISIS, AND I HAVE A GREAT PRIVILEGE AND OPPORTUNITY TO NOW LEAD THE NATIONAL SECURITY SUBCOMMITTEE, TO BE ON THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, TO BE APPOINTED TO THIS CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON THE CHINA BILL, LEADING IN THE AREA OF FOREIGN POLICY, WHICH IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE RIGHT NOW, GIVES ME A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A VOICE FOR THE PEOPLE OF CENTRAL KENTUCKY.

GAINING SENIORITY, GAINING INFLUENCE THE IN CONGRESS AND BEING A REAL LEADER ON THESE ISSUES.

>> THANK YOU, CONGRESSMAN BARR.

EVOLV WE'VE TO LEAVE.

>> IT WE NEED CHANGES IN WASHINGTON.

>> AND WE THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US TONIGHT ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

WE'LL HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS WITH CANDIDATES NEXT, THE FOR THE U.S. SENATE AND HOUSE RACES SO WE HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US.