[♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO KENTUCKY TONIGHT I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

TONIGHT A RECAP OF THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SEVERAL KEY KENTUCKY ADVOCACY GROUPS REPRESENTING BUSINESS, YOUTH AND FAMILIES.

THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY DEALT WITH A WIDE RANGE.

ISSUES DURING THE 30-DAY SESSION TRANSGENDER YOUTH, MEDICAL MARIJUANA, SPORTS BETTING, GRAY MACHINES, JUVENILE JUSTICE TAXES AND MORE.

LAWMAKERS ALSO DEALT WITH AN ISSUE ESPECIALLY PERTINENT TO TODAY.

GUNS.

FOUR PEOPLE DIED AND NINE WERE HURT WHEN A GUNMAN OPENED FIRE INSIDE OLD NATIONAL BANK IN DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE.

POLICE SHOT AND KILLED THE GUNMAN A 23-YEAR-OLD MAN DESCRIBED AS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE BANK.

TODAY'S MASS SHOOTING IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE'LL DISCUSS FOR A BIT IN OUR LEXINGTON STUDIO WITH OUR GUESTS, KATE SHANKS SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS FOR THE KENTUCKY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

JASON BAILEY DIRECTOR FOR THE KENTUCKY CENTER FOR ECONOMIC POLICY.

DAVID WALLS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FAMILY FOUNDATION AND TERRY BROOKS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE KENTUCKY YOUTH ADVOCATES.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU, SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BY TWITTER AT KY TONIGHT KET.

SEND AN E-MAIL TO KET.ORG OR USE THE WEB FORM OR USE THE WEB FORM.

AND YOU MAY GIVE US A CALL AT 1-800-494-7605.

WELCOME TO OUR GUESTS THIS EVENING A SOMBER EVENING.

AND I DO WANT TO SAY PERSONALLY THAT OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS WHICH SEEM VERY HOLLOW AT THIS POINT CERTAINLY ARE WITH OUR LOUISVILLE NEIGHBORS AND FAMILY WHO ARE MOURNING TODAY.

WE SHARE IN YOUR GRIEF.

I WANT TO GIVE EVERYONE A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT GIVE THEIR REFLECTIONS ON THE DAY TODAY AND THEN WE DO WANT TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT LEGISLATION THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE HAD AN IMPACT.

Dr. BROOKS I WILL BEGIN WITH YOU.

YOUR THOUGHTS TODAY.

YOU ARE A LOUISVILLIAN?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I SHARE THE IDEA THAT WE ALL SHOULD BE IN PRAYER AND REFLECTION FOR LOUISVILLE WAS A COMMUNITY AND THOSE FOLKS MOST AFFECTED.

YOU KNOW, RYAN KNEE BAR, THE NOTED 20TH CENTURY THEOLOGIAN WROTE THE SAD DUTY OF POLITICS IS TO ESTABLISH JUSTICE IN A SINFUL WORLD.

THAT IS REALLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

WE CANNOT ABROGATE.

WE CANNOT IGNORE THE ISSUE OF VIOLENCE.

AND YES, IT IS A SAD DUTY.

THERE IS NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

BUT WHETHER THAT IS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL OR IN FRANKFURT, OUR LEGISLATIVE LEADERS, OUR EXECUTIVE BRANCH FOLKS THE JUDICIARY, THEY HAVE TO COME TOGETHER, THEY HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AND ASSUME THAT SAD DUTY OF ESTABLISHING JUSTICE IN A SINFUL WORLD.

WE KNOW THERE ARE SPECIFIC POLICIES THAT REASONABLE GUN ADVOCATES SUPPORT, THEY DON'T OPPOSE.

RECENTLY GEORGE WILL, WHO IS GENERALLY NOT ACCUSED OF BEING A LIBERAL, TALKS ABOUT THE CHALLENGES HOW DO WE HOLD WITH AGILITY TWO CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS; ONE IS THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT FOR PUBLIC WELFARE AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND THE OTHER IS THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS.

SO IT IS NOT AN EITHER OR.

WE KNOW THAT FRANKLY LIBERALS TEND TO EMPHASIZE THAT PUBLIC WELFARE AND MINIMIZE THE RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS.

CONSERVATIVES TEND TO EMPHASIZE THE RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS.

SO I HOPE THAT LEADERS IN KENTUCKY AND IN WASHINGTON CAN THINK ABOUT AGAIN COMMON GROUND IDEAS.

THE IDEA OF REGULATING HIGH CAPACITY MAGAZINES.

THE NOTION THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE FACT THAT YOUNG PEOPLE IN KENTUCKY AND NATIONALLY CAN BUY A GUN BEFORE THEY CAN BUY BEER.

THOSE ARE SOME IDEAS THAT SURELY THERE'S COMMON GROUND.

SO THE OTHER THING, RENEE, WITHOUT BELABORING TOO MUCH WHILE THAT SAD DUTY TO ESTABLISH JUSTICE FALLS TO OUR LEGISLATORS, WE AS PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS AS FAITH COMMUNITIES AS SCHOOLS AS BUSINESSES, WE ALSO HAVE A DUTY AND THAT IS TO TACKLE A CULTURE OF VIOLENCE.

THERE IS AN EMERGING CONCEPT WHEN IT COMES TO KIDS THAT IS CALLED TOXIC PEDIATRIC EMERGE EPB INTO VIOLENCE.

AND WHAT IS SAYS IT OUR KIDS TODAY, MY GRANDKIDS TODAY JASON'S KIDS, ARE IMMERSED IN A CULTURE THAT HONORS VIOLENCE AND PERMEATES THEIR WORLD.

SO SOME OF THE RESPONSIBILITY FALLS ON THOSE ELECTED LEADERS.

SOME OF THE RESPONSIBILITY FALLS ON EVERY VIEWER TONIGHT.

>> AND WE HEARD THE GOVERNOR SAY EARLIER THIS MORNING, JASON, THAT BEING SUBJECTED TO THIS KIND OF TRAUMA OVER AND OVER AGAIN IS NOT GOOD FOR THE BODY AND THE MIND.

AND WE KNOW THAT THERE IS RESEARCH THAT BACKS UP THAT IT'S NOT JUST THE DECENTIZATION BUT IT'S ALSO CAN MANIFEST IN PHYSICAL WAYS AND EARLY DEMENTIA AND OTHER AILMENTS.

YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY.

AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A MEASURE COMMON SENSE THAT WHITNEY AUSTIN WHOSY A GUN SHOOTING SURVIVOR LIVES IN LOUISVILLE WHO ONE SPRING DAY, A SEPTEMBER DAY SHE WAS GOING TO WORK AT THE FIFTH THIRD BANK IN CINCINNATI.

AND SHE WAS SHOT 13 TIMES.

AND OTHERS DID NOT MAKE IT.

AND SHE HAD JOINED FORCES WITH NOW CONGRESSMAN MORGAN McGARVEY BUT IN THE STATE SENATE AND PAUL HORNBACK FOR THE CRISIS AVERSION AND RIGHTS RETENTION WHICH BOILS DOWN TO A RED FLAG TYPE OF SITUATION.

BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT THAT IN GREATER DEPTH, JASON YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY AND WHAT SHOULD BE DONE?

>> OUR HEARTS GO OUT IT TO THE FAMILIES OF THOSE WHO WERE LOST TODAY IN THIS HORRIFIC MASSACRE.

AND WITH THOSE WHO ARE STILL STRUGGLING NOW IN THE HOSPITAL.

I BELIEVE THERE WERE NINE PEOPLE WOUNDED IN ADDITION TO THOSE KILLED.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS ANOTHER WHAT IS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT REMINDER OF SOME VERY DEEP PROBLEMS IN OUR SOCIETY.

AND WE EXPRESS THESE FEELINGS OF REMORSE AND PAIN WHEN THEY HAPPEN.

BUT PEOPLE ARE GETTING VERY FATIGUED BY THOSE STATEMENTS.

THEY ARE NOT FOLLOWED BY ACTION.

BECAUSE AT ROOT, THE REASON WE SEE THE LEVELS OF GUN VIOLENCE WE DO IS A FAILURE OF POLICY.

A FAILURE OF GOVERNING.

NO COUNTRY HAS GUN MASS SHOOTINGS AT THE FREQUENCY AND SCALE THAT WE DO IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT'S NOT NORMAL.

AND IT'S NOT OK. AND WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE A LIST OF COMMON SENSE GUN LAWS THAT WE CAN PASS TODAY THAT WOULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN REDUCING THE CARNAGE THAT WE SEE IN OUR COMMUNITIES IN STATES LIKE IN CASES LIKE TODAY.

BUT IT'S THE EVENTS LAST WEEK OR TWO WEEKS AGO IN TENNESSEE WITH THE THREE CHILDREN KILLED THE A SCHOOL.

AND THEN WHAT WE SEE TODAY IN LOUISVILLE; WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE WAY THAT WE'RE GOVERNING IF WE WANT TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

IT WILL KEEP HAPPENING.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THAT LIST OF COMMON SENSE GUN LAWS AND THE GIFFORD'S CENTER FOR TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE PROVIDES A SCORECARD HOW STATES ARE DOING AND KENTUCKY HAS A GREAT OF F. AND -- GRADE OF F IN TERMS OF ACTIONS IT'S TAKEN TO CRACKDOWN ON THIS.

AND IN FACT, IN THE LAST FEW YEARS AND IN THE SESSION THAT JUST ENDED WHAT WE'RE SEEING WE'RE MOVING IN THE OTHER DIRECTION.

WE'RE LOOSENING THE GUN LAWS, WE'RE MAKING IT EASIER TO GET THEM AND CONCEALED WEAPONS AND PASSED A BILL THIS SESSION THAT WILL PROHIBIT LAW ENFORCEMENT IN STATE RESOURCES LOCAL RESOURCES FROM ENFORCING ANY FEDERAL GUN LAWS THAT MAY GO INTO EFFECT.

I THINK WE NEED TO BE VERY CONCERNED.

NO ONE IS SAFE ANYMORE.

THIS WAS A BANK.

IF YOU ARE IN A SCHOOL, IF A UNIVERSITY.

NO ONE IS SAFE AND NO ONE WILL BE SAFE UNTIL WE BEGIN TO CHANGE THE LAWS.

>> KATE SHANKS WITH THE CHAMBER TO THE POINT, THE GUN VIOLENCE ARCHIVE HEADQUARTERED HERE IN LEXINGTON SAYS THIS IS THE 146TH MASS SHOOTING AND THE 14TH MASS MURDER THIS YEAR AND TODAY IS APRIL THE 10TH.

SO FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND YOU REPRESENT BUSINESSES LARGE AND SMALL, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM THEM?

AND WHAT IS THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY'S VOICE IN THESE DEBATES ABOUT GUN LEGISLATION AND GUN CONTROL?

>> FIRST OF ALL RENEE THANK YOU FOR TAKING UP THIS ISSUE.

THIS IS DIFFICULT TO TALK ABOUT.

IT'S BEEN AN EMOTIONAL DAY FOR ME WATCHING IT UNFOLD AND WE'RE DEVASTATED BY WHAT'S HAPPENED AND WE KNOW SOME OF THE PEOPLE IMPACTED BY IT.

WE ARE PRAYING FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES AND THE FIRST-RESPONDERS.

WATCHING THE GOVERNOR RESPOND AND THE MAYOR AND JUST SEEING THE REACTIONS THEY ARE GOING THROUGH WITH THIS TRAGEDY HAS BEEN OVERWHELMING.

AND YOU KNOW I GOT A CALL FROM MY TEENAGE SON MID-MORNING AND OF COURSE, HE IS NOT GOING TO AVOID THE NEWS.

HE IS ON HIS PHONE.

AND WE HAD TO TALK ABOUT IT.

AND WE HAD TO TALK ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUE AND HOW SCARY THE WORLD IS.

AND THOSE ARE HARD CONVERSATIONS TO HAVE TO HAVE WITH YOUR CHILD.

AND MAKE SURE YOU'RE FACING IT IN A WAY THAT YOU'RE HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND AND PROCESS THEIR FEELINGS BUT THEY ARE NOT TOO AFRAID TO DO THE THINGS THEY WANT TO DO AND I HAVE A 14-YEAR-OLD AND A 10-YEAR-OLD SO THE CONVERSATIONS ARE DIFFERENT WITH THEM.

I THINK ABOUT THE FAMILIES IMPACTED.

THE FIRST-RESPONDER IN CRITICAL CONDITION.

HAD JUST COME OUT OF TRAINING.

AT THE POLICE OFFICER 10 DAYS AGO.

AND IT'S OVERWHELMING AND THERE ARE A LOT OF FEELINGS TO PROCESS.

I'VE BEEN THINK BEING WHITNEY I HAD A CALL AND I KNOW HER STORY AND WHAT SHE IS WORKING ON.

AND I THINK FROM THE CHAMBER'S PERSPECTIVE WE DO ENGAGE ON POLICIES RELATED TO GUN LAWS.

THERE WAS A BILL WE WORKED ON THIS SESSION WE ARE GOING TO DO WHAT WE DO WHEN THERE ARE SITUATIONS LIKE THIS WE TURN TO OUR MEMBERS AND WE WORK WITH OUR MEMBERS AND WITH OUR LEADERSHIP TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ROLE THE CHAMBER NEEDS TO PLAY.

AND WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT THE CHAMBER IN ADDITION TO ALL THE ADVOCACY WORK THAT YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH WHEN WE COME ON THE SHOW AND JASON AND I DEBATE TAX AND WORKFORCE POLICIES WE HAVE A FOUNDATION WHERE WE DO PROGRAMMING TO SUPPORT EMPLOYERS AND WE HAVE A LOT OF BUSINESS TRAINING AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

I THINK WE'RE SITUATED IN A WAY THAT WE CAN STEP INTO A ROLE THAT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY CALLS US TO DO IN THE WAKE OF THESE DEVASTATING ACTS OF VIOLENCE.

THE OTHER THING THE CHAMBER DOES REALLY WELL IS WE ARE A CONVENER IT'S PART OF OUR MISSION AND THAT MEANS BRINGING TOGETHER THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDERS, PARTNERS.

I THINK YOU WILL HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT GUNS.

I THINK YOU WILL HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.

AND HOW WE'RE TACKLING IT.

AND YOU WILL HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SECURITY IN GENERAL.

THIS IS A WORKPLACE SAFETY ISSUE.

UNLESS GUN VIOLENCE IS HAPPENING IN SOMEONE'S PRIVATE HOME OR IN A PUBLIC PLACE LIKE A SIDEWALK, IT'S HAPPENING IN SOMEONE'S WORKPLACE.

SO, YEAH, I THINK WE WILL BE HEARING MORE ABOUT ALL ASPECTS FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT AS WELL AS PROGRAMMING THAT COULD HELP EMPLOYERS AND PEOPLE AND WORKERS EMPLOYEES MANAGE THIS SITUATION THAT WE'RE IN.

BUT WE ARE DEVASTATED.

IT'S BEEN A VERY SAD DAY AND IT'S BEEN OVERWHELMING.

BUT WE WILL DO WHAT WE DO AT THE CHAMBER AND BRING TOGETHER BUSINESS LEADERS AND FIGURE OUT WHAT ROLE IS APPROPRIATE FOR US TO PLAY.

>> DAVID WALLS THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME ON KENTUCKY TONIGHT.

WE SAY WELCOME.

AND I ASK YOU FROM THE FAMILY FOUNDATION PERSPECTIVE THAT KEEPS CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AT THE HEART OF YOUR WORK WHEN YOU HEAR OF SUCH TRAGEDIES AS WHAT HAPPENED TODAY WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE?

>> RENEE FIRST GOOD TO BE WITH YOU ON THE PROGRAM AND IT'S IT REALLY IS HEARTBREAKING THE SITUATION WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE TONIGHT.

WE'RE A CHRISTIAN PUBLIC POLICY ORGANIZATION SO I JUST WANT TO SAY OUR HEARTBREAKS FOR THOSE THAT LOST LOVED ONES FOR THE VIOLENT ACTS THAT TOOK PLACE HAVE NO PLACE IN A CIVIL SOCIETY.

YOU KNOW WE JUST LIFT UP EVERYONE IN PRAYER.

WE WILL BE ENCOURAGING OUR NETWORK OF CHURCHES AND FOLKS THAT ENGAGE WITH US TO BE PRAYING AND ENGAGING.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY I KNOW IT'S BEEN SAID BUT WE CONTINUE TO BE SO THANKFUL FOR FIRST-RESPONDERS AND THE POLICE AND THOSE THAT PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE TO PROTECT US SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE FREEDOMS AND ABILITY TO DEBATE AND HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS.

BUT YOU KNOW WHEN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS HAPPEN, AND WHETHER IT BE WHAT HAPPENED TODAY IN LOUISVILLE, WHAT HAPPENED IN TENNESSEE JUST A FEW DAYS AGO, IT REALLY JUST FROM MY PERSPECTIVE SERVES AS JUST A REMINDER OF THE BROKENNESS OF OUR SOCIETY IN SO MANY WAYS.

YOU KNOW, I THINK I'M NOT AS CONVINCED THAT THERE'S A POLICY POSITION ON A PARTICULAR GUN RELATED LAW THAT IS REALLY GOING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

I THINK IT'S MUCH DEEPER THAN THAT.

I THINK IT'S SPIRITUAL IN NATURE.

AND MY HEART AND CALL WOULD BE JUST BE FOR REVIVAL IN OUR COMMUNITIES IN OUR CHURCHES THE BROKENNESS IN OUR FAMILIES IN OUR HOMES I THINK IS REALLY UNDER GIRTING HIS CULTURE OF VIOLENCE THAT I DO THINK WE'RE SEEING IT'S CELEBRATED SOMETIMES IN THE MEDIA AND THE ENTERTAINMENT CHOICES AND I DO THINK THAT IMPACTS CHILDREN AND IMPACTS OUR SOCIETY AS A WHOLE.

SO I'M CAUTIOUS TO JUMP INTO AN IMMEDIATE POLICY SOLUTION OTHER THAN TO SAY THERE'S A LOT OF FACTORS AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THOSE IMPACTED AND THAT WE WOULD HAVE REVIVAL HERE IN KENTUCKY AND ACROSS THE NATION AND MOVE AWAY FROM THESE TYPES OF ACTIONS.

>> SO IS THERE ANY GUN CONTROL MEASURE OR ACCESS MAYBE WE SHOULD SAY GUN ACCESS PROPOSAL OR IDEA THAT THE FAMILY FOUNDATION WOULD SUPPORT IF THERE ARE BROKEN FAMILIES AND BROKEN INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THOSE FAMILIES, SHOULD IT BE A LINEAR THOUGHT THAT DIMINISH THEIR ACCESS TO DEADLY WEAPONS?

>> SO I MEAN, GUN ACCESS IS NOT AN ISSUE THAT IS DIRECTLY IN THE MISSION OF OUR ORGANIZATION.

BUT SO I WOULD SAY WE WOULD CERTAINLY WANT TO BE A PART OF AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE CONVERSATION IN THIS REGARD.

>> ANY OTHER FINAL THOUGHTS ON THAT?

WE MENTIONED THE SHOOTING AT THE BANK.

BUT THERE WAS ALSO A SHOOTING A FEW BLOCKS AWAY AT THE JEFFERSON COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

WHERE ONE PERSON WAS FATALLY WOUNDED THERE.

WE KNOW THERE WAS A PROPOSAL IN THE 23 SESSION THAT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED FOLKS 21 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER TO WHAT WE CALL CAMPUS CARRY TO CARRY FIREARMS ON A COLLEGE CAMPUS HERE IN KENTUCKY.

AND KATE SHANKS I WILL GO WITH YOU FIRST, ON THAT, CONSIDERING WHAT HAPPENED TODAY, WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THE OUTCOME HAD THAT MEASURE BEEN IN EFFECT?

>> WE OPPOSE THAT LEGISLATION HOUSE BILL 542 THAT WAS CONSIDERED.

IT WAS FILED AS A SHELL BILL AND SUBBED OUT IN COMMITTEE.

>> ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

>> WE WATCH ALL BILLS WHEN THEY GET SUBBED OUT IN COMMITTEE.

IT'S DIFFERENT YEAR-OVER-YEAR SOMETIMES IT'S BROADER AND IMPACTS EMPLOYERS IN GENERAL BUT WE DID OPPOSE THIS ONE IT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED PEOPLE TO CARRY ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES AND UNIVERSITIES AND WE COME AT THOSE BILLS FROM THE EMPLOYER RIGHTS STANDPOINT.

AND THAT IT IS THE RIGHT OF THE EMPLOYER TO DECIDE HOW TO MANAGE OR TO PROHIBIT GUNS ON THEIR PRIVATE PROPERTY OR ON THEIR PROPERTY THAT THEY OVERSEE IN THE CASE.

>> THE UNIVERSITY HAS HAD THE CHOICE AND ALL OF THE ONES IN KENTUCKY PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES, HAD CHOSEN NOT TO ALLOW THEM.

>> RIGHT.

IN SOME CASES YOU MAY HAVE A BUSINESS THAT DOESN'T FEEL THAT WAY.

AND DOESN'T DO THAT.

BUT WE HAVE FALLEN ON THAT ISSUE FROM THE STANDPOINT OF EMPLOYER RIGHTS AND PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF EMPLOYERS TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.

IT IS A DIFFICULT DECISION AND IT'S ONE THAT WARRANTS CONSIDERATION BY WHOEVER IS MAKING THOSE DECISIONS AND WHAT KIND OF CUSTOMERS THEY SERVE, WHAT KIND OF STUDENTS THEY SERVE IN THE CASE OF THIS BILL.

AND HOW THEY WANT TO KEEP THEIR TALES AND THEIR PROPERTIES SAFE.

>> RENEE, I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE SOME IMMEDIATE COMMON GROUND POLICIES THAT CAN BE INITIATED WHETHER AT THE FEDERAL OR STATE LEVEL.

BUT I ALSO THINK THAT WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT GOING UPSTREAM AGAIN ANOTHER CONSERVATIVE COLUMNIST DAVID BROOKS RECENTLY WROTE A COLUMN WHY MASS SHOOTERS DO THE EVIL THEY DO.

HE BUILT A CASE THAT IN ALMOST EVERY INSTANCE THAT MASS SHOOTINGER WAS WHAT HE CALLED A GHOST WHEN THEY WERE A CHILD.

HE CORRELATED WHAT HAPPENS TO KIDS WHEN THEY ARE BULLIED, WHEN THEY ARE ABUSED, WHEN THEY EXPERIENCE ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES, THE CORRELATION IS STUNNING.

IT EVEN SURPRISED ME.

AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT, I THINK FOR OUR LAWMAKERS TO KNOW THAT WHEN WE'RE SAYING THINGS LIKE BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS, RESILIENCY FOR KIDS IN SCHOOL, THAT IS NOT SOME PIE IN THE SKY IDEA.

BUT INSTEAD, IT VERY MUCH IMPACTS THAT LITTLE BOY OR LITTLE GIRL'S LIFE TODAY BUT IN MANY, MANY WAYS, IF WE CAN ATTEND TO THOSE ISSUES TODAY, WE ACTUALLY ARE TAKING THE STANCE AGAINST VIOLENCE IN ANOTHER DECADE.

SO WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO ACT IN THE IMMEDIATE BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT UPSTREAM LONG-RANGE APPROACH TO THIS.

>> Mr. BAILEY DO YOU HAVE FURTHER COMMENT?

>> I WOULD JUST ADD THAT THERE ARE BULLIES IN OTHER PLACES OTHER COUNTRIES, THERE ARE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS IN OTHER PLACES AND OTHER COUNTRIES THEY DON'T HAVE THE LEVELS OF GUN VIOLENCE THAT WE HAVE IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND THE DIFFERENCE IS THE ACCESS TO GUNS.

THERE ARE 400 MILLION GUNS IN THE UNITED STATES THAT IS MORE GUNS THAN THERE ARE PEOPLE.

AND IN KENTUCKY IN 2019 WE PASSED A LAW THAT ALLOWS SOMEBODY TO GET A GUN WITHOUT A PERMIT, WITHOUT ANY TRAINING.

NO BACKGROUND CHECK OR LICENSE.

AND CONCEAL CARRY THAT GUN.

YOU KNOW, WE GO BACK TO THE CONSTITUTION THAT WAS WRITTEN AT A TIME WHEN PEOPLE HAD MUSKETS THAT YOU HAD TO RELOAD AND FIRE ONE BULLET AT A TIME NOT THE ASSAULT WEAPONS WITH HIGH CAPACITY MAGAZINES THAT ARE SO OFTEN USED IN THESE MASS SHOOTINGS.

WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS A WE HAVE A TECHNOLOGY THAT IS DEADLY AND IT'S ACTUALLY FIREARM DEATHS IS NOW THE NUMBER ONE KILLER OF CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT'S SURPASSED ALL OTHER CAUSES.

>> SOME OF THAT CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO SUICIDE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

WHICH IS RELATED TO ACCESS TO A MEANS OF DOING SO.

>> RIGHT.

SO YOU KNOW, THERE ARE MANY CAUSES OF THE PROBLEMS IN SOCIETY AND I AGREE COMPLETELY WITH THE MULTIFACETED APPROACH.

BUT IT WOULD ALL GO FOR NOT IF WE WEREN'T AT THE SAME TIME TO GET TO THE REALITY OF THE EASY ACCESS TO DEADLY WEAPONS IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> WE'LL END THIS POURING OF OUR CONVERSATION WITH THIS COMMENT FROM SCOTT RAY IN CENTRAL CITY KENTUCKY WHY CAN'T WE UNDERSTAND THE RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS SHOULD NOT BE MORE THAN A SHOTGUN AND A DEER RIFLE NO ONE NEEDS A GUN THAT FIRES 60 ROUNDS A MINUTE.

UNLESS THERE'S FURTHER COMMENTARY WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE THAT CAME IN FROM FRANKFURT, THE HIGH CAPACITY MAGAZINE IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CIVILIAN RIFLE AND A BATTLE RIFLE OF WAR.

BAN THE 20 AND 30 ROUND HIGH CAPACITY MAGAZINES, RAISE THE AGE TO 21 TO PURCHASE A FIREARM AND OVERHAUL KENTUCKY LAWS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN UPDATED IN MANY, MANY YEARS.

THANK YOU VIEWERS FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

I'M SURE OTHERS WILL COME IN AND WE'LL PIVOT AND TALK ABOUT OTHER MEASURES.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INDULGENCE FROM OUR TOPIC AT HAND BUT IT'S ALL RELEVANT TO YOU AT HOME.

LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE MEASURES I WILL ASK YOU VERY GENERICALLY AND I WILL START ON THIS SIDE Mr.

WALLS, GIVE US PERHAPS THE BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT LEGISLATIVELY OF THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT JUST ENDED?

>> YEAH.

I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF IMPORTANT WORK DONE IN A VERY SHORT TIME PERIOD, SHORT SESSION.

BUT FOR US, I THINK SENATE BILL 150 WAS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST WIN FOR FAMILIES IN KENTUCKY AND FOR PROTECTING KIDS.

>> THIS IS THE BILL THAT PARTICULARLY PERTAINS TO TRANSGENDER YOUTH.

>> YES.

I WOULDN'T FRAME IT THAT WAY.

I WOULD SAY IT IS ABOUT PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM CONCERNING IDOLS -- IDEOLOGIES IN SCHOOL AND EMPOWERING PARENTS.

IT CAME TOGETHER WITH THREE DIFFERENT PIECES SO THERE WAS THE HELP NOT HARM PORTION OF THE BILL THAT PROTECTS CHILDREN FROM THESE VERY, VERY HARMFUL LIFE ALTERING MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS IN THE NAME OF DOING SOMETHING THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE CHANGING SOMEONE'S SEX.

AND SO WE'RE SEEING A PROLIFERATION OF THESE ACTIVITIES TESTIMONY THAT THESE KINDS OF TRANSITIONS WERE HAPPENING HERE IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY UNFORTUNATELY.

WE ARE THANKFUL THAT THE LEGISLATURE TOOK ACTION TO PROTECT OUR KIDS FROM IRREPARABLE HARM.

THE OTHER PART OF IT WAS THE IMPORTANT PROTECTIONS AS IT RELATES TO EDUCATION, PARENTAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION.

I THINK WE HAVE SEEN BOTH HERE IN KENTUCKY AND ACROSS THE NATION A GROUND SWELL OF PARENTS RECOGNIZING SOME HAVE BEEN IN LIGHT OF COVID AND WHAT HAD GONE ON FOR THE FIRST TIME SEEING SOME OF THE HARMFUL IDEOLOGIES AND THINGS THAT ARE NOT APPROPRIATE FOR KIDS TO BE LEARNING AND BEING PROMOTED IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS MOST PROMINENTLY.

VERY IMPORTANT PROTECTIONS IN THAT BILL THAT I THINK ARE GOING TO MAKE A LASTING IMPACT AND EMPOWER THE SCHOOLS TO GET BACK TO TEACHING THE THINGS THAT WERE LACKING, READING AND ARITHMETIC AND THE BASICS.

AND FINALLY THE COMMON SENSE THAT ONE OF THE MOST COMMON SENSE PARTS OF THE BILL PROTECTING PRIVACY AND SAFETY IN INTIMATE FACILITIES.

WE HAD TESTIMONY IN THE LEAD UP TO THE DAY THAT THE LEGISLATURE OVERWHELMINGLY OVERRODE THE GOVERNOR'S VETO OF THIS BILL ABOUT IN KENTUCKY WHEN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WAS GOING ON, A FEMALE STUDENT IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVING THEIR POLICY HAVING BIOLOGICAL BOYS ACCESS TO RESTROOMS AND FACILITY AND WE SAW AN OUTCRYING OF A DESIRE FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE TO SAY LOOK WE WANT TO SET COMMON SENSE POLICIES.

SO I THINK TAKEN TOGETHER SB150 IS A WIN FOR PARENTS.

IT IS A WIN FOR KIDS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT EMPOWERING PARENTS IS THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT CHILDREN AND ULTIMATELY IT'S GOING TO BE A WIN FOR OUR SCHOOLS AS WE INCENTIVIZE AND EQUIP PARENTS TO BE MORE INVOLVED THAT IS AN IMPORTANT VICTORY HERE FOR KENTUCKY.

>> KATE SHANKS I ASK YOU TO RESPOND TO THAT.

GREATER LOUISVILLE INC., THE GREATER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CAME OUT AGAINST 150.

>> WE DID NOT.

WE WERE NEUTRAL ON THE BILL WE DID NOT ENGAGE ON THAT BILL OR RELATED LEGISLATION.

RENEE, WHEN WE WORK ON ISSUES WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

AND IS THERE A UNIFIED VOICE FROM OUR MEMBERSHIP WHAT THAT IMPACT IS?

AND I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE ANY NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT BUSINESS LEADERS WILL HAVE STRONG FEELINGS ABOUT.

BUT THE QUESTION WE'RE TRYING TO ANSWER IS WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY?

AND WHERE DOES OUR PRIORITIZATION COME FROM FOR THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

WHERE WE DO GET A STRONG UNIFIED MESSAGE FROM OUR MEMBERS IS ON THINGS LIKE TAXES, TAX REFORM, WORKFORCE, SIGNATURE INDUSTRIES, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND SO THOSE WERE A LOT OF OUR PRIORITIES THIS SESSION AND I HAVE TO SAY IT'S HARD FOR ME TO ANSWER WHAT THE BEST THING WAS AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DELIVERED AGAIN FOR THE JOB CREATORS FOR OUR STATE WITH THE 2023 SESSION LOOKING AT A 1.5 BILLION SAVINGS FOR BUSINESSES BECAUSE OF THE WORK THEY DID WHAT THEY PASS AND DIDN'T PASS.

IT WAS A BIG REVENUE SESSION AND IT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE BECAUSE IT IS THE SHORT SESSION BUT I WILL TELL YOU I WORKED MORE ON REVENUE ISSUES THAN LAST YEAR.

HOUSE BILL ONE OUT OF THE GATE REDUCING THE INCOME TAX FROM 4 BEEN 5% TO 4% IN JANUARY 2024 COMING ON THE HEELS OF REDUCTION PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE AND SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR.

THEY ADOPTED A PASS THROUGH ENTITY TAX.

IF YOU ARE A SMALL BUSINESS IT WILL HELP YOU UNDER FEDERAL TAXES.

BIG SAVINGS FOR THOSE BUSINESSES AND WE SAW THE PHASE OUT OF THE BOURBON BARREL TAX VERY IMPORTANT FOR OUR SIGNATURE INDUSTRIES.

IT IS A JOB KILLING UNFAIR TAX.

THAT THEY WILL PHASE OUT OVER A 20-YEAR PERIOD.

WE WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

BIG YEAR FOR REVENUE MEASURES THOUGH THAT MAYBE WASN'T EXPECTED ALSO BIG YEAR FOR OUR SIGNATURE INDUSTRIES AS WELL AND WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON WORKFORCE ISSUES.

>> AND SPORTS BETTING.

>> SPORTS BETTING THE DARK HORSE OF THE SESSION COMING IN AT THE 11TH HOUR I THINK IT WAS THE SECOND TO LAST BILL TO PASS.

WE HAD 3,000 KENTUCKIANS REACH OUT IN SUPPORT OF THAT BILL AND IT DID PASS AND SIGNED INTO LAW AS WELL BY THE GOVERNOR.

WE WERE HAPPY TO SEE THAT.

WORKED ON THAT FOREYEARS.

>> AND HOUSE BILL 594 THAT BANNED GRAY MACHINES CAUGHT UP INTO COURT ACTION ON A COUPLE FRONTS THAT SEEM ODD.

>> WE SUPPORTED THAT AS WELL AS WE DID LAST YEAR WE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THIS INDUSTRY COMING INTO THE STATE.

IT WAS NOT REGULATED, IT WASN'T AUTHORIZED AND IT WASN'T TAXED IT WAS A BIG CONCERN IT PROLIFERATED ACROSS THE STATE.

A LOT OF VERY SMALL FACILITIES WITH LOTS OF THESE MACHINES THAT WERE GOING TO HAVE TO BE REGULATED AND MANAGED AND WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THAT WOULD DO TO KENTUCKY, THE STRAIN ON OUR RESOURCES.

WE DID WORK IN SUPPORT OF BANNING THOSE MACHINES THIS YEAR.

>> Mr. BAILEY I COME TO YOU ABOUT WHAT YOU THINK ARE SOME IN YOUR VIEW HIGHLIGHTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE SESSION THAT YOU CAN BE PROUD OF?

>> WELL, I WILL POINT TO ONE BILL WE DIDN'T WORK ON.

BUT MAYBE WE SHOULD DO THAT MORE OFTEN.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA WAS A LONGTIME COMING MEDICAL CANNABIS.

THERE WERE VERY EFFECTIVE ADVOCATES ON THAT FOLKS WHO EXPERIENCE CHRONIC PAIN AND WORKING FOR YEARS IN THE HALLS OF FRANKFURT TO PASS THAT BILL.

IT WAS PASS PASTIME THAT HAPPENED AND IT IS AN ISSUE I HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE TO BUILD ON IN THE FUTURE.

WE HAVE TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF FOLKS WHO ARE SERVING FELONY SENTENCES FOR POSSESSION OF CANNABIS AND I HOPE THAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN CONTINUE TO BUILD ON.

SIMILARLY, THE BILL TO DECRIMINALIZE FENTANYL TEST STRIPS IS AN IMPORTANT SORT OF CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM REFORM BILL.

THE OPIOID CRISIS CONTINUES TO RAGE AND INCREASINGLY, THOSE OPIOIDS ARE FENTANYL THAT IS DEADLY.

SO THE ABILITY TO ACCESS THOSE STRIPS AND -- >> AND NOT BE CHARGED WITH DRUG PARAPHERNALIA LAWSISM EXACTLY.

WILL NO DOUBT SAVE LIVES THAT WAS A COUPLE OF HIGHLIGHTS.

I HAVE TO RESPOND TO THE ISSUES AROUND REVENUE.

THIS WAS NOT A BUDGET SESSION BUT IT WAS THE MOST DRAMATIC REVENUE POLICY THAT WE'VE PASSED IN MEMORY.

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ADD UP WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT KATE SAID $1.5 BILLION I WILL AGREE WITH THAT THAT WAS GIVEN AWAY WHICH MEANS THAT IS HOW LARGE THE HOLE WILL BE IN THE BUDGET.

BEFORE LONG LEGISLATURE WILL BE BACK TO PUT TOGETHER A BUDGET.

AND WE CAN'T EXPECT REVENUES WILL BE AS THOSE CUTS GET IMPLEMENTED WHAT THEY ARE TODAY.

WE HAVE THE LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT IN 40 YEARS.

AND THE HIGHEST INFLATION IN 40 YEARS.

BOTH THOSE THINGS PUSH REVENUE UP ARTIFICIALLY AND THAT WILL NOT LAST.

AND WHERE WERE THOSE CUTS AND HOW WILL THE CUTS BE PAID FOR?

THAT IS MORE MONEY THAN WE SPEND ON ALL OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO HAVE TO DECIDE THEY DID THE EASY PART AND GIVEAWAY THE TAX CUTS.

THE HARD DECISION IS HOW DO YOU PAY FOR THOSE?

AND WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO.

OVERWHELMINGLY, THOSE CUTS WENT TO THE PEOPLE AT THE TOP, 65% OF THE TAX CUTS IN HOUSE BILL ONE WENT TO THE TOP 20% OF PEOPLE.

IF YOU ARE A MILLIONAIRE YOU GOT $5,000 IN THIS TAX CUT BUT FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON, THE AVERAGE WORKER IT'S HARDLY NOTICEABLE.

SO THAT IS A CONCERNING PATH THAT WE'RE ON.

>> BUT WE LEARNED TODAY THAT GENERAL FUND RECEIPTS HAVE GONE UP 11 QUARTERS IN A ROW THAT ONCE AGAIN WE RAKED IN MORE THAN A BILLION DOLLARS IN MARCH.

>> TAX RECEIPTS DROPPED 10% THIS MONTH AND THEY WERE FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THE YEAR WITH THE HIGHER TAX RATE THEY WERE GROWING AT 8.6%.

IN THE THREE MONTHS SINCE THE FIRST CUT THEY HAVE DECLINED BY 3.3%.

WE'RE SEEING EXACTLY IF YOU GUESS WHAT IF YOU CUT THE RATES YOU GET LESS REVENUE AND THAT IS WHAT IS PLAYING OUT.

AND AS THESE CONTINUE TO BE IMPLEMENTED OVER TIME, WE'RE GOING SO SEE HAVE TO HAVE A BUDGET RECKONING.

AND IF YOU LIVE IN A RURAL AREA AND YOU LIKE YOUR PUBLIC SCHOOL AND YOU LIKE YOUR HOSPITAL, YOU SHOULD BE ASKING HOW THAT IS GOING TO BE PAID FOR.

BECAUSE WHAT HOUSE BILL ONE DID IS MAKE CLEAR THE GOAL TO ELIMINATE THE INCOME TAX THEY PUT THAT LANGUAGE INTO THE LAW.

THAT IS NEARLY HALF OF OUR STATE BUDGET.

SO HOW IS THAT GOING TO BE PAID FOR?

NO ONE HAS PROVIDED A ROADMAP FOR THAT OR IDENTIFIED AN OPTION THAT WOULD GENERATE THAT AMOUNT OF REVENUE.

THAT'S THE BIGGEST I KNOW THAT WAS EARLY IN THE SESSION AND A LOT HAPPENED SINCE THEN IN TERMS OF THE LONG-TERM IMPLICATIONS FOR KENTUCKY, THAT IS A MASSIVE POLICY DIRECTION THAT THE ANSWER HAS BEEN LAID OUT IN ANYWAY.

>> Dr. BROOKS I WILL COME TO YOU ABOUT WHAT YOU SEE.

THERE WERE SEVERAL VICTORIES PERHAPS FOR KIDS I THINK THE TWO MAY DIFFER ON HOUSE BILL 3 THE FINAL VERSION AND SB162.

>> I'M SO GLAD YOU MENTIONED THAT IT GOES TO 11 WE HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO DIG INTO THAT.

RENEE, I WOULD LOVE TO DIG INTO KID ISSUES.

FOR INSTANCE I DON'T THINK FOR A MOMENT THAT DAVID'S INTENT IS TO HURT A SINGLE KID.

I HAVE DEEP CONCERNS THAT SENATE BILL 150 WILL NEGATIVELY IMPACT A POPULATION THAT ALREADY HAS A 60% SUICIDE IDEATION RATE.

WE COULD LOOK AT A RANGE OF CHILD WELFARE ISSUES.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONTINUED ITS 10-YEAR LEGACY OF REALLY CONTINUING TO PROGRESS WHEN IT COMES TO CHILD WELFARE REALLY IMPORTANT STEPS AROUND TRANSPARENCY, CONTINUED ATTENTION TO MALTREATMENT YOU HAVE BEEN DOING SPECIALS ON CHILD ABUSE.

WE KNOW JUVENILE JUSTICE IS AT A DIFFERENT PLACE THAN IT WAS LAST YEAR WHICH I THINK IS NOT PERFECT BUT A GOOD THING.

SO I COULD YOU KNOW I COULD TALK ABOUT KID ISSUES.

BUT I DON'T THINK THAT IS THE NARRATIVE.

I DON'T THINK A SPECIFIC ISSUE IS WHAT I TOOK AWAY.

I TOOK AWAY THREE NARRATIVES.

THE FIRST WE SAW BEGIN LAST AYEAR AND THAT IS THE RICH LEGACY THAT KENTUCKY HAS OF KENTUCKY LAWMAKERS CRAFTING LAWS FOR KENTUCKIANS.

THAT'S GONE.

OUR GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS NOW ADOPTED A NATIONAL AGENDA.

THAT REALLY BOTHERS ME BECAUSE I DON'T WANT BILLS FROM COLORADO SPRINGS OR KANSAS OR VIRGINIA OR FLORIDA THAT BEGAN LAST YEAR WITH THE PUBLIC BENEFIT BILL.

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO DAVID, SENATE BILL 150 IS MIRRORED IN TWO DOZEN STATES.

SO YOU EITHER BELIEVE IN SPONTANEOUS LEGISLATIVE COMBUSTION IN ALL THOSE STATESSOR YOU KNOW IT IS A NATIONALLY COORDINATED EFFORT.

I DON'T BUY THAT.

I WANT US TO GO BACK TO THE DAYS IN 1990 WE INVENTED CARA IN 2014 WE INVENTED A JUVENILE JUSTICE BILL AS LATE AS 2019, THE LATE BM CARNEY AND SENATOR LIES CREATED THE SCHOOL SAFETY AND RESILIENCY ACT ONE META NARRATIVE IS THE NATURALIZATION OF KENTUCKY POLICY.

THE SECOND IS WHAT I WOULD CALL REGULAR SLAVE VIRTUAL GO.

IT JUST MAKES ME SEASICK AND I WILL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

THAT IS ON PARENT RIGHTS.

SO WHAT I CAN'T WRAP MY HEAD AROUND IS THE SAME LEGISLATIVE BODY THAT INSERTED PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN CURRICULUM AND LIBRARY BOOKS, WHICH I DON'T THINK IS A BAD THING.

AS AN OLD BROKEN DOWN PRINCIPAL, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PARENTS WEIGH-IN ON CURRICULAR ISSUES ON BOOKS.

I THINK THERE'S EVERY RIGHT FOR PARENTS TO DO THAT.

YET ISN'T IT IRONIC THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WANTS PARENTS TO WEIGH-IN ON THE LIBRARY BOOKS, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO HEALTHCARE DECISIONS FOR THEIR CHILDREN, NOT ONLY DO MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS NOT HAVE A ROLE BUT NEITHER DO PARENTS.

SO YOU CAN HAVE IT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

YOU CAN SAY THAT WE CONCEDE AUTHORITY TO PROFESSIONALS AND WE'RE COUNTING ON THE LIBRARIANS AND TEACHERS AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.

OR YOU CAN SAY WE WANT PARENTS INVOLVED IN EVERY ASPECT OF THEIR CHILD'S LIFE.

BUT YOU CAN'T CHERRY PICK.

AND I THINK THAT THAT VERTIGO WE SAW THAT LAST YEAR WHERE WHAT WE LEARNED WAS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WAS COMMITTED TO LOCAL AUTONOMY FOR SCHOOLS UNLESS THEY WEREN'T COMMITTED TO LOCAL AUTONOMY FOR SCHOOLS.

AND, AGAIN, THERE WAS A TIME THAT WHETHER I AGREED OR KATE OR DAVID OR JASON, YOU KNEW THERE WERE PILLARS THAT NO MATTER WHAT THE DETAILS WERE THAT WAS GOING TO GALVANIZE IT.

THE OTHER THING I'M PROBABLY GOING TO GET IN TROUBLE WITH BUT YOU BROUGHT IT UP LAST WEEK WITH YOUR LEGISLATIVE GUEST, I THINK WE'RE SEEING A DRAMATICALLY AND IT'S TROUBLING BECAUSE I YOU COUNTED ON LEADERSHIP IN BOTH CHAMBERS TO BE A MODERATING FOCUSING FORCE.

IF SOMETHING WAS ON THE TABLE, THAT MADE ALL KINDS OF SENSE THEY DROVE IT THROUGH.

AND IF SOMETHING WAS FAR TO THE LEFT OR FAR TO THE RIGHT, THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

THAT CERTAINLY WAS TRUE OF PRESIDENT STAOEUFERS, SPEAKER OSBORNE AND TRUE OF PRESIDENT WILLIAMS WE GO BACK A LONGTIME WITH THAT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DYNAMICS ARE BUT I DO NOT SEE LEADERSHIP IN THAT PIVOTAL EXERCISE OF AUTHORITY.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S NEW MEMBERS.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE CAUCUS TILT TO THE RIGHT.

BUT THOSE THREE THEMES AND ABROGATION OF LOCAL DECISION MAKING AND SHOPPING A NATIONAL AGENDA THAT VERTIGO WHERE WE DON'T HAVE GOVERNING PRINCIPLES IT DEPENDS WHERE WE WANT TO BE ON THIS BILL OR THAT AND SECONDLY, OR THIRDLY, VERY DIFFERENT DYNAMICS THAT I'VE OBSERVED IN TERMS OF CAUCUS AND LEADERSHIP ACTION.

AGAIN THERE WERE A LOT OF BILLS THAT LAWMAKERS NEED TO BE COMMENDED ON WHEN IT COMES TO KIDS BECAUSE THEY DID STAND UP FOR KIDS IN SEVERAL WAYS.

BUT THOSE THREE THEMES GREATLY DISTURB ME AS WE LOOK AHEAD.

BECAUSE I THINK THAT SUGGESTS SOME STORM CLOUDS GATHERING FOR KENTUCKY LAWS.

>> THIS COMMENT I THINK IS DIRECTED TO YOU Mr.

WALLS FROM LINCOLN COUNTY.

WHY DOES THE FAMILY FOUNDATION FEEL THEY HAVE A VICTORY ON SENATE BILL 150 WHEN NOW THEY HAVE SENTENCED THE CHILDREN WHO THE BILL IS WITH TO ISOLATION, DEPRESSION AND PERHAPS SUICIDE?

>> WE JUST SIMPLY REJECT THAT ARGUMENT ALTOGETHER.

AND I DO WANT TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT TERRY MADE AS WELL.

I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT SENATE BILL 150 IS ABOUT PROTECTING CHILDREN.

PROTECTING CHILDREN.

MOST OF THE TIME THE BEST THE MOST APPROPRIATE WAY TO PROTECT CHILDREN IS TO EMPOWER THEIR PARENTS.

BECAUSE WE FUNDAMENTALLY KNOW THAT NO ONE HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO DIRECT UPBRINGING FOR THEIR CHILD NO ONE WILL DO IT BETTER THAN THEIR PARENTS.

BUT THERE ARE SOME INSTANCES AND I THINK IF WE WERE TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE INSTANCES WE WOULD ALL AGREE WHERE WE WOULD SAY EVEN IF A PARENT DECIDES THEY WANT TO DO SOMETHING THAT WOULD HARM THEIR CHILD GOVERNMENT HAS THE RIGHT RESPONSIBILITY AS WE WAS DISCUSSED EARLIER ABOUT PROMOTING JUSTICE AND THE GOODWILL OF OUR FOLKS WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GIVING YOUNG CHILDREN ALCOHOL, WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GIVING THEM DRUGS, WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GIVING THEIR OUR CAR KEYS WE WOULD ALL AGREE THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULDN'T APPRECIATE.

AND SHOULDN'T BE THE PROPER ROLE.

LET'S -- WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE?

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MUTILATING YOUNG CHILDREN.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PROMOTING AN IDEOLOGY THAT WOULD TEACH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE THAT THEIR BIOLOGICAL SEX AND I WILL READ ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR CURRICULUMS FROM PLANNED PARENTHOOD THE CURRICULUM SAYS BY LOCKS CAL SEX IS ASSIGNED TO A CHILD AFTER THEY ARE BORN BY THEIR DOCTOR.

THAT IS JUST NOT A SCIENTISTLY ACCURATE STATEMENT AND IT IS TREMENDOUSLY HARMFUL TO TEACH OUR YOUNG CHILDREN THAT THEY CAN IDENTIFY AND BE PUSHED TOWARDS LIVING A LIFE THAT IS NOT IN REALITY WITH THE BIOLOGICAL TRUTH OF WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT WE BELIEVE IS WHAT GOD CREATED THEM TO BE.

SO I BELIEVE IT IS A FUNDAMENTAL IMPORTANCE THAT THE LEGISLATURE TOOK ACTION THIS SESSION TO PROTECT CHILDREN.

AND WHAT THE DATA SHOWS AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THIS, AS IT RELATES TO SUICIDE.

BECAUSE SOME OF THE ARGUMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE AND THE THINGS MEDIA SAID ON THIS ISSUE PUTTING DISCLAIMERS ON NEWS PIECES, REALLY PROMOTING THE IDEA THAT CHILDREN SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT SUICIDE AND THE CONTEXT OF SOME OF THESE CONVERSATIONS HAS BEEN FLAT OUT DISGRACEFUL.

THE REALITY IS WHEN CHILDREN START WALKING DOWN THE PATH OF NOT IDENTIFYING WITH WHO THEY ARE, AND ARE PUSHED TOWARDS GOING ON PUBERTY BLOCKERS TO MESS AROUND WITH THEIR PUBERTY, CROSS SEX HORMONES AND HEAVEN FORBID SOME OF THE SURGERIES THE DATA SHOWS WHEN KIDS WALK DOWN THAT PATH THEY BECOME 19-20 TIMES MORE LIKELY OF COMMITTING SUICIDE.

SO THE REALITY THE TRUTH IS SB150 WILL HELP SAVE THE LIVES OF CHILDREN.

IT WILL DO THAT BY STOPPING THESE HARMFUL SURGERIES AND IN THE EDUCATION CONTEXT AS I SAID.

IT WILL STOP OUR SCHOOLS FROM PROMOTING THESE HARMFUL IDEOLOGIES THAT ARE TEACHING OUR CHILDREN A LIE.

A LIE THAT SAYS THAT THEY CAN BE SOMETHING OPPOSITE OF THEIR BIOLOGICAL SEX.

AND SO I THINK IT'S FUNDAMENTALLY IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS THAT TO POINT OUT THE DATA WHAT THE DATA SHOWS AND TO REALLY REJECT THE PREMISE OF A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE COME AND SAY THIS IS ABOUT PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN.

>> TO THE ISSUE OF LOCAL CONTROL, LOCAL AUTONOMY AS Dr. BROOKS PHRASE TO DO FOR SCHOOLS, DOES THIS NOT RID SCHOOL DISTRICTS OF SOME OF THAT AUTONOMY BY DIRECTING THEM ON SCHOOL POLICY WHEN IT COMES TO STUDENT PREFERRED PRONOUNCE USE AND OTHER ITEMS?

>> WHEN IT COMES TO THE PORTIONS OF THE BILL THAT DEAL WITH PARENTAL RIGHTS AND EDUCATION I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANYTHING MORE LOCAL IN TERMS OF EMPOWERING PARENTS TO HAVE A GREATER SAY WHAT IS BEING TAUGHT TO THEIR CHILDREN.

I THINK LOCAL CONTROL IS A GREAT PRINCIPLE.

BUT IT CANNOT YOU UNDERCUT THE PARENTAL RIGHTS THAT PARENTS HAVE AS IT RELATES TO THEIR EDUCATION.

AND I BELIEVE EMPOWERING PARENTS TO HAVE A SAY IS GOING TO BE A WIN FOR THEIR CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS AND LONG-TERM I CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT INCENTIVIZING AND EMPOWERING PARENTS TO PLAY A LARGER ROLE IN THEIR CHILD'S EDUCATION IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IS GOING TO BE A WIN FOR THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AS WELL.

>> Mr. BAILEY?

>> THIS BILL PICKS AND CHOOSES WHERE IT WANTS PARENTS TO BE IN CHARGE.

FOR EXAMPLE IF YOU ARE A PARENT THAT WANTS YOUR CHILD TO BE CALLED BY THE PREFERRED PRONOUNCE THE BILL PROHIBITS POLICY THAT DIRECTS TEACHERS TO AOUTS THAT.

IF YOU ARE A PARENT THAT WANTS YOUR CHILD TO HAVE GENDER AFFIRMING HEALTHCARE THAT IS CONSIDERED THE STANDARD OF CARE FOR ALL THE MAJOR MEDICAL ASSOCIATIONS.

AND LEADERS ALL OF WHOM TESTIFIED WROTE LETTERS ON SENATE BILL 150 AND DESCRIBED THE SCIENCE SUPPORTING THAT VERSION OF HEALTHCARE THAT PROVISION OF CARE.

IF YOU ARE A PARENT THAT WANTS YOUR CHILD TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT IN THE FUTURE YOU ARE HEREBY PROHIBITED.

IF ARE YOU IN CARE NOW, YOU HAVE TO STOP.

YOU HAVE TO PHASE OFF THAT CARE.

SO THAT IS A HYPOCRITICAL POSITION WITHIN THE BILL THAT THIS IS ABOUT PARENTAL RIGHTS.

THIS IS A MEAN-SPIRITED BILL AND WHY YOU SAW SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE ORGANIZING AND COMING AFTER THE CAPITOL AND PROTESTING IS BECAUSE IT REALLY GOES TO THE HEART OF WHO THEY ARE.

AND THIS IS A VULNERABLE POPULATION THAT IS ALREADY MARGINALIZED BY SOCIETY AND THAT IS WHY YOU SEE HIGHER RATES OF SUICIDE.

AND THE PROGRESS THAT WE'VE MADE IN THIS COUNTRY AND THE STATE THE LAST FEW DECADES AND RECOGNIZING AND ACCEPTING PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT FROM US, HAS BEGUN TO BEEN LIBERATING FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

AND THIS BILL AFTER SEVERAL DECADES OF PROGRESS IN THAT AREA IT'S DISAPPOINTING TO SEE SUCH A DRAMATIC STEP BACKWARDS AND EVEN INCLUDING THINGS LIKE DON'T SAY GAY EDUCATION ASPECT IN HERE FOR TEACHERS THAT PROHIBITS WHAT CAN BE TALKED ABOUT IN SCHOOL.

LEGISLATING WHICH BATHROOMS PEOPLE USE.

THIS IS VERY OVERREACH IT IS A LEGISLATIVE OVERREACH.

AND IT'S ULTIMATELY A MEAN-SPIRITED BILL THAT WILL SET A LOT OF KIDS BACK.

>> WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SENATE BILL 150.

WE HAD AN HOUR DEDICATED TO THAT DISCUSSION AND HE ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ THAT IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE ON THAT CONVERSATION.

I WANT TO HISTORY AND PAUBG ABOUT IN THE LESS THAN 10 MINUTES WHAT DID NOT GET ACCOMPLISHED AND WHAT COULD BE HAPPENING HAPPENING IN 2024 AND KATE SHANKS I WILL BEGIN WITH YOU.

I HAD THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER FOR A INTERVIEW ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED ON THE SESSION AND WHAT IS TO COME AND HE MENTIONED SCHOOL CHOICE.

AND THAT THERE WAS A PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT WAS FILED THAT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED FOR THAT AND THEN THERE'S DISCUSSIONS ABOUT FUNDING, PUBLIC FUNDING FOR PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS.

WHERE IS THE CHAMBER ON THAT AND WHERE DO YOU FORESEE THIS CONVERSATION GOING IN 24?

>> THIS WAS NOT A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT YEAR.

THERE WERE NO THEY COULD HAVE BUT THERE WERE NO BILLS PASSED.

>> AND THEY DECIDED NOT TO DO IT.

>> WE WORKED ON THE ONE DEALING WITH LOCAL TAX THAT WOULD HAVE GIVEN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS MORE FLEXIBILITY HOW THEY ESTABLISH TAX WE WORKED ON THAT LEADING UP TO THE SESSION AND THEN IT BECAME CLEAR EARLY ON THIS WAS NOT GOING TO BE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT YEAR.

THIS IS A MOVING TARGET ON ISSUES.

WE WERE ENGAGED EARLY ON ON THE CHARTER SCHOOLS BILL.

WE MENTIONED THE LATE CARNEY, WONDERFUL MAN, WONDERFUL LEGISLATOR INVOLVED IN THAT LEGISLATION.

AND WE HAD STRONG SUPPORT FROM OUR MEMBERSHIP ON SUPPORTING THOSE INITIATIVES.

AND YOU KNOW WE HAVE NOT BACKED OFF THE ISSUE IT'S SORT OF EVOLVED OVER TIME INTO BECOMING SOMETHING ABOUT PROVIDING THE FUNDING.

LEADER THAYER, I WATCHED INTERVIEW TALKED ABOUT HOW THEY MIGHT DO THAT AN THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

THERE HAVE BEEN THE COURT CA%ES THAT HAVE COME IN.

I THINK IT IS AN ISSUE THAT IS GOING TO TAKE MORE WORK AND MORE DISCUSSION.

AND I THINK YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HEAR MORE CONVERSATION FROM KENTUCKIANS ABOUT IT AND WHAT THEY WANT AS WELL.

WE'LL FOLLOW THAT ISSUE CLOSELY AND ENGAGE WITH OUR MEMBERS IN TERMS OF IF IT GETS TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT LEVEL IF WE NEED TO ENGAGE ON THAT, THAT'S A WHOLE OTHER ISSUE WHEN IT GETS TO THAT LEVEL, TOO.

>> Dr. BROOKS THIS CAME UP, I PHRASED IT TO LEADER THAYER AS MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE SKEPTICAL OF SENATE BILL 150 SAID WELL WE KNOW OUR KIDS ARE NOT PROFICIENT IN LITERACY AND MAYBE PRACTICAL LIFE SKILLS BUT THE SESSION WAS ABSORBED WITH THESE ISSUES THAT RELATE AND INVOLVE TRANSGENDER YOUTH.

THE LEADERS RESPONSE AND YOU CAN WATCH THAT INTERVIEW ON-LINE WITH LEADER THAYER IS THAT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL ATMOSPHERE THAT CAN LEVERAGE THOSE DEFICIENCIES AND LITERACY AND NUMERACY AND OTHER PRACTICAL LIFE SKILLS IT IS ABOUT SCHOOL CHOICE.

YOUR PERCEPTION WHERE THIS IS GOING TO GO AND WHERE DOES KYA ENTER THE FIGHT ON THIS ISSUE.

>> FIRST OF ALL THERE IS NO QUESTION I THINK I SAW AN INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT STAOEUFERS LAST NIGHT AND HE REFERENCED SCHOOL CHOICE AS WELL.

KIND OF THINKING WE MIGHT SEE SCHOOL CHOICE.

WHERE KYA HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY YOU CAN CITE EXAMPLES OF SCHOOL CHOICE THAT ARE ABSOLUTELY DISASTERS FOR KIDS.

AND YOU CAN CITE SCHOOL CHOICE THAT HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.

SO MUCH LIKE JUVENILE JUSTICE WHERE WE ARE ON THAT THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS.

DO SCHOOL CHOICE OPTIONS INSURE AN INCLUSION AREA STUDENT BODY?

DOES IT FREE THOSE SCHOOLS FROM SOME BURDENSOME ASSESSMENT ACCOUNTABILITY?

OR IS IT THE PHRASE OLD WINE AND NEW SKINS WE CAN'T HAVE THAT.

SO I THINK THAT ANYONE WHO SAYS I'M FOR SCHOOL CHOICE OR I'M AGAINST SCHOOL CHOICE THINK BOTH OF THOSE POSITIONS ARE WRONG UNTIL WE REALLY DRAW OUT WHERE THE DETAILS ARE.

DOES MONEY HOW DOES MONEY WORK?

DOES IT FOLLOW THE KID?

WHAT ARE THE PARAMETERS AROUND CHARTER SCHOOLS?

IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE IN KENTUCKY CLEARLY SCHOOL CHOICE IS A CONSERVATIVE DRUM BEAT AND DEMOCRATIC AND MORE LIBERAL VOICES ARE OPPOSED TO IT.

WHAT IS FASCINATING IS THAT IN ILLINOIS STATE SENATOR BARACK OBAMA, WAS THE GUY THAT PUSHED SCHOOL CHOICE IN NEW YORK, IT'S VERY MUCH A DEMOCRATIC LIBERAL IDEA.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS I HOPE HAPPENS FRANKLY UNLIKE AND IT WAS BOTH SIDES, DAVID ON 150.

ONE OF THE LOSSES WE HAD WAS A LACK OF MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE INSTEAD THERE WAS A LOT OF TOXICITY.

I WOULD HOPE THAT ON SCHOOL CHOICE THAT WE COULD START TALKING NOW, BRING FOLKS TOGETHER WHO THINK THEY ARE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE TABLE AND SEE WHAT COMMON ELEMENTS WE HAVE.

SO TO ME SCHOOL CHOICE IS SCARY AS THE PHRASE BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT MEANS ANYTHING WITHOUT DETAILS.

>> Mr.

WALLS, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO THE FAMILY FOUNDATION?

>> SO, I THINK IT'S COMES BACK TO PUTTING CHILDREN FIRST.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM.

AND THAT IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

WE NEED TO MOVE TOWARDS A SYSTEM WHERE WE GIVE EMPOWER CHILDREN AND WE EMPOWER PARENTS TO GIVE THEIR CHILDREN MORE CHOICE.

WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT OUR MOST OF US CAN AGREE THAT THERE ARE PORTIONS OF THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM THAT IS FAILING OUR STUDENTS IN A LOT OF AREAS.

AND SO THE NATURAL RESPONSE TO THAT IS LET'S OPEN UP THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CHILDREN TO HAVE OTHER OPTIONS FOR PARENTS TO HAVE OTHER OPTIONS TO MOVE AWAY FROM THIS ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL EDUCATIONAL MODEL THAT WE'VE BEEN OPERATING UNDER AND OTHER STATES HAVE MOVED TO AND HAVE CONTINUED TO FLOURISH.

AND I BELIEVE ULTIMATELY WHAT WE WILL SEE HERE IN KENTUCKY IF THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WE WERE SUPPORTIVE OF THE MEASURE THIS YEAR AND HOPEFUL AND ENCOURAGED BY THE HOUSE AND SENATE LEADERSHIP TALKING ABOUT IT BEING A BIG PRIORITY NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION IF THAT WAS TO PASS, AGAIN IT WOULD OPEN THE DOOR TO HAVE A ROBUST CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM WOULD LOOK LIKE IN OUR COMMONWEALTH.

AND I THINK AGAIN, IT WOULD BE A LONG-TERM A WIN FOR KIDS.

AND IT WOULD BE A WIN FOR THE PUNISH SCHOOL SYSTEM.

ANYTIME YOU -- PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

ANYTIME YOU ADD COMPETITION THAT ENCOURAGES THE SYSTEM TO DO BETTER.

>> I THINK THE CONVERSATION HAS TO BE GROUNDED IN A DEFINITIVE SUPREME COURT RULING FROM LAST YEAR UNANIMOUS THE STATE SUPREME COURT RULED THAT PUBLIC MONEY HAS TO GO FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SO PRIVATE SCHOOLS FUNDED THROUGH STATE PUBLIC DOLLARS IS OFF THE TABLE LEGALLY UNLESS THERE IS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

THE TRACK RECORD ON ANY CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IN RECENT YEARS IS NOT GOOD.

AND THE IDEA OF PUTTING PUBLIC SCHOOLS TAKING MONEY FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS ON THE BALLOT I THINK MAY HAVE A HARD ROAD.

SO WE'RE NOT FUNDING THE ONE SYSTEM WE HAVE ADEQUATELY.

WE HAVE BEEN ERODING FUNDING FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DECADES AND THIS EFFORT TO ELIMINATE THE INCOME TAX THE LARGEST SINGLE SOURCE OF REVENUE FOR THE STATE, IS GOING TO MAKE THAT EVEN HARDER.

TAKING ON THE FUNDING OF ANOTHER SCHOOL SYSTEM?

A PRIVATELY OWNED SCHOOL SYSTEM OR OPERATED SCHOOL SYSTEM IN WHICH CASE IN SOME INSTANCES THERE ARE FOR-PROFIT OPERATORS SKIMMING THEIR PROFIT OFF THE TOP IS NOT FEASIBLE OR PLAUSIBLE MUCH LESS BEST FOR THE STUDENTS IN THE FISCAL ENVIRONMENT THAT WE ARE IN.

>> NEXT YEAR WILL BE A BUDGET YEAR.

SO WE'LL SEE HOW THAT GOES AS WELL.

AND WE KNOW THERE'S 553 I BELIEVE IS THE NUMBER THAT ACTUALLY MADE WHOLE DISTRICT LIKE BOWLING GREEN IN WARREN COUNTY WHERE THEY HAD 600 MORE STUDENTS ENROLLED AND WERE IN ARREARS $3 MILLION AND LAST-MINUTE LEGISLATION CAME THROUGH TO HELP THEM OUT AND WE'RE PROBABLY HEARING THAT STORY IN HIGH GROWTH DISTRICTS.

THERE ARE DISTRICTS IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THE POPULATION BOOMS WHERE THEY ARE NOT BEING EQUALIZED WHEN IT COMES TO THE FUNDING FROM THE STATE.

>> WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A TOUGH TIME.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE INCOME TAX CUTS AND WE'VE BEEN GETTING FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT ARE GOING AWAY BEFORE THE NEXT PW-PBG IS CREATED FOR CHILDCARE, FOR MEDICAID.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN SUBSIDIZING MEDICAID MORE DURING THE PANDEMIC THAT IS GOING AWAY WITH THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY AND WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE LESS REVENUE AND WE HAVE CONCERN ABOUT A RECESSION.

WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THE ECONOMY IS GOING.

WE SHOULDN'T ASSUME THAT THE CURRENT ROSIE BUDGET PICTURE IN THE SURPLUS REVENUES WE HAVE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE AND THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PLENTY OF MONEY NEXT TIME AROUND.

THERE ARE ALSO THINGS WE MADE PROGRESS ON.

PUTTING SOME MONEY INTO HOUSING IN EASTERN KENTUCKY IN WESTERN KENTUCKY TO DEAL WITH THE FLOODS AND THE TORNADOES.

BUT IT'S ONLY IT WAS $10 MILLION FOR EASTERN KENTUCKY.

THEY HAVE ABOUT A BILLION DOLLAR HOUSING PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THOSE FLOODS.

SO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOT GOING TO KICK THE REST OF THAT IN.

THAT IS ANOTHER THING THAT WE'LL HOPEFULLY BE CONSIDERED IN THE NEXT SESSION BUT WHERE WILL THAT MONEY COME FROM.

>> AND WE ALL KNOW THAT ANY BUDGET SESSION IT'S DO YOU PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS.

JUVENILE JUSTICE GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION.

THE REAL TEST ON WHETHER WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORM WILL BE REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET.

CHILD WELFARE REFORM, YOU HEARD ABOUT TRAGEDIES AND HOPES.

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IN THE BUDGET?

K12 EARLY CHILDHOOD ALL OF THOSE FALL INTO THAT.

THE REAL TEST OF NEXT SESSION IS IMPORTANT AS POLICIES ARE ARE GOING TO COME DOWN TO THE LINE ITEMS IN THE BUDGET.

I THINK WE ALL AGREE WITH THAT.

>> YES.

>> KATE, GIVE YOU THE LAST WORD.

>> I WILL ADD WE ARE WATCHING THE ECONOMY CLOSELY THERE'S BEEN TALK ABOUT A RECESSION FOR OVER A YEAR.

THE LATEST JOBS REPORT WAS GOOD IT'S INTERESTING WITH INFLATION BUT WE'RE SEEING JOBS ADDED AND WAGE GROWTH.

AND THE KENTUCKY CHAMBER DOES NOT WANT TO STARVE EDUCATION.

WE CARE ABOUT EDUCATION.

WE CARE ABOUT FUNDING IT.

WE ARE OPEN TO DISCUSSIONS ON A DIFFERENT WAYS TO PROVIDE KIDS WITH WHAT THEY NEED BUT WE DON'T WANT TO STARVE EDUCATION.

WE WANT TAX REFORM THAT GROWS OUR ECONOMY AND REDUCE INCOME TAX OVER TIME AS OUR ECONOMY GROWS WE ARE NOT TRYING TO STARVE IMPORTANT GOVERNMENT SERVICES.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THOSE ISSUES AND CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE ECONOMY AND HOW WE PREPARE FOR IT AND GO FROM THERE.

>> OK. WELL, WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR IT AS WELL.

AND WE WILL DO SO AGAINST NEXT MONDAY NIGHT.

WE'LL HAVE A TOPIC FOR YOU AND SEE WHERE WE GO MONDAY NIGHT CONSIDERING THE DEVELOPMENTS IN LOUISVILLE WE HOPE YOU JOIN US NEXT MONDAY NIGHT AT 8:00 P.M. ON A ISSUE THAT AFFECTS YOU.

TUNE IN TOMORROW FOR KENTUCKY EDITION.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

TAKE GOOD CARE.

GOOD NIGHT.