GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO KENTUCKY TONIGHT.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AHEAD TO THE 2024 KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND THE ISSUES LAWMAKERS WILL CONSIDER DURING THE 60-DAY SESSION.

THE SESSION BEGINS TUESDAY, JANUARY 2ND — FOUR WEEKS FROM TOMORROW.

ONCE AGAIN, WE HAVE A PANEL OF FOUR RELATIVELY NEW LAWMAKERS JOINING US IN OUR LEXINGTON STUDIO.

THEY ARE: STATE SENATOR AMANDA MAYS BLEDSOE, A REPUBLICAN FROM LEXINGTON; STATE SENATOR CASSIE CHAMBERS ARMSTRONG, A DEMOCRAT FROM LOUISVILLE; STATE REPRESENTATIVE STEPHANIE DIETZ, AN EDGEWOOD REPUBLICAN; AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHAD AULL, A LEXINGTON DEMOCRAT.

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OR YOU CAN CALL 1-800-494-7605.

WELCOME TO OUR GUESTS.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS WE ARE IN THIS FOURTH DAY OF DECEMBER.

WE ARE ALMOST TO THE END OF THE YEAR WHICH IS HARD TO BELIEVE AND HARDER TO BELIEVE WE ARE FOUR WEEKS TOMORROW FROM THE SESSION.

JANUARY SECOND.

SO MUCH FOR OUR CONSTITUTION WORKING IN OUR FAVOR, RIGHT?

WHICH YOU HAVE TO DO THAT THE FIRST TUESDAY.

LET'S START WITH EACH OF YOU HAVE HAD YOUR RETREATS AND MAYBE TALKED ABOUT HASHED OUT SOME OF YOUR PRIORITIES I WILL START HERE.

WHAT DO HOUSE DEMOCRATS WANT TO SEE ACCOMPLISHED?

OUR RETREAT BEGINS TOMORROW.

BUT I KNOW SOME OF THE PRIORITIES THAT WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS IS IMPROVING EDUCATOR PAY, REDUCING OUR INFANT AND MATERNAL MORTALITY RATES IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A WORKING TASK FORCE ALL SUMMER A BIPARTISAN TASK FORCE, LOOKING AT SOME OF THOSE THINGS.

MOSTLY FEMALE LEGISLATORS TO ADDRESS THOSE HERE IN KENTUCKY.

AND LABOR ISSUES, WORKFORCE.

WE HAVE A GREAT SHORTAGE OF WORKERS IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND CRITICAL AREAS ESPECIALLY IN NURSING AND SO WE'RE GOING TO BE OFFERING LEGISLATION IN THAT SPACE AS WELL.

>> I REMEMBER WHEN THAT PRESS RELEASE CAME OUT ABOUT LABOR ISSUES AND WORKERS AND IT WAS AROUND LABOR DAY AND PART OF THAT CALLED FOR A $15 AN HOUR MINIMUM WAGE AND THAT HASN'T HAPPENED SINCE 2007 THAT MINIMUM WAGE HAS INCREASED AND NOW IT'S AT THE RATE IT'S BEEN IS THAT SOMETHING YOU WILL PUSH FOR?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I HAVE LEGISLATION ON THAT AND MEMBERS DO AS WELL.

AND THAT'S A THING THAT A LOT OF OTHER STATES, ARKANSAS RECENTLY INCREASED THEIR MINIMUM WAGE IT IS NOT A BLUE STATE-RED STATE ANYMORE.

IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR OUR WORKING PEOPLE.

THERE IS NOT A PLACE WHERE YOU SHOULD WORK IN AMERICA TWO JOBS AND NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

$15 IS MINIMAL FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE A LIVING WAGE AND PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

>> SO SENATOR BLEDSOE AND ASK ABOUT WHAT THE SENATE G.O.P.

PRIORITIES ARE?

>> WE SPENT MOST OF OUR TIME IN PIKEVILLE AND A GREAT DEAL OF OUR CONVERSATION WAS ABOUT THE BUDGET AND SPENDING TIME DISCUSSING BUDGET PRIORITIES, ISSUES AND TOPICS, EVERYTHING FROM WORKFORCE AND EDUCATION TO PRIORITIES IN CHILDCARE AND JUVENILE JUSTICE.

EVERYTHING THAT TOUCHES A BUDGET WHICH IS EVERYTHING THAT IS COVERED, SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE WILL BE WORKING ON.

>> Renee: AND IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE HEARING THE SAME THING FROM BOTH PARTIES IT'S THE ROUTE TO GET THERE.

IT'S JUST A WEE BIT DIFFERENT.

SO SENATOR ARMSTRONG, HOW ABOUT YOU, WHAT WOULD THE SENATE DEMOCRATS WANT TO ACCOMPLISH?

>> WE HAD HAD OUR RETREAT IN LOUISVILLE.

AND THE MAIN THING WE TALKED ABOUT WAS THE BUDGET.

THE BUDGET IS THE REASON WHY GO TO FRANKFORT IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE DO.

IT'S MY FIRST TIME GOING THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS AND A BUDGET IS A MORAL DOCUMENT.

IT SHOWS WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE.

SO A LOT OF OUR TIME WAS SPENT SHARING WHAT WE ARE HEARING FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS FROM OUR DISTRICTS.

HOW WE MAKE SURE WE'RE MEETING THE NEEDS OF KENTUCKY FAMILIES AND PUTTING THAT INTO LEGISLATION.

AGAIN, WHAT WE CHOOSE TO PUT INTO OUR BUDGET SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT WHO WE ARE AND WHO WE CARE ABOUT AND THE PROBLEMS WE FOCUS ON.

>> Renee: WHY SOME OF THE IDEAS THE SAME AS THE HOUSE COUNTERPARTS?

>> WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE INVESTING IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.

IT IS SORT THE BEDROCK OF OUR COMMONWEALTH TO MAKE SURE WE ARE FULLY FUNDING OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THAT WE ARE GIVING OUR EDUCATORS A RAISE AND SUPPORTING OUR CHILDCARE SECTOR AND EXPANDING THIS IDEA OF EDUCATION SO THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ABOUT CRADLE TO CAREER, WE'RE INVESTING IN KENTUCKIANS AT EVERY STAGE OF THEIR LIFE.

THESE ARE THE THINGS I HEAR ABOUT FROM CONSTITUENTS EVERYDAY.

AND THE THINGS WE'RE GOING TO KEEP TRYING TO WORK ACROSS THE AISLE TO SEE IN A FINAL BUDGET.

>> Renee: REPRESENTATIVE IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

IT'S YOUR FIRST TIME AND SENATOR BLEDSOE'S TOO.

GLAD YOU ARE HERE.

WHAT ABOUT THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS?

>> WE HAD OUR RETREAT LAST WEEK IN HOPKINSVILLE.

AND THE SAME THING THAT YOU ARE HEARING.

THOSE ARE OUR PRIORITIES.

A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET, WHICH WE HAVE NOT SEEN YET.

BUT THE SAME THINGS.

GETTING PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

CHILDCARE.

WHICH WE CAN'T HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THE OTHERS UNLESS WE TALK ABOUT CHILDCARE.

WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE BUDGET AND IT WAS NICE TO HEAR FROM MY COLLEAGUES ABOUT WHAT THEY WERE WORKING ON IN THE INTERIM.

SO IT'S NICE TO START TO EXCHANGE THE IDEAS BEFORE WE HEAD BACK IN JANUARY.

>> Renee: WE SEE THAT BUDGET BILL FILED BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I DID NOT HEAR THAT.

>> Renee: SINCE THE SESSION STARTS AFTER THE YEAR, WE'LL HAVE TO WATCH THAT.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH THE BUDGET SURPLUS?

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT I WILL START WITH SENATOR BLEDSOE WHAT DO YOU THINK SHOULD BE DONE WITH IT?

HOW MUCH SHOULD BE LEFT IN THE RAINY DAY FUND AND WHAT WOULD YOU USE SOME OF IT FOR?

>> THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.

PART OF THE DISCUSSION IS THE LONG GAME NOT JUST THIS YEAR'S BUDGET OR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET IT'S THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S GOAL WAS TO CONTINUE TO REDUCE THE INCOME TAX AND YOU HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF EXPENSES TODAY AND TOMORROW AND THE NEXT YEAR.

BEING MINDFUL OF THAT YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL YOUR EXPENSES IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS OR WE CAN'T CONTINUE DOWN THAT PATH.

THAT IS THE TENSION MOVING FORWARD AND PARTICULAR YEAR WE HAVE SO MUCH IN THAT RAINY DAY FUND IS HOW MUCH DO WE NEED TO SAVE.

WHERE CAN WE ALLOCATE RESOURCES TO DO GOOD SERVICES FOR THE COMMONWEALTH AND MINDFUL OF RECURRING EXPENSES THAT WILL THEN HURT OUR ABILITY TO REDUCE THE INCOME TAX MOVING FORWARD.

>> Renee: IS THE MAIN GOAL TO GET TO THE SATISFACTION OF BOTH OF THE TRIGGERS SO THAT THERE IS AN INCOME TAX REDUCTION IN 2026?

>> THAT'S THE GOAL.

THAT IS WHERE WE'RE HEADED AND THE QUESTION IS CAN WE GET THERE?

AND THAT IS GOING TO TAKE BOTH CHAMBERS WORKING TOGETHER.

>> >> Renee: IS THERE A DISCUSSION OF INCREASING SALES TAXES OR APPLYING THE SALES TAX TO MORE SERVICES?

>> WE DID NOT HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AT OUR RETREAT.

I THINK THE GOAL WAS TO WATCH EXPENDITURES AND CONTINUE TO WATCH REVENUE THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

YU CAN'T REDUCE THAT SAVINGS AT THAT TIME WE HAVE RIGHT NOW TOO FAST.

OR YOU WON'T HAVE THAT TO SUPPLEMENT THE FUND MOVING FORWARD.

>> Renee: AND YOU ARE VICE-CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE THAT IS WHY I'M ASKING YOU AND YOU WILL GET TO THE OTHER REPRESENTATIVES TOO.

LET ME ASK YOU THE SAME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH THE SURPLUS?

AND HAS THE CAUCUS TALKED ABOUT THE LEVEL OF ACCEPTABILITY FOR THE RAINY DAY FUND?

>> WE HAVE NOT HAD THAT DISCUSSION.

BUT IT IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE HAD THIS TYPE OF A SURPLUS.

IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO BE CONSCIOUS ABOUT IS HOW DO WE SPEND IT AND WHAT DO WE SPEND IT FOR.

IT'S FOR EMERGENCIES AND OPPORTUNITIES.

SO EMERGENCIES WE WERE ABLE TO HELP EASTERN AND WESTERN KENTUCKY BECAUSE WE HAD THAT FUND.

THAT WAS PURPOSEFUL WORK DONE BY THE LEGISLATURE TO SAVE THAT MONEY.

I'M SURE WE WILL BE JUST AS PURPOSEFUL AS WE MOVE FORWARD HOW TO SPEND IT.

>> Renee: DO YOU FORESEE THERE BEING CUTS IN GOVERNMENT SERVICES OR PROGRAMS?

>> WE HAVE NOT HAD THAT DISCUSSION SO I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT.

>> SAME WE HAVEN'T EITHER.

WE ARE WAITING THE SENATE SIDE TO SEE WHAT THE BUDGET COMES FROM THE HOUSE AND THE ADMINISTRATION BEFORE WE RESPOND TO IT.

THAT IS SOMETHING WE'RE WATCHING.

BUT WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT IS IN THE BUDGET.

>> Renee: I WANT TO ASK YOU SENATOR, ABOUT OKAY, WHAT POSITION ARE THE SENATE DEMOCRATS IN WHEN IT COMES TO INFLUENCING THE BUDGET PRIORITIES AND WHAT ENDS UP PASSING?

>> YEAH.

SO I WILL SAY THAT THERE ARE CONVERSATIONS ACROSS THE AISLE AND I'M GRATEFUL SENATOR MAYS BLEDSOE HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL PARTNER TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH.

AND THE WAY OUR CAUCUS IS APPROACHING IT WE HAVE A DIFFERENT CONCERN THE CONCERN IS HOW WE PUT THE MONEY WE HAVE TO WORK FOR THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY.

IT'S NOT SOLVING PROBLEMS SITTING IN A FUND.

AND WE HAVE RECORD REVENUES AND RECORD RECEIPTS MOST STATES WHEN YOU LOOK AT HAVING 15% OF YOUR BUDGET IN A RAINY DAY FUND WE'RE HEADED WE COULD BE AROUND 35%.

AND SO THAT IS WONDERFUL NEWS NOR OUR STATE.

AND IT ALSO MEANS THAT HAVING THAT MONEY IT HAS TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY.

FIGURING OUT HOW WE CAN FIND THOSE ONE-TIME INVESTMENTS AND ALSO LOOK AT MAKING SUSTAINED INVESTMENTS IN PROGRAMS THAT WE CAN GROW AND THAT CAN HELP OUR COMMONWEALTH THRIVE.

>> Renee: PRE-K ONE OF THEM?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR HAS BEEN VERY OUT FRONT LEADING ON THIS ISSUE AS HAS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR COLEMAN.

CITY OF LOUISVILLE IS TAKING HISTORIC STEPS AROUND EXPANDING PRE-K ACCESS.

AND SO I THINK YOU'RE BEGINNING TO SEE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT IN SOME WAYS WE'VE BEEN DOING OUR INVESTMENTS WRONG.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT INVESTING IN EDUCATION AND INVESTING IN OUR CITIZENS, IT STARTS EARLY.

IT STARTS WHEN THEY ARE YOUNG.

WHATEVER ISSUE YOU CARE ABOUT WHETHER IT'S MAKING SURE WE ARE DECREASING JUSTICE SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT OR PRODUCING MORE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES HIGHER WAGE EARNERS EVERY GOAL YOU HAVE YOU GET THERE BY INVESTING IN PRE-K AND INVESTING IN KIDS EARLY ON.

AND YOU CAN'T ARGUE WITH THE DATA.

WE'RE SEEING PRE-K IT IS NOT A BLUE OR A RED ISSUE IT IS A KENTUCKY ISSUE AND IT IS A FUTURE ISSUE AND I HOPE THAT WE'LL SEE REAL CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE GET THERE AS A STATE.

IF NOT WE ARE GOING TO END UP GETTING LEFT BEHIND.

>> SENATOR ARMSTRONG IS RIGHT.

WHERE AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND ON THE END OF TREATMENT.

AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY WITH 3.7 BILLION DOLLARS IN A RAINY DAY FUND RIGHT NOW TO INVEST IN THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMONWEALTH.

IF YOU WOULD ASK OUR FAMILIES A LOT WOULD SAY IT'S RAINING RIGHT NOW TODAY.

WE ARE STRUGGLING TO GET ENOUGH PEOPLE TO FILL SLOTS FOR SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS, FOR EDUCATORS, AND IT'S BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO GIVE THESE FOLKS A RAISE.

WE'VE GOT TO PAY THEM A LIVING WAGE AND TO DO THE THINGS THEY DESERVE TO MAKE THE ENDS MEET AT THEIR HOMES.

ALL OF THESE POSITIONS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO FILL, WHETHER IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, PEOPLE WORKING IN THOSE AREAS, WE'VE GOT TO PROVIDE THE FOLKS WHO SERVE IN THE COMMONWEALTH A RAISE.

WE NEED TO GIVE TEACHERS AND OUR STATE EMPLOYEES A RAISE.

WE NEED TO CONTINUE DOWN THAT PATH.

WE'VE MADE INVESTMENTS IN THE RECENT GENERAL ASSEMBLY BUT WE'VE GOT TO DO MORE AND WE'VE GOT TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND SAY WHAT IS THE LONG-TERM GOAL OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THE COMMONWEALTH?

IS IT WORTH DOING THE SALES TAX DECREASES AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN?

OR SHOULD WE PRIORITIZE UNIVERSAL PRE-K FOR OUR KIDS?

NOW, MY CAUCUS AND ME PERSONALLY, I THINK WE OUGHT TO INVEST IN UNIVERSAL PRE-K FOR OUR KIDS RATHER THAN GIVING ANOTHER HALF A PERCENT SALES CUT TAX WE HAVE TO STEP BACK AND WHAT IS THE PRIORITY FOR OUR COMMONWEALTH.

>> Renee: TO THE POINT ABOUT COMPENSATION WE HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS COMING IN ABOUT THAT AND ONE FROM RICHMOND.

I WILL POSE THIS TO SENATOR BLEDSOE MANY STATE EMPLOYEES ARE HOPEFUL THAT OUR LEGISLATORS ADDRESS WAGE COMPRESSION THAT AFFECTS CAREER EMPLOYEES.

NEW EMPLOYEES ARE STARTING OUT AT SALARY IT IS TOOK OTHERSES 20 YEARS TO ACHIEVE.

WHAT SAY YOU ABOUT IT?

>> IT'S NO QUESTION.

COMPRESSION IS A HUGE ISSUE IN GOVERNMENT WHEN YOU DON'T KEEP UP WITH THE COST OF INFLATION AND CONTINUE TO GIVE RAISES.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS NO DIFFERENT.

THE STATE IS SEEING THE SAME THING.

THAT IS ITEM GENERAL ASSEMBLY ASKED THE ADMINISTRATION FOR THE REPORT.

WHICH IS HOPEFULLY COMING SOON WHICH THEY CAN CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THAT MONEY.

>> Renee: IT IS A COMPENSATION STUDY.

>> SO THAT IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE.

YOU WANT TO MAKE -- GOVERNMENT JOBS THAT ARE COMPETITIVE AND OFFER GOOD BENEFITS AND YOU HAVE TO BE MINDFUL WHEN YOU HAVE NOT GIVEN RAISES SINCE 2016 THERE IS GOING TO BE A COMPRESSION PROBLEM.

WE CAN ADDRESS THAT.

>> Renee: AND THERE WERE RAISES TO THE TUNE OF 14% OVER THE LAST CURRENT BIENNIUM.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS QUESTION ABOUT WHAT THEY CALL WAGE COMPRESSION?

>> WELL, RIGHT NOW, WE ARE SEEING INFLATION, PEOPLE ARE HAVING A HARD TIME PAYING FOR THEIR GROCERIES AND I COME FROM A BACKGROUND IN THE FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY.

SO I'VE GOT CLIENTS COMING IN AND STRUGGLING WITH THEIR BILLS.

THERE IS NO DOUBT THIS IS AFFECTING PEOPLE.

I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO LOOK AT AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL ADDRESS IT THIS SESSION.

>> Renee: IT'S NOT JUST A SOLUTION TO THE WAGE COMPRESSION FOR PUBLIC OR STATE WORKERS BUT EVEN FOR THOSE WHO WORK IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR YOU BELIEVE THEY NEED RELIEF AS WELL?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Renee: WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE POSSIBLE PATHS TO GIVE THEM THAT RELIEF?

>> WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE.

AND I'M A PROPONENT OF LOOKING AT THE DAYCARE SITUATION.

WE'RE COMING OUT OF COVID STILL.

AND I REMEMBER AND IT'S BEEN A LONGTIME, BUT MY KIDS WERE IN DAYCARE, AND THEY THE RULES RIGHT NOW WHEN THE KID HAS TO MISS DAYCARE.

IF THEY ARE SNIFFLES THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO COME TO DAYCARE.

WHEN MY KIDS WERE LITTLE IT WAS A TEMPERATURE OR VOMITING AND NOW THEY ARE SHUT DOWN IF THEY HAVE A COUGH.

I DON'T KNOW TOO MANY BABIES THAT DON'T HAVE A COUGH WE NEED RELIABLE CHILDCARE TO PEOPLE CAN SHOW UP AT THEIR JOBS.

IT'S ALL A WORKFORCE ISSUE AND WE HAVE TO INCLUDE THE DAYCARE AS PART OF THAT.

>> Renee: THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DID PASS THE CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

15 MILLION DOLLARS IT WAS APPROPRIATED TO BUSINESSES AND IT HELPED SUBSIDIZE THEIR EMPLOYEES.

IS SOMETHING LIKE IS THERE AN EXPANSION OF THAT THAT YOU THINK IS IN ORDER?

OR IS IT LET'S WAIT TO SEE HOW IT'S WORKING.

IT'S TAKING THIS A LONGTIME TO RAMP UP.

>> PEOPLE HAVE NOT APPLIED FOR IT.

AND I THINK YOU BOTH MY COLLEAGUES BRING UP GOOD POINTS YOU CANNOT TALK ABOUT UNIVERSAL PRE-K WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT CHILDCARE.

THEY GO TOGETHER AND THAT IS THE CHALLENGE WITH ONE TIME MONEY ON A SYSTEM'S PROBLEM.

WE SUPPLEMENTED WITH THE ARPA MONEY THE CHILDCARE EFFORT, CAME AND IT WAS WONDERFUL IT HELPED STABILIZE THE ENTIRE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO COME BACK TO WORK AND NOW WE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM IT'S NOT FIXED AND COMING BACK WITH MORE MONEY IS MAYBE NOT THE BEST SOLUTION.

>> THE GOVERNMENT HAS RUN OUT.

>> NOW WE'RE SITTING HERE WHEN WE TOOK THE FEDERAL MONEY IT WAS FINITE AND NOW WHAT DO WE DO?

I WILL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE IN BOIL COUNTY.

THE DANVILLE SCHOOL THEY HAD A SCHOOL THEY WERE NOT USING THEY BOUGHT THE SCHOOL.

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HELPED REVAMP IT, DID ALL THE RECONSTRUCTION, BOIL COUNTY SCHOOLS CAME IN AND DOING HEADSTART AND PROVIDING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IT IS A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO A PROBLEM WITH THE DIFFERENT RESOURCES AND TOOLS HE AND WE CAN HELP A LITTLE BIT.

SO STATE HAD MONEY, LOCAL HAD MONEY.

AND THEY ARE DOING SOMETHING AMAZING HONESTLY IT IS A GREAT MODEL.

NOT EVERY COMMUNITY HAS THAT.

BUT IT WILL TAKE THAT KIND OF EN INGENUITY AND EFFORT.

>> Renee: PRE-K VERSUS DAYCARE WE'VE HAD THE SENATE PRESIDENT QUOTED SAYING WE'RE MORE IN FAVOR OF DAYCARE.

BECAUSE IT IS A SCHOOL BASED SYSTEM WHAT HAPPENS ON HOLIDAYS AND AFTER 6:00 P.M. AND ALL OF THOSE SCENARIOS.

SO IT'S INTERESTING HOW YOU ARE COMING AT A PROBLEM WITH JUST DIFFERENT APPROACHES.

SO WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THIS?

>> I'M LOOKING AT OUR CHILDCARE SECTOR AND THE FACT THAT THE FEDERAL MONEY IS SET TO RUN OUT AT THE END OF THIS YEAR WE HAVE BEEN COBBLING TOGETHER EXTRA MONEY TO MAKE IT UNTIL THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY GAVELS BACK IN.

AND YOU LOOK AT THE STATISTICS WHAT WE ARE STARING AT.

AND IT'S SCARY.

WHEN YOU ASK PROVIDERS WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON'T GET SUPPORT?

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON'T GET PAYMENTS TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE OPERATING?

20% SAY THEY WILL HAVE TO CLOSE.

70% SAY THEY WILL HAVE TO RAISE TUITION FOR FAMILIES.

I'M NOT THAT FAR REMOVED FROM DAYCARE I HAVE A THREE AND A FOUR-YEAR-OLD AND I REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS LIKE DURING COVID WHEN 20% OF THE CHILDCARE CENTERS CALLED.

I WAS NINE MONTHS PREGNANT AND I CALLED AND SAID I WOULD LIKE TO GET A SPACE FOR MY CHILD AND THEY SAID OUR WAITING LIST IS TWO YEARS.

WE HAD 100,000 WOMEN IN KENTUCKY THAT IS ENOUGH TO FILL CARDINAL STADIUM TWO TIMES OVER THAT HAD TO LEAVE THE WORKFORCE DURING COVID BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T FIND CHILDCARE WHEN WE HAD 20% OF OUR CENTERS CLOSED.

OUR CENTERS ARE TELLING US THAT IF WE DON'T INVEST IN THEM, THE EXACT SAME THING IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

AND ALL OF THOSE GAINS, BUT GAINS THAT WE'VE MADE OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS WILL BE ERASED.

AND I THINK ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS FOR WOMEN.

I THINK ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS FOR WORKING PARENTS AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR KIDS.

BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT DAYCARE IT'S NOT JUST A PLACE YOU GO TO LEAVE YOUR CHILD IT IS A PLACE YOUR CHILD CAN LEARN HOW TO SOCIALIZE AND WHERE YOU CAN BUILD YOUR VILLAGE IN OUR WORLD WHERE THE VILLAGE IS HARDER TO FIND SOMETIMES.

SO I THINK WE'RE FACING A SCARY MOMENT FOR THE CHILDCARE SECTOR AND I WORRY WHAT IT MEANS FOR OUR ENTIRE ECONOMY FRANKLY IF WE WE DON'T ACT BOLDLY.

>> Renee: AND CHILDCARE IS THE ESSENTIAL FOUNDATIONAL INDUSTRY ON WHICH ALL OTHER INDUSTRIES ARE BUILT.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT BEFORE WE MOVE ON?

>> I THINK THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE AND THE QUESTION IS IN THE DETAILS OF THE APPROACH AND HOW WE GET THERE.

HOW DO WE SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES AND KEEP THEM OPEN AND HOW DO WE KEEP THE WAITING LISTS DOWN.

FOR SOMEBODY TO GO ON A WAITING LIST AND HAVE TO WAIT TWO YEARS FOR CHILDCARE AND HOW DO WE GET THE PEOPLE OUT OF THE WORKFORCE BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE.

HOW DO WE SUPPORT THEM.

THEY HAVE GOT TO BE ABLE TO EARN A WAGE THAT ALLOWS THEM TO PAY FOR THE CHILDCARE.

SO THAT IS ANOTHER REASON WHY WE NEED TO INCREASE THE MINIMUM WAGE AND THE LIVING WAGE IN THE COMMONWEALTH BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY FOR CHILDCARE IF THEY ARE NOT EARNING ENOUGH TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN.

WE'VE GOT TO TALK ABOUT THIS.

ON HOW WE CAN SUPPORT THE PEOPLE TO DO THE BEST FOR THEIR KIDS AND BE ACTIVE IN THE WORKFORCE.

>> Renee: I WANT TO ASK A PROCESS QUESTION AND WE'LL GET BACK TO ISSUES.

THIS IS FROM A VIEWER IN JEFFERSON COUNTY AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAD AS WELL.

THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS RELEASED A REPORT THAT SHOWS THE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN FAST TRACKING BILLS IN WAYS QUOTE THAT COULD CUT OUT THE PUBLIC.

WHAT DO YOU THINK SHOULD BE DONE IN THE 2024 SESSION TO ENSURE THAT BOTH CHAMBERS CREATE AND FOLLOW RULES THAT ALLOW TIME FOR LEGISLATORS, JOURNALISTS AND CITIZENS TO REVIEW AND GIVE INPUT ON PROPOSED LEGISLATION.

>> SO I WILL SAY COMING IF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, IT BLEW MY MIND THAT WE DON'T HAVE AN ON-LINE DATABASE WHERE PEOPLE CAN SEE COMMITTEE SUBS AND OFFERED AMENDMENTS WHERE WE'RE DEALING WITH HARD COPIES GETTING HANDED OUT.

SOMEONE CHECK YOUR E-MAIL IT'S THERE.

AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT TRANSPARENCY THAT BOTHERS ME.

THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING AND SEE WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THE DECISIONS THAT WE'RE MAKING ON THE FLOOR EVERYDAY.

WE WORK FOR THEM WITH THEIR TAX DOLLARS ON THE ISSUES THEY CARE ABOUT.

AND OTHER STATES INCLUDING REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURES HAVE TAKEN BIG MOVES TOWARDS TRANSPARENCY AROUND CREATING THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN SEE WHAT THE BILLS ARE, SEE WHAT THE AMENDMENTS ARE.

I THINK THAT IS A VERY BASIC FIRST STEP TO TAKE TO LET THE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT IT IS WE'RE VOTING ON.

IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT WE MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC HAS A MEANINGFUL CHANCE TO TELL US WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT IT, TO HAVE HEARINGS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE HAVING THE PROCESS BE SORT OF SLOW ENOUGH AND MEANINGFUL ENOUGH THAT WE DO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE THINGS WE'RE DOING.

AND SO I THINK THERE ARE THINGS BIG AND SMALL WE CAN DO TO MAKE THE PUBLIC FEEL AS THOUGH THEIR VOICE MATTERS BECAUSE IT SHOULD.

>> Renee: REPRESENTATIVE, WERE YOU EVER FRUSTRATED BY THE FAST NATURE HOW BILLS AND AMENDMENTS WERE CONSIDERED?

DID YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAD AMPLE TIME TO REVIEW AND TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU WERE VOTING ON PARTICULARLY IN THE LAST HURRIED DAYS OF THE SESSION?

>> I THINK THAT'S REALLY A TWO-PART QUESTION FOR ME AND I'VE LEARNED THAT MORE SINCE WE HAVE BEEN IN THE INTERIM.

WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME FLUSHING OUT ISSUES.

WE CITY IN OUR COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND WE'RE ABLE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS BEFORE WE GO INTO SESSION.

I DIDN'T HAVE THE BENEFIT OF THAT THE LAST TIME.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT WENT ON DURING THE INTERIM AND WHAT WAS DISCUSSED.

AS MUCH AS I MIGHT HAVE FELT THAT WAS FAST-PACED I DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS DISCUSSED.

I FEEL MUCH MORE PREPARED NOW TO GO INTO THIS SESSION WITH WHAT I KNOW HAS BEEN DISCUSSED IN THE DIFFERENT COMMITTEE MEETINGS.

SO, YEAH, THERE IS A FRUSTRATION WITH THE PROCESS.

I COME FROM OBVIOUSLY A LEGAL BACKGROUND AND WE FOLLOW RULES AND THINGS WHERE FILED AHEAD OF TIME AND THERE'S NO SURPRISES WHEN YOU LITIGATE.

SO YOU KNOW, SO I THINK SURPRISED AT THAT.

BUT I'M HOPING I FEEL MUCH MORE PREPARED GOING IN THIS TIME KNOWING WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT.

>> Renee: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT IT?

>> I ACTUALLY AGREE NOT HAVING THE INTERIM WHEN YOU WALK INTO IT IT IS VERY FAST.

AND I COMPLETELY SHARE SENATOR CHAMBERS AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES FOR AS LONG AS WE WERE AND COMING TO THIS LEXINGTON HIGHLY USED TRANSPARENCY ALMOST TO A FAULT.

EVERYTHING IS DONE WELL INNED ADVANCE IN PUBLIC AND IT WAS LIKE HOLY COW THIS IS NOT THAT.

AND IT IS FAST.

AND WE DON'T HAVE THE BENEFIT OF FULL YEAR LEGISLATION YOU HAVE A LIMITED TIME.

YOU MOVE QUICKLY.

AND IT CAN BE A CHALLENGE I THINK TO FIGURE OUT IF IT'S ON YOUR E-MAIL OR NOT.

BUT I DEFINITELY SHARE THAT PERSPECTIVE I FEEL BETTER GOING INTO IT THIS YEAR THAN LAST YEAR.

I -- I THINK WE CAN MAKE COMPROMISES TO PROVIDE STUFF ON-LINE.

SO YOU ARE NOT FEELING LIKE THERE'S SOMETHING SAID THAT YOU CANNOT FIND.

>> Renee: REPRESENTATIVE, SUNLIGHT IS THE BEST DISINFECTANT.

>> IT SURE IS.

AND I THINK THERE'S TWO THINGS I WANT TO SAY HERE.

ONE, THE LEGISLATURE COULD SLOW DOWN AND ADHERE TO THEIR OWN RULES AND STOP SUSPENDING THE RULES AND GO TO THE THREE DAYS.

YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE COMMITTEE AND PASSING AND THE OTHER CHAMBER AND SOMETIMES WE KEEP WAIVING OUR RULES NOT TO FOLLOW OUR RULES WE'VE SETUP FOR OURSELVES THAT WOULD BE A GOOD FIRST STEP.

NUMBER TWO, THE INTERIM DOES GIVE US A TIME TO WORK ON THE BUDGET AND WORK ON THESE BILLS BUT IT DOESN'T GIVE THE PUBLIC TIME FOR INPUT WHEN THE LEGISLATION IS DROPPED.

THERE WERE SEVERAL BILLS LAST SESSION THAT WERE AMENDED LAST SECOND, CALLED IN FOR A SPECIAL MEETING AND ON THE HOUSE FLOOR IN 30 MINUTES PASSED AND OVER INTO THE SENATE CHAMBER AND PASSED THAT NIGHT.

SO WHILE WE MIGHT HAVE PERSONALLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND WORK ON SOME OF THE PIECES OF LEGISLATION DURING THE INTERIM, THE PUBLIC DOES NOT.

AND OUR JOB IS TO SLOW DOWN AND LISTEN TO THE PUBLIC AND GET THEIR INPUT.

AND IF WE WOULD DO THAT, WE WOULD PROBABLY FIND MANY THINGS IN BILLS WHEN WE SHOULD NOT HAD AN AND OR OR AS EXAMPLE IN PARTICULAR BILLS WE NEED TO SLOW DOWN AND LET THE PUBLIC HAVE AN ACTUAL MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE US FEEDBACK ON THESE CRITICAL PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT AFFECTS PEOPLE'S LIVES.

IF WE NEED TO DO THIS THERE IS NO REASON WE SHOULD RUSH AND GET THE THINGS THROUGH IN A FEW HOURS.

SLOW DOWN, THE PROCESS WILL BE BETTER.

>> Renee: WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE BILL YOU NAMED SENATE BILL 1 FIVE 0 WHERE THE DISTRIBUTE OVER AAND OR OR IS THERE.

YOU BROUGHT UP REPRESENTATIVE IT MADE ME THINK ABOUT THE QUESTION OF HAVING A FULL-TIME LEGISLATURE.

AND ON FRIDAY EVENINGS WHEN WE HAVE KENTUCKY EDITION WE DO A SEGMENT AND THIS CAME UP WITH THE DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST AND A REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST AGREED THAT LAWMAKERS SHOULD REEVALUATE WHAT EXACTLY YOU ARE.

BECAUSE THE INTERIM IS MORE ROBUST AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN AROUND IT A LONGTIME SEEN THAT ACCELERATE.

AND SHOULD YOU BE A FULL-TIME LEGISLATURE?

WITH THE PAY?

>> I THOUGHT I WAS A FULL-TIME LEGISLATOR.

>> NOBODY TOLD ME THAT.

IT'S BEEN INTERESTING.

I DON'T KNOW THAT I THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE HERE FULL-TIME.

IT WOULD BE MORE LAWS.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED MORE LAWS.

SO WHEN YOU ARE HERE FULL-TIME WE WILL MAKE THINGS UP FOR US TO DO AND PUT MORE LEGISLATION OUT THERE.

BUT I CAN SEE THE POINT WHERE IT GIVES US MORE TIME TO DO THINGS THAT ARE MORE THOUGHTFUL.

IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY ACROSS THE RIVER FROM OHIO AND THEY ARE FULL-TIME.

SO THEY HAVE ALL SORTS OF THINGS HAPPENING.

FOR ME, I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD ADVOCATE FOR A FULL-TIME LEGISLATURE.

IT'S DEFINITELY BEEN A BALANCING ACT AND YOU LEARN HOW TO DO IT.

AND IT'S ALSO THE TIME YOU SPEND IN YOUR DISTRICT AS WELL.

IT IS NOT JUST THE TIME WE SPEND IN FRANKFORT DURING COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND OUR WORKDAYS BUT IT'S THE TIME YOU SPEND WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND MEETINGS AND STAKEHOLDERS.

AT THIS POINT, I DON'T SEE A REASON WE FEED TO GO FULL-TIME AS TIRED AS I AM AND HOW YOU LEARN TO DO THAT DANCE, BUT I'VE LEARNED HOW TO DO IT.

>> Renee: WHAT DO YOU THINK?

I MEAN, DOES IT ALSO KEEP CERTAIN SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION DOES IT FREEZE THEM OUT BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO BE AWAY FROM THEIR JOBS FOR THREE TO FOUR MONTHS EVERY OTHER YEAR?

>> BOTH AND.

I AGREE WITH YOU AND AT THE SAME TIME IT DOES FREEZE OUT PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO DO SOMETHING PART-TIME.

AND THERE IS A CHALLENGE.

THERE IS NO PERFECT WAY TO DO THIS.

LEXINGTON HAS THE CONVERSATION ALL THE TIME.

HOW DO YOU HAVE PART-TIME LEGISLATORS AND NONE OF US ARE PART-TIME, YOU ARE FULL-TIME DEDICATED THE GROCERY STORE AT CHURCH.

I HAVE FOUR COUNTIES AND REPRESENTATIVE IS RIGHT, YOU ARE NOT GETTING PAID FOR THE DAYS YOU ARE IN THE COUNTIES WITH THE CONSTITUENTS.

I'M GRATEFUL I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT BUT IT IS A BALANCING ACT.

AND THERE'S NO PERFECT SCENARIO TO THAT.

I'M NOT READY TO CALL IT FULL-TIME.

GIVE US A COUPLE YEARS MAYBE I'LL CHANGE MY MIND.

>> Renee: WHEN YOU ARE IN YOUR FOURTH YEAR YOU MIGHT DEFINE IT DIFFERENTLY.

>> HOW ABOUT YOU?

>> I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO TAKE A SERIOUS LOOK AT.

TO YOUR POINT, THERE IS A CERTAIN SECTOR OF FOLKS WHO I THINK WOULD REALLY LIKE TO BE IN PUBLIC SERVICE AND THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO DO IT BECAUSE OF THE CONSTRAINTS OF BEING IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT WE OUGHT TO HAVE A GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT IS JUST MADE UP OF PEOPLE WHO CAN AFFORD TO DO IT.

WE OUGHT TO HAVE A ASSEMBLY WHO LOVE TO DO IT.

WHO WANT TO DO IT.

AND I THINK BY LOOKING AT THE IDEA OF A FULL-TIME LEGISLATURE WE CAN SEE IF THAT OPENS UP THE POSSIBILITY FOR A NEW SECTOR OF FOLKS TO SERVE THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY.

>> Renee: AS LONG AS THEY CAN AFFORD TO CAMPAIGN.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Renee: THAT IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT TOPIC.

WHERE DO YOU FALL ON THIS?

>> I THINK THIS SORT OF THE STRUCTURE OF OUR LEGISLATURE MATTERS IN THE WAY WE SET IT UP MATTERS BECAUSE IT IMPACTS WHO WE END UP WITH.

I SAW SOMEONE RECENTLY PUT SOMETHING ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT SAID THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE NAMED MIKE IN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS THAN THERE ARE WOMEN WITH ELEMENTARY AGE OR YOUNGER CHILDREN AT HOME.

BECAUSE IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT IN THAT SORT OF SYSTEM FOR PEOPLE WITH OTHER DEMANDS, WE HAVEN'T BUILT UP THE SYSTEMS TO SUPPORT WORKING PARENTS TO DO THAT JOB.

AND SO EVERY TIME WE MAKE A DECISION ABOUT WHAT WE GET PAID WHEN WE ARE IN SESSION, IT IMPACTS WHO WE END UP WITH.

SO I AM ALL FOR FIGURING OUT HOW WE MAKE THIS JOB HAVE THE LOWEST BARRIERS TO ENTRY TO MAKE SURE WE GET A DIVERSE CROSS-SECTION OF FOLKS IN THE ROOM.

DEMOCRACY IS AT ITS STRONGEST WHEN IT REFLECTS ALL OF THE DIVERSITY AND COUNTIES.

AND I WORRY SOMETIMES THAT THE WAY OUR ASSEMBLY IS SETUP IT'S DIFFICULT IF YOU ARE NOT A LAWYER, IF YOU DON'T OWN YOUR OWN BUSINESS, IF YOU AREN'T RETIRED WITH PENSION OR RETIREMENT THAT CAN FINANCIALLY SUPPORT YOU YOU, AND I WORRY THAT MAYBE WE'RE MISSING PERSPECTIVES.

>> Renee: PIVOT HERE PRETTY TOUGH.

THIS QUESTION FROM SHELBY COUNTY I'M GOING TO FINESSE IT FROM HOW IT WAS ORIGINALLY PRESENTED TO ME.

GETTING TO THE LGBTQ ISSUES SENATE BILL 150, THIS PERSON TALKS ABOUT HOW GUNS AND CHILDREN AND WOMEN IN KENTUCKY ARE OFTEN THE VICTIMS OF GUN VIOLENCE, BUT, YET, THE LEGISLATURE SEEMS TO BE FOCUSED ON THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

WHY?

FIRST OF ALL.

TO ANSWER THE QUESTION ABOUT THE FOCUS ON THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

AND WHAT COULD WE SEE WHEN IT COMES TO CURBING GUN VIOLENCE?

I WILL START WITH YOU SENATOR MAYS BLEDSOE.

WE KNOW THERE IS POSSIBLY MOVEMENT WITH THE CRISIS AVERSION RIGHTS RETENTION MEASURE THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED AND PREVIOUS SESSIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

>> IT HAS AND I BELIEVE SENATOR WESTERFIELD HOSTED THAT MEETING THIS WEEK ON THURSDAY.

SO HE IS GOING -- HE HAS BEEN WORKING ON THE BILL FOR A LONGTIME.

THE BIGGEST CONCERN I HEAR CONSERVATIVES IS DUE PROCESS.

AND SO WE WILL BE SEE WHAT HE IS PUTTING FORWARD AND THAT IS THE CHALLENGE ON THAT BILL IS MAKING SURE THERE IS A DUE PROCESS IF YOU ARE GOING TO REMOVE GUNS AND I SHARE THE CONCERN.

>> Renee: WE SHOULD DEFINE FOR VIEWERS FOR THOSE WHO ARE DANGER TO THEMSELVES OR OTHERS THIS WOULD HAVE A JUDGE BE ABLE TO REMOVE THOSE FIREARMS FOR CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME TEMPORARILY UNTIL THEY NO LONGER PRESENT TO BE A DANGER TO THEMSELVES OR OTHERS.

BUT THE DUE PROCESS QUESTION REMAINS FOR MANY WHO QUESTION MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

AND THAT IS A BIG ISSUE THAT IS NOT A SMALL CONCERN FROM CONSERVATIVES IN BOTH CHAMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON THE MAJORITY SIDE.

HOW THEY DO THAT AND SENATOR WESTERFIELD HAS IDEAS HOW WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO THAT IF THEY CAN FIND THAT THAT WOULD BE BETTER MORE SUPPORT FOR IT.

>> Renee: I DON'T WOULDN'T TO GET TOO FAR OFF TOPIC BUT REPRESENTATIVE THERE WERE SEVERAL HOUSE REPUBLICANS BACK IN SEPTEMBER LATE SEPTEMBER WHO PRESENTED A PUBLIC SAFETY PLAN, 18 POINT PUBLIC SAFETY PLAN AND ONE OF THE PROVISIONS WAS ABOUT WIRETAPPING FOR BECAUSE AND EVEN THE MAYOR OF LOUISVILLE HAS AGREED WITH THIS BECAUSE OF THE VIOLENCE THAT YOUTH ARE INVOLVED IN THEY ARE USING SMART DEVICES AND IF YOU CAN GET AT THAT BEFORE THEY COMMIT THE CRIMES, TALK TO US ABOUT THIS 18 POINT PUBLIC SAFETY PLAN AND WILL THAT WIRE STANING PLAN OR PROVISION REMAIN?

THIS IS GOING TO BE DISCUSSED IN THE INTERIM HEARING THAT IS DECEMBER 15TH.

>> SO FIRST OF ALL, I WILL SAY I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT PIECE HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THAT LARGER BILL.

I CAN'T SAY IT WON'T COME BACK IN A BILL ON ITS OWN.

>> Renee: A STAND-ALONE MEASURE.

>> THAT IS WHAT I KNOW ABOUT THAT PIECE.

THAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION WAS PRESENTED TO US AND WE WENT THROUGH IT DURING OUR CAUCUS RETREAT.

AND I KNOW THAT IT CAME FROM OUR LEGISLATORS OUR COLLEAGUES IN LOUISVILLE.

AND I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF THOUGHT THAT SOME THOUGHTS THAT WERE SHARED DURING OUR CAUCUS RETREAT THAT MAY CHANGE PARTS OF THAT.

WE WILL HEAR THAT IN JUDICIARY IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

I THINK THERE WILL BE CHANGES TO IT.

>> Renee: WHAT ARE CONCERNS ABOUT THE WIRE WIRETAPPING IN YOUR CAUCUS FROM THOSE OPPOSED TO IT, WHY ARE THEY OPPOSED TO THAT?

>> IT'S INTRUSIVE.

AND THAT'S THE CONCERN.

IT'S ENTERING INTO OUR HOMES AND OUR THOUGHTS AND WHERE WE'RE AT.

SO IT MAY COME BACK AS A STAND-ALONE BILL AND SOMETHING WE CAN DEAL WITH.

BUT AS FAR AS THE OVERALL BILL IT WON'T BE A PART IS MY UNDERSTANDING.

>> Renee: IT DOES A LOT OF THINGS IT MAKES EXISTING CRIMES FELONIES OR ADDS NEW PENALTIES FOR THAT.

ALLOW PROSECUTORS TO CHARGE ANYONE WHO KNOWINGLY SELLS FENTANYL AND RESULTS INTO AN OVERDOSE TO BE CHARGED WITH MURDER.

AND ALSO WOULD MAKE CARJACKING A CLASS B FELONY IF IT RESULTS IN SERIOUS INJURY.

THIS STEMS THE LAWMAKERS WHO PRESENT TO DO ARE FROM JEFFERSON COUNTY BUT THE OTHER SIDE WOULD SAY, SENATOR ARMSTRONG, ABOUT I THINK IT WAS SENATOR MEAL WHO SAID DOES THIS GET AT THE ROOT CAUSES FOR THE VIOLENT UPTICK CRIME IN LOUISVILLE?

AND WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THAT?

>> I'M CONCERNED THAT IT WILL INCREASE VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

ONE OF THE PROVISIONS IN THE BILL IS THAT SHOPKEEPERS, BUSINESS OWNERS ARE ALLOWED TO USE REASONABLE FORCE TO DETAIN PEOPLE.

I'M ENVISIONS SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS OUT THERE TOLD THAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO USE THEIR GUNS TO DEFEND THEIR STORES AND LEADING TO ALTERCATIONS AND IT COULD INCREASE VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND SO I THINK WE SEE A LOT OF IDEAS IN THIS BILKS THINGS LIKE THREE STRIKE RULES.

THAT HAVE BEEN TRIED AND THEY DIDN'T WORK.

AND THEY HAD UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.

SO I THINK WE'VE COME FULL CYCLE SAYING OKAY LET'S TRY THEM BUT I DON'T SEE ANY EVIDENCE THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO FAIL AND HAVE THE SAME UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES WHICH WERE BIG CONSEQUENCES.

MADE OUR COMMUNITIES LESS SAFE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DATA ABOUT WHAT PROMOTES SAFETY IN A COMMUNITY AND THIS IS SOMETHING SENATOR AND I SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT WHICH IS WHERE YOUR HYPER FOCUSED ON PUBLIC SAFETY, NUMBER ONE THING IS SENSE OF COMMUNITY.

WHENEVER PEOPLE LIVE IN A COMMUNITY WHERE THEY KNOW THEIR NEIGHBORS WHERE IT IS A VIBRANT WALKABLE, CONNECTED PLACE, YOU SEE CRIME GO DOWN.

AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY WITH THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE BUT CONVERSATIONS THAT START WITH THAT PLACE OF DATA.

AND WHAT ARE THE ISSUES AND WHAT IS MAKING OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS FEEL UNSAFE AND ACTUALLY BE UNSAFE AND HOW DO WE WORK TOGETHER ON THOSE ISSUES.

NOT HOW DO WE TAKE THINGS FROM THE PAST AND RECYCLE THEM IN WAYS THAT AREN'T GOING TO WORK.

>> Renee: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SMART ON CRIME EVOLUTION?

IT SEEMS THAT THERE MAYBE A MOVE AWAY FROM THAT TO GET TOUGHER ON CRIME.

>> A FEW YEARS AGO YOU HAD REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WORKING TOGETHER ACROSS THE AISLE TO LOOK AT WAYS AT REDUCING OUR OVERALL POPULATION IN THE CORRECTIONS SYSTEM AND KENTUCKY MADE REALLY GREAT STRIDES IN THAT SPACE.

AND NOW IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE REVERTING BACK TO HAVE TALKING POINTS AND WIN ELECTIONS.

WE'VE GOT TO LOOK SENATOR ARMSTRONG WAS RIGHT WE HAVE GONE DOWN THIS ROAD OF THREE STRIKES AND IT DID NOT WORK.

WE HAVE TO BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT THE DETAILS IN THIS LEGISLATION THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO PUT PEOPLE IN THE SYSTEM AND IT'S GOING TO TURNOVER AND OVER AND RUIN THESE FOLKS' LIVES.

IF WE WANT TO INCREASE PEOPLE IN THE WORKFORCE, INCREASE THE OVERALL PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF OUR SOCIETY, THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT WAY TO GO DOWN.

BUT I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE CAR BILL.

THERE ARE SEVERAL PIECES OF LEGISLATION IF WE WANT TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES SAFER, THAT'S A GREAT FIRST STEP.

BUT THAT IS JUST A FIRST STEP.

THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER PIECES OF LEGISLATION, THE GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION OFFICE THAT WE PROPOSED LAST SESSION.

WE HAD THE SCHOOL MASS SHOOTING IN LOUISVILLE JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO.

WE HAVE GOT TO STEP BACK AND SAY WHAT ARE WE WILLING TO DO AS A COMMONWEALTH TO CURB OUR GUN VIOLENCE.

AND IT STARTS WITH COMMON SENSE GUN CONTROL MEASURES.

85% OF VOTERS ARE FOR UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS.

THEY ARE FOR RED FLAG LAWS.

THEY ARE FOR THE THINGS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT SEVERAL OTHER STATES PASSED INCLUDING RED STATES AND WE HAVE GOT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

THAT'S HOW WE MAKE OUR COMMONWEALTH SAFER.

>> Renee: SO I WANT TO GO TO YOU SENATOR BLEDSOE HAS THE SENATE G.O.P.

CAULK CAUSE DID YOU TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND DO THE IDEA DO YOU SHARE WITH YOUR HOUSE REPUBLICANS?

>> WE DID A LIT.

AND TO GO BACK TO THE POINT, IT IS ABOUT A SENSE OF COMMUNITY BUT WE HAVE THE CARJACKINGS IN FAYETTE COUNTY IS RIDICULOUS.

WHEN YOU HAVE THE SHOOTINGS INTO OCCUPIED HOMES, INTO VEHICLES, INTO BUSINESSES, 89% OF THE BUNS WE'VE TRACKED FROM 2020 TO NOW, 89% HAD PEOPLE INSIDE.

AND THAT'S NOT A CLASS C FELONY.

VIOLENT CRIME IS A PROBLEM.

I'M ALL FOR REHABILITATION AND REENTRY AND HELPING PEOPLE WHO WANT TO MAKE BETTER DECISIONS ALL FOR IT.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE SERIOUS PROBLEMS SERIOUS PEOPLE IN SOME OF OUR COMMUNITIES THAT NEED TO HAVE MAYBE SOME DIFFERENT SETS TO GO BACK TO.

AND THAT IS THE CONVERSATION WE'RE HAVING IS HOW TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT IT AND RECOGNIZING WE HAVE PROBLEMS WE NEED TO ADDRESS.

>> Renee: EMBRACING GUN SAFETY PERHAPS GUN CONTROL IS THE NOT THE LEXICON THAT RESONATES BUT GUN SAFETY.

>> SURE.

>> Renee: AND FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON GUN SAFETY, THE CRISIS ADD VERSION RIGHTS RETENTION IF THE PERSON IS IN CRISIS TAKE AWAY THE FIREARM UNTIL THEY ARE IN A BETTER STATE OF MIND, DO YOU FAVOR THAT?

>> I HAD THE SAME CONCERNS THAT THE SENATOR DOES ABOUT DUE PROCESS.

WE HAVE OTHER SIMILAR PROCESSES THAT WE FOLLOW RIGHT NOW.

CASEY'S LAW AND THINGS LIKE THAT WE CAN GO TO COURT.

SO I AM OPEN TO LISTENING TO HOW WE'RE GOING TO PROTECT THAT DUE PROCESS.

AT THE SAME TIME, I KNOW THAT AGAIN, AS A DOMESTIC ATTORNEY, YOU KNOW, IT SCARCE ME I HEAR ON THE NEWS WHEN SOMEBODY HAS BEEN SHOT AND YOU HOLD YOUR BREATH AND I HOPE THAT IS NOT ONE OF MY CLIENTS.

I HAVE BEEN IN THAT SITUATION WE HAD A TERRIBLE INCIDENT IN FORT THOMAS SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHERE A SPOUSE TEXTED I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES AND ULTIMATELY WENT TO HER WORKPLACE AND SHOT HER SHE WAS DIED SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

IT'S AN ISSUE.

BUT, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT DUE PROCESS IS HANDLED AND WE HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AND MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE'S RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED ON BOTH SIDES.

>> Renee: I WILL GO SHIFT GEARS AGAIN.

AND GO BACK TO EDUCATION.

THIS IS A GOOD QUESTION FROM OWENSBORO WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THE DID IS PLIN PROBLEM AMONGST STUDENTS ON BUSES AND EXTENDS BEYOND BUSES THAT IS A BIG PART OF THE BUS DRIVER SHORTAGE PROBLEM?

THANK YOU HE IS A REGULAR VIEWER AND SUBMITTING QUESTIONS.

I WILL START WITH YOU ABOUT WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT MORE DISCIPLINARY LEGISLATION NEEDS TO COME.

THERE'S BEEN SOME THAT PASSED LAST SESSION DID THAT GO FAR ENOUGH?

>> I DO HEAR FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT SORT OF THE IDEA OF DISRUPTIONS ON BUSES IS ONE OF THE REASONS WE ARE LOSING OUR BUS DRIVER PROFESSIONALS.

AND THAT IS A HUGE PROBLEM IN LOUISVILLE.

IT'S ALSO A PROBLEM THAT WHEN OUR BUS DRIVERS LEAVE AND GO SOMEWHERE ELSE, ABOUT HALF OF THEM END UP DOUBLING THEIR PAY BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT MAKING A LOT.

AND IT IT'S A TOUGH JOB WHERE YU WAKE UP BEFORE THE SUN AND YOU GET THERE AND DRIVE YOUR ROUTE YOU HAVE A BREAK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY AND THEN YOU DRIVE KIDS HOME UNTIL AFTER THE SUN GOES DOWN AND WE'VE SEEN IN JEFFERSON COUNTY IN AN ACUTE WAY HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WE HAVE THOSE QUALIFIED BUS DRIVERS TO MAKE SURE OUR KIDS GET TO SCHOOL ON TIME.

AND I THINK AS A COMMUNITY, WE HAVE TO HAVE SERIOUS CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT TRANSPORTATION AND THE JCPS SYSTEM LOOKS LIKE, HOW WE MAKE SURE WE'RE RETAINING THE BUS DRIVERS.

IT IS A REALLY CHALLENGING ISSUE.

I DON'T ENVY THE JCPS BOARD.

>> Renee: AND TRANSPORTATION FUNDING FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT HAS BEEN A BIG ISSUE ON THIS PROGRAM A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WE TALKED ABOUT THAT AND SOME SAY IT'S INADEQUATE AND DOESN'T MEET WHAT CONSTITUTIONALLY IT'S SUPPOSED TO MEET.

>> WE'RE ABOUT 70% OF WHAT WE'RE CONSTITUTIONALLY SUPPOSED TO BE PROVIDING TO THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHEN IT COMES TO TRANSPORTATION IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THE FIRST STEP IS DOING WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO IS FULLY FUND THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THE TRANSPORTATION SPACE.

AND THEN THAT WILL GIVE THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS MORE FLEXIBILITY AND IF THEY HAVE DISCIPLINARY PROBLEMS IN THOSE DISTRICTS THEY CAN DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO ADD A MONITOR OR SOMETHING TO THOSE SCHOOL BUS ROUTES IF NECESSARY ESPECIALLY ON ROUTES THAT HAVE REPEAT DISCIPLINARY INCIDENTS.

BUT OUR JOB IS TO DO WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO AND THAT IS TO FULLY FUND THE TRANSPORTATION BUDGET FOR THE DISTRICTS AND WE HAVE TO DO THAT FIRST.

>> Renee: WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

>> 68% MORE THAN IT WAS A FEW YEARS AGO.

THERE'S BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE TRANSPORTATION FUNDING.

BUT THE OTHER THING WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IS FULLY FUNDING SRO'S AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE TALKED ABOUT WE SAID WE WERE GOING TO DO THAT AND PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR IT.

THAT IS SOMETHING WE DISCUSSED ON THE RETREAT.

THAT IS ONE THING THEY CAN DO TO PROVIDE MORE RESOURCES TO FUND SECURITY OPTIONS THROUGH THE SCHOOL SAFETY ACT.

>> Renee: AND THE SCHOOL SAFETY ACT OF 2019 ALSO REQUIRED THAT THERE BE MORE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS ONE TO 250.

>> ONE FOR EVERY 250 KIDS AND PERHAPS THAT IS NOT ENOUGH.

WAS THERE A CONVERSATION AT THE CAUCUS RETREAT HOW TO BEEF THAT UP AND PROVIDE MORE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS IN SCHOOLS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND ONE OF 250 IS THE GOAL AND HOW WE GET THERE IS MORE, WE HAVE NO QUESTION THAT MENTAL HEALTH IS A PROBLEM FOR OUR STUDENTS.

THAT IS WHAT WE DISCUSSED.

>> Renee: WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION FROM JEFF SIMS PIVOTING AGAIN.

HOW DOES THE LEGISLATURE PLAN ON INCREASING THE DISCRETIONARY ROAD FUNDS LOCAL ROADS AND BRIDGES ARE FALLING FURTHER AND FURTHER INTO DISREPAIR.

I BELIEVE THIS YEAR THERE WAS A 3.5 MILLION AVAILABLE FOR 34 MILLION IN REQUESTS.

>> I WILL LET YOU ALL TAKE THAT FROM THERE.

>> I WILL SAY SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE RECORD RECEIPTS.

SOMETIMES WHENEVER YOU HAVE A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW HOW MUCH OF IT WILL BE PROJECTED INTO THE FUTURE.

IT CAN BE A GOOD TIME TO INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND SO I KNOW WHEN I WAS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, I HEARD ALL THE TIME ABOUT PEOPLE NEEDING THE ROADS FIXED ROADS AND SIDEWALKS.

AND TURNS OUT YOU GO TO FRANKFORT AND YOU HEAR THE SAME THING ROADS AND SIDEWALKS NOT A LOT OF MONEY IN THE STATE FOR SIDEWALKS.

BUT I DO THINK THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO USE SOME OF THE MONEY WE HAVE NOW TO INVEST IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

IT'S NOT THE THING THAT GETS THE HEADLINES.

BUT IT'S SO IMPORTANT.

>> Renee: AND IT'S COMPLICATED.

>> AND COMPLICATED BUT WE'VE SEEN THE GOVERNOR HAVING A GRANT PROGRAM TO MATCH WITH COUNTIES TO PROVIDE REPAIRS TO BRIDGES.

WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD EXPAND AND CONTINUE THAT KIND OF FUNDING TO GIVE LOCAL COMMUNITIES OPPORTUNITIES TO IDENTIFY THE TYPES OF PROJECTS THAT THEY WANT TO SEE PRIORITIZED IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

AND REALLY GIVE THEM SOME OF THAT LOCAL CONTROL.

>> Renee: ANY OTHER COMMENT ON THAT?

>> I LIVE IN A DISTRICT WITH TWO SIGNIFICANT BRIDGES THE BRENT EXPENSE AND THE FOURTH STREET BRIDGE THAT CONNECTS COVINGTON TO NEWPORT AND BEEN INVOLVED IN AT LEAST THE ESTHETICS COMMITTEE FOR THE NEWPORT COVINGTON BRIDGE.

I HAVE NOT SEEN IN THE BUDGET YET WHERE THAT'S GOING TO FALL.

BUT IT'S IMPORTANT I KNOW TO MY DISTRICT WITH TWO VERY LARGE BRIDGES.

>> Renee: ABSOLUTELY.

A LOT OF COMMERCE COMES THROUGH.

THIS QUESTION FROM WARREN COUNTY WITH THE BUDGET SURPLUS IS THERE A CONSIDERATION TO HELP RETIREES?

WE GET THIS QUESTION A LOT.

CAMPAIGN SEASON SO I APOLOGIZE WE'RE GETTING TO IT NOW.

THERE'S BEEN NO INCREASE IN RETIREMENT PAY SINCE 2011 AND OUR RETIREES ARE STRUGGLING DUE TO UNPARALLELED INFLATION.

SO.

>> I WOULD SAY I HOPE SO.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE MY MAJORITY PARTY TO TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION.

THERE'S OTHER UNIQUE MEASURES OTHER STATES HAVE DONE.

THE STATE OF TEXAS FOR EXAMPLE INSTITUTED WHAT THEY CALL A 13TH PAYMENT OR A 13TH MONTH.

INSTEAD OF INCREASING THE BASELINE OF THE COLA, IT GAVE THEM AN EXTRA PAYCHECK IN THAT FISCAL YEAR AND THEY'VE DONE THAT FOR SEVERAL YEARS OVER.

I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT THAT.

BUT TRADITIONAL INCREASE IN THE COLA FOR RETIREES WHO PUT IN THE YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE FOR OUR STATE FOR OUR COMMONWEALTH NOT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES AND FAMILY A COMFORTABLE LIVING AFTER PROVIDING THAT SERVICE TO US, I THINK IS A DISSERVICE.

SO I EN COUNSEL MY MAJORITY PARTY COLLEAGUES TO CONSIDER THAT.

THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN RETREAT WAS THERE A DISCUSSION ABOUT COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS FOR RETIREES?

>> THAT WAS NOT ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE DISCUSSED.

BUT I'M OPEN TO HEARING ANY OF THE OPTIONS ON THAT ISSUE.

>> Renee: WHAT ABOUT YOU?

>> WE DID NOT HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT BUT YOU ARE RIGHT, THE ONE TIME EXTRA PAYMENT IS SOMETHING YOU CAN DO TO PROVIDE RELIEF WITHOUT ADDING THAT ADDITIONAL RECURRING COSTS AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT WITHIN THE LEADERSHIP.

>> Renee: WE TALKED ABOUT SHORTAGES IN EDUCATION BUT THIS QUESTION FROM PATRICIA REGISTERED NURSE IN LATINXION ABOUT THE NURSING SHORTAGE.

ARE THE PANELISTS AWARE THAT U.K. WILL NOT HIRE LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSES AND THE OTHER THREE HOSPITALS IN LEXINGTON WON'T HIRE NURSES WHO ONLY HAVE A TWO-YEAR DEGREE NATURAL GAS THEY AGREE TO COMPLETE TWO YEARS OF EDUCATION.

SO IN ADDITION TO THAT ISSUE WHAT ARE OTHER ISSUES YOU THINK SHOULD BE TALKED ABOUT IN ORDER TO SHORE-UP THE NURSING SHORTAGE?

>> WE KNOW WE'RE FACING A SHORTAGE IN A LOT OF OUR HEALTHCARE SECTORS.

WE'RE FACING A SHORTAGE IN PHYSICIANS AND NURSES.

IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT OVER THE INTERIM ABOUT HOW WE PROVIDE SUPPORT, HOW WE MAKE SURE WE ARE FILLING THOSE JOBS.

BECAUSE WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE LIFE AND DEATH MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE AN ADEQUATELY STAFFED, TRAINED FULLY SUPPORTED HEALTHCARE SECTOR TRULY IS AS LIFE AND DEATH AS ITET GOES.

SO I EXPECT THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE PARTICULAR ISSUES BUT IT IS AN ONGOING CONVERSATION IT'S SOMETHING RIGHT NOW.

WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A LOT OF WORKFORCE ISSUES ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

AND I EXPECT THAT WE'LL SPECIFIC A LOT OF OUR TIME ON IT.

>> Renee: SENATE BILL 10 THAT ADDRESSED THIS LAST SESSION OR A SESSION BEFORE?

>> LET'S HOPE IT'S BEFORE.

I DON'T REMEMBER.

>> Renee: THE ISSUE IS SOMETHING I'M FAMILIAR WITH.

>> LEXINGTON'S HEALTHCARE IS OUR TOP PRIORITIES AND TOP SECTORS OF EMPLOYMENT IT IS A BIG PIECE.

AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT GETTING THEM IN AND HOW DO WE GET THEM EDUCATED AND TRAINED AND SPEND TIME IN POST-SECONDARY TALKING ABOUT YOU U.K. WHO HAVE DONE INVESTMENTS IN TRYING TO PROVIDE MORE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.

WE HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO INCENTIVIZE AND SUPPORT IT IT'S NOT GOING AWAY.

IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A SECTOR DOING WELL IN THE HEALTHCARE SPACE WE HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO SUPPORT IT.

>> AND WE'VE GOT TO KEEP THEM HERE.

WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF TEACHING HOSPITALS THAT DO A GREAT JOB OF EDUCATING OUR PROFESSIONALS TO BECOME PHYSICIANS AND NURSES, BUT WE'VE HEARD FROM SEVERAL OF THOSE PROFESSIONALS WHO HAVE DECIDED TO LEAVE KENTUCKY BECAUSE SOME OF THE LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS WE HAVE TAKEN AS A GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

WE HAVE A LACK OF OBGYN'S, WE HAVE 70 COUNTIES THAT DON'T HAVE AN OBGYN IF WE KEEP PASSING THE LAWS WE ARE GOING TO SEE THAT SHORTAGE GET WORSE SO WE'VE GOT TO TAKE A STEP BACK AS A COMMONWEALTH AND SAY IF WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN THE BEST TRAINED PROFESSIONALS IN THE SPACE WE'VE GOT TO HAVE THE LEGISLATION THAT WANTS THEM TO STAY HERE IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

>> Renee: TO GET TO THAT, I CAN MAKE THE JUMP OR THE INFERENCE ABOUT THE ABORTION LAW KENTUCKY'S NEAR TOTAL BAN ON ABORTION AND THERE'S LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT CONVERSATIONS OF WHETHER OR NOT THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD EMBRACE EXCEPTIONS FOR RAPE AND INCEST?

>> I DON'T A THINK IS SHOULD IS DO WE HAVE THE COURAGE TO DO IT.

THE VOTERS OF KENTUCKY HAVE SAID THEY WANT IT.

THEY REELECTED A GOVERNOR WHO RAN ON IT.

IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

AND SO THE MAJORITY PARTY HAS GOT TO FIGURE OUT IF THEY HAVE THE COURAGE TO DO THE WILL OF THE VOTERS IN KENTUCKY AND PUT THE EXCEPTIONS IN.

>> Renee: SENATOR BEFORE I GO TO THE OTHER SIDE?

>> I AGREE.

I THINK WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS THAT THE MAJORITY PARTY HAS ESPOUSED POLICIES SOME OF THE MOST EXTREME IN THE NATION WHEN IT COMES TO ACCESSING ABORTION.

THERE ARE NO OTHER STATES THAT ARE MORE RESTRICTIVE.

AND THAT'S NOT WHERE THE VOTERS OF KENTUCKY ARE AT.

VOTERS ARE NOT EXTREME PEOPLE THEY ARE COMMON SENSE PEOPLE.

AND THEY DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF A 12-YEAR-OLD CHILD BEING FORCED TO GIVE BIRTH TO HER RAPIST'S BABY.

AND I THINK OUR SIDE OF THE AISLE HAS BEEN CLEAR ABOUT WHERE WE STAND ON THIS.

ABOUT HOW WE THINK ABOUT THAT 12-YEAR-OLD CHILD.

MAJORITY PARTY HASN'T COME UP WITH A GOOD ANSWER FOR WHERE THEY ARE.

AND I THINK YOU KNOW IT'S NOW UP TO THEM TO LEAD WITH THEIR VALUES AND SHOW KENTUCKIANS WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

>> Renee: THIS SIDE OF THE TABLE YOU HAVE HAD THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT FAILED TWO YEARS AGO AND THEN THE REELECTION OF GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR A DEMOCRAT WHO MADE THIS ISSUE A CENTRAL PIECE OF HIS CAMPAIGN.

IS IT GOING TO TURN THE TIDE IN THE SUPER MAJORITY AND PARTICULARLY IN THE SENATE HOW THEY VIEW THIS ISSUE AND EMBRACE EXCEPTIONS?

>> THAT THIS POINT I DON'T KNOW.

I THINK THE CHALLENGE IS THAT THIS ISSUE IS DEEPLY PERSONAL TO EVERYONE.

AND IT'S PERSONAL ON A PERSONAL CONVICTIONS OTHER PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, AND THOSE TWO THINGS SHAPE THE LENS WITH WHICH THEY VIEW THE ENTIRE ISSUE.

AND IT IS VERY NUANCED CONVERSATION IT IS NOT ARE YOU PRO-LIFE OR PRO-CHOICE IT'S MORE COMPLICATED.

AND I THINK THE TENSION FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS ON ANY ISSUE IS THE PERSONAL CONVICTION AND A PUBLIC POLICY POSITION THAT MAY NOT ALIGN WITH YOUR PERSONAL CONVICTION AND MY DISTRICT IS ONE OF THOSE WHERE THEY MAY NOT SHARE AS STRONG OF PRO-LIFE POSITION AND THAT IS A TENSION WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH EVERY LEGISLATOR WILL AND IN OUR CAUCUSES AND CAN WE COME UP WITH A POLICY A PUBLIC POLICY POSITION THAT WORKS FOR THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND WE'VE STARTED THAT CONVERSATION ON RETREAT AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE IT.

I DON'T THINK IT IS A LACK OF COURAGE.

I THINK IT IS A STRONGER CONVERSATION I THINK FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL TO HAVE.

AND I THINK WE CARE ABOUT WOMEN AND CARE ABOUT BABIES WE ARE SEEING PRO LEGISLATION COMING OUT.

THERE'S STRONG MATERNITY THAT I FELT PUT VOICE TO.

WE WANT TO BE THOUGHTFUL AND MINDFUL ABOUT HOW WE APPROACH IT.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO BE DELICATE AND THOSE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT.

BUT I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THEM.

>> Renee: REPRESENTATIVE?

>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW THAT I COULD HAVE SAID IT ANY BETTER THAN THE SENATOR DID.

I AM A DEVOUT CATHOLIC SO I HAVE PERM VIEWS.

BUT I THINK THAT OVER THE COURSE OF LAST SESSION I SHOWED MYSELF AS A REPRESENTATIVE THAT REPRESENTS MY CONSTITUENTS.

MY PERSONAL BELIEFS MAY OR MAY NOT PLAY HOW I TAKE A VOTE.

THAT IS HOW I'VE WORKED THIS SEAT IS I WANT TO HEAR FROM MY CONSTITUENTS.

AND IT IS DEEPLY PERSONAL AND THERE'S GOING TO BE PEOPLE THAT COME FROM A RELIGIOUS STANDPOINT.

WE'VE HEARD FROM OUR MALE MEMBERS OF OUR CAUCUS THAT SAID IF IT WAS MY DAUGHTER I WOULD WANT THIS.

BUT YOU KNOW, I HAVEN'T SEEN A DRAFT OF THE BILL THAT ANYBODY'S READY TO PUT FORWARD YET THAT WOULD OUTLINE WHAT THE EXCEPTIONS LOOK LIKE.

IT'S SOMETHING I WOULD NEED TO SEE.

BUT I AGREE WITH THE SENATOR, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS DEEPLY PERSONAL AND THE ONLY OTHER THING I WOULD MAKE A POINT IS IT DOESN'T MAKE OUR PARTY UNCARING.

I DON'T WANT TO RETRAUMATIZE A RAPE VICTIM OR INCEST VICTIM THAT IS NOT WHAT WE WANT TO DO.

BUT THERE IS ANOTHER VICTIM AND THAT IS THE UNBORN CHILD AND WE HAVE TO WEIGH THAT AND ULTIMATELY, I VOTE FOR MY DISTRICT.

I WILL WANT TO HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT.

>> Renee: WELL, IT'S ALWAYS A TOUGH CONVERSATION TO HAVE BUT I THINK IT'S ONE WHOSE TIME AS COME.

WE CAN TAKE TWO MINUTES TO TAKE ABOUT AI AND THAT IS AND WE KNOW THERE WILL BE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND THERE WILL BE DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT, RIGHT?

YOU'VE GOT SOME SENATOR RIGHT?

>> I'VE SPENT SOMETIME THIS SUMMER WORKING ON CONSUMER PRIVACY AI ONE THING I WILL MENTION IS AN ELECTION LAW AND HOW WE HANDLE AI IN DEEP FAKE ELECTIONS.

AND YOU WILL SEE LEGISLATION AT THAT TIME BUCKS ABOUT USING SYNTHETIC MEDIA TO TAKE SOMEONE'S IMAGE AND LIKENESS THAT IS NOT AUTHENTIC THAT IS CONCERNING TO ME.

AND EVERYBODY ELSE.

AND HAS CONSEQUENCES TO PUT DISCLAIMERS ON OR COURT ACTION POTENTIAL ON THAT.

THAT IS JUST ONE PIECE.

OTHER OTHER PLACES THAT AI WILL PLAY IN AREAS.

YOU WILL SEE LOTS OF LEGISLATION THAT TALKS ABOUT IT.

>> Renee: THE SELF-DRIVING CARS REPRESENTATIVE BRAY HAD THAT BILL LAST TIME.

SO WE MY SEE THAT RESURFACE.

LOTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO GET AT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

IT RUNS VERY, VERY DEEP.

FINAL THOUGHTS JUST REAL QUICK FROM THIS SIDE FROM SENATOR, WHAT ARE YOU HOPING IN 10 SECONDS THAT YOU GET DONE OTHER THAN THE BUDGET THAT WILL BE DONE IN 2024?

>> I HOPE WE ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT IMPACT OF DAY-TO-DAY LIVES.

REMOVE THE SALES TAX ON DIAPERS AND PASS A CHILD TAX CREDIT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR WORKING FAMILIES.

I HAVE BILLS ON THESE AND I'M EXCITED TO INTRODUCE THEM HOPING WE CAN HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THEM.

>> Renee: THIS IS THE PLACE TO HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THEM.

WE WILL BE WITH YOU ALL THROUGHOUT THE SESSION ON KENTUCKY EDITION EACH WEEKNIGHT AT 6:30 EASTERN AND ALSO ON MONDAY NIGHTS ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" BECAUSE THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE THE CONVERSATIONS HARD THEY MAY BE ARE HAD.

WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AND NEXT MONDAY WE HAVE A SPECIAL PROGRAM CALLED BUILDING UP KENTUCKY IT IS A KET FORUM.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE STATE AND HOW WE LURE MORE PRIVATE INVESTMENT INTO KENTUCKY.

YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS THAT CONVERSATION AT 8:00 P.M. AND INAUGURATION COVERAGE ALL DAY ON TUESDAY.

NEXT TUESDAY.

STAY TUNED TO KET FOR THAT.

SEE YOU SOON.