[♪♪] >> Bill: VETOES VANQUISHED.

THE KENTUCKY LEGISLATURE OVERRIDES GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S OBJECTIONS AND MAKES NEW LAWS OF THE LAND.

>>> AN UNUSUAL DISCHARGE PETITION IS FILED TO PUSH A STALLED ABORTION EXCEPTIONS BILL.

>>> THE SENATE IS SET TO DECIDE WHETHER TO CONFIRM A NEW EDUCATION COMMISSIONER.

>>> MORE COMMENTS FROM LAWMAKERS WHO HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF FRANKFORT POLITICS.

>>> ON THIS APRIL WEEKEND HEADING TOWARDS TAX DAY, COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

>> Bill: GOOD EVENING I'M BILL BRYANT.

AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" A LOOK BACK AT AND SOME ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS ARE JOE SONKA, ENTERPRISE REPORTER FOR KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO.

McKENNA HORSLEY POLITICS REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY LANTERN.

AND JOHN CHEVES REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER.

>>> THE ECLIPSE DRAWS OUT THE CROWDS AND CLOUDS IN THE STATE AND THE JOHN CALIPARI ERA ENDS AT U.K. LET'S BEGIN WHAT HAS BEEN A FRENZY OF VETO OVERRIDES.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR USED THIS VETO PEN MORE THAN 20 TIMES INCLUDING HIS LINE ITEM AUTHORITY ON THE STATE BUDGET.

ONE BILL WAS CLOSELY WATCHED WAS THE SAFER KEB KEN ACT A WIDE RANGING CRIME BILL.

BESHEAR AGREED WITH PARTS OF IT BUT COULD NOT GET PAST CONCERNS ABOUT HOMELESS KENTUCKIANS.

>> I COULD NOT WITH MY FAITH, SIGN A BILL THAT WOULD CRIMINAL SIZE HOMELESSNESS AND TREAT AN ABANDONED CAR BETTER THAN A CAR THAT HAD A PERSON IN IT WHO WAS SUFFERING FROM HOMELESSNESS.

MY HOPE IS THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WILL TAKE A SECOND LOOK AT THIS.

WILL SPLIT IT INTO OTHER BILLS WHICH COULD EASILY PASS IN THE LAST COUPLE DAYS.

>> Bill: JOHN, THIS BILL GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION AND TODAY IT GOT MORE IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

ULTIMATELY, WAS OVERRIDDEN.

>> YES.

THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE OVERRODE THE GOVERNOR'S VETO ON HOUSE BILL 5 THE SAFER KENTUCKY ACT.

A LOT OF PARTS TO THIS TOUGHENING PENALTIES FOR DRUGS AND THEFT AND CARJACKING AND LOTS OF THINGS BUT AS THE GOVERNOR MENTIONED THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL PART CRIMINAL PENALTIES ON PUBLIC HOMELESSNESS ON SLEEPING IN PUBLIC PLACES STARTING WITH FINES AND POTENTIALLY MISDEMEANOR ARREST FOR SECOND AND SUBSEQUENT OFFENSES.

OBVIOUSLY HOMELESS PEOPLE AND HOMELESS ADVOCATES ARE UPSET ABOUT THIS.

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CANNOT OPT-OUT UNDER THE TERMS OF THE LAW.

I WILL POINT OUT IN A COUPLE WEEKS APRIL 22 THERE'S GOING TO BE ORAL ARGUMENTS BEFORE THE U.S. SUPREME COURT IN WASHINGTON CHALLENGING A SIMILAR LAW OUT OF THE STATE OF OREGON.

ALSO HAS A PUBLIC HOMELESSNESS BAN DEPENDING ON WHAT THE U.S. SUPREME COURT CHOOSES TO DO THIS PART OF KENTUCKY'S LAW MIGHT GET STRUCK DOWN.

THE KEY IS WHETHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT ENFORCE SUCH A LAW HAVE ROOM IN THEIR HOMELESS SHELTERS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE FORCED OFF THE STREET BY POLICE.

IF THEY DON'T HAVE ROOM IN A SHELTER THE ARGUMENT IS THIS IS A CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT YOU COULDN'T PUNISH PEOPLE FOR BEING HOMELESS IF YOU DON'T HAVE ROOM IN A SHELTER.

WE HAVE TO WATCH WHAT THE SUPREME COURT CHOOSES TO DO MAYBE IT ENDS UP TOSSED OUT BY THE COURTS.

>> ANOTHER BIG PIECE FROM BESHEAR ON THIS WAS THE RELATED COST.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO INCREASE PENALTIES PUT MORE PEOPLE IN JAIL THERE IS A COST RELATED TO THAT.

THE FISCAL ANALYST SAID IT'S UNDETERMINED BUT GROUPS SAID IT WOULD COST $1 BILLION OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

THAT'S A LOT OF DEMOCRATS BROUGHT THAT UP BUT THERE WERE SOME REPUBLICANS WHO WERE WARY ABOUT THIS BILL AND THEY CITED THAT IT'S GOING TO BE AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF COST.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT ONE OF BESHEAR'S LINE ITEM VETOES IN THE BUDGET BILL IT POINTED OUT THAT THEY PUT A LIMIT ON UNEXPECTED INCARCERATION COSTS FOR THE STATE.

THAT IS ANOTHER FACTOR HERE AT PLAY AND WHY ABESHEAR WAS AGAINST IT.

>> Bill: THE POLITICS WAS INTERESTING TO WATCH THOSE POINTED OUT THAT KENTUCKY CRIME IS ACTUALLY DECLINING IN MANY CASES.

IT DID SPIKE IN THE PANDEMIC.

>> RIGHT.

AS JOE SAID, WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF DEBATE CIRCULATING AROUND THIS BILL THIS SESSION.

ON THAT ISSUE WE SAW RIGHT AND LEFT THINK TANKS ARGUE FOR MORE PHYSICAL ANALYSIS BEFORE THIS BECOMES LAW.

AND EVEN AMONG LAWMAKERS, WE SAW A LOT OF HOUSE DEMOCRATS WHO WERE VOCALLY AGAINST THIS BILL AND IN THE SENATE CHAIRMAN WHITNEY WESTERFIELD A REPUBLICAN DID NOT VOTE FOR THIS BILL.

>> Bill: WHAT ABOUT THE SUGGESTION FROM THE GOVERNOR THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN BROKEN UP INTO SMALLER PIECES AND NOT ONE OMNIBUS BILL AS IT ENDED UP?

>> DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS DID MAKE THAT ARGUMENT THROUGHOUT THE SESSION AS WELL.

FOR SOME PROVISIONS THEY LIKED, SOME OF THOSE THAT BESHEAR LIKED AS WELL.

I THINK THOSE WOULD HAVE HAD AN EASIER TIME MAKING IT THROUGH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

AND WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN AS DEBATED.

BUT IT IS ALL ONE BILL.

>> Bill: IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO WATCH AND JOHN THANK YOU FOR CALLING OUR ATTENTION TO THE COURT CASE COMING UP IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS IT COULD BE IMPACTFUL ON THAT.

THE GOVERNOR VETOED CHANGING THE PROCESS OF FILLING A U.S. SENATE STEET SEAT.

>> YES.

IT WAS UNSURPRISING THAT HE VETOED THIS.

HE HAS BEEN CRITICAL SINCE IT'S BEEN FILED AND THE LEGISLATURE OIFERRED RODE IT.

IT HAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

AND THIS CHANGES THE PROCESS THAT WAS CHANGED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN 2021 SO THIS IS A FOLLOW-UP TO THAT MEASURE.

>> AND WHEN BESHEAR VETOED THAT BILL IN 2021 HIS VETO STATEMENT WAS LONG AND WENT INTO DETAIL HOW IT VIOLATED THE FEDERAL AND THE STATE CONSTITUTION THIS TIME THE VETO STATEMENT WAS SHORT AND SAID IT'S NOT FAIR FOR SO LONG, WHILE THE GOVERNOR HAS THIS PROBLEM AND THE POWER AND TAKE IT AWAY FROM HIM AND IT IS A SIGN THAT REPUBLICANS KNEW THAT BESHEAR MIGHT NOT FOLLOW THE CURRENT SECESSION LAW AND MIGHT CHALLENGE IT AND MIGHT NOT HOLD-UP IN COURT.

A LOT OF REPUBLICANS VIEWED THIS AS A BULLET-PROOF LAW.

>> Bill: IF THERE IS A VACANCY IN THE U.S. SENATE FROM KENTUCKY THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL ELECTION CALLED AND THAT'S HOW IT WOULD BE DECIDED.

>> IT WILL BE VACANT.

>> .

>> Bill: IS THAT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TERM?

>> UNTIL SOMEONE IS ELECTED THAT IS GOING TO BE VACANT AND THAT IS ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS BESHEAR WAS SAYING, KENTUCKY IS GOING TO BE WITHOUT A REPRESENTATIVE FOR A SENATOR FOR A WHILE UNTIL THERE IS THAT SPECIAL ELECTION.

>> AND THE PREVIOUS PROCESS WAS THE GOVERNOR IN THE 2021 CHANGE THE GOVERNOR SELECTS FROM A POOL THAT THE STATE PARTY SELECTS THEMSELVES.

SO IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IF A REPUBLICAN WERE TO LEAVE OFFICE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ANOTHER REPUBLICAN THAT BESHEAR WOULD HAVE HAD TO CHOOSE FROM.

>> Bill: THERE WAS A VETO FROM THE GOVERNOR THAT WOULD ALLOW AND SETUP REGULATIONS FOR SELF-DRIVING CARS IN KENTUCKY AND THE TEAMSTERS UNION WAS OPPOSED TO THAT.

>> YEAH, GOVERNOR BESHEAR BACK IN FEBRUARY THERE WAS A UNION RALLY IN FRANKFORT AND SAID I'VE VETOED EVERY ANTIUNION BILL AND I WILL VETO THIS ONE.

IT WASN'T SURPRISING THAT HE VETOED THAT.

WHAT WAS INTERESTING THIS BILL IN THE HOUSE ON THE OVERRIDE IT WAS 58-40.

OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE 20 DEMOCRATS AND 20 REPUBLICANS AND THIS WAS INTERESTING ISSUE THAT DIVIDED THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.

A LOT OF RURAL REPUBLICANS WERE WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS AND WHETHER THERE SHOULD BE A TESTING PERIOD WHERE PEOPLE ARE STILL IN THE CAR, LIMITED THE CERTAIN WAY.

THIS WAS DID DIVIDE THE CAUCUS A BIT BUT IT'S LAW NOW.

>> REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS SAID YESTERDAY TO REPORTERS WE'RE SEEING THIS DISAGREEMENT WITHIN THE CAUCUS BECAUSE THE OPPOSITION IS BASED ON VARIOUS REASONS.

NOT JUST ONE REASON TOGETHER.

SO SOME PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT HAVING THESE AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES ON THE ROAD.

SOME WOULD LIKE DIFFERENT REGULATIONS.

>> Bill: AND OBVIOUSLY THE TEAMSTERS IT'S THE JOBS THE POTENTIALLY THAT IF TRUCKS ARE DRIVING THEMSELVES THEY NEED NO TRUCK DRIVERS.

>> AND THAT IS ANOTHER OPPOSITION POINT.

>> Bill: AND WHAT WAS TALKED ABOUT JOHN HAD HIS OWN OPPOSITION TO IT ALL?

>> I WOULD RATHER NOT BE IN FRONT OF THEM OR NEXT TO THEM.

OTHER THAN THAT I'M FINE WITH THEM.

>> Bill: THERE WILL BE RULES.

>>> THE GOVERNOR TOOK HIS VETO PEN TO THE STATE BUDGET.

HE COULD TAKE FROM BUT COULD NOT ADD EXPENDITURES.

ALL OF THAT WAS OVERRIDDEN TODAY AS WELL.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE KEA SAID THAT HE WANTED MORE MONEY TO BE INVESTED IN TEACHERS' PAY.

HE ACKNOWLEDGES THERE'S MORE MONEY GOING TO EDUCATION, JOHN, BUT HE CALLED IT A MISSED OPPORTUNITY.

>> RIGHT.

WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS BEFORE.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR WANTED MORE MONEY AND SPECIFICALLY A MANDATE SAYING THAT TEACHERS NEEDED TO GET LARGE RAISES AND SPECIFICALLY THAT THIS MONEY WENT INTO THE SEEK FORMULA, THE PER PUPIL FUNDING FORMULA NEEDED TO GO FOR TEACHERS RAISES EACH YEAR.

THE LEGISLATURE SAYS WE HOPE THEY WILL GIVE TEACHERS RAISES BUT THAT IS A LOCAL DECISION.

THE TEACHERS FEEL OFTEN THIS IS A MISSED OPPORTUNITY AND OTHER STATES ARE GIVING LARGER RAISES THAN THEY ARE GETTING.

IT WILL BE UP TO THE DISTRICTS TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON THAT.

>> Bill: CAN THE RAISES BY MEAGER GIVEN THE PRIORITIES FOR THE SCHOOLS?

>> TRANSPORTATION COSTS THERE ARE SO MANY COSTS AND THERE ARE LOCAL SCHOOL LEADERS SAY WE APPRECIATE THE FUNDING WE WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE RAISES BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT TENNESSEE AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING DRAMATIC TEACHER RAISES IT IS A MUCH FRIENDLIER ENVIRONMENT FOR THE TEACHERS.

>> Bill: WE HAVE A TEACHER SHORTAGE.

>> RIGHT.

IT FEELS LIKE THIS ARGUMENT IS A CORNERSTONE OF MODERN KENTUCKY POLITICS AT THIS TIME IT SEEMS COMING OFF THE GOVERNOR'S RACE WHERE BESHEAR CAMPAIGNED ON GIVING THE RAISES TO TEACHERS.

AND CAMPAIGNED ON RAISING TEACHER PAY IN HIS FIRST TERM AND WE SEE THIS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY EACH SESSION.

>> Bill: HOUSE BILL 44 GOT A VETO DEALING WITH ELECTION AND VOTER ROLL MATTERS?

>> YES, THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE BILL LOOKS AT DEATH RECORDS THAT COME FROM THE BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION AND HEAD TO THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.

AND THIS IS A PROCESS THAT SECRETARY OF STATE MICHAEL ADAMS HAS USED IN THE PAST AND THIS WOULD HAVE MADE THIS PERMANENT PROCESS FOR THE FUTURE.

THERE IS A SUBSECTION ADDED LATER ON IN THE SESSION THAT BANS RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN KENTUCKY AND THAT IS A NEW STYLE OF VOTING THAT WE'RE SEEING NATIONWIDE.

BUT WITH THIS LAW BECOMING INTO EFFECT, KENTUCKY WON'T BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THAT IN THE FUTURE.

>> Bill: AND ADAMS MADE THE CLEANING UP THE VOTING ROLLS A HIGH PRIORITY AND A LOT OF PUBLICITY ABOUT THAT.

>> THAT IS SOMETHING HE HAS DONE IN THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE AND WE'LL SEE FROM HIM, TOO.

>> Bill: SENATE BILL 2 IS BECOMING LAW IT WILL LET SCHOOL DISTRICTS HIRE GUARDIANS RATHER THAN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, IN ADDITION TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

JOE IN THAT DOES PROVIDE FUNDING AS WELL?

>> THERE IS FUNDING.

THESE WOULD BE RETIRED POLICE, VETERANS WHO WOULD BE ABLE TO BE ARMED IN SCHOOL.

DEMOCRATS WERE AGAINST THIS BILL.

THEY CHANGED THE BILL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SESSION TO ADD THIS.

DEMOCRATS WERE AGAINST IT AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE DEALS WHERE BESHEAR WENT AGAINST HIS PARTY BUT HE DIDN'T VETO IT.

HE LET IT GO LAW WITHOUT HIS SIGNATURE.

A LOT OF TIMES GOVERNORS DO THAT ON ISSUES WHERE THEY KNOW THE VOTES ARE THERE TO OVERRIDE IT.

HE DIDN'T WANT TO VETO IT'S IN THE MIDDLE.

>> Bill: WE ARE TO THE CLOSING HOURS OF THE SESSION THAT WILL BE ON MONDAY.

OTHER BILLS OF NOTE THAT WERE VETOED OR SIGNED?

>> COUPLE LOUISVILLE CENTRIC BILLS HOUSE BILL 388 LOUISVILLE CURRENTLY HAS PARTISAN ELECTIONS FOR THE LOCAL OFFICES, MAYOR AND METRO COUNCIL THAT IS GOING TO BE CHANGED TO NONPARTISAN NOW.

DEMOCRATS WERE AGAINST THIS.

BUT IT'S PUSHED BY REPUBLICANS IN JEFFERSON COUNTY WHO WANTED THE CHANGE AND IT CHANGED DIFFERENT PARTS.

>> Bill: A LONG TRADITION OF PARTISAN ELECTIONS IN LOUISVILLE BUT MOST OF THE STATE HAS NONPARTISAN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

>> THAT IS TRUE.

AS THE REPUBLICANS ARE PUSHING THIS BILL ONE BILL CAME A LITTLE ADVANCED A LITTLE BIT BUT STOPPED TO HAVE STATE-WIDE PARTISAN RACES FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD.

IT WAS KIND OF AN ODD SITUATION WHEN YOU HAD THE TWO SEPARATE BILLS ADVANCING THAT CONTRADICTED EACH OTHER ON THEIR MAIN GOAL.

ANOTHER LOUISVILLE CENTRIC BILL WAS RESOLUTION 81, THIS WOULD CREATE A TASK FORCE TO LOOK AT JCPS WHETHER IT SHOULD BE BROKEN UP.

THIS WAS ANOTHER ONE THAT FELL ON PARTY LINES AND THE PROBLEMS OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT REALLY HELPED THAT BILL ALONG TO PASSAGE.

>> Bill: THE BILLS THAT YOU WATCHED?

SENATE BILL 349 TO INCREASE THE REGULATORY BURDENS FOR UTILITY COMPANIES THAT WANT TO RETIRE THEIR COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS BY TURNING TO CLEANER ENERGY SOURCES.

IT WOULD CREATE A STATE BOARD TO REVIEW SUCH DECISIONS.

COAL INDUSTRY LOBBIED FOR IT AND UTILITY COMPANIES ARE AGAINST IT.

THAT'S GOING TO SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY.

>> SENATE BILL 299 GAINED TRACTION LATER IN THE SESSION BUT THAT WOULD COMBINE THE KENTUCKY HORSERACING COMMISSION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF GAMING INTO ONE NEW GOVERNMENT CORPORATION.

BESHEAR DID VETO THIS BILL.

SAYING THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF A DISCUSSION HAD ON IT IN THE INTERIM SESSION.

BUT REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE WANT TO MOVE AHEAD WITH IT.

IT WAS BACKED IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

>> Bill: ONE PENDING MATTER, DEMOCRATIC SENATOR YATES USED A DISCHARGE PETITION TO GET A TENSION ON HIS BILL THAT WOULD PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS TO KENTUCKY'S NEAR TOTAL ABORTION BAN.

WHERE DOES THAT STAND AS WE GR INTO MONDAY, THE LAST DAY?

>> THIS IS SOMETHING WE'LL LIKELY SEE ON THE FLOOR MONDAY.

YESTERDAY TALKING WITH REPORTERS, STIVERS DID SAY THAT HE VIEWED THIS AS YATES MAKING A POLITICAL STATEMENT RATHER THAN A POLICY MANEUVER.

AND STIVERS ARGUED IT WOULD NOT SURVIVE THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS WITH SUCH LITTLE TIME IN THE SESSION.

>> THIS IS INTERESTING IF YOU THE CONTEXT IF YOU GO BACK 10, 20 YEARS WHEN DEMOCRATS HAD CONTROL OF THE HOUSE, REPUBLICANS WOULD ALWAYS TRY TO DO THE DISCHARGE PETITIONS ON ISSUES RELATED TO ABORTION, WHERE THEY WANTED TO GET IT TO THE FLOOR AND THEY COULDN'T.

AND PART WAS BECAUSE THEY FELT STRONGLY AND WANTED TO FORCE DEMOCRATS INTO TOUGH VOTES ON THAT.

HERE WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, THE ISSUE FLIPPED WHERE DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO GET THE DISCHARGE POSITION ON THAT SAME ISSUE OF ABORTION.

>> Bill: LET'S BRING DRAMA OR INTRIGUE GOING INTO MONDAY.

>> I THINK SO.

THIS IS A TOPIC THAT WE WERE EXPECTING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO TAKE UP BEFORE THE SESSION BEGAN THIS WAS A AND TOIC IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE TO ADD EXCEPTIONS TO KENTUCKY'S ABORTION BAN IN THE CASES OF RAPE AND INCEST AND IN ADDITION TO YATE'S BILL THERE IS A REPUBLICAN BILL THAT MIRRORS THIS IN THE HOUSE THAT HASN'T MOVED.

AND BESHEAR WAS SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ISSUE IN HIS REELECTION CAMPAIGN BUT HE SAID IF LAWMAKERS DO NOT ADDRESS IT THAT IS ANOTHER YEAR THAT PEOPLE IN KENTUCKY WHO WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE OPTIONS WON'T BE ABLE TO ACCESS THEM.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS ON MONDAY.

WE AWAIT THE FIRST-EVER SENATE CONFIRMATION VOTE FOR EDUCATION COMMISSIONER Dr. ROBBY FLETCHER IS THE CHOICE OF THE KENTUCKY SCHOOL BOARD.

HE WENT BEFORE THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE THIS AFTERNOON AND DISCUSSED HOW HE WOULD HANDLE HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

>> YES, THE GOVERNOR HAS A LOT OF INPUT.

YES, THE GOVERNOR HAS GREAT IDEAS.

BUT JUST LIKE WHEN TALKING WITH SENATOR WEST THERE IS NOT ALWAYS GOING TO BE ITEMS WE AGREE ON.

BUT WE CAN HAVE GOOD CONVERSATIONS AND LISTEN TO PEOPLE.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

SO AS I UNDERSTAND IT, Dr. FLETCHER GOT A WARM RECEPTION.

>> IT WAS VERY WARM RECEPTION.

THE COMMITTEE DOESN'T HAVE TO VOTE ON THIS BECAUSE IT IS A RESOLUTION AND IT'S GOING TO GO TO THE SENATE FLOOR FOR THAT FULL CONFIRMATION PROCESS.

BUT LAWMAKERS DURING THE COMMITTEE HEARING WERE LAS CONGRATULATING HIM ON THE SELECTION SAYING THEY'VE HEARD NOTHING GOOD THINGS FROM THE E-MAILS AND CONSTITUENTS THAT REACHED OUT TO THEM.

THEY SEEMED PLEASED WITH HIM FROM THEIR QUESTIONS.

THEY DID MAKE REFERENCES BUT THEY DIDN'T NAME FORMER EDUCATION COMMISSIONER JASON GLASS.

I THINK SOME OF THAT POLITICAL TALK WE SAW IN THE CLIP IS RELATED TO THAT.

GLASS LEFT BECAUSE HE DID NOT WANT TO IMPLEMENT SENATE BILL 150 LAST SESSION'S ANTI-TRANSGENDER LAW THAT WAS CONTROVERSIAL.

AND THAT UPSET REPUBLICANS WHO PASSED THAT BILL IN THE LEGISLATURE.

SO I THINK THAT IS WHY WE'RE SEEING THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE DESIGNEE TO LEAD THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND LAWMAKERS.

>> Bill: SCHOOL CHOICE CAME UP AS WELL.

>> THEY ASKED HIM ABOUT SCHOOL CHOICE HE GIVEAWAY A VAGUE ANSWER ON THAT TALKING TO REPORTERS AFTER THE MEETING HE SAID I'M NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WHICH WOULD MOVE PUBLIC FUNDS TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS.

ANOTHER QUESTION WAS THE QUESTION THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN SENATE BILL 150 THERE WERE NO QUESTIONS TO FLETCHER ABOUT THAT ISSUE.

THAT WAS INTERESTING.

>> Bill: AND HE WORKED THE SENATORS WELL IN THE DAYS AHEAD OF THE VOTE?

>> YES, EVEN BEFORE THIS MEETING, HE WAS ON THE SENATE FLOOR TALKING WITH LAWMAKERS FOR THE LAST FEW MINUTES BEFORE THIS SESSION BEGAN.

HE'S BEEN MEETING WITH SENATORS OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS TALKING ABOUT HIMSELF AND GETTING AHEAD OF THAT VOTE.

>> Bill: THE FINAL DAY OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS MONDAY BEFORE THE ADJOURNMENT.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN THAT DAY?

THERE IS NO OPPORTUNITY TO OVERRIDE ANY VETO THAT COULD COME FROM GOVERNOR BESHEAR ON ANY LEGISLATION THAT COULD BE PASSED THAT DAY.

BUT, JOHN, I KNOW YOU HAVE YOUR EYE ON THIS OPEN RECORDS BILL THAT HAS BEEN MOVED.

>> HOUSE BILL 509, WHICH GOVERNOR BESHEAR INDICATED SOME SUPPORT FOR.

I DON'T KNOW THAT HE WOULD VETO IT.

IT'S CHANGED FORM SEVERAL TIMES IT WOULD REQUIRE PUBLIC AGENCIES TO CREATE PUBLIC E-MAIL COUNTS FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO DO PUBLIC BUSINESS WHICH SOUNDS FINE BUT IT SAYS OPEN RECORDS REQUEST WOULD NOT COVER ANYTHING ELSE.

IT WOULD NOT LOOK AT TEXTS OR PRIVATE E-MAILS OR ANY OTHER COMMUNICATIONS OUTSIDE OF THAT.

AND THE CONCERN IS THAT IT WOULD BE A ROADMAP FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO BYPASS THE OPEN REPORTS ACT JUST DO BUSINESS ON PERSON CELLPHONES MEANT TO BE A RESPONSE TO A COURT OF APPEALS DECISION LAST OCTOBER AND THE CONCERN IS WE'RE TRYING TO BYPASS THE OPEN RECORDS LAW LETTING THE PUBLIC HAVE ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS.

WE'LL SEE WHAT THE OPEN RECORDS BILL DOES COME MONDAY.

>> AND THE ARGUMENT THIS IS GOING TO CREATE A LOOPHOLE PEOPLE POINT TO THE JCPS AUDIT DEALING WITH THE TRANSPORTATION DISASTER, WHERE THEY HAVE OFFICIALS SAYING DON'T E-MAIL ON THIS PROBLEM LET'S GO THROUGH TEXT BECAUSE PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO GET AN OPEN RECORDS REQUEST.

CRITICS RIGHTLY SAY OTHER AGENCIES WILL DO THIS AND SEE THIS HUGE LOOPHOLE THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH.

>> AND THAT ARGUMENT CAME UP IN THE SENATE HEARING ON THIS BILL.

SENATOR WILLIAMS POINTED OUT THIS BILL DOESN'T ADDRESS THIRD PARTY APPS WHERE MESSAGES ARE DELETED AFTER A A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME.

IT IS UNCLEAR WHAT THE BILL ARGUES WOULD BE THE CONSEQUENCE FOR THOSE ACTIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO DO CREATE THE PUBLIC RECORDS ON PRIVATE DEVICES.

>> Bill: SENATE CHAIRMAN WHITNEY WESTERFIELD IS LEAVING FRANKFORT AT THE END OF THIS TERM.

HE INDICATES FRUSTRATION WITH FRANKFORT POLITICS.

HE WANTS TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH HIS FAMILY.

THEY HAVE TWO CHILDREN AND ARE EXPECTING TRIPLET BOYS THIS SUMMER.

WESTERFIELD SAYS HE WILL BE GLAD TO BE FREE OF THE UGLINESS OF TODAY'S POLITICS.

>> IT'S BECOME VERY TOXIC.

THERE IS A LOT OF INCENTIVE TO BE UGLY TOWARD ONE ANOTHER.

AND BE MEAN TOWARD ONE ANOTHER.

AND HURTFUL AND HARMFUL AND WHETHER IT'S ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR IN OUR PRESS RELEASES OR HOW WE ENGAGE ON THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE OR THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

AND NOT JUST IN FRANKFORT AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL BUT THAT STUFF TRICKLED INTO FRANKFORT.

AND IT'S PUSHING US INTO OUR CORNERS.

>> Bill: INTO OUR CORNERS.

VERY INTERESTING COMMENTS FROM THE SENATOR.

>> YES, I'VE COVERED WESTERFIELD FOR 10 YEARS SINCE HE TOOK OVER THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE AND RAN FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL AGAINST A YOUNG LAWYER NAMED ANDY BESHEAR.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT GUY?

AND WHITNEY HAS BEEN AN IMPRESS ACTIVE THOUGHTFUL CONSERVATIVE FELLOW.

UNLIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE AND THIS IS THE DIFFERENCE.

WHITNEY IS ONE OF THE GUYS THAT CAME TO OFFICE TO GOVERN.

AND SOME OTHER PEOPLE COME TO THROW BOMBS AND BURN THE PLACE DOWN.

HIS INTEREST HAS BEEN CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.

HOW DO YOU LOCK UP THE VIOLENT CRIMINALS BUT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ADDICTS OR THE YOUNG PEOPLE HOW DO YOU REHABILITATE THEM RATHER THAN THROWING THEM IN PRISON FOREVER.

AND HE AGONIZED ABOUT FOR 10 YEARS AND I CAN SEE WHERE HE HAS GOTTEN FRUSTRATED HE IS OUT NUMBERED WITH PEOPLE.

>> HE IS HEADING HOME DOES NOT RULE OUT RETURNING TO POLITICS.

LOUISVILLE MARKED THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE OLD NATIONAL BANK SHOOTING THAT LEFT FIVE PEOPLE DEAD.

HE HAD PRESSED FOR ACTION ON THAT.

>> HE PRESSED FOR A RED FLAG LAW WHEN IT COMES TO GUNS TO ALLOW FOR A JUDGE TO DECLARE SOMEONE WHO IS A THREAT TO THEMSELVES AND OTHERS TO HAVE THEIR GUNS TEMPORARILY TAKEN AWAY.

POLLS SHOWED THERE IS A BIPARTISAN ISSUE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE SUPPORT.

BUT IT NEVER SAW THE LIGHT OF DAY WHEN IT CAME TO COMMITTEE.

>> Bill: SEASON OF HIGH PROFILE CHANGE IN KENTUCKY WITH A LOT OF CHANGES IN COACHES AND U.K., JOHN CALIPARI OUT AND MARK POPE WILL BE THE NEW COACH?

>> YEP, HE HAS BEEN A HUGE FIGURE IN THE STATE FOR 15 YEARS, BESIDES BEING THE HIGHEST PAID PUBLIC EMPLOYEE THAT WE HAVE IN KENTUCKY.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE QUITE A CHANGE.

HE OBVIOUSLY DID A LOT OF WORK RAISING MONEY, PARTICULARLY IN THE NATURAL DISASTERS THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST FEW YEARS.

HE WAS FRIENDLY WITH SOME POLITICAL CANDIDATES AND OFFICE HOLDERS HE WAS FRIENDS WITH KELLY CRAFT AND JOE CRAFT AND HE GAVE A LARGE DONATION TO A PAC THAT HELPED OUT ANDY BESHEAR'S REELECTION CAMPAIGN.

>> Bill: WE'LL MAKE NOTE OF THIS AND DISCUSS IT FURTHER LATER IN ANOTHER EDITION BUT JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS APPROVED A NEW TRANSPORTATION PLAN THAT MAKES CHANGES IN WHO WILL GET TO RIDE A BUS AND EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS OVER THERE IN THE YEAR AHEAD.

THE ECLIPSE BROUGHT OUT THE CROWDS AND THE CLOUDS ON MONDAY AS WELL.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DID GET TO MAKE LASTING MEMORIES.

>> YES, I THINK GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR WATCHED THE ECLIPSE IN WESTERN KENTUCKY WITH A FEW PEOPLE THAT CAME IN FROM OUT OF STATE TO GET A VIEW OF THE ECLIPSE SINCE WE HAD PARTIAL TOTALITY IN THAT PART OF THE STATE.

>> Bill: JOHN IT COMBINED SCIENCE AND COMIMENT AND CONSPIRACY THEORIES.

>> IT WAS WONDERFUL FREQUENTKY TO FEEL THE TEMPERATURE DROP 10° IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY.

>> Bill: IN WASHINGTON HAL RAJERS HAS A NEW CHIEF OF STAFF, KAREN KELLY HEADED UP THE FIELD OFFICE FOR NINE YEARS HELPED ROGERS ESTABLISH THE SOAR INITIATIVE AND HEADED UP THE PRIDE AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM AND FOUNDING PRESIDENT OF OPERATE UNITE.

ROGERS SAID THERE'S NOBODY MORE QUALIFIED TO LEAD HIS LEGISLATIVE AGENDA THAN KAREN KELLY.

LONG TIME KENTUCKY JOURNALIST SHELDON SCHAEFER HAS DIED.

HE WROTE 25,000 STORIES AND 44 YEARS.

SCHAEFER WAS INDUCTED INTO THE KENTUCKY JOURNALISM HALL OF FAME THIS WEEK.

HE DID WHAT GOD REPORTERS DO MAKING CALLS FROM A LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF NUMBERS.

SHELDON SCHAEFER WAS 79.

>>> THAT'S "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.