[♪♪] >> Bill: GOVERNOR DE CAN HE BEGINS HIS SECOND TERM IN OFFICE AND CALLS IT KENTUCKY'S MOMENT.

>>> MORE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTURES, LONG TIME SENATE MAJORITY LEADER WILL NOT RUN FOR REELECTION.

LAWMAKERS DISCUSS A MAJOR STATE CRIME BILL WITH SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT SLOWING GUN VIOLENCE AS WELL.

REMEMBERING JULIAN CAROL WHO SERVED AS HOUSE SPEAKER, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, GOVERNOR AND STATE SENATOR.

JUST 10 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS.

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 ARE OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE MARK VANDERHOFF REPORTER FOR WLKY IN LOUISVILLE.

SARAH LADD, HEALTH AND POLICY REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY LANTERN AND AUSTIN HORN POLITICAL REPORTER NOT THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER.

>>> A WOMAN SUING OVER KENTUCKY'S ABORTION BAN LEARNS HER PREGNANCY IS NO LONGER VIABLE.

>>> AND THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS THE NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAP WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING THE LINES ARE POLITICALLY DRAWN.

>>> A LOT TO DISCUSS ON THIS MID-DECEMBER NIGHT.

LET'S BEGIN WITH THE INAUGURATION OF GOVERNOR BESHEAR AND JACQUELINE COLEMAN BEGINNING THEIR SECOND TERMS OF OFFICE THIS WEEK.

INAUGURATION DAY IS QUITE AN EVENT IN KENTUCKY BEGINNING WITH THE MIDNIGHT SWEARING IN, THE CHURCH SERVICE, A PAY RAID, THE SWEARING IN CEREMONY.

THE BALL AND THE MARCH WHICH YOU CALLED A BIG TO DO.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S IN THE DICTIONARY MAYBE IT IS.

BUT IT IS A HUGE EVENT FOR A FULL BASICALLY, 24 HOURS IN FRANKFORT.

AND THIS TERM WAS NO EXCEPTION.

I THINK THEY REALLY PULL OUT ALL THE STOPS INCH SOME WAY IT IS ALMOST FELT LIKE THE ENTIRE LIKE DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL MACHINE OF KENTUCKY LIKE JUST REALLY CHURNED TO MAKE THIS ONE NIGHT HAPPEN.

AND IT WAS A HUGE, HUGE DEAL.

AND YOU HAVE TO WONDER IF THEY WEREN'T THINKING THIS MIGHT BE THE LAST ONE IN A WHILE FOR US.

SO LET'S MAKE IT A BIG ONE.

AND IT WAS A BIG ONE.

>> Bill: THE STAGING WAS BIG.

LOTS GOING ON AS FAR AS THE PODIUM.

>> VERY EXPENSIVE, TOO.

THEY DIDN'T SWITCH CONTRACTORS FROM LAST TERM.

BUT THE PRICE WENT UP FROM ABOUT $280 SOME TO $400 SOME K. SO THAT'S I GUESS INFLATION.

BUT THE STAGE ALONE WAS THAT MUCH.

SO THINK ABOUT ALL THE OTHER STUFF.

>> Bill: MARK THAT PARADE WAS FESTIVE AND IT HAD EMOTIONAL COMPONENTS I ENDED UP BEING THE PARADE ESY AND THERE WERE SOLEMN -- EMCEE AND THERE WERE SOLEMN MOMENTS ANNOUNCING THE PARADE YOU GET CHOKED UP AS SOME OF THE PARTICIPANTS WENT BY.

>> TO SEE THE DISASTER SURVIVORS AND THE OFFICER NICK WILT SHOT AT THE OLD NATIONAL BANK MASS SHOOTING.

AND JUST THINK IT'S INTERESTING, TOO, IT'S THIS PARADE WITH STATE-WIDE PARTICIPATION.

YOU JUST DON'T SEE THAT A LOT.

AND ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES TALKED TO PEOPLE THAT MAKE IT A TRADITION TO GO OUT THERE EVERY YEAR WHETHER IT'S REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR, TWO LADIES HAVE BEEN GOING SINCE THE 1960s.

>> Bill: IN THIS ADDRESS BESHEAR RECOUNTED THE HARDSHIPS AND RESILIENCE OF KENTUCKIANS, THE PANDEMIC THE TORNADOES AND FLOODING.

BUT HE PIVOTED TO HIS HOPES FOR THE FUTURE.

>> LISTEN, I RAN FOR OFFICE, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT MY KIDS DESERVE A BETTER WORLD AND I BELIEVE EVERY CHILD OF COMMONWEALTH DESERVES THAT BETTER WORLD.

[APPLAUSE] I'M TELLING YOU THIS IS OUR CHANCE.

THIS IS KENTUCKY'S CHANCE TO BE THE DIFFERENCE.

TO BE BOTH AN ECONOMIC AND A MORAL LEADER OF THIS COUNTRY.

SO WE MUST FACE THIS CHALLENGE THE SAME WAY WE ALWAYS DO, TOGETHER.

>> Bill: SO THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH WAS BRIEF FOR AN INAUGURAL ADDRESS BUT IT SOUNDED LIKE THE GREATEST HITS OF THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AS WELL AS HE DELIVERED HIS MESSAGE.

>> YES, AS REPORTERS WHO HAVE COVERED THE SPEECHES THAT HE'S GIVEN FOR THE LAST BASICALLY THE FULL TERM, IT WAS KIND OF JUST LIKE HEARING THOSE GREATEST HITS PUT IN A BLENDER AND HIT THE BUTTON AND YOU GET A NICE SMOOTHIE THAT IS CONGEALED ALL THE TALKING POINTS AND STUFF.

I WAS MORE EXCITED BY THE PERFORMANCES LIE CYLUS HOUSE'S POEM WAS AMAZING.

BEN THE CONCERT CHOIR THEY WERE GREAT.

BUT BESHEAR IN COMPARISON TO LAST TIME AROUND I THINK HE BROKE THE NEWS HE WAS GOING TO REPLACE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IN HIS INAUGURAL SPEECH, I THINK.

>> Bill: HE DID IT THE FIRST DAY.

SO I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.

>> COMPARED TO THAT, THERE REALLY WASN'T MUCH IN THE WAY OF HERE'S THIS NEW NOVEL THING THAT I WILL SAY.

SO GREATEST HITS IS REALLY I THINK A CORRECT WAY OF INTERPRETING THAT SPEECH.

>> Bill: MARK, THE GOVERNOR OBVIOUSLY WANTS TO TRY TO SET AN AGENDA.

THE REPUBLICANS STRONGLY CONTROL THE LEGISLATURE.

BESHEAR WENT AFTER DIVISIVE POLITICS.

WE'RE HEARING THERE MAYBE A BUDGET ADDRESS COMING MONDAY.

WITH HIS PROPOSALS.

SO IS HE TRYING TO SEIZE THE MOMENT RIGHT NOW?

>> WELL, I MEAN IT'S THE BULLY PULPIT.

HE HAS TO USE IT FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH IF NOT FOR HIM BUT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND PUSH THEIR IDEAS FORWARD AND TO HELP OUT WHAT FEW DEMOCRATS ARE LEFT IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH HE'S GOING TO GET REPUBLICAN STATE LAWMAKERS TO DO THINGS THEY DON'T WANT TO DO.

I DON'T SEE THAT HAPPENING.

HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THEM ON COMMON GROUND BUT HE IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO USE THE OFFICE AS A BULLY PULPIT AND PUT FORTH THE DEMOCRATIC IDEAS.

>> Bill: LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JACQUELINE COLEMAN'S SPEECH TOUTED SHE WAS THE FIRST FEMALE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR TO BE REELECTED.

WAS THERE ANYTHING TO READ INTO THE TONE AND DELIVER RIFF HER SPEECH?

>> I THINK IN COMPARISON TO BESHEAR'S, IT WAS A LITTLE MORE POINTED.

WHERE BESHEAR'S WENT BROAD STROKES, SHE TALKED ABOUT SPECIFIC ACTIONS LIKE THE IMPORTANCE FOR THEM OF TAKING DOWN THE JEFFERSON DAVIS STATUE OUT OF THE ROTUNDA.

THE IMPORTANCE OF UNIVERSAL PRE-K WAS THE ONE POLICY SHE HAMMERED HOME AND SAID WE NEED THIS TO HAPPEN.

SO IT WAS A LITTLE MORE NEWSY IN THAT WAY.

AND TO YOUR QUESTION, I DO THINK SHE SOLIDIFIED HERSELF AS A POLITICAL FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH.

WHICH SHE OFTEN DOES WHEN SHE GETS ON THE PODIUM.

SHE IS A GOOD SPEAKER AND CARRIES HERSELF VERY WELL.

AND YOU HAVE TO WONDER HOW THAT INTERPLAYS THE REPUBLICANS TALK ABOUT THE DEEP BENCH FOR STATE-WIDE OFFICE.

WITH DEMOCRATS IT'S EASY, BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT PRETTY MUCH TWO, NOT TO DOWN-PLAY ANYBODY ELSE, BUT THERE'S ROCKY ATKINS SENIOR ADVISER THE EMCEE OF THE EVENT AND JACQUELINE COLEMAN WHO GAVE A REALLY LENGTHY AND GREAT, I THINK, A SOLID SPEECH.

SO YOU HAVE TO WONDER WHAT'S THE SORT OF CALCULATION BETWEEN THOSE TWO IS AND WHO ENDS UP WHERE.

>> IF ONE OF THEM DOESN'T RUN WHO IS GOING TO RUN?

IS THE DEMOCRATS DON'T HAVE A DEEP BENCH.

THEY WILL NEED LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR COLEMAN TO RUN.

OR ROCKY ATKINS ONE OF THEM.

I CAN'T THINK OF A LOT OF OTHER NAMES WHO HAVE STATE-WIDE RECOGNITION.

>> Bill: AND OTHER RACES THAT MAY OR MAY NOT COME ALONG, RIGHT?

THAT WILL BE WATCHING FOR AND SEE.

>>> THERE ARE GOING TO BE MORE DEPARTURES FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE A BOMBSHELL CAME THIS WEEK WHEN REPUBLICAN MAJORITY FLOOR LEADER DAMON THAYER OF GEORGETOWN ANNOUNCED HE WON'T RUN AGAIN IN 2024.

>> AFTER THE LAST SESSION, WHERE WE PASSED A LOT OF REALLY BIG BILLS, SPORTS BETTING, MEDICAL MARIJUANA WE REPEALED THE BOURBON BARREL TAX, BIG THINGS THAT HAD BEEN HANGING AROUND FOR A LONGTIME, I JUST THOUGHT NOW MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME.

AND I JUST DIDN'T HAVE IT IN ME TO DO IT FOR FIVE MORE YEARS.

>> Bill: THAYER THE IS LONGEST SERVING REPUBLICAN SENATE LEADER EVER.

HE KEEPS THE DOOR OPEN TO MAYBE RETURNING TO POLITICS AT SOME POINT.

HE TOLD RENEE SHAW HE MAY RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

>> YEAH.

I WOULDN'T COUNT HIM OUT OF ANYTHING.

HE IS SOMEBODY WHO I THINK PERHAPS AN UNDERRATED PART OF HIS INVOLVEMENT IN FRANKFORT IS HE IS THE TOP GUY WHEN IT COMES TO THE SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN CAUCUS COMMITTEE.

I THINK I GOT THAT RIGHT.

BUT IT'S LIKE THE FUND RAISING ARM OF THE SENATE REPUBLICANS.

SO HE IS SOMEBODY WHO COULD IF HE WANTED TO RUN FOR ANOTHER OFFICE, RAISE A LOT OF MONEY AND QUICKLY.

BUT, YEAH, THIS DEPARTURE I THINK TOOK A LOT OF PEOPLE BY SURPRISE.

HE'S RELATIVELY YOUNG FOR A LEGISLATOR.

HE SEEMS TO ENJOY BOTH ACTUALLY LEGISLATING, MANAGING THE FLOOR, AND ALSO BEING IN THE PUBLIC EYE A LOT.

HE IS LIKE THE LEAST CAMERA SHY PERSON MAYBE IN FRANKFORT.

SO IT WAS A LITTLE SURPRISING.

AND THE ROLE THAT I THINK HE PLAYS FOR THAT CAUCUS IS IMPORTANT TOO.

HE IS SOMEBODY WHO SORT OF TAKES A LOT OF FIRE AND A LOT THE HATE FROM DEMOCRATS.

AND SORT OF GLADLY TAKES IT.

HE IS IN A SAFE SEAT.

>> Bill: HE SEEMED TO ENJOY BEING ATTACKED?

>> IN A WAY, YEAH.

ALL PRESS IS GOOD PRESS FOR SOME PEOPLE AT LEAST.

AND THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT ACTUALLY ROLE WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A CAUCUS, BECAUSE THEN THE FIRE GOES TO ONE PERSON AND EVERYBODY ELSE CAN MOVE IN SILENCE AND DO THEIR THING AND NOT TAKE AS MUCH OF A NEGATIVE PRESS OR HITS FROM OTHER PEOPLE.

>> Bill: DOES HE WANT TO PICK HIS SUCCESSOR?

>> I THINK SO.

I MEAN, KNOWING DAY MON THAYER, WOULD BE SHOCKED IF THERE'S NOT SOMEBODY HE HAS IN MIND.

HE SAYS HE'S PROBABLY -- HE SAID IS PROBABLY OR MAY ENDORSE SOMEBODY.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT DISTRICT, IT IS A SCOTT COUNTY CENTRIC DISTRICT.

THAT IS A FAST GROWING COMMUNITY.

AND IT'S ON THE OTHER SIDES OF IT IT'S SPREAD THIN BETWEEN SPARSELY POPULATED AREA OF FAYETTE COUNTY AND GRANT AND KEN TON UP THERE.

I WOULD EXPECT THERE TO BE SOMEBODY IN SCOTT COUNTY THAT KNOWS DAMON THAYER PRETTY WELL WHO IS GOING TO GO FOR THAT SEAT.

YOU NEVER KNOW.

>> Bill: AND THAT'S THE SENATE SEAT AND THE LEADERSHIP POSITION, MARK, THAYER INDICATED HE WILL SUPPORT JULIE ROCKY ADAMS FOR A LEADERSHIP POST THAT WOULD REPRESENT A SHIFT IN TONE FOR THE REPUBLICANS, RIGHT?

SHE IS A EMPATHETIC PERSON?

>> SHE IS A LOT LESS BOMBASTIC THAN SENATOR THAYER.

MUCH MORE CAMERA SHY, TOO.

AND I DID READ McKENNA HORSLEY'S ARTICLE IN WHICH HE SAID SHE IS MORE OF AN EMPATH.

I THINK THAT MIGHT BE TRUE.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT WOULD MARK A SHIFT FOR THE REPUBLICANS OR FOR THAT CHAMBER SO MUCH AS A SHIFT FOR THAT POSITION AND TO AUSTIN'S POINT THEY WOULD HAVE TO FIND A DIFFERENT PERSON WHO WOULD BE THAT MOUTHPIECE OFTEN VOCAL AND GOING ON CAMERA AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> Bill: STATE REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIP PRATT ALSO OF GEORGETOWN IS STEPPING DOWN AFTER EIGHT YEARS.

TONY HAMPTON IS ENDORSED BY PRATT FOR THAT JOB ALREADY?

>> I THINK IT'S SAFE TO CALL HAMPTON THE FAVORITE AT THIS POINT.

HE'S GOT THE ENDORSEMENT.

INCUMBENT.

HE IS A LOCALLY ELECTED SHERIFF WHO IS A WELL-KNOWN REPUBLICAN AND THIS IS A REPUBLICAN HEAVY DISTRICT.

NEVER SAY NEVER.

SCOTT COUNTY DID GO FOR BESHEAR.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THIS IS A COUNTY THAT HAS FLIPPED PRETTY BRIGHT RED IN NONGOVERNOR-ELECTIONS.

>> Bill: SARAH YOU HAVE TO WONDER WHY SO MANY MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE DECIDING THIS IS THE YEAR TO REEL IT IN AND DEPART.

IT'S A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY.

THEY HAVE TO SHOW UP MORE THAN PEOPLE WOULD EVER THINK FOR A QUOTE PART-TIME JOB?

>> WELL, WHEN REPRESENTATIVE JOSIE RAYMOND ANNOUNCED SHE WAS LEAVING SOMETHING SHE SAID WE WANTED TO BE PART OF LOUISVILLE'S LOCAL GOVERNMENT SO SHE COULD ACT WHEN THE STATE FAILS TO ACT.

SO THAT SORT OF FELT LIKE MAYBE A JAB AT THE VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF POWER THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE RIGHT NOW.

MAYBE SHE FELT STAGNANT IN THAT AND WANTED TO GO SOMEWHERE WHERE SHE WOULD BE IN THE MAJORITY.

>> Bill: IT TAKES MORE TIME DOESN'T IT MARK?

>> GOSH, I CANNOT IMAGINE DOING THAT.

YOU HAVE A FULL-TIME JOB I A LOST THEM HAVE FAMILIES AND FOR 30-60 DAYS OUT OF THE YEAR, PLUS THE INTERIM HEARINGS, IT'S DEMANDING.

AND I THINK THAT WHETHER YOU LIKE OR HATE THEM YOU HAVE TO RESPECT THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THIS TAKES.

>> Bill: FORMER KENTUCKY GOVERNOR JULIAN CARROLL DIED AT THE AGE OF 92.

HIS BODY LAY IN STATE AT THE STATE CAPITOL WHERE THERE WAS A MEMORIAL SERVICE.

HE WAS REMEMBERED FOR THE WAY POLITICS USED TO BE WHEN GOVERNORS HAD NEAR COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE BUDGET AND THE LAWS PASSED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HE ROSE THROUGH THE RANKS FROM HOUSE SPEAKER IN THE 1960s, TO LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, AND THEN BECAME GOVERNOR FROM 1974-1979.

CARROLL THEN SERVED IN THE STATE SENATE FROM 2004-2020.

HE WAS REMEMBERED TODAY AND IS BEING REMEMBERED FOR BEING A FORCEFUL GOVERNOR AT A TIME, MARK, WHEN A GOVERNOR COULD PUSH THINGS THROUGH.

SOMEBODY SAID THIS IS THE GOVERNOR'S BILL IT GOT HIGH PRIORITY.

>> WHAT A DIFFERENT DAY.

AND AT THAT TIME, OF COURSE, DEMOCRATS HAD CARTE BLANCHE THEY HAD SO MUCH POWER AND NOW WE'VE GOT THIS DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR WHO REALLY CAN'T GET A LOT THROUGH THE G.O.P.

SUPER MAJORITY.

AND GOVERNOR BEVIN, A REPUBLICAN, HE HAD A HARD TIME SOMETIMES GETTING THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE HIS OWN PARTY TO DO WHAT HE WANTED.

YEAH, THINGS HAVE CHANGED.

>> Bill: CARROLL DEALT WITH THE BEVERLY HILLS SUPPER CLUB FIRE AND GOT TIGHTER RESTRICTIONS ON REGULATIONS.

HE DEALT WITH THE SCOTIA MINE DISASTER.

TOUGH WINTERS HE DID NOT HAVE AN EASY TERM AND POLITICAL FIGURES WHO GOT THEIR START.

LLEWELLEN WHO CARROLL SPRING INTO ACTION DURING THOSE TOUGH TIMES AND SHE HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT HIS LEGACY THIS WEEK?

>> I THOUGHT ONE OF THE THINGS SHE SAID TODAY DURING THE SERVICE WAS THAT HE GOVERNOR CARROLL KNEW EVERYTHING ABOUT THE BUDGET.

LIKE ALL THESE NUANCES ABOUT THE STATE BUDGET.

HE KNEW EVERYTHING ABOUT EVERY STATE DEPARTMENT.

JUST HIS KNOWLEDGE OF THE INNER WORKING WAS VAST SHE SAID.

AND SHE SAID HE SET THE STANDARD FOR COMPETENCY.

>> Bill: KNOWN FOR THE FIERY SPEECHES, TOO.

>> OH, MY GOD, YEAH.

AND HE WAS MARK BRINGS UP HE KNEW EVERY DETAIL.

HE WAS LUCID UP UNTIL THE VERY END.

A COUPLE YEARS AGO, I REMEMBER CALLING HIM AND HE JUST HAD A LOT OF INSIGHT, REALLY AT 90 YEARS OLD.

I MEAN JUST HE WAS REALLY GREAT AT RETAINING INFORMATION.

AT THE SERVICE TODAY, PEOPLE TALKED A LOT ABOUT HOW HE REMEMBERED EVERYBODY'S NAME.

JUST EVERYBODY AND WAS A NATURAL POLITICIAN.

THE QUOTE STOOD OUT TO ME FROM ED WORLEY WAS JULIAN CARROLL LOVED BEING JULIAN CARROLL.

AND HE WAS REALLY GOOD AT IT.

AND HE WAS.

I MEAN HE WAS REALLY A CHARACTER FROM A DIFFERENT TIME THAN NOW, I THINK.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

THE WOMAN SUING OVER KENTUCKY'S NEAR TOTAL ABORTION BAN SAID THIS WEEK THAT HER PREGNANCY IS NO LONGER VIABLE BUT SHE SAYS HER JANE DOE LAWSUIT WILL CONTINUE.

SARAH, TELL US ABOUT THAT REVELATION THIS WEEK AND WHAT MAY BE NEXT?

>> SO A LITTLE MORE THAN A WEEK AGO THIS JANE DOE SUED BECAUSE SHE WAS EIGHT WEEKS PREGNANT AND DIDN'T WANT TO BE AND ASKING THAT A JUDGE RULE THAT KENTUCKY ABORTION BANS ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL BECAUSE THEY VIOLATED HER RIGHT TO SELF DETERMINATION.

THREE DAYS LATER WE LEARNED THAT HER THE FETUS HAD NO LONGER HAD CARDIAC ACTIVITY.

WE DON'T KNOW.

SHE MAY HAVE MISCARRIED.

WE DON'T KNOW IF SHE NEEDED A DNC AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT OR TRAVEL OUT OF STATE FOR CARE.

I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE SEEKING ABORTIONS IN KENTUCKY GO TO ILLINOIS BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF ACCESS THERE.

WE DON'T KNOW.

WE DO KNOW THE LAWSUIT AS OF NOW, IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE A.C.L.U.

LAWYERS DID ASK OTHER PEOPLE IN THAT SITUATION TO JOIN THE LAWSUIT SO THEY ARE ASKING FOR THAT IN THE OPEN FOR THAT.

BUT WE'LL HAVE TO SEE.

>> Bill: YOU NOTED TRAVEL FOR ABORTION SERVICES.

NOW, THE U.S. SUPREME COURT HAS AGREED TO HEAR A CASE ABOUT ABORTION PILL ACCESS.

>> YES.

WE KNOW A LOT OF KENTUCKIANS ESPECIALLY IN JEFFERSON COUNTY THEY GO TO ILLINOIS BECAUSE IT'S CLOSER AND ALSO TRAVEL TO OTHER STATES IF YOU HAVE THE MEANS WHICH A LOT OF PEOPLE WON'T.

BUT, YEAH, THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT WILL BE HEARING THIS CASE ABOUT PEOPLE SAY THE ABORTION PILL AND THAT IS ACCURATE BECAUSE THIS IS USED FOR ROUGHLY HALF OF THE ABORTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES.

BUT IT'S ALSO USED TO TREAT MISCARRIAGES THAT DON'T COMPLETE THEMSELVES.

>> Bill: THERE IS SOME TALK ABOUT KENTUCKY LAWMAKERS CONSIDERING EXCEPTIONS FOR THE STATE LAW IN CASES OF RAPE OR INCEST.

WHERE DOES THAT SEEM TO STAND JUST A COUPLE WEEKS BEFORE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BEGINS?

>> I THINK WE'LL ALMOST CERTAINLY SEE A DEMOCRAT FILE SOMETHING AS WE DID LAST SESSION.

THE DEMOCRAT ALSO WANT TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION THAT TRIES TO RESTORE ACCESS OR AT THE LEAST ADD EXCEPTIONS FOR RAPE AND INCEST.

BUT WE COULD SEE A REPUBLICAN BACKED BILL.

REPRESENTATIVE JASON 19 MUST FILED SOMETHING THIS YEAR TRYING TO ADD EXCEPTIONS FOR RAPE AND INCEST.

HE HAD REPUBLICANS WHO JOINED ON AS COSPONSORS.

THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF SUPPORT BUT IT DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE.

WILL IT BE INTRODUCED?

ALMOST DEFINITELY.

WILL IT GO ANYWHERE?

I DOUBT IT.

>> Bill: WE CAN SEE CHILDCARE IS EMERGING AS AN ISSUE THAT AT LEAST A LOT OF FOLKS WANT THE LEGISLATURE TO ACT ON.

COVID ERA FEDERAL FUNDING IS ENDING AND A LOT OF DAYCARES INDICATE THEY WILL FACE TROUBLE IF SOMETHING DOESN'T GIVE.

>> A HUGE PERCENTAGE OF CHILDCARE PROVIDERS IN KENTUCKY SAYING IF THE LEGISLATURE DOESN'T ALLOCATE A LOT OF MONEY, $300 MILLION WE HEARD ESTIMATES BUT IF THE LEGISLATURE DOESN'T PUT MONEY INTO THIS INDUSTRY, THEY ARE SAYING THEY MAY HAVE TO CUT WAGES WHICH ARE REALLY LOW FROM 13 TO $10 AN HOUR WHICH MEANS YOU WILL LOSE STAFF.

PEOPLE WILL LEAVE.

YOU ALSO THEY ARE LOOKING AT RAISING TUITION FOR PARENTS IN THAT CASE PARENTS MAY HAVE TO PULL THE KIDS BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD IT.

AND YOU MAY HAVE PEOPLE LEAVING THE WORKFORCE.

IT IS A DOMINO ISSUE IF YOU PULL ONE THING A LOT OF THINGS HAPPEN.

THEY WANT LAWMAKERS TO ALLOCATE FUNDS AND THERE ARE LAWMAKERS WHO ARE WILLING TO DO THAT.

THIS WILL BE A CONVERSATION.

>> Bill: MARK, THERE WAS A MAJOR COMMITTEE MEETING IN FRANKFORT FRIDAY, A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT A CRIME BILL.

WE CAN SEE THAT EMERGING AS A BIG ISSUE.

AND SOME TALK ABOUT A WAY OF PERHAPS BEING ABLE TO KEEP GUNS AWAY FROM PEOPLE WHO MAYBE IN A TROUBLED SITUATION.

>> YES, THAT IS RIGHT.

A LOT OF THINGS WERE ON THE AGENDA.

THE CRIME BILL IS A SWEEPING BILL WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT PARTS TO IT.

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG DEAL THIS SESSION.

I THINK IT WILL BE CONTROVERSIAL, TOO, BECAUSE DIFFERENT PARTS ANGER DIFFERENT CONSTITUENTS FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.

BUT THE REAL BIG ONE TODAY THAT BROUGHT OUT A LOT OF PEOPLE WAS THIS CAR BILL.

CRISIS AVERSION AND RIGHTS RETENTION.

SOME SURVIVORS OF THE OLD NATIONAL BANK SHOOTING WERE THERE, SOME OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS AND WIDOWS OF PEOPLE WHO DIED IN THE OLD NATIONAL BANK SHOO SHOOTING WERE THERE TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT FOR THIS BILL.

WHAT IT DOES, IS IT ALLOWS LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER TO GO TO A JUDGE, PETITION THAT JUDGE TO HAVE THE FIREARMS TEMPORARILY, TEMPORARILY, REMOVED FROM SOMEBODY THE JUDGE WILL HOLD A HEARING AND IF THE JUDGE DETERMINES THAT PERSON IS IN A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND AN IMMEDIATE DANGER TO THEMSELVES AND OTHERS THEN THE JUDGE WILL TEMPORARILY REMOVE THEIR FIREARMS.

>> Bill: IS IT A BRIDGE TOO FAR FOR MANY LAWMAKERS WHO EXPRESSED THAT TODAY?

>> A LOST OF LAWMAKERS FEAR THIS IS A SLIPPERY SLOPE THAT COULD LEAD TO MORE GUN CONTROL.

AND OTHERS POINT-BLANK THEY SEE IT AS A VIOLATION OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT.

>> Bill: ATTORNEY GENERAL ELECT RUSSEL COLEMAN BROUGHT UP GVI WITH LOUISVILLE MAYOR GREENBERG.

LINDA GORTON SAID IT WAS NOT A GOOD FIT FOR THE CITY IN LEXINGTON AS IT WAS FACING A SPIKE IN SHOOTINGS.

WHERE IS THAT NOW HEADED?

DOES COLEMAN INTEND TO PUSH THAT?

>> YEAH, GROUP VIOLENCE INTERVENTION AS BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN LOUISVILLE.

AND WHEN COLEMAN WAS THE U.S. ATTORNEY FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY PLACE PLACED IN LOUISVILLE HE BROUGHT IT TO LOUISVILLE AND IT'S BEEN SUCCESSFUL THOUGH IT GOT OFF TO A SLOW START.

THEY GO TO KNOWN GANG MEMBERS AND LISTEN WE KNOW WHAT YOU DO AND MAYBE THAT GANG MEMBER IS ON PROBATION.

WE'LL GIVE YOU TWO CHANGES.

CHANGE YOUR WAYS AND IF YOU DON'T WE'LL PUT YOU AWAY FOR GOOD AND IT GIVES THEM LEVERAGE TO HELP SHIFT THESE PEOPLE AND MOVE THEM INTO A BETTER LIFESTYLE, CRIME FREE LIFESTYLE.

I THINK THAT WHAT COLEMAN WANTED TO DO IS MEET WITH GREENBURG AND SAY LISTEN I'M HERE TO HELP ANYWAY I CAN.

AND GREENBURG WILL TAKE HELP WHERE HE CAN GET IT.

>> Bill: THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT UPHELD THE REPUBLICAN DRAWN BOUNDARIES FOR DISTRICTS.

AUSTIN A LOWER COURT RULED THERE WAS GERRYMANDERING BUT IT IS NOT UNCONSTITUTIONAL?

>> AND THE SUPREME COURT BASICALLY AFFIRMED THAT WHAT I FOUND INTERESTING IS IN THEIR DIFFERENT OPINIONS YOU HAD SOME PEOPLE DISSENT BUT NOBODY REALLY DISSENTED AGAINST THE BASIC CONCLUSION OF THE OPINION WHICH WAS THAT GERRYMANDERING OR NOT, THIS MAP COMPLETELY PASSES CONSTITUTIONAL MUSTER.

THERE WAS ONE EXCEPTION, JUST AS MICHELLE KELLER SAID THAT IT VIOLATED A CANED OF OBSCURE SECTION ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION ABOUT ACCESSSIVE COUNTY SPLITTING.

BUT IT WAS A UNANIMOUS VOICE MUCH MORE THAN I EXPECTED THAT THIS MAP IS OKAY.

BOTH OF THE MAPS THE U.S. AND U.S. CONGRESSIONAL THE MAPS ARE OKAY.

AND WE'RE NOT INTERPRETING THE CONSTITUTION WHICH GUARANTEES FREE AND EQUAL ELECTIONS WHICH WAS THE LYNCHPIN OF THE ARGUMENT FREE AND EQUAL ELECTIONS MEANS YOU CANNOT GERRYMANDER.

THEY REJECTED THAT ARGUMENT.

>> Bill: ROBERT BEN VEN NUTTY HE IS THE FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE.

>> HE IS A LEXINGTON ATTORNEY.

HE REPLACES MACK BROWN WHO IS IN THAT POSITION FOR ABOUT EIGHT YEARS.

I WOULD INTERPRET THIS AS KIND OF MORE OF THE SAME.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

I FOUND MACK BROWN'S EXIT TO BE INTERESTING.

HE DID AN INTERVIEW WHERE HE WORE A UKRAINE PIN AND SAID THAT THE PARTY NEEDS TO MOVE ON FROM DONALD TRUMP.

I DON'T EXPECT HIM TO SAY ANYTHING LIKE THAT AS CHAIR.

BUT CERTAINLY PEOPLE WITHIN THE PARTY WILL BE ASKING HIM ABOUT BOTH OF THOSE VERY DIVISIVE AMONG REPUBLICANS ISSUES.

>> Bill: A CERTIFICATE OF NEED TASK FORCE HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR AT THE STATE LAW THAT REQUIRES APPROVAL FOR NEW OR EXPANDED HEALTH SERVICES CRITICS CALL IT A COMPETITOR'S VETO AND SARAH, WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME IT WAS A STUDY AND MORE STUDIES IS NEEDED?

>> THEY MIGHT HAVE TO PICK IT UP AND CONTINUE STUDYING IT.

WE MIGHT SEE ANOTHER TASK FORCE.

>> Bill: NOW THAT THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS STORED AT THE ARMY DEPOT HAVE BEEN DESTROYED THERE MAY BE NEW MISSIONS AHEAD FOR THAT FACILITY.

SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL ANNOUNCED A NEW BILL INCLUDES MONEY FOR RAMPING UP PRODUCTION OF DEFENSE MATERIALS.

ALSO MONEY FOR A TRAINING RANGE AT FORT CAMPBELL AND A MODERN MAINTENANCE FACILITY FOR THE KENTUCKY NATIONAL GUARD.

AGAIN, WE EXPECT THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL MONDAY.

THAT'S "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.