[♪♪] >> Bill: ATTORNEY GENERAL RUSSELL COLEMAN SUPPORTS A LOUISIANA LAW ALLOWING STATES TO PERMIT THE POSTING OF THE 10 COMMAND MENTDS IN SCHOOLS AND HE TALKS ABOUT THE DEATH PENALTY.

KENTUCKY'S MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM IS ABOUT TO BEGIN AND WE NOW KNOW WHO WILL OPERATE THE DISPENSARIES IN THE STATE.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR LOOKS BACK ON THE YEAR AND INCLUDING HIS TIME ON THE EDGE OF THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT.

AND PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP SUGGESTS THERE IS A FUTURE ROLE FOR CLEAN COAL AS AN ENERGY SOURCE.

WAS WE GEAR UP FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON, 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 TONIGHT ARE TESSA DUVALL, POLITICS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS EDITOR FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER.

MCKENNA HORSLEY, POLITICS REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY LANTERN.

AND MARIO ANDERSON, ANCHOR AND HOST OF IN FOCUS KENTUCKY ON SPECTRUM NEWS ONE.

ALSO TONIGHT, THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS A LAW THAT GIVES SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS MORE POWER AND COULD GIVE THE LEGISLATURE A LANE TO IMPOSE NEW LAWS ON A SINGLE ENTITY.

BUT FIRST WE HAVE BREAKING NATIONAL NEWS.

THE HOUSE HAS PASSED A SPENDING BILL APPARENTLY AVOIDING AA GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN.

ONCE A LOT OF VOTES FOLLOWED IT WAS AN OVERWHELMING VOTE THIS EVENING.

>> THERE WERE STILL A FEW DOZEN REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED AGAINST IT.

AND FOR THOSE OF US WHO FOLLOW KENTUCKY POLITICS, THOMAS MASSIE OUT OF NORTHERN KENTUCKY WHO SAY STICKLER WAS AMONG THOSE NO VOTES.

>> Bill: HE HAS GIVEN HIMSELF A NICKNAME?

>> NOSTRA THOMAS.

>> Bill: IT DOES MEAN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO FUNCTION AS WE'RE AIRING LIVE HERE ON THIS FRIDAY NIGHT.

SO OVER THE HOLIDAYS THAT BURDEN AT LEAST IS NOT OUT THERE.

ALL RIGHT, WE MENTIONED THE SUPREME COURT UPHELD A LAW TO GIVE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS MORE POWER.

IT COULD MEAN THATTED LEGISLATURE COULD POTENTIALLY DO MORE OF THIS TARGETED SORT OF LEGISLATION.

A 4-3 VOTE BY THE STATE'S HIGHEST COURT.

SO IT SHIFTS POWERS FROM AGAIN THE ELECTED SCHOOL BOARDS TO THE SUPERINTENDENTS.

>> RIGHT.

BUT THAT IS ONLY IN A COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE THEY CONSOLIDATED LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

WHICH IS WRITTEN IN THAT 2022 LAW.

AT PRESENT THAT IS ONLY JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

BUT THE MAJORITY OF THE OPINION WRITTEN SAYS THE MAJORITY OF THE SUPREME COURT IS INTERPRETING THIS TO SAY THAT THE LAW AS WRITTEN IS CONSTITUTIONAL BECAUSE IT IS NOT LIMITED TO A PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL, OBJECT OR LOCAL.

IN THE FUTURE AT SOME POINT ANOTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT MAYBE IMPACTED HOW THIS IS PHRASED AND SUBJECT TO THIS LAW.

HOWEVER THREE A LOT OF DISSENTS ON THIS BECAUSE IT COMES INTO PLAY WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR SPECIAL LEGISLATION IN THE FUTURE WHICH TYPICALLY ONLY IMPACTS A SINGLE ENTITY RATHER THAN STATE-WIDE N HER DISSENT ANGELA McCORMICK ISSUED A STRONG OPINION ON THIS ARGUING THAT THE RULING COULD GIVE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THE ABILITY TO EVADE THESE CONSTITUTIONAL BANS ON SPECIAL LEGISLATION AND GAVE HYPOTHETICALS IT COULD MEAN PUBLIC UNIVERSITY BETWEEN THE LAKES WHICH IS JUST MURRAY STATE UNIVERSITY COULD HAVE ITS FUNDING LIMITED BECAUSE THERE MIGHT BE ANOTHER UNIVERSITY IN THE REGION IN THE FUTURE.

>> Bill: DOES IT POSSIBLY OPEN THE DOORS TO MORE OF THAT AS THE DISSENTING JUSTICE SAID?

>> I THINK THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF LAWYERS IN THE STATE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.

AS WE'VE SEEN, OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS IN THE LEGISLATURE THERE HAS BEEN INTEREST IN GOING AFTER LOUISVILLE SPECIFIC THINGS.

BY THE REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED LEGISLATURE BUT THE CONSTITUTION DOES HAVE THIS BAN ON SPECIAL LEGISLATION WHICH SPECIFICALLY GOES AFTER ONE ENTITY OR LOCALITY.

WHAT THE SUPREME COURT HAS DONE IN THIS INSTANCE IS SAY WELL, OTHERS COULD MOVE INTO THE CATEGORY IT DOESN'T SAY JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SPECIFICALLY.

I THINK THERE ARE GOING TO BE FOLKS WHO WANT TO FIGURE OUT CAN WE WORK THIS IN OTHER AREAS.

BUT CERTAINLY THERE IS FEAR IN LOUISVILLE ESPECIALLY AMONG DEMOCRATS WHO OFTEN FEEL LIKE THE REPUBLICAN SUPER MAJOR PICKS ON THEM THIS IS GOING TO OPEN THE DOOR TO WHO KNOWS WHAT.

BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT RIGHT NOW.

>> WE EVEN SAW THIS TO A DEGREE SINCE THIS 2022 LEGISLATION.

THIS PAST SESSION, LAWMAKERS PASSED A RESOLUTION THAT LOOKED AT THE GOVERNANCE OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH ONLY 75,000 STUDENTS OR MORE.

AND THAT ONLY APPLIES TO JEFFERSON COUNTY SCHOOLS THAT IS ALL THAT THAT TASK FORCE LOOKED AT.

>> Bill: SOMETIMES THERE ARE SITUATIONS THAT ARE NARROW.

THE CORBIN CITY LIMITS FOR A LONGTIME IT WAS SAID CITY CAN ONLY BE IN TWO COUNTIES NOT THREE.

AND SO I THINK THAT WAS A RECENT COURT CHANGE THAT ALLOWED THAT.

A LOT OF THREADING OF THE NEEDLE HERE WITH THE LAKE AND SOME OF THESE RULINGS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT ATTORNEY GENERAL RUSSELL COLEMAN'S MOVE TO SUPPORT A LOUISIANA LAW THAT WOULD ALAW THE POSTING OF THE 10 COMMANDMENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

INTERESTINGLY IT WAS A 1980 U.S. SUPREME COURT DECISION THAT STRUCK DOWN A KENTUCKY LAW ON THE 10 COMMANDMENTS THAT SET THE STAGE FOR THIS DEBATE NEARLY 45 YEARS LATER.

COLEMAN IS LEADING 18 ATTORNEY GENERALS IN SUPPORT OF THE LAW AND THE 10 COMMANDMENTS ARE A PART OF AMERICAN HISTORY.

>> THIS GROUP OF CONSERVATIVE ATTORNEYS GENERAL WRITTEN TO THE COURTS IN SUPPORT OF THIS LOUISIANA LAW.

THE 10 COMMANDMENTS PLAYED SUCH A ROLE IN OUR NATION'S HERITAGE AND HAS A ROLE IN U.S. HISTORY, AND THE LOUISIANA LAW REQUIRES THE CONTEXT GO WITH THE 10 COMMANDMENTS.

PUTTING IT IN PRESENTATION AS A HISTORIC CAL DOCUMENT IN THAT SENSE.

BUT THERE ARE OPPONENTS OF THIS AS YOU MENTIONED THAT 1980 SUPREME COURT CASE HANDLED SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR.

STEMMING FROM A PIECE OF LEGISLATION IN KENTUCKY.

AND THE FINDING AT THE TIME WAS THAT THIS IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

AND SO THE A.C.L.U.

INVOLVED IN 1980 AND IS CERTAINLY PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO THIS NOW, HAS SAID THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TRYING TO PROMOTE A PARTICULAR RELIGIOUS VIEWPOINT THROUGH THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> Bill: WELL, THE CHALLENGERS ARE SAYING CHILDREN OF OTHER FAITHS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO LOOK AT THE 10 COMMANDMENTS IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL.

>> AND WHAT SUPPORTERS ARE SAYING YOU CANNOT SEPARATE U.S. HISTORY FROM THE ROLE OF RELIGION OVER THE YEARS.

SO WE WILL CERTAINLY IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THIS SHAKES OUT AS WE'VE SEEN IN RECENT YEARS.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS GOING BACK BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT GETTING A FRESH LOOK WITH THE NEW MAKEUP OF THE COURT.

>> Bill: A LOT TO WATCH.

COLEMAN DID YEAR END INTERVIEWS WHICH HE CALLED FOR THE DEATH PENALTY TO BE CARRIED OUT IN KENTUCKY THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED IN THE STATE SINCE 2008.

HERE IS WHAT COLEMAN HAD TO SAY.

>> I'M SEEKING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DEATH PENALTY BECAUSE THAT IS THE LAW HERE IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

IF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY CHOOSES WHERE TO CHOOSE TO REMOVE THE DEATH PENALTY AS THE ULTIMATE PUNISHMENT WE WOULD ENFORCE THE LAWS OF THE COMMONWEALTH.

>> Bill: MARROW, COLEMAN IS SAYING THE LEGISLATURE COULD CHANGE THE LAW BUT IT'S HIS JOB TO CARRY OUT THE CURRENT LAW AND EXECUTIONS SHOULD RESUME.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

AND THIS BECAME MORE OUT IN THE OPEN AS INDIANA HAD THEIR FIRST EXECUTION IN MANY YEARS THIS PAST WEEK.

AND SO IT'S BECOMING TOP OF MIND NOW.

WITH THE FRANKLIN CIRCUIT COURT THEY BLOCKED THE DEATH PENALTY HERE IN KENTUCKY SINCE 2010 DUE TO CONCERNS THAT THE EXECUTION PROTOCOL AND THE MENTAL HEALTH STATUS OF INCARCERATED PEOPLE ON DEATH ROW NEEDED TO BE SEE EVALUATED AND THERE'S CONCERNS ABOUT THE MEDICINES USED IN THIS PARTICULAR PROCESS.

BUT ATTORNEY GENERAL COLEMAN SAID THAT BACK IN MARCH, THE BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION ADOPTED POLICIES THAT BRING KENTUCKY IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE COURT'S CONCERNS.

WE'LL SEE HOW THIS PLAYS OUT OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS.

>> Bill: HE BELIEVES THE PATH HAS BEEN CLEARED?

>> HE DOES.

>> Bill: COLEMAN IN THESE INTERVIEWS TALKED ABOUT TIKTOK AND THE BAN THAT COULD GO INTO EFFECT A PLATFORM HE HAS BEEN CRITICAL OF.

HE SUED IN OCTOBER, HE SAYS IT'S A PART OF HIS OVER ARCHING THINGS OF PROTECTING FAMILIES.

>> WE HEAR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TALKING ABOUT PROTECTING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND HE SEES THIS AS AN EXTENSION OF THAT.

HE CALLED IT AN ADDICTION MACHINE DESIGNED TO SUCK IN KIDS AND KEEP THEM ENGAGED AND KEEP THEIR ATTENTION AND HARMFUL TO THEM BY DOING THAT.

SO HE HAS SAID HE PLANS TO CONTINUE WITH HIS LAWSUIT NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE BAN AND THE COMPANY IS APPEALING THAT BAN.

>> Bill: AND ALSO IN THE NEWS IN THE LAST WEEK OR TWO, COLEMAN'S OFFICE ISSUED AN OPINION SAYING THE TAXPAYERS SHOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR INMATE GENDER AFFIRMING CARE SURGERIES THAT HAS BECOME A HOT TOPIC.

>> IT HAS.

IT GOT ATTENTION AT A COMMITTEE MEETING IN FRANKFORT.

THERE ARE FEDERAL STANDARDS REGARDING CARE FOR TRANSGENDER PRISONERS AND THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS HAD WRITTEN SOME GUIDELINES AROUND THIS.

THEY WERE VERY SCRUTINIZED BY REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS.

THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS ASKED FOR AN ADVISORY OPINION FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

AND WE JUST GOT THAT THIS WEEK WHERE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE SAID THAT THIS IDEA THAT THE STATE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR THESE PROCEDURES IS SIMPLY ABSURD.

BUT THE ISSUE THE STATE IS TRYING TO WALK HERE IS COMPLYING WITH THE 8TH AMENDMENT PREVENTING ANY LEGAL ACTION FOR POTENTIALLY DENYING PEOPLE THIS CARE.

BUT THE GOVERNOR HAS ALSO SAID HIMSELF THAT HE DOESN'T WANT THE STATE PAYING FOR THESE SURGERIES.

WE'LL SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING FURTHER THAT DEVELOPS ON THIS.

BUT FOR NOW IT SEEMS LIKE ALL PARTIES REACHED AN AGREEMENT.

>> Bill: ANOTHER ONE TO WATCH.

>> BE INTERESTING TO KEEP EYES ON RUSSELL COLEMAN AND HIS OFFICE THERE'S BEEN A FLURRY OF NEWS UPDATES TO CLOSE-OUT THE YEAR.

RUSSELL COLEMAN STARTING TO MAKE HIS PRESENCE MORE KNOWN WITHIN THE CIRCLES OF POLITICS IN KENTUCKY AND THE NATIONAL STAGE AT WELL.

>> Bill: DO YOU THINK HE IS INTERESTED IN A COUPLE TERMS AS ATTORNEY GENERAL AND MAYBE SOMETHING ELSE?

OR THE LAST COUPLE OF ATTORNEYS GENERAL HAVE LOOKED AHEAD TO HIGHER OFFICE?

>> WELL, NEVER SAY NEVER.

KENTUCKY POLITICS.

AND, AGAIN, HE SAID HE IS FOCUSED ON BEING ATTORNEY GENERAL.

BUT A LOT OF THE ACTIVITY IS NOT BY ACCIDENT.

HE SAYS HE IS DOING THIS FOR THE GOOD OF THE COMMONWEALTH AND ALSO HE IS A POLITICIAN AT THE END OF THE DAY.

THEY ARE ALWAYS LOOKING TOWARDS THE FUTURE.

WE'LL SEE HOW THINGS PLAY OUT.

>> WASN'T IT A FANCY FARM JOKE THAT AG STOOD FOR ASPIRING GOVERNOR?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> Bill: SO WE'LL SEE.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR IS LOOKING BACK ON THE YEAR.

AND HE CALLS 2025 HE THINKS IT WILL BE A GOOD YEAR AHEAD AND 2024 WAS THE FOURTH BEST YEAR FOR BUSINESS INVESTMENT.

HE ALSO TALKS ABOUT HOW HE WILL APPROACH DEALING WITH THE INCOMING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

>> SO WHEN DONALD TRUMP HAS THE POLICY THAT IS GOING TO HELP KENTUCKY WE'LL WORK WITH HIM.

WHEN HE HAS APPROACHES THAT WILL HURT KENTUCKY, WE'LL STAND UP AND OPPOSE HIM.

IT'S NOT HE IS DONALD TRUMP IT'S WHETHER OR NOT HIS POLICIES ARE GOING TO BENEFIT OR HARM US.

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT HIS TARIFF POLICIES IT LED TO A TARIFF ON BOURBON THAT COST HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR AN IMPORTANT INDUSTRY.

WE'LL NEED TO WATCH AND WATCH CAREFULLY.

HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE AN OPEN LINE OF COMMUNICATION.

BUT MY JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THIS WINNING STREAK WE'RE ON CONTINUES REGARDLESS OF WHO'S PRESIDENT.

>> Bill: MARIO BESHEAR HAS DEALT WITH TRUMP BEFORE THE LAST YEAR OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

HE KNOWS WHAT HE WILL BE DEALING WITH.

>> HE SURE DOES AND IS GEARING UP TO ON ONE END WORK WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AS HE CAN.

MOVING FORWARD, BUT HE SAID HE IS PREPARED TO PUSHBACK ON VARIOUS MEASURES AND MOST RECENTLY TALKING ABOUT THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT AND HOW DONALD TRUMP TALKS ABOUT HOW HE WANTS TO REPEAL THAT.

AND GOVERNOR BESHEAR LED A COALITION OF 20 STATES TO DEFEND THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT IN FRONT OF THE SUPREME COURT.

AND GOVERNOR BESHEAR SAYS THAT 1.8 MILLIKEN KENTUCKIANS WITH PREEXISTING MEDICAL CONDITIONS, THEY NEED THIS ACCESS TO THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF LEGISLATION AND MEDICAID.

BUT HE'S PREPARED TO BUSH PACK ON THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IF NEEDED IF THINGS GO SIDEWAYS.

>> AND LET'S THINK ABOUT GOVERNOR BESHEAR LAST SUMMER VERSUS NOW.

AND WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED IN HIS CAREER?

AND WHAT HE HAS SAID ABOUT THE PRESIDENT AT THESE DIFFERENT POINTS.

A YEAR AGO, AND SOME CHANGE HE WAS RUNNING FOR REELECTION IN KENTUCKY A VERY RED STATE AGAINST A TRUMP ENDORSED REPUBLICAN.

AND ANY GIVEN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION NIGHT, KENTUCKY IS THE FIRST ONE CALLED FOR DONALD TRUMP.

LAST YEAR, THE GOVERNOR WAS TALKING A LOT ABOUT HOW HE SENT THE NATIONAL GUARD TO THE BORDER UNDER PRESIDENT BIDEN AND PRESIDENT TRUMP.

HE FEATURED A TRUMP VOTER IN ONE OF HIS COMMERCIALINGS SUPPORTING HIS BID FOR REELECTION.

AND THEN FAST FORWARD TO THIS SUMMER AND PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCES HE IS LEAVING THE TICKET AND VICE-PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS IS THE PARTY NOMINEE.

AND SHE IS LOOKING FOR A RUNNING MATE.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, I DON'T KNOW MAYBE TALKING A LITTLE FAVORABLY ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS NOT THE MOVE, RIGHT?

SO WE KNOW THAT GOVERNOR BESHEAR IS LOOKING FOR HIS NEXT STEPS.

HE'S TERM LIMITED IN 2027.

SO HE RECOGNIZED VERY ASTUTELY THAT YOU CAN'T BASH SOMEONE AS POPULAR AS PRESIDENT TRUMP AND GAIN SUPPORT IN A STATE LIKE KENTUCKY.

BUT YOU ALSO DON'T GAIN SUPPORT IN THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY BY COZYING UP TO THE GUY.

IT'S CERTAINLY BEEN A BALANCING ACT FOR HIM.

AND HE IS A LITTLE FREED FROM THE PRESSURES OF HIS FIRST TERM WHEN HE NEEDED TO GET REELECTED.

>> Bill: NOW IT IS INTERESTING AND HIS INTEREST IN REMAINING POPULAR IN KENTUCKY AS HE ASSESSES THE FUTURE YOU LOOK BACK ON BESHEAR'S AND THE DANCE WITH THE NATIONAL SCENE WAS IN THE HEAT OF THE SUMMER AND NOW HE REFERS TO THAT AS A GOOD CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT KENTUCKY.

>> RIGHT.

I ASKED HIM IN OUR INTERVIEW, WHAT IS HIS PLANS FOR AFTER HE LEAVES OFFICE IN 27.

OR ANY OTHER FUTURE PLANS?

HE SAID THAT HE IS FOCUSED ON LEADING KENTUCKY FOR THE REMAINING TWO YEARS.

AND 340 SOME DAYS LEFT IN THE REMAINDER OF THE TERM BECAUSE HE SAYS THAT CITED KENTUCKY PROGRESS RIGHT NOW.

AS A REASON FOR THAT.

AND HE SAID THAT HE DOESN'T WANT TO LOSE RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE HE IS THINKING ABOUT TOMORROW.

SO THAT WAS HIS REASON THERE.

BUT, HOWEVER HE IS TAKING STEP TOSSEL VACCINATE HIS NATIONAL PROFILE.

HE HAS HAD PACS SINCE HE WON HIS REELECTION THAT ARE SEEKING TO SUPPORT DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND MORE RECENTLY THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION NOMINATED ELECTED HIM TO A COUPLE POSITIONS INCLUDING CHAIR ELECT IN 2026 AN IMPORTANT YEAR FOR DEMOCRATS NATIONALLY HOPING TO GAIN BACKGROUND IN CONGRESS AND HOPING TO GET SEATS THERE.

>> Bill: AND IN YOUR INTERVIEW AND OTHERS, I KNOW WITH ONE WITH WKYT HE BROUGHT HIS DOG N WAS THE DOG PRESENT?

>> NO, IT WAS A ROUGH INTERVIEW WITHOUT.

>> Bill: BESHEAR DOES TOUT A $7 BILLION IN INVESTMENTS MORE THAN 9400 JOBS HE SAYS WILL BE ADDED.

THOSE ARE ANNOUNCEMENTS WE ALL, OF COURSE, HOPE TO PLAY OUT.

THEY ARE ANNOUNCEMENTS AT THIS POINT.

BUT WHAT DOES HE THINK KENTUCKY IS DOING THAT IS BRINGING THE BUSINESS IN?

AND DOESN'T THE LEGISLATURE SAY WELL, WE DID MOST OF THAT?

>> A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH THAT HAS BEEN A THEME OF GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S TIME AS GOVERNOR.

BUT WHEN I TALK WITH BESHEAR, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HIS TRIPS INTERNATIONALLY.

HE HAS BEEN TO SOUTH KOREA, JAPAN, AND GERMANY AND SWITZERLAND AND ALL THAT WORK HAS BEEN TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE LEADERS OUT OF THE COUNTRY TO BRING BUSINESSES NOT JUST TO AMERICA BUT SPECIFICALLY TO KENTUCKY.

AND, AGAIN, THE LEGISLATURE IS THE ONE WHO IS HELPING CREATE TAX CREDITS AND VARIOUS BUSINESS FRIENDLY POLICY TO ENSURE THAT THE BUSINESSES CAN BE ABLE TO RAISE UP A BUSINESS HERE IN THE STATE.

THE BACK AND FORTH WE WILL BE SEEING LOTS OF TIMES.

BUT THEN GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S HE IS COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS UNTIL THE END OF HIS TERM.

THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE THINKING THAT IS SOMETHING TO WATCH.

HE KNOWS WHEN HIS TERM IS HEDGE ENDING AND HE HAS SOMETHING IN MIND AND HE IS LETTING US KNOW THROUGHOUT THE INTERVIEWS HE IS KEEPING TRACK OF THE DATE AND TIMELINE AND WHAT MAYBE NEXT.

>> TO THAT POINT HE IS ALSO BEING ASKED AND THIS WAS IN OUR INTERVIEW WITH HIM ABOUT THESE ISSUES THAT DEMOCRATS NEED TO REALLY CONNECT WITH VOTERS ON.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HE DROVE HOME.

IT'S ABOUT JOBS, ABOUT FAMILIES BEING ABLE TO PAY THE BILLS, ABOUT BRING THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED AND THESE ARE THE ISSUES THAT DEMOCRATS NEED TO MESSAGE ON IF THEY ARE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN ELECTIONS.

SO, AGAIN, TO THE POINT THAT WE'VE ALL MADE HERE LIKE THAT IS SIGNALING A LITTLE SOMETHING IN ADDITION TO TOUTING WHAT HE SEES AS HIS SUCCESSES.

>> ALSO NATIONALLY DEMOCRATS THEY ARE HAVING A SELF REFLECTION MOMENT, RIGHT AFTER THEY LOST THIS ELECTION.

AND IF YOU LOOK BACK AT SO 2016 WE HAD A TRUMP PRESIDENCY AND THE RESPONDING CANDIDATE TO THAT TRUMP PRESIDENCY WAS JOE BIDEN.

A DIFFERENT CANDIDATE THAN HILLARY CLINTON WAS.

IT'S POSSIBLE THAT DEMOCRATS DON'T WANT THE NEXT KAMALA HARRIS.

MAYBE THEY WANT SOMEBODY WHO IS MORE MODERATE AND MID-ET OF THE ROAD AND THAT COULD BE ANDY BESHEAR.

>> Bill: GIVEN THAT HE DID NOT JOIN THAT TICKET THERE MAY NOT BE THE AWKWARDNESS THERE MAY HAVE BEEN IF THEY BOTH RUN IN 28.

>> HE DOESN'T HAVE THAT BAGGAGE FROM THE LOSS.

>> Bill: PRESIDENT TRUMP MADE STRONG COMMENTS ABOUT HIS BELIEF THAT CLEAN COAL AS A PLACE IN THE NATION'S ENERGY FUTURE.

>> WE'RE ALSO GOING TO CREATE CLEAN COAL.

CLEAN COAL IS SOMETHING THAT HAS REALLY TAKEN OVER.

WE HAVE COAL THAT WILL LAST FOR OVER A THOUSAND YEARS.

WE HAVE SO MUCH COAL.

AND WITH THE PROCESS IT BECOMES CLEAN COAL IT'S POWERFUL ENERGY UNLIKE WIND.

IT'S VERY, VERY POWERFUL.

AND WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING A LOT OF CLEAN COAL FOR THE PEOPLE OF WEST VIRGINIA AND OTHERS, WYOMING, SO MANY STATES.

WE HAVE GREAT STATES.

AND THEY WILL BE HAPPY TO HEAR IT.

WE'RE GOING TO BE VERY MUCH INTO CLEAN COAL.

I DON'T EVER USE THE WORD COAL, I USE CLEAN COAL.

>> Bill: A MONTH FROM TONIGHT HE WILL BE PRESIDENT AGAIN.

THE BALLS GOING ON IN WASHINGTON.

TESSA, WHAT DOES THAT SIGNAL FROM THE PRESIDENT-ELECT TO SAY ABOUT THE POTENTIAL THAT CLEAN COAL TECHNOLOGY COULD BE A PART OF THE FUTURE?

>> WELL, ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL THIS YEAR, PRESIDENT TRUMP DIDN'T REALLY TALK A LOT ABOUT COAL, COAL JOBS AND THAT'S PROBABLY FOR A COUPLE REASONS.

ONE BEING IT'S WIDELY BELIEVED TO GO INTO ELECTION DAY THAT HE LOCKED UP A LOT OF COAL MINERS IN THAT INDUSTRY WHO WOULD VOTE FOR HIM ALREADY.

COAL JOBS ARE ON A STEADY DECLINE.

AND HAVE BEEN FOR DECADES.

AND THAT INCLUDES HIS FIRST TERM.

THERE WERE A LOT OF PROMISES TO BRING BACK COAL JOBS AS LONG AS PUBLIC UTILITIES ARE MOVING TOWARD NATURAL GAS AND RENEWABLE OPTIONS THAT'S COAL IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO DECLINE.

SO THIS IS UNLIKELY, I THINK TO CHANGE.

IT MAY SLOW THE TIDE OF LOSS OF COAL JOBS.

BUT REALLY, COAL HAS BEEN ON THE DECLINE IN KENTUCKY AND ELSEWHERE AROUND THE COUNTRY FOR A LONGTIME.

AND WITHOUT A REALLY SIGNIFICANT SHIFT FROM HOW THE UTILITIES ARE GENERATING POWER THAT'S UNLIKELY TO CHANGE.

>> Bill: SO WE'LL WATCH ON THAT AND SEE.

OF COURSE HE OBVIOUSLY COULD CHANGE REGULATIONS AND WE'LL SEE WHERE THAT GOES.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS ROLLING OUT.

AND WE KNOW NOW WHO HAS A FINANCIAL STAKE IN THE PROGRAM IT'S MOSTLY OUT OF STATE COMPANIES.

WE'RE ALSO SEEING NUMEROUS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS MAKE RULES AGAINST EMPLOYEES USING IT.

A LOT IS GOING ON THERE, McKENNA.

WE KNOW WHO WILL BE GROWING, PROCESSING AND DISPENSING MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

>> THIS WEEK KENTUCKY AWARDED 12 ADDITIONAL MEDICAL CANNABIS DISPENSARY LICENSES THROUGH A FINAL DRAWING IN LOUISVILLE.

THERE WERE MORE THAN 4,000 APPLICATIONS AND LAST MONTH, THE FIRST 36 LICENSE WERE AWARDED.

AND BESHEAR INDICATED A FUTURE DRAWING COULD HAPPEN.

DESPITE THIS ONE BEING THE FINAL ONE AT THIS POINT.

>> Bill: THESE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE HAVING BIG DECISIONS HAVING TO BE MADE AND I WAS TOLD TODAY THAT THEY ARE BEING ADVISED TO BE CAUTIOUS AND MAYBE CONSIDER BANNING ALL OF THE CITY EMPLOYEES OR COUNTY EMPLOYEES FROM USE OF MEDICAL CANNABIS EVEN IF IT IS PRESCRIBED BY A DOCTOR.

>> IT IS A LEGAL GRAY AREA WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN KENTUCKY.

WITH THAT BEING ON THE BALLOT IN A LOT OF LOCALITIES LAST ELECTION LAST MONTH.

I DON'T THINK A SINGLE MEASURE FAILED.

THERE'S SUPPORT THERE.

>> I KNOW, BILL, YOU ARE AWARE IN RICHMOND AND MADISON COUNTY, THE COMMISSION THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING A DISCUSSION SPIRITED BETWEEN BOTH SIDES AND THE POLICE CHIEF SPOKE SAYING HE DID NOT WANT HIS OFFICERS ON THE STREET WITH THC IN THEIR BODY TEAR THE FIRST -- THEY ARE THE FIRST CITY GOVERNMENT TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION OUT FRONT.

IT WILL BE SPILLING OUT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS.

>> Bill: AND CORBIN LEADERS REVERSED THEMSELVES.

THEY SAID ONLY THE POLICE WOULD BE BANNED FROM USE AND THIS WEEK THEY CHANGED IT AND IT'S EVERYBODY.

YOU'VE TALKED TO ADRIENNE BUSH OF THE HOMELESS AND HOUSING COALITION.

KENTUCKY NEEDS 200,000 HOUSING UNITS, MARIO.

ARE THERE SOLUTIONS OFFERED UP?

>> THE BIGGEST SOLUTIONS IS STATE AND FEDERAL MONEY TO BE ABLE TO HELP ADDRESS THIS AND THERE'S DISCUSSION TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO REZONE THE OPEN GREEN LAND THAT IS IN PARTS OF OUR COMMONWEALTH.

BUT, IT IS, AGAIN, A LARGE AND TALL TASK TO ACHIEVE AND IT WON'T BE FIXED OVERNIGHT OR IN MONTHS.

SOMETHING THAT THE HHCK AND HOUSING SUPPORTERS ARE GOING TO BE ADDRESSING AND TALKING ABOUT FOR SOMETIME.

>> Bill: IT SEEMS LIKE AN ISSUE THERE IS NOT JUST A GOVERNMENT SOLUTION OR A BUSINESS SOLUTION, EVERYBODY IS GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT.

YOU DID A YEAR ENDER WITH LOUISVILLE MAYOR CRAIG GREENBURG, HIGHLIGHTS OF THAT?

>> TALKING ABOUT THE INCREASE IN PUBLIC SAFETY EFFORTS.

THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE CONSENT DECREE THAT THE LOUISVILLE HAS SIGNED ON WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE REFORMS TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND HOW THEY OPERATE OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

BUT ALSO, MAYOR GREENBURG TALKED ABOUT CREATION OF NEW JOBS THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND ALSO TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE MAYOR'S PLAN TO CREATE 15,000 NEW HOUSING UNITS ACROSS LOUISVILLE OVER A SET OF TIME.

HITTING THE HIGH NOTES AND TALKING ABOUT ALL THE POSITIVE ATMOSPHERE THERE.

>> A NEW HOSPITAL ON THE WEST END THAT IS BUSY.

>> THEY ARE THE FIRST HOSPITAL IN MORE THAN A CENTURY THERE IN LOUISVILLE.

>> Bill: AS WE ROLL UP ON THE SHORTEST DAY OF THE YEAR AND BEGIN WINTER WE HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL AND SAFE HOLIDAY AHEAD.

NEXT WEEK WE WILL PRESENT A TAPED EDITION OF COMMENT AND TRY TO LOOK AHEAD TO THE NEW YEAR AND REFLECT WHERE WE'VE BEEN.

"COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" CELEBRATED ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY AND WE APPRECIATE YOU WATCHING US EACH WEEK AND YOUR SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS.

THAT'S COMMENT.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS.