[♪♪] >> Bill: AN EVENTSFUL YEAR IN KENTUCKY.

DONALD TRUMP EASILY CARRIES THE STATE ON HIS WAY BACK TO THE WHITE HOUSE AND GOVERNOR BESHEAR WAS CONSIDERED FOR A NATIONAL TICKET.

THE LEGISLATURE PASSES A MODEST BUDGET AND LEADERS BELIEVE IT SETS THE STAGE FOR ANOTHER INCOME TAX CUT DESPITE A PROJECTION OF FALLING REVENUE.

IN WASHINGTON, THE 2025 SESSION IS ABOUT TO BEGIN, SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL STEPS DOWN FROM LEADERSHIP BUT SOME OTHER KENTUCKIANS WILL GAIN INFLUENCE IN DC.

D.E.I., ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE NEW RULES FOR DRIVERS ALL IN THE DISCUSSION IN THE NEW YEAR IN FRANKFORT.

TONIGHT A LOOK BACK AND A PEEK AHEAD.

COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

[♪♪] GOOD EVENING I'M BILL BRYANT.

AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".

AND TONIGHT A SPECIAL YEAR END EDITION.

THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE TESSA DUVALL POLITICS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS HE HAD SHORE FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER.

MCKENNA HORSLEY POLITICS REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY LANTERN AND MARIO ANDERSON ANCHOR AND HOST ON INFO DISCUSS KENTUCKY.

WE TAPED THIS PROGRAM ON FRIDAY DECEMBER 20TH SOD KET STAFF AND OUR PANELISTS COULD ENJOY THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

WE MAMIES A FEW THINGS AND WE'LL CATCH UP ON NEWS THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK WHEN WE RETURN LIVE JANUARY 3, 2025.

LET'S LOOK BACK A LITTLE BIT ON 2024.

IT WAS A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEAR AND FULL OF DRAMA WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN BOWING OUT LATE AND FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP BEING TARGETED BY WOULD BE ASSASSINS IT WAS SOME YEAR NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

AND MARIO, IT WAS AN INTERESTING FEW WEEKS WHEN YOU LOOK BACK THAT KENTUCKY HAD NOT ONLY SAW CANDIDATES ONLY COME TO KENTUCKY TO RAISE MONEY NOT TO CAMPAIGN BUT REPUBLICANS PICKED A VICE-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WITH TIES TO EASTERN KENTUCKY AS WELL.

AND THOSE COUPLE OF WEEKS IN JULY WHEN GOVERNOR BESHEAR WAS HOTLY IN THE SPECULATION FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF THE VICE-PRESIDENCY.

>> AND IT ALL STARTED OFF THAT FIRST DEBATE THE ONLY DEBATE BETWEEN JOE BIDEN AND DONALD TRUMP.

AND AFTER JOE BIDEN'S PERFORMANCE DAYS LATER THINGS THE SOUNDED ALARM STARTED GOING OFF FROM PEOPLE WANTED TO HAVE A DIFFERENT CANDIDATE AND ANDY BESHEAR INITIALLY WAS CAUTIOUS IN HIS WORDS ABOUT JOE BIDEN.

AND THEN HE WANTED TO HAVE A FURTHER BIGGER CONVERSATION.

BUT FOR MANY DAYS, MUM WAS THE WORD ON WHAT HIS INTEREST WAS.

HE DID NOT WEIGH-IN.

DID NOT TIP HIS HAT HE HAD ANY INTEREST IN DOING ANYTHING OTHER THAN BEING THE GOVERNOR AND WE STARTED SEEING HIM TRAVELING.

WHEN JOE BIDEN INVITED THE GOVERNORS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO THE WHITE HOUSE SOME WERE PARTICIPATING VIRTUALLY, GOVERNOR BESHEAR WAS THERE IN-PERSON.

AND HE THEN STARTED DOING OTHER SPEAKING ENGAGINGMENTS AND OUT OF NOWHERE HE WAS ONE OF THE TOP CON TEPIDDERS CONSIDERED BY KAMALA HARRIS TO BE HER VICE-PRESIDENTIAL PICK.

SO WENT FROM RADIO SILENCE TO GOVERNOR BESHEAR WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THINGS AND IT CAME DOWN TO THE FINAL HOURS FROM WHAT WE'VE HEARD.

>> YEAH, ONCE WE KNEW THAT VICE-PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS WAS GOING TO BE AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET IT WAS WELL UNDERSTOOD ALL AROUND THAT SHE WAS GOING TO NEED TO PICK A WHITE MAN WITH BROAD APPEAL BECAUSE SHE WAS A CALIFORNIA LIBERAL, A WOMAN, A WOMAN OF COLOR.

AND SO WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT WHITE MEN WHO FIT THAT BILL, THERE WERE A HANDFUL OF GOVERNORS OUT OF PENNSYLVANIA, OF COURSE, GOVERNOR WALZ WHO DID END UP SECURING THE SPOT BUT ANDY BESHEAR WAS UP TOWARD THE TOP OF THE LIST BECAUSE HE FIT THAT BILL OF WHAT EVERYONE THOUGHT THE VICE-PRESIDENT NEEDED ON HER TICKET.

HE DIDN'T MAKE THE CUT BUT FOR A FEW WEEKS IT WAS INTERESTING TO SEE WHERE ANDY BESHEAR WOULD POP-UP.

>> Bill: AND DE CAMPAIGNING AND THEN WE KNOW AFTER THAT, McKENNA, THAT HE, OF COURSE, FORMED A PAC UP IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND CAMPAIGNED FOR THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR UP THERE WHO ULTIMATELY LOST.

HE CONTINUED EVEN THOUGH HE WAS NOT ON THE NATIONAL TICKET TO MAKE SOME NATIONAL APPEARANCES.

>> RIGHT.

HE CAMPAIGNED FOR HARRIS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THIS YEAR EVEN AFTER HE WAS NOT SELECTED AS HER RUNNING MATE.

AND HE MADE FREQUENT APPEARANCES ON NATIONAL NEWS TV OUTLETS DOING FREQUENT HITS ABOUT THAT WERE MORE CAMPAIGNING, NOT FOCUSING ON THE TRADITIONAL POLITICS OF HIS OFFICE AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO IN A WAY IT WAS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM IF HE WANTS TO BUILD HIS NATIONAL PROFILE HEADING INTO A DIFFERENT ELECTION FOR A HIGHER OFFICE.

POSSIBLY 28.

>> AND HE ALSO HAD A PRIMETIME APPEARANCE DURING THE DNC SPEAKING IN CHICAGO AND BEING ABLE TO TALK ABOUT HIS WORK AS GOVERNOR OF KENTUCKY AND HAVING THAT NATIONAL BASE IN FRONT OF DEMOCRATIC SUPPORTERS TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT WHY HE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN THE CIRCLES NOT MAYBE RIGHT NOW BUT ALSO IN THE COMING YEARS.

>> SOMETHING ELSE THAT REALLY STOOD OUT ABOUT THIS YEAR, IS HOW MUCH WE SAW THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN FIRST AND THEN THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN REALLY BORROWED A LOT FROM THE 2023 STRATEGY IN ELEVATING DISCUSSION OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE AN BORINGS RIGHTS ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO THE YOUNG WOMAN HIGHLY DUVAL NO RELATION USING HER IN ADSED SAME THING HE DID IN 2023 TALKING ABOUT HOW SHE WAS A RIM HAVE OF INCEST AND BECAME PREGNANT BY HER STEPFATHER AND MISCARRIED HAD SHE HAD THAT OPTION BEFORE THE DOBBS DECISION THAT OPTION WENT AWAY IN KENTUCKY FOR PEOPLE LIKE HER.

THAT MESSAGE WAS A COPY AND PASTE FROM THE BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION TO THE BIDEN PLAYBOOK AND THE HARRIS PLAYBOOK.

I THINK THAT ALSO GIVES HIM AND HIS TEAM SOME CREDIT FOR THEIR THINKING.

BECAUSE CLEARLY A LOT OF DEMOCRATS THOUGHT IT WOULD BE AN EFFECTIVE STRATEGY.

>> Bill: YOU TALK ABOUT HE LOOKS TOWARD 2028.

AND YOU'VE TALKED WITH HIM THIS WEEK.

LET'S SAY HE LOOKS TOWARD 2027 WHEN HIS TERM ENDS LATE IN THAT YEAR.

DOES HE SEEM TO HAVE A PLAN?

>> UM, I DEFINITELY, JUST FROM AN OBSERVER PERSPECTIVE IT DOES SEEM MORE NATIONAL THAN WINNING A RACE IN KENTUCKY.

HE IS LOOKING BEYOND KENTUCKY.

AND KIND OF GOING BACK TO WHAT TESSA SAID ABOUT THE BESHEAR PLAYBOOK WE ARE SEEING EVIDENCE OF THAT AFTER THE ELECTION HE PENNED THAT "NEW YORK TIMES" OPINION ARTICLE ABOUT WHAT DEMOCRATS SHOULD BE DOING IN THE FUTURE.

ABOUT THEIR MESSAGING.

AND THEN WE'RE SEEING THAT RECIPROCATED IN 2026 HE WILL BE THE CHAIR OF THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION.

WHICH IS A POWERFUL GROUP THAT WILL PROBABLY HELP IN MIDTERM ELECTIONS AND HOPE TO GET DEMOCRATS ELECTED TO CONGRESS.

>> Bill: PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP INCREASED HIS SUPPORT IN KENTUCKY IN THE 2024 ELECTION COMPARED TO FOUR YEARS AGO.

HE DID THAT, OF COURSE, IN MANY STATES BUT HE GOT NEARLY 65% OF THE VOTE IN KENTUCKY, CARRIED 118 OF THE 120 COUNTIES.

HARRIS DID CARRY JEFFERSON AND FAYETTE COUNTY BOTH BY DOUBLE-DIGITS.

DOES IT PUT THE URBAN-RURAL DIVIDE IN OUR STATE ON CLEAR DISPLAY?

>> WELL, IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATE HOUSE ELECTIONS THAT WE HAD THIS YEAR.

WE HAD ALL THE HOUSE SEATS ON THE BALLOT AND A THIRD OF THE SENATE SEATS.

WE SAW NO CHANGES IN THE STATE HOUSE CAUCUS NUMBERS BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.

SO THERE IS NO MOVEMENT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

REPUBLICANS STILL HOLD THE SUPER MAJORITIES IN BOTH THE HOUSE WITH 80 SEATS IN THE HOUSE AND 31 SENATE SEATS.

SO THAT'S A SIGN THAT RIGHT NOW KENTUCKIANS ARE MOST KENTUCKIANS ARE VOTING REPUBLICAN.

AND ALSO THERE WAS A TOP OF THE TICKET AS WELL.

BUT SOME DEMOCRATS ARE STILL ARGUING THAT KENTUCKY ISN'T A TRUE RED STATE.

AND ARE HOPING TO MAKE GROUND GAINS IN THE FUTURE IN THAT INTERVIEW I DID WITH BESHEAR HE SAID THE MESSAGING WAS RIGHT FOR DEMOCRATS IN KENTUCKY THIS CYCLE.

BECAUSE DEMOCRATS MAINTAINED THEIR CAUCUS NUMBERS DESPITES A HUGE WIN FOR TRUMP.

>> Bill: DO KENTUCKIANS HAVE STRONG EXPECTATIONS OF TRUMP DO YOU THINK, MARIO, FOR THE SUPPORT THAT THEY GAVE HIM?

WE ARE HEARING SOME CONCERNS FROM THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ABOUT TARIFFS FOR INSTANCE?

>> TIME WILL TELL.

BUT A KNOW FARMERS OBVIOUSLY THE FARMING INDUSTRY IS BIG IN KENTUCKY.

AND SO PEOPLE ARE WATCHING TO SEE WHAT DONALD TRUMP WOULD ALSO CONGRESS AND SOME OF THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS AND HOW THAT IMPACTS THE COUNTRY BUT SPECIFICALLY KENTUCKY.

WE'LL SEE HOW THE RURAL AREAS OF KEN EN AND THE FARMERS ARE IMPACTED AND IF THEY CHANGE THEIR OPINIONS BASED ON WHAT REGULATIONS COME OUT.

>> Bill: AND THE WINNER OF THE VICE-PRESIDENCY IS J.D.

VANCE OF OHIO WHO HAS STRONG FAMILY TIES IN EASTERN KENTUCKY AND WHOSE FAMILY WAS TOUCHED BY THE OPIOID CRISIS.

IS THE REASON TO BELIEVE HE CAN PROVIDE FOCUS ON THAT CHALLENGE THAT HAS BEEN SO DIFFICULT AND SO DEADLY IN KENTUCKY?

>> WHILE HIS BACKGROUND IN APPALACHIA WAS OFTEN DISCUSSED ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL WE DIDN'T HEAR A LOT ABOUT SPECIFIC POLICIES THAT WE MIGHT SEE IN A TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WITH VANCE LEADING THAT EFFORT.

SO IT'S DIFFICULT TO SAY THAT THIS MOMENT AND ALSO HE ISN'T THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF.

HE STILL HAS TO DO WHAT TRUMP WANTS TO DO.

SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> Bill: STILL CONTINUES TO BE A MASSIVE PROBLEM, SOME PROGRESS BUT QUITE AN ISSUE.

>> AND THAT IS AN AREA THAT REPUBLICANS DO OFTEN CARE ABOUT.

SO WE'LL LIKELY SEE SOME POLICY BUT IT IS UNCLEAR WHAT AT THIS TIME.

>> Bill: WE KNOW SOME KENTUCKIANS WILL BE PLAYING KEY ROLES IN CONGRESS IN THE COMING YEAR.

BREATH GUTHRIE WILL BE CHAIRING THE HOUSE ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE.

JAMES COMER WILL CONTINUE AS CHAIR AS THE HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.

GUTHRIE HANDLES A WIDE SPECTRUM OF ISSUES COULD IT GET INTERESTING IF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DOES TRY TO CRAFT A REPLACEMENT FOR THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT?

>> SO HIS COMMITTEE HANDLES THINGS LIKE HEALTH, ENERGY, CONSUMER SAFETY, TELECOMMUNICATIONS A VERY SWEEPING PURVIEW THAT HE WILL BE THE CHAIR OVER.

AS YOU NOTED TWO OUT OF THE FIVE REPUBLICANS WHO ARE IN THE HOUSE FROM KENTUCKY ARE COMMITTEE CHAIRS AND POWERFUL COMMITTEE CHAIRS AT THAT.

KENTUCKY MOVING UP WITH THAT.

AS FAR AS WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN TERMS OF POLICY FOR HEALTH, THE PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP STILL HAS NOT LAID OUT SPECIFICALLY WHAT HIS HEALTH POLICY WOULD BE.

I BELIEVE HE GAVE AN INTERVIEW SAYING HE STILL HAS CONCEPTS OF A PLAN.

WHAT HE INTENDED TO DO WHETHER IT'S TRYING TO ROLLBACK THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT OR REPLACE IT WITH SOME DIFFERENT WHAT HAVE YOU.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE AND HOW THE COMMITTEE MIGHT PLAY INTO THAT.

>> Bill: AND HEALTHCARE IS A HUGE ISSUE.

MAYBE PIECE BY PIECE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF ATTENTION ON PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS THE MIDDLE MEN WHO DEAL WITH PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

AND CRITICS SAY DRIVE UP THE PRICES.

AND CONGRESSMAN COMER'S OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE COULD PLAY A MAJOR ROLE AND HE HAS BEEN SIGNALING THAT THAT IS LIKELY AN AREA HE WILL TAKE INTEREST IN?

>> YES.

EARLIER TODAY I READ THAT HE MADE A CALL FOR THIS OVER THE SUMMER.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HE HAS AN INTEREST IN REVIEWING WITH HIS COMMITTEE.

AND ALSO TRUMP RECENTLY BLAMED THESE BENEFIT MANAGERS FOR DRIVING UP COSTS AND VOWED TO ELIMINATE THEIR ROLE.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT REPUBLICANS WILL WANT TO MOVE FORWARD ON.

>> Bill: MARIO, COMER IS LIKELY TO BROADEN HIS INTERESTS OF THAT COMMITTEE?

THAT COMMITTEE SPENT A LOT OF TIME INVESTIGATING PRESIDENT BIDEN?

>> I THINK ALMOST THE ENTIRE LAST TWO YEARS IT WAS ALMOST FOCUSED ON THE BIDEN FAMILY AND ALSO HUNTER BIDEN AND FIGURING OUT THEIR ROLES IF ANY, WITH INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AND BENEFITING FINANCIALLY FROM THAT.

BUT, YEAH, IT LOOKS LIKE NOW WITH BIDEN FINISHING UP OFFICE AT THE END OF THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY, COMER WILL SHIFT THE FOCUS TO OTHER MATTERS.

>> Bill: AND THEN CONGRESSMAN McGARVEY IS THE ONLY DEMOCRAT IN WASHINGTON AND HE IS CLIMBING WITHIN THE CAUCUS AS WELL.

HE HAS BEEN NAMED THE CHIEF DEPUTY WHIP.

>> YES, THAT IS A BIG POSITION FOR HIM.

HE HAS ONLY BEEN IN CONGRESS SINCE 2023.

SERVED IN THE STATE GOVERNMENT AND THE LEADERSHIP FOR THE DEMOCRATIC SENATE DEMOCRATS THERE FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

BUT NOW TRANSITIONED TO WASHINGTON D.C.

SO IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO MAKE INROADS WITHIN HIS DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS BUT HE IS KNOWN FOR BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH REPUBLICANS AS WELL.

HE HAS A LOT OF LEGISLATION PASSED IN FRANKFORT WITH REPUBLICAN SUPPORT.

SO I THINK THEY ARE HOPING HE CAN BE ABLE TO WITH HIS DOWN TO EARTH PERSONALITY WORK WITH THE VARIOUS WIDE ARRANGING 200 PLUS MEMBERS OF THE DEMOCRATS IN THE CAUCUS AND FIND REPUBLICANS TO BE ABLE TO PARTNER UP WITH AND GET LEGISLATION PASSED ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

>> Bill: SENATOR RAND PAUL, REPUBLICAN OF BOWLING GREEN WILL BE LEADING THE HOMELAND SECURITY AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIR THERE IS IN THE SENATE.

AND TESSA, HE INTENDS TO REINSTATE A POLICY OF HAVING ASYLUM SEEKERS REMAIN IN MEXICO WHILE AWAITING HEARINGS IN U.S. COURTS.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

THIS WOULD REQUIRE THAT AS FOLKS COME ACROSS THE SOUTHERN BORDER IF THEY ARE SEEKING ASYLUM IN THE UNITED STATES, THAT THEY ESSENTIALLY, IT IS WHAT THE NAME IMPLIES.

THEY WOULD HAVE TO REMAIN IN MEXICO WHILE WAITING FOR THEIR CASE TO WORK ITS WAY THROUGH THE COURTS.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DID IN HIS FIRST TERM IN OFFICE.

AND THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SCRAPPED THE POLICY.

CRITICS SAID IT MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS TO HAVE ACCESS TO ATTORNEYS.

SO WITH REPUBLICANS HAVING A VERY SIZABLE CONTROL ACROSS THE WHITE HOUSE AND CONGRESS, IT'S LIKELY THAT THAT WILL COME TO BE.

AND SENATOR PAUL HAS ALSO SAID THAT ANOTHER PRIORITY THAT HE'S GOT IS WORKING TO CONFIRM TRUMP'S PICK FOR HOMELAND SECURITY WHICH IS SOUTH DAKOTA GOVERNOR KRISTY GNOME.

>> Bill: AND SENATOR PAUL BLOCKED A DRONE BILL CALLING IT AN OVERREACH AND CITING CONCERNS ABOUT PRIVACY.

>> SENATOR PAUL HE SAID THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS THE AUTHORITY TO INVESTIGATE AND STOP DRONES FROM FLYING INTO COMMERCIAL SPACE LIKE OVER THE SUPER BOWL AND AROUND MILITARY BASES.

HE HAS SAID HE HAS CONCERNS ABOUT EXPANDING THE GOVERNMENT'S SURVEILLANCE POWERS THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE AUTHORITY OF.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT.

BUT IF THIS DRONE CONVERSATION STILL WIDESPREAD FOR SURE.

>> Bill: AND WE'LL NOTE THIS WAS TAPED BACK ON DECEMBER 20TH.

THERE MAY HAVE BEEN THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN THE TIME BEFORE THE AIRING OF THIS THE FOLLOWING FRIDAY.

ALSO IN THE NEWS CYCLE WAS THAT HE HAD SUGGESTED ELON MUSK AS SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

>> HE HAS.

AND AGAIN, THERE'S NO OFFICIAL RULES THAT SAY THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE IN CONGRESS HAS TO BE AN ELECTED MEMBER.

IT CAN BE ANY U.S. CITIZEN.

AGAIN, WHEN MIKE JOHNSON FROM LOUISIANA NAMED COMES UP AGAIN, THERE LIKELY WILL BE OTHER NAMES FROM MEMBERS WHO ARE TRYING TO GET A SPEAKER INSTALLED.

ELON MUSK'S NAME MAYBE COMING UP A NONELECTED NUMBER THAT MAY GET A COUPLE OF VOTES.

>> Bill: HOWEVER YOU FEEL ABOUT SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL HIS SERVICE IN LEADERSHIP IS COMING TO AN END.

AND HE CERTAINLY HAS BEEN IMPACT POWERFUL IN IN THAT POSITION AND CERTAINLY HAS GIVEN KENTUCKY SOME INFLUENCE IN WASHINGTON.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN, HE HAS BEEN SUCH A LONG SERVING LEADER IN THE SENATE AND VERY INFLUENTIAL.

AND WE'VE SEEN THAT EVEN AS HE DECIDED TO STEP BACK FROM BEING THE REPUBLICAN LEADER, HE IS STILL GOING TO HAVE A GOOD BIT OF DPLUNS IN WASHINGTON D.C. OF COURSE HE HAS AN APPROPRIATION SUBCOMMITTEE THAT WILL HAVE INFLUENCE.

HE WILL BE OVERRULES.

WHILE HE HAS NOT SAID WHAT HIS PLANS ARE FOR 2026, A LOT OF FOLKS THINK THESE ARE HIS LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IN THE SENATE.

AND KNOWING WHAT WE DO ABOUT SENATOR McCONNELL, HE IS GOING TO USE HIS AUTHORITY AND HIS POLITICAL KNOWLEDGE TO TRY TO GET A LOT OF THINGS DONE.

>> Bill: DOES ANYBODY GET A SENSE OF WHAT TIME-FRAME FOR HIM ANNOUNCING HIS DECISION WHETHER OR NOT HE WILL RUN AGAIN MAYBE?

WE KNOW HE HAS RAISED APPARENTLY OVER $8 MILLION COULD QUICKLY START RAISING MORE.

EVERYBODY KNOWS HE CAN MOUNT A CAMPAIGN.

BUT WE'RE NOT HEARING A TIME-FRAME AT THIS POINT WHEN HE MAY JUMP IN OR BOW OUT.

>> RIGHT.

I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING.

I CAN'T SAY IT'S GOING TO BE THIS DAY AT THIS TIME.

BUT KENTUCKY'S PRIMARIES ARE IN MAY.

AND SO WHOEVER IS GOING TO RUN FOR THAT SEAT AND IF SENATOR McCONNELL SAYS THAT HE IS NOT RUNNING THERE WILL BE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO RUN FOR THAT SEAT.

THEY ARE GOING TO WANT TO KNOW SOONER THAN LATER.

I EXPECT THAT TO COME IN 2025 BECAUSE THAT FILING DEADLINE IS GOING TO BE VERY EARLY IN JANUARY OF 2026.

I BELIEVE, AND THEN, ALL THESE FOLKS ARE GOING TO WANT TO RAISE MONEY AND GET THEIR NAME OUT THERE.

I THINK 2025 THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR IS MY GUESS.

>> Bill: COULD SET OFF A SCRAMBLE.

>> I'M SURE ONCE THE ANNOUNCEMENT DOES HAPPEN THERE WILL BE A MOMENTTARY GRACIOUSNESS 24 HOURS WHERE PEOPLE WILL SETTLE DONE AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT WE WILL HAVE CLOSE TO A DOZEN PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICIALLY LAUNCHING WEBSITES, PRESS RELEASES AND OFFICIAL CAMPAIGN KICKOFFS TO SAY THEY WANT TO BE THE NEXT SENATOR FROM KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: KENTUCKY'S NOT ELECTED A DEMOCRATIC SENATOR SINCE 1992.

BUT YOU GET THE FEELING IF THERE IS AN OPEN SEAT, THEY ARE LIKELY TO WANT TO MOUNT A SERIOUS CAMPAIGN?

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, DEMOCRATS, I THINK, WILL WANT TO RUN AGAINST AN UNKNOWN REPUBLICAN SINCE McCONNELL HAS CONTINUOUSLY WON THIS SEAT FOR SO LONG.

THAT MIGHT INCREASE THEIR CHANCES.

THERE'S BEEN PRESSURE ON GOVERNOR BESHEAR TO RUN BUT IT IS UNCLEAR IF HE IS INTERESTED IN THAT.

HE KEEPS SAYING THAT HE IS REMAINED FOCUS ON KENTUCKY UNTIL 2027.

>> Bill: INTERESTING WE WILL BE WATCHING THAT IN THIS YEAR AHEAD.

AND JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS THE 2025 KENTUCKY LEGISLATIVE SESSION WILL BE GETTING UNDERWAY.

BOTH REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP WILL BE ALL MEN AND THE G.O.P.

STATE SENATOR AMANDA MAYS BLEDSOE TOLD ME MORE WOMEN NEED TO BE INVOLVED IN FRANKFORT AND WASHINGTON.

>> THERE ARE NO WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP IN EITHER PARTY.

WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHT ON THAT?

>> IT'S DISAPPOINTING.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE AND I AM A HUGE FAN OF ALL FIVE OF THE SENATE LEADERSHIP AND I THINK THEY ARE FANTASTIC INDIVIDUALS AND WILL DO A GREAT JOB.

DO I WISH WE HAD WOMEN SITTING AT THE TABLE?

OF COURSE WE DO.

WE'VE NEVER HAD A U.S.

SENATOR WHO HAS BEEN A WOMAN.

TWO CONGRESSIONAL WOMEN FROM THE HOUSE.

WE'VE HAD ONE GOVERNOR.

I THINK WE NEED MORE WOMEN AT THE TABLE AND A LOT OF US HAVE ONLY BEEN THERE A FEW YEARS WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE WOMEN TO SHOW UP AND RUN FOR OFFICE.

>> Bill: WHILE YOU HAVE THE STATE SUPREME COURT IS GOING TO HAVE A MAJORITY OF FEMALE JUSTICES FOR THE FIRST TIME AND KENTUCKY HAS HAD A WOMAN GOVERNOR NO WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP AT THIS TIME?

>> IN THE SENATE.

IN THE SENATE.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SUSAN MILES IS IN THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP THERE.

WILL BE ALL NEW DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP IN THE HOUSE AND THAT WILL INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVE PAM STEVENSON AND LINDSEY BURKE.

IN THE SENATE, THE DEMOCRATIC THREE LEADERS AND THE FIVE REPUBLICAN SENATE LEADERS WILL ALL BE MEN.

TO MAYS BLEDSOE'S POINT THAT REFLECTS THE MAKEUP OF THE LEGISLATURE ESPECIALLY IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF WOMEN ESPECIALLY IN THE SENATE.

IT IS A MUCH SMALLER BODY.

SO THERE ARE TO START WITH FEWER WOMEN TO CHOOSE FROM.

AND PREVIOUS SESSIONS JULIE ROCKY ADAMS WAS IN LEADERSHIP IN THE SENATE.

BUT SHE IS NOT GOING TO BE IN THAT POSITION GOING IN TO THE NEXT SESSION.

BUT THIS TREND ALSO CONTINUES WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHO CHAIRS STANDING COMMITTEES IN THE LEGISLATURE.

AGAIN ONLY A HANDFUL OF WOMEN IN THE SENATE -- ONLY A HANDFUL OF WOMEN WHO CHAIR COMMITTEES IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

THAT IS REFLECTIVE OF FRANKFORT AND POLITICS NOT JUST KENTUCKY IT IS NOT JUST A FRANKFORT PROBLEM.

>> Bill: AND THANKS FOR POINTING OUT THAT DISTINCTION.

THE HOUSE AND THE SENATOR.

SENATOR MAYS BLEDSOE TOLD ME THE COMMITTEE SHE LEADS IS GATHERING INFORMATION ON THE NEED FOR GUARDRAILS FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

>> YES.

AND HER COMMITTEE MET FREQUENTLY THROUGHOUT THE INTERIM SESSION AND THIS IS AN AREA THIS PAST SESSION SHE HAD A BILL WITH THE DEMOCRAT DISCUSSING HOW THEY COULD WORK TO HAVE GUARDRAILS AGAINST A.I.

IN ELECTIONS.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHE HAS BEEN WORKING ON FOR A LONGTIME.

AND IT'S LIKELY TO COME UP IN THE FUTURE.

WE'VE SEEN SECRETARY OF STATE INTERIM SESSION, MICHAEL ADAMS REQUEST THERE BE GUARDRAILS IN ELECTION INTERFERENCE.

>> Bill: DO WE EXPECT LOWERING THE STATE INCOME TAX TO BE THE TOP PRIORITY?

WILL THAT BE HOUSE BILL ONE?

>> IN AN INTERVIEW I DID WITH MAX WISE HE EXPECTS THAT TO MOVE WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK OF SESSION.

THAT BILL HAS TO ORIGINATE IN THE HOUSE BUT HE IS EXPECT TO GO TO COME TO THE SENATE.

>> Bill: CONCERNS THAT REVENUE IS PROJECTED TO DROP SOME THIS YEAR?

AND SO MAYBE THERE'S COMFORT WITH THIS PARTICULAR DECREASE BUT MAYBE NOT THE NEXT ONE?

>> WELL, THAT SUMS UP GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S SUPPORT.

HE SIGNALED THAT HE WILL BE IN FAVOR OF THIS DECREASE.

BUT HE DOES WORRY ABOUT THE FUTURE OF COMPLETELY ELIMINATING THE INCOME TAX AND POINTED TO ISSUES IN KANSAS A DECADE AGO WHERE THEY DECREASED THEIR STATE INCOME TAX AND HAD ISSUES INCLUDING CANCELING INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS ON THE HORIZON.

>> Bill: WE CONTINUE TO HEAR THAT D.E.I.

WILL BE A PRIORITY IN THE UPCOMING SESSION?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

THAT IS ONE OF THE BIG SURPRISES OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN 2024 THAT THE LAWMAKERS IN THE HOUSE AND IN THE SENATE COULDN'T AGREE HOW EXACTLY IT WAS THEY WANTED TO GO ABOUT BANNING D.E.I.

ISSUES ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES.

BOTH CHAMBERS PASSED A BILL BUT THEY COULD NOT AGREE AND IT DIDN'T GET THROUGH.

I THINK THAT A LOT OF LAWMAKERS ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THAT RESULT.

SO EXPECT IT TO COME BACK WITH A VENGEANCE IN 2025.

>> Bill: SINCE THEN YOU'VE HAD U.K. DISASSEMBLE ITS PROGRAMS.

>> AND NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: AND OTHERS FOLLOWED THAT WILL BE INTERESTING.

HIGHER EDUCATION EKU CONTINUES A PUSH FOR A SCHOOL OF OS TOEPATHIC MEDICINE.

AND A LOOK AT THE FOUR-YEAR DEGREE PROGRAM OPTIONS IN SOUTHEASTERN KENTUCKY.

DO YOU FORESEE ANY MOVEMENT ON ANY OF THAT?

>> DEFINITELY DISCUSSION FOR SURE.

BUT, AGAIN, SOME OF THAT REQUIRES BUDGETARY MOVEMENT THERE AND THIS IS NOT A BUDGET SESSION STARTING IN 2025 THE NEXT BUDGET SESSION WILL BE IN 2026.

BUT THE GOAL IS TO HELP KEEP HEALTH PROFESSIONALS HERE IN KENTUCKY INSTEAD OF LEAVING KENTUCKY AND GETTING THEIR EXPERIENCE SOMEWHERE ELSE.

SO THE EMPHASIS IS TO KEEP THAT BASE HERE AND SO THERE COULD BE AN EFFORT TO MOVE THIS FORWARD SOONER.

>> Bill: STARTING NEXT WEEK A KENTUCKY DRIVER WILL HAVE TO PASS AN EYE EXAM TO RENEW THEIR LICENSE.

IT MAY TAKE PEOPLE BY SURPRISE BUT KENTUCKY IS ONE OF THE FEW STATES THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE A TEST AFTER AGE 16?

>> WE'VE HEARD A COUPLE OF LAWMAKERS INCLUDING REPRESENTATIVES SPOKEN OUT AGAINST THIS AS PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO BECOME WEAR OF THAT DEADLINE.

>> Bill: STATE RINGING THE BELL ABOUT THE ENFORCEMENT OF REAL ID'S THAT IS COMING SOON AND MEDICAL MARIJUANA WILL BE ROLLING OUT AND WE WILL BE COVERING THAT IN THE YEAR AHEAD.

WE TRULY APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US TONIGHT AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".

2024 WAS A SPECIAL YEAR.

WE CELEBRATED 50 YEARS OF THIS TRADITION.

IN THE YEAR AHEAD WE LOOK FORWARD TO MORE INTERESTING STORIES AND TWISTS AND TURNS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.